“Well, for your information,” she continued, drawing his focus back to her words, “I had every intention of coming back, but seeing as you don’t trust me I might as well do what you expected and make a run for it. The end result will be the same, you’ll have me locked up back at your haunted castle in no time,” she caught her breath after her tirade and just stared at him, waiting for his returning argument.
His lustful musings ceased as he listened. She was going to return, just as he had hoped. It warmed him in ways she couldn’t possibly know. But her lack of faith in their relationship caused him great sadness, had he really not shown her enough of his character for her to doubt his intentions? The fragility of her heart was evident in her tendency to only see the worst and believe it to be the truth.
“Katherine,” by the look in her eyes, the softness in his tone surprised her. “I do trust you. I came here last night because I knew I would miss your presentation if I had to wait until sundown at Tumbricane before I could leave.”
“Why, what’s so important about my presentation?” She countered, confusion marring her brow despite the heat that her voice still held.
“It was important to you, so it became important to me.”
“What? That is ridiculous, tell me the truth Lucian, what’s your game? What are you trying to get at?” Katherine stammered.
“Tell me, Katherine, when was the last time you had someone to support you in your goals?” Lucian cocked his head to one side as he studied her.
She sucked in a breath before huffing out her dismissal, her eyes darting away from his.
“That isn’t what this is about.”
“Why isn’t it about that? Why is it impossible to believe that I’m here purely because I wanted to support you because I wanted you to know that someone was there for you.”
“Because,” Katherine started, her eyes beginning to shine, “because, you have no reason to want to do that. What am I to you, Lucian? I’m nothing special, I’m just some collateral for my father’s debt.”
“That isn’t true,” Lucian stepped forward and gently brushed her flushed cheeks with the back of his fingers. If he were kind he might let the subject drop, she was clearly struggling with the concept of him caring about her, but he needed her to realise that not everyone would treat her like her parents had. He saw her for the wonder that she was, and he selfishly wanted to be the one to help her recognise that for herself.
“Why? What do you want from me, Lucian? Please, just tell me,” she whispered, as she looked up into his eyes, the raw vulnerability he saw in her golden-brown gaze cut right to the heart of him. He wanted to be able to tell her he didn’t want anything from her, but that wasn’t true, and he had promised not to lie. He wanted everything from her, and he wanted to give her everything in fair exchange but saying as much would most likely scare her.
“I care for you Katherine, deeply, and I wanted to show you. That was all,” he settled with, though he felt his words didn’t do justice to his own feelings.
She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes at his words.
“I’m not going to drag you back to Tumbricane with me, and to prove to you I’m not here to keep tabs on you, I’ll leave you now to enjoy an evening with your friends.”
He dropped his hand from where he had held her face and stepped back. His body already lamenting the distance between them.
Her eyes opened and pierced him through with a look of disappointment as she blinked back tears. He didn’t mean for her to cry, so he smiled kindly and took her hand in his to brush his lips across her knuckles.
“Your presentation was brilliant. You were spectacular, Katherine. You always are.”
He lowered her hand and gave her a swift nod, before turning on his heel to leave. He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to pull her into his arms and show her with his kiss how much she meant to him, but she needed trust. And trust was not built on passion.
“Lucian, wait,” she called after him.
He turned upon hearing the plea in her voice.
“Yes, Katherine?”
She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck pulling his lips down to crash against hers. His surprise was quickly replaced by hunger as she kissed him with an intensity and urgency he hadn’t expected. He buried his hands in her hair holding her captive while he swept his tongue into her mouth. Before he had a chance to claim her tongue, she pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” she said breathlessly.
“I don’t understand,” he frowned in confusion.
“I’m sorry Lucian, I jumped to a conclusion and it was unfair. It’s just I’ve not had this kind of, this sort of,” her lips sought his once more and demanded another firm kiss.
“You don’t need to apologise or explain. I overstepped the mark,” Lucian assured her, his lips reluctant to break away from hers.
“Now I understand it, I like that you did,” she answered, between moans as he began nipping at her lower lip, teasingly. “Don’t go,” she pulled away fixing him with a demanding look, “stay. Come back to mine,” her voice was full of fiery promise.
“I’m not accustomed to being ordered about; I rather like it,” Lucian smiled wickedly at her. The prospect of her using such a tone with him while she lay spread out on her bed
