Baby steps, I tell myself. If it's the last thing I do on this earth, I want to help Lucien heal from all of his wounds…inside and out.
We eat our meal in companionable silence, sometimes commenting on the weather or bringing up something funny Jackson had said. It's clear to me when Lucien talks about his cousin that he's really fond of Jax. I'm pretty fond of him too.
After dinner, Lucien tentatively suggests we walk on the beach. Before he has a chance to change his mind, I jump at the chance to sink my feet into the sand.
Walking side by side, we stroll along the length of the beach before coming to a stop. With hardly a cloud in sight in the dark sky, the full moon above reflects off the water, and it's a spectacular sight. "Wow," I gasp. Looking up, I stare at the stars twinkling in the vast darkness. "It's beautiful here," I say.
"Yes, it is," he says softly.
I shudder from the chill of the air blowing off the water. My dress is sleeveless, and I didn't account for spending this much time outside.
"Cold?" he questions.
Nodding, I watch in awe as he strips out of his suit jacket and drapes it around my shoulders. I wrap it around me tighter, welcoming its warmth. It smells like Lucien, and I can't help but nuzzle my nose into the material, deeply breathing in his scent.
When I look up at Lucien, who's staring at me with an odd look and a raised brow, I realize I was caught in the act of sniffing his jacket. "Did you just…?" he starts to ask, but doesn't finish.
"You always smell so good," I whisper. I take another whiff of the jacket, not even caring this time. "Your jacket smells like you."
"Ah," he mutters in understanding. He grabs the arms of the jacket and pulls me closer. I snuggle my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat against my ear. It feels so good to be in his arms, and I wish he could be this affectionate all the time.
And then I hear the distinct sound of him sniffing the top of my head. My face breaks out into a big grin as I ask in a mimicking tone, "Did you just…?"
He chuckles deeply, his chest rumbling against my cheek. "I guess you're not the only who likes to smell beautiful things."
I pull back and cock a brow. "Beautiful? I don't remember using that word to describe you," I joke.
"You don't think I'm beautiful?" he asks, pretending to be offended.
"Devastatingly handsome maybe," I quip.
"Devastatingly handsome," he says, moving his mouth around as if he's tasting the words. "Yeah, I can definitely see that," he says with a grin.
I've never seen this playful side of Lucien…and I love it. And that sexy grin of his melts my heart and gives me the courage for what I'm about to do next.
Wrapping my hands around the back of his neck, I pull his mouth down to mine. He's tense at first, but all too soon he's kissing me back.
I'm determined to explore what is happening between us. And if he doesn't want me or thinks I'm damaged goods now…I need to know that too.
But the reaction I begin to get from him doesn't tell me those things at all. He pulls me flush against his body, his hands molding to my backside as he presses his growing erection into my stomach.
I gasp, and he uses it as an invitation as his tongue invades my mouth. He kisses me like he's been starving for me for years, and I allow him to consume me. I want him to own me…inside and out.
His large hands hold me possessively to him as he takes what he wants. And when he breaks the kiss and stares down at me, I can see the fire igniting in his gaze.
"Adeline, I want you," he says, his voice hoarse and strained.
"Let's go to your room," I suggest.
Nodding, he takes my hand in his and leads me away from the beach and back to the manor. I can barely keep up with his long strides, and my feet keep getting tripped up on my dress.
When I almost fall, he stops and looks down at me. Growling, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing. Carrying me in a fireman's hold, I giggle the whole way to the mansion.
Never in a million years would I have pictured getting Mr. Control Freak so worked up that he's willing to pick me up and carry me back to his room like a caveman.
He stalks into the house and carries me up the stairs without even breaking a sweat. We pass by Jax in the hallway. "What —?" he starts to inquire, but Lucien simply says, "Don't ask."
Jax stares after us, and I give him a shrug with a grin on my face. Shaking his head, Jax smiles before walking away.
