AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Morning.”
I heard his undeniable timbre reply, and I shot up into a sitting position.
Fully dressed and ready for the day, Lucca sat in the chair calmly looking at me. I glanced at the clock. It was six fifteen, and he looked as if he had been up and ready for quite some time.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m not sick.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to understand why he was still here. Lucca was always gone before I rose in the morning.
“You ask a lot of questions in the morning.”
“You wouldn’t know,” I fired back.
“I guess I know now.”
“Did…did you come home last night?” I hated the vulnerability of my question.
He nodded as he ran his palm over his eyes until they settled back on his thigh.
“I should’ve mentioned this before, but Viktor will stay here for a few weeks,” he announced, a day too late. I’d already caught glimpses of him, but I guess he had finally settled.
“Anything else?” I motioned with my hand.
“Yeah, I’ll be out this morning, but I’ll be back sometime after lunch. You should have received a few dresses by then. Pick one.”
This caught my attention.
“For what?”
“A charity function tomorrow night. You’re coming with me.”
Why, thank you for asking. You look so thrilled, Lucca.
“Charity events are not my thing.”
Lucca stood with rigid shoulders and hardened features. Quietly, he made his way to my side of the bed, and I followed every footfall he took closer to me until his shins hit the bed. Anxiety crept into me as his peering body stood above me with his tired and uncaring eyes. When his hand fell along with his body, I froze in place.
Fingertips made the first contact before his fingers clasped, and his hand held my wrist up for him to inspect. It was the first real acknowledgement he’d given for what he’d left imprinted on my skin. When the pad of his finger ran across the bruises he’d caused, oh so gently, my heart ran against my chest.
It wasn’t fair. I was already reeling from the fact he’d denied my proposal to work, along with his broken promise. Even then, his touch held so much power over my body’s reaction.
All the raging emotions inside me, and his eyes held none. Not upon seeing the pain he’d caused, or remorse for his lie. Lucca didn’t care.
I pulled my hand away, and his eyes challenged.
“Pick a dress,” he said darkly.
My body fell back onto the bed in a heap when the door shut, leaving me alone with the urge to forget who I was, where I lived, and who was meant to be mine.
A small whine echoed inside the room, reminding me of the two pups who depended on me. I called them both onto the bed, not caring about letting them over the covers. I used their thick coats to soothe the turmoil of hatred and pain. Because eventually, I had to face yet another day.
As Lucca said, the dresses arrived this morning. There were five in total, but after the third dress, there was no need to continue. Its dark forest-green color and low back weren’t the only things I’d fallen in love with. However, the high slit over my thigh made itmine.
