Page 232 of Reign

Instead, I wrap my arms around his neck.

If this is what happens every time I tell Luciano what I want, I might have to stop telling him.

I’m beginning to want entirely too much.

He carries me upstairs down the hall and into his room.

The bed is already turned down, the lamps low, the sheets dark and smooth. He sets me on the mattress with the kind of care that makes my throat feel tight, then steps back.

For one second, I think he’s going to leave.

He doesn’t.

He takes off his pants.

My eyes widen at the bulge in his boxer briefs before I can pretend to be dignified about it.

He looks at me. “You’ve seen my cock, Elena.”

“Yes, thank you. I remember.”

“Then breathe.”

“I am breathing.”

“Poorly.”

I glare at him and turn around.

He slides into bed behind me, warm and big and much too close. The room goes dark when he turns off the last lamp.

My body tenses.

The shadows close in immediately, swallowing the corners of the room. My lungs tighten, and every muscle goes rigid beneath his shirt.

Luciano goes still behind me.

“The dark?” he asks.

Heat crawls up my neck.

This is ridiculous. I let this man strap me to a bench, and now I’m embarrassed to admit I need a light to sleep.

“I have a nightlight in my room,” I say quietly. “I usually sleep with it. I thought maybe I wouldn’t need it with you here, but—”

The mattress shifts.

Luciano gets out of bed.

A second later, the lamp beside me clicks on.

My stomach drops. “Luciano?”

“One minute, princesa.”

He leaves the room.

I lie there staring at the door, confused, until he return.