Page 139 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“That male has done monstrous things, yes. At face value, that’s all most people will see.” I sighed. “But Laurie, you aren’t your father.” The words were out before I could stop them. After yesterday, I knew better. A fierce urge to flee rose up in me. I needed to end this conversation on my terms, not his. I pushed at his shoulder and nudged him off me. “I need to visit the restroom.”

I didn’t give him the chance to do what I expected. To shut down our conversation. Because I knew he would if I stayed, and I wasn’t ready to face that sort of defeat after what we’d just shared.

In the bathroom, I splashed water on my face and freshened up, cleaning up the evidence of our love making. When I returned to the bedroom, he was still sitting in the same place, watching me attentively. My naked body was on full display. For anyone else, I might have been shy, but I found that I liked his eyes on me.

I went to the drapes and slid them back, letting in the light. The sun was already high in the sky. I took a moment to gaze out past the balcony, over the canal. A parade of boats traveled back and forth.

“Remind me again,” I said, whirling toward him. “What was the purpose of last night? I thought we were going to find out who wanted to abduct me?”

Laurent braced his arms behind him, watching me with a lazy expression. “Questioning my decisions, little flower?” His voice was soft, but it was also different. There was no bite to it.

“Just wondering,” I murmured.

“The purpose was to send a message. I needed Drazgus to know I don’t take lightly to his meddling. I’m aware of his intentions. That knowledge is powerful. He would be careless to try again.”

“But whoever he’s working for, they obviously want me. They will try again.”

In a blink, Laurent was off the bed and standing before me. His naked body momentarily wiped every thought from my mind. He tilted my chin up, aligning our gazes. “Everyone wants you.”

A needle of doubt pierced through my post-orgasm high. ‘That’s...’ I shook my head, the insecurity sharp and unwelcome.

“What?” He took my face in both hands. “Tell me. I don’t like when you keep your thoughts from me. It makes me…” He sighed. “It makes me second guess myself—us. I shouldn’t, but things between us are still new, and I hurt you. You have every right to refuse me, and I would honor your decision to do so, understand it even.”

I blinked. “It was nothing. Just my insecurities.”

“Still, I’d like to hear what you were about to say.”

I pressed my lips together, contemplating. “I was going to ask if everyone wanting me was the reason you wanted me.” The question revealed more vulnerability than I’d intended. I knew that’s how this had started—I wasn’t naive about that. But now...had things really changed, or was I still just a valuable asset he needed to protect?

The pull of his brows was slight, his subtle way of frowning. “At first, yes. I won’t lie and say otherwise. I wanted you for your blood and nothing more. You know this. Everyone else wants you for the same reason and I needed to ensure that I maintained the advantage. But no…” He shook his head. “Not anymore.”

“I know. That’s why I said I was just being insecure. I know this is about more than my blood now. I’m not blind.”

“No, you are certainly not. Nor are you ignorant. You’re rather brilliant, as a matter of fact. Which means you’ve already read the signs. You know you are irresistible in more ways than one.”

I snorted to hide my deeper insecurities. Zola’s warning came back to me. I was doing a poor job of guarding my feelings against this man. His word, irresistible, made no promise of something deeper between us. No promise of love⁠—

“Tell me, last night when I was speaking to Drazgus, something in the crowd caught your attention. Your heartbeat changed and you gasped. What was it?”

I blinked, trying to recover from the sudden topic change. “Oh. I… It was nothing. I thought I saw someone, but I think it was just my imagination.”

“Who?”

I licked my lips, an action Laurent followed. “It would only upset you. I’m certain it was my imagination.”

“Who, Lily?”

“Lio.”

He froze, staring at me. “Lio,” he repeated.

“Like I said…”

He sighed. “Lio is dead, Lily.” His voice carried a finality that brooked no argument, but something flickered in his eyes—too quick to interpret. “Come, let’s shower and dress. You need to eat something and Zola has an appointment with you this afternoon.”

“An appointment?” I frowned.

He was already ushering me into the bathroom.