Page 140 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“With one of her dressmakers. To get you fitted for your gowns—for the start of the season.”

“Oh.” I watched him slip a hand into the shower to get the water running. He led me through the glass door and I fumbled my way through our first ever shower together. I was certain he didn’t need one, which meant he was doing this just for me. My earlier words came back, about his attentiveness and desire to care for me.

I let him wash me, and when he finished, I let him place my hands against the shower tile and pull my hips against him. A gasp left my mouth at the sensation of his hard length as he slid inside me. “I’ve… I’ve never had shower sex,” I blurted between one breath and the next.

“Hmm, good. I like that. And I like that you’re tall.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see his face lit with eager desire. We fit together perfectly. Any shorter and this position would have been slightly awkward for him.

I braced myself as he began to fuck me. This is what I’d expected from him the first time we had sex. Desperate as I was, I would have accepted it.

He thrust in and out of me, letting a small growl free. I didn’t bother leashing my sounds, giving into the pleasure as pressure built in my core. My knees weakened, thighs shaking. He held my hips tightly, his fingers bruising. Bruises that would heal quickly thanks to his blood. “Fuck. So fucking tight for me, little flower.”

“Yes,” I cried, pressing back into him. Water sluiced off our bodies. The position had him hitting the deepest parts of me, balls slapping against my clit, sending sparks of pleasure everywhere.

“You should see us,” he groaned. “The sight of your tight little cunt wrapped around my cock. Fuck.” A smack sounded followed by a sting. I gasped, tightening. The feel of his palm against my ass—oh my God. My hips jerked, growing uncoordinated as I chased my pleasure.

“That’s it, Lily. That’s it, sweetheart. Take everything I give you.” One of his arms braced on the tile above me while the other crept up my back. He twisted his fingers into my hair, wrapping it around his fist. “This hair of yours... It’s going to be my undoing.”

Then he tugged, pulling my head back. I came apart, the sound of my scream bouncing off the tile around us. Laurent roared. I felt each pulse of his cock as he came inside me, spilling into me.

When his motions slowed, he leaned in and pressed gentle kisses along my spine, then pulled me up to rest in his arms. We were still connected, and I wanted to stay that way. Forever. But reality intruded. We couldn’t hide in this bedroom forever, no matter how much I wanted to.

Laurent dried me quickly before fussing with my hair, pulling a comb through it. “I can see to my own hair, you know.”

“I know,” he murmured. “Let me take care of you.”

“Okay.” Considering he had his own impressive mane, he certainly knew how to care for mine. He fussed over me until my hair was dry and shiny. Then he buried his nose in it and hummed. “Perfect,” he whispered, catching my gaze in the mirror. It was surprisingly erotic.

When we went downstairs, the sitting room was eerily quiet, despite being full of Laurent’s closest family members. I could feel the tension snapping in the air. “What’s wrong,” Laurent asked, looking at Marco.

“Sire, we didn’t want to…disturb you.” Marco glanced at me and my cheeks immediately flamed with embarrassment. Dear God, he’d heard me. They’d all heard me. I hadn’t been quiet, and this large house wasn’t that large. Laurent gave my hand a gentle squeeze, sensing my unease. As if that made anything better.

“We got a report an hour ago,” Marco went on. “A body was found pinned to one of the spires at Viggo’s Cathedral just after dawn. Displayed for all the world to see.”

“What?!” both Laurent and I hissed at the same time. “Who?” Laurent added.

Marco sighed and then said, “Drazgus.” The name landed like a punch to the gut. The demon we’d confronted just hours ago, now displayed like a grotesque trophy for all of Italy to see.

35

The implications had been gnawing at Laurent all day. Someone had killed Drazgus within hours of their confrontation—either to silence him or to send a message. Now he’d never discover who wanted Lily, and knowing she remained in danger from an unknown enemy only made him feel more protective.

Despite his protective instincts screaming against it, he’d allowed her to go out shopping with Zola for the upcoming season. He’d only agreed after sending both Vittorio and Hassan along as escorts, plus Cinna to give the males something to focus on while they waited.

While she was out, he’d been subjected to various social calls around the city, meeting with alliances. It was tedious work made worse by his distraction, and by the time he returned to the house, his mood was spiraling. He was desperate for Lily’s attention—desperate to reassure himself she was safe. He found her in the drawing room at the piano, with Hassan listening nearby.

“Out,” he barked. Hassan complied without question.

“Laurie?” Lily paused, turning to him.

“No need to stop, sweetheart.” He stooped to place a kiss on her cheek. She flushed at the tender nickname, which pleased him.

She went back to playing. A gentle melody that was simple, yet ethereal. He found a place on the sofa and got comfortable. Her eyes darted toward him before returning to the sheet music. Cinna padded over.

“Hi sweet girl,” he cooed. The pup took that as an invitation, jumping up beside him to lay her head in his lap. He stroked her soft ears. Before Lily, he would have cringed at the thought of a pet on the furniture. But this was Cinna, and she was Lily’s. “All tuckered out from today’s shopping, I see.”

Cinna let out a loud sigh then closed her eyes.