Page 57 of Lucian

Chapter Thirteen

Jordyn was in love with Lucian’s Manhattan condo.

Well, he called it a condo, but it was more like a penthouse with partial roof access that doubled as a large deck for entertaining. It couldn’t be just a condo, as far as Jordyn was concerned, because it was much too big. The kitchen and living room alone were sizeable enough to fit her apartment inside. That didn’t include the three bedrooms, one of which was locked. There was also an office with a library, a room that doubled as a gym, and an entertainment room sporting a flat screen big enough to be in a theater and two rows of plush seating to sit back and enjoy the view.

It might as well have been a professionally decorated home inside a high-rise.

According to Lucian, his condo wasn’t even the biggest in the building.

Jordyn doubted that.

In the early morning, the wide wall-to-wall windows lit up the rooms with natural light. By pressing a little button by the light switches, all of the window shades in that particular room would rise automatically. Jordyn didn’t need to turn on a single light bulb.

She hadn’t gotten the chance to explore Lucian’s home when they arrived the night before. After the dinner with his family three nights ago, he brought up the topic of his place in Manhattan, which he preferred for a few different reasons. It was where he was most comfortable, for one, and it was safer, for two.

Jordyn didn’t mind. The one thing she knew was the life she lived before, she couldn’t go back to. Not if she wanted to live, and she did, so badly. It certainly helped with the hazel-eyed man sporting a cocky smirk who didn’t seem to ever leave her side, now.

She really didn’t want him to, either.

When Lucian offered to give her what she needed, and she asked for safety, he jumped into that totally.

Jordyn wasn’t sure what she and Lucian were. Together, or not. A couple, or just companions. Lovers, definitely. Comfortable being close, yes. She adored the way his mouth felt on her skin in the morning, and couldn’t help but get lost in looking at him when he wasn’t paying attention. Lucian was sometimes secretive, even if he didn’t mean to be. That confident, dangerous aura of his was almost suffocating in a way that fueled her darker desires. Jordyn was a little more than spun by this man.

Confusing? A bit.

It was easier not to define them, and instead, just enjoy it for what it did to them both.

Whatever they were, it was working.

Jordyn had become so accustomed to Lucian waking her up in the mornings over the last week, that when she woke up earlier and he wasn’t there, she was confused. It didn’t take her long to figure out where he was. The en-suite bathroom was wide open and the shower was running. He’d also set out a sharp looking, black suit at the end of the bed.

After she changed the bandage on her burn, which was finally beginning to look like it might actually be healing, Jordyn decided to go exploring. She grabbed the T-shirt Lucian left on the floor the night before that still smelled like his spicy self, pulled it on, and went on her merry way.

Lucian’s office was quickly becoming her favorite place.

With a high ceiling and books in every direction, Jordyn couldn’t possibly be bored in the room. There was always something new to find. Lucian collected little brass knickknacks, it seemed he liked football like every good American boy, and he was terribly organized in a disorganized fashion when it came to his work. If that were possible. She was scared to move or pick at the things on his large oak desk for fear he wouldn’t be able to find it again.

The photo albums stacked on one of the many bookshelves caught her attention. The first two on top were mostly Marcello family pictures. Each was dated and labeled below. The brothers when they were younger. Copies of Antony and Cecelia’s wedding day. Baby pictures, though there weren’t any of Lucian. Family trips and the like. Everyone looked so happy in the pictures.

Jordyn picked up another and began flipping through it, too.

The brothers were older in these ones. Clearly well into their teens. It was in these pictures Jordyn noticed the unique personalities between Dante, Gio, and Lucian had really started to take over. Privileged teenage boys, dressed in the very best, grinning and happy. As teens, they seemed to stick even closer together, and in the photos, their father was almost always present.

The prom photo of Lucian and a pretty, green-eyed blonde knocked Jordyn off balance for a moment. The girl was dressed in a pale pink sequined number that literally hugged every curve with a slit up to her right thigh. Lucian, in his black suit and matching vest and tie, didn’t seem to be too interested in the camera, but at something off to the side.

Below, the date was written and the names of the people in the photo.

Lucian and Reagan.

Jordyn hadn’t expected to see a photo of him with another woman, though every other minute of his life was documented in the albums. What was even more surprising, was the spark of jealousy fluttering up from her stomach.

“I hated prom.”

Jordyn nearly dropped the photo album as she spun around, coming face to face with a smirking Lucian.

“It was awful, but I really wanted that after party. Cecelia’s compromise was if I went, she’d give me the keys to the house. So, I went.”

Jordyn appraised the view of him in nothing but a towel, droplets of water still clinging to his skin and hair. Lust and desire raged, but she pushed it back. “With Reagan.”