The silence stretched between them. Every second felt like a stitch pulling away from the seams that held his heart together. Her eyes opened but remained low, fixed on the garden below them.
“The rose you gave me yesterday, the orange and red one. What does it mean?” She asked suddenly.
“That meaning belongs to the past. I haven’t yet had a chance to select one for tomorrow.”
“Please, tell me,” she asked, her eyes shut again, a small frown creasing her forehead.
“It is said to symbolise falling in love,” Lucian said quietly, “I was planning on gifting a different one in the morning.”
Katherine nodded her head slightly, her fingers flexing against the glass, while her body stiffened.
“What will tomorrow’s be?” She asked, clearing her throat. Lucian could tell she was putting as much strength into her words as she could. His heart cried out for her and despite his fears, he replied with the honesty with which he had promised her.
“Red. For love.”
A whimper escaped her before she turned to face him, her light brown eyes appeared glassy with unshed tears.
His hands came up and cradled her face, the pain of seeing the tears that threatened made him unable to stand idly by.
“Why?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, so uncertain and broken.
“Because that is how I feel, darling,” Lucian replied before taking her lips in a soul-destroying kiss.
He couldn’t bear to not hear her return his affection in that moment, so he stole her words from her and carried her to his bed, determined to win her heart by giving her his.
Chapter Twenty-One
Katherine
His lips burned against hers. Katherine felt her tears fall over her cheeks and tasted them on their kiss. He loved her and if she was truthful with herself she felt the same way about him. But she couldn’t keep that love. It would shatter and dissolve into a deep and painful memory, leaving a permanent scar on her heart. Lucian didn’t say a word about her tears, he just continued to press his lips to hers, coaxing them open so that he could taste her mouth.
She knew he would want to know why she was crying, the fact that he hadn’t said anything made her believe he already knew that their love was doomed and he was choosing to ignore the truth. She felt the pull of denial too. She wanted to fall into a moment of divine bliss with him and simply allow herself to enjoy being with him and being loved by him.
She had a job to do, however. If she wanted her freedom, if she wanted to pursue her dreams, she needed to get the evidence that her father demanded. She needed to be bitten. Rather than feeling the thrill of excitement at the unique pleasure that Lucian’s bite would bring, she felt cold inside. She would hate herself for what she was about to do for the rest of her days. But she had no choice.
She kissed him back, stroking her tongue against his, encouraging his passion. His hands traced down her body, slipping beneath the satin robe and finding her breasts bare to his touch. He lifted his head and looked at her with reverence as he began to work the soft fullness. Kneeling over her on the bed, Lucian released the tie of her robe and bared her to his hungry eyes.
She had prepared for this, told herself that it would be easier and quicker to seduce him if she made her body as open and accessible to him. Her body flushed with desire under his intense scrutiny and gathering her courage, Katherine ran her fingers between her breasts, along her stomach, and down over her core, opening her legs to him. Lucian sucked in a breath at the sight and she saw his eyes darken further to pure black.
“I’m yours, Lucian. Take what it is you want,” she husked low, her body trembling as she began stroking herself for his voyeuristic pleasure. Lucian’s eyes zeroed in on where her fingers worked, he hissed out a curse between his teeth when she dipped lower between her lips and drew her slick fingers back up to tease her sensitive nub.
Her plan was to seduce him, not to become just as lost to the passion that flared between them. A moan took her by surprise as she continued to play with herself while he watched. The sound broke the spell between them and slowly Lucian lowered himself down on the bed and spread her thighs wide enough so he could settle between them. His tongue licked along her fingers where they still danced over her clit and his hum of appreciation seemed to vibrate along her body, her orgasm already building.
He swirled his wet tongue around her nub, possessively knocking her hand aside. The instant curl of warmth that unfurled at his touch meant she didn’t mind him taking control. Her hands fell to her side and she arched her head back closing her eyes as she gave herself over to his touch. It was exquisite and luxurious the way he licked, nibbled, and suckled on her. She was so wet for him and as he slowly inched two fingers inside her heat, she fell apart, gasping her climax and calling his name.
She ran her fingers through her hair as her body came down from its high. She would miss this. She doubted she’d ever feel such intense and honest pleasure with anyone else. This kind of love belonged to Lucian and Lucian alone. She looked back down at him and saw he had shucked out of his pants and stood gloriously naked before her. He was the most handsome sight she had ever seen and the world around them seemed to fade away as his dark eyes held her
