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He claims this is nothing but sex between us, and I’m okay with that, since he made it clear from the start. Except, all weekend long, he referred to me as his.

You belong to me. You’re mine. Mine.

I’ve been with guys only looking for sex, and not a single one told me I belonged to them after. In fact, they were quite content to keep their distance, and so was I, if I’m being honest. It’s not that I set out to fulfill my mother’s destiny for me through meaningless sex, it’s just that boys tend to be nicer when they think they’re getting laid.

I guess I just liked believing in their bullshit sometimes.

Lucian is an enigma to me, though. A big black question mark at the end of a long sentence. Could’ve been a heat of the moment thing with him. Guys sometimes say weird things during sex, but then I’m still left wondering why he bothered to run errands with me. Why spend the day with someone you’ve no intentions of pursuing?

A part of me wants to ask Giulia if he’s ever claimed she belonged to him when they fucked. Maybe that’s his kink: collecting girls like his mother collects dolls.

Another part tells me to leave it alone.

When I reach Laura’s sitting room, Nell already has the older woman dressed for the day and in her wheelchair, ready to go. Odd, considering it’s still about five minutes before Laura usually wakes on her own.

I cross the room toward them, where Nell huffs, seeming to struggle with pinning a broach to Laura’s blouse. “Here. Let me.” When she steps aside, I take the broach in hand and offer Laura a smile, as I slide the pin through the silky fabric. “What’s going on?”

“Rand asked that we come down to the office. He wants to speak with us. All of us, apparently.”

Rand? Surely, if it was something I’ve done wrong, Lucian would’ve given me a heads-up over the weekend.

“Did he say what it was about?” I study Nell’s expression for any flicker of emotion, any hint of what to expect from this meeting.

Her face is as impassive as her voice. “No. Just that he wants us down there in five minutes.” She unlocks Laura’s wheelchair, while I shuffle ahead of them, back toward the elevator.

I press the down button, and when the doors open to show Lucian against the rear wall in a crisp black suit, glancing up from the phone in his hand, my breath hitches.

He quirks a brow, as I step inside and press the button to hold the door open for Nell and Laura.

“Lucian!” Laura’s face lights up at her son, pride beaming in her eyes. “My, you look dashing today. Doesn’t my son look absolutely dashing, ladies?”

“He does.” Pursing my lips to hide a smile, I back myself alongside him to make room.

Nell doesn’t say a word as she pushes Laura onto the elevator, her eyes directed away from Lucian, and she turns her back to us.

The elevator doors close, and I feel a warm hand snake beneath my shirt, across my back. I stiffen at his touch, and turn my head just enough to catch the smile tugging at his lips, while he keeps his gaze ahead.

“Lucian, will you be joining us for breakfast, darling?” Laura asks, leaning over the side of her chair, seemingly oblivious to Lucian fondling me behind her.

“I’m sorry, Mother, but I have a very important meeting this morning. Perhaps another time.”

“Pity. I miss talking to you. Oh! And hearing you play piano. Amelia plays very well, don’t you, dear?”

Eyes closing, Lucian shakes his head. “It’s Isadora, Mother. Not Amelia. Amelia is dead, remember?” It’s strange hearing him respond so frankly, when I’ve tiptoed around the subject.

“Oh.” She slumps back into her wheelchair, raising a trembling finger to her lips, as if in contemplation. “How could I have forgotten that?” She shakes her head and leans over the chair once again. “Anyway,” she says, waving her hand in the air. “You should come listen to her play sometime.”

Another handsome smile greets me, when I slide my gaze toward his again. “I’ll have to do that.”

Nell’s head kicks to the side, not enough to see the two of us, but clearly interested in the exchange, perhaps picking up on the slight amusement in his voice. The doors open up to the first floor, and she pushes Laura out of the elevator, and into the hallway.

As I follow after them, a grip of my wrist stops me in my tracks.

“I’d like to speak with Ms. Quinn for a moment. Go on ahead, and she’ll catch up.”

Still not bothering to look, Nell gives a nod, and Laura tips her chin in what I’d surmise as suspicion as the two head off in the direction of Rand’s office.

Once out of sight, Lucian spins me around and, as the doors close, pushes me back against the elevator wall. His lips crush mine in a fervent kiss, while his hand travels the length of my thigh. “I should’ve snuck into your bed last night.”