Page 107 of Lucian

Jordyn could feel her juices soaking them both further. The slaps of skin meeting skin matched their moans. He’d never quite taken her so hard before, or used her body until she was a quivering, jumbled mess beneath him. Lucian always took his time, adoring every inch, drawing out the beautiful end.

But not this time. He did what he wanted to, she realized.

Fucked her like he didn’t love her, but it was impossible not to feel it, even so.

As Jordyn shattered with another orgasm, Lucian didn’t bother to stop or slow down.

She didn’t quite know it then, but he wouldn’t for hours. It was one of the only good things she could think of about him mixing pain pills with whiskey.

• • •

Jordyn woke to a quiet condo, but for the ring of her cell phone alarm clock. Morning light was only starting to filter in through the bedroom window. The soreness in her limbs and down between her thighs was a swift reminder of the night before.

That didn’t much matter, though. She had to get up, say goodbye even if she didn’t want to, and go about her day like everything was fine and normal.

Certainly not like her heart and soul was breaking.

She didn’t want Lucian to see that anyway.

Jordyn took her time getting out of bed, mindful of the tenderness spreading through her muscles. In the bathroom, she took inventory of her body and what he’d left. Teeth marks on her breast and shoulders that nearly broke the skin. Redness on her cheek and jaw from his stubble scratching to her skin. The kiss that sent her flying to the floor had swelled her lips and reddened them more than they usually were. Marks from his fingernails, imprints from his fingers, and discoloration from her clothes being pulled from her body. Her curls, usually messy and out of control, were a total lost cause.

Those were only the things she could see.

What she couldn’t visibly find, she could feel.

Deep in her bones. A burn in her thighs. Weakness, fatigue, and melancholy.

She didn’t want to say goodbye. Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell Lucian that. It was safer for him to go. Even if it was only for a short time.

Pulling on something to be decent enough for Lucian’s parents’ visit that morning, Jordyn followed the scent of coffee to the kitchen. The people who waited for her there were not who she expected so early.

Antony cleared his throat as Jordyn walked into the space. She was well aware she looked thoroughly fucked and exhausted. She also didn’t care. Lucian should have warned her they were there and she would have been more presentable.

“Good morning,” Antony said quietly.

Jordyn glanced at a teary Cecelia sipping coffee at the table.

“Where’s Lucian?” Jordyn asked.

“We were hoping you could tell us that, Jordyn.”

“Excuse me?”

Antony sighed, leaning into the counter. “Security was advised to let us up this morning and not to bother calling through to the condo first.”

Jordyn wasn’t understanding what he was saying. “So?”

“So, I suspect Lucian didn’t want them to wake you up to give the okay because obviously he knew he wasn’t going to be here. I called down a little while ago, they said he left around six this morning.”

Something awful stabbed into her heart.

He wasn’t here.

Lucian was already gone, and he hadn’t even woke her up to say goodbye.

“I thought you were supposed to send him off somewhere,” Jordyn accused. “How are we going to know where he is or if he’s safe if we don’t know where he is?”

Antony shrugged. “I have the distinct feeling Lucian did this on purpose. Gio said it himself last night. Whoever is behind the attacks could be a lot closer than we think. Even one of his family members knowing could be very dangerous. Lucian isn’t stupid. He has the ability to blend in well with normal people, he’s got more than enough cash to stay off anyone’s radar. Knowing my son, he’s close. And I’ll bet given his attachment, he won’t be too far from you, however I doubt he’ll show himself.”