It wasn’t a bad feeling.
Rising on my elbows, I watched as Lucas’s naked form gathered his clothing, his nearly perfect ass on full display.
“Lucas, I—” I wanted to tell him that I loved him, but when he turned back to look at me, there was an unmistakable sadness in his expression.
“Get dressed,” he stated. “We have to go.”
“Okay,” I swallowed, pushing myself off the sofa. “Are you all right?”
He grasped me by the waist as I reached for my joggers, and pulled me against his body, facing away from him.
“I will be,” he said, brushing his lips over the side of my neck. “Please remember this time between us, Leda. Please.”
My knees weakened. “I won’t forget it, I swear.”
His kiss was quick before he let me go. I sucked in a breath, already missing his touch.
I might remember his words, but the worry didn’t ease in my stomach.
Chapter 56
Leda
After changing into a pair of tight leather pants and an off-the-shoulder top just in case I needed to make an impression, I walked out of the bedroom to find Lucas standing before the windows. He had a glass of whiskey in his hand.
For a moment I just stared at him, my heart thudding something fierce at the love I had for him. It was crazy, of course, to think that I could love the man who had bought me, the man who took my innocence, but I did love him.
I could feel it in my very soul. I wanted to protect him to the ends of the earth to keep him from being hurt. I wanted to heal the hurt in his heart.
And there were a lot of unresolved hurt. I needed to peel back the layers if he was ever going to open to me completely and without regret.
But it was something I was willing to do.
For him.
So, I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, placing my head on his back so that I could hear his heartbeat beneath the layers of clothing.
“I love you,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know why I do, but I do, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep you, Lucas.” I felt like he needed to hear me say it.
Lucas shuddered in my arms, surprising me before he was pulling away. “Come,” he said softly, refusing to meet my gaze. “We’re late.”
I swallowed, dropping my arms. It was okay. Whatever was worrying him was going to be just fine. I wouldn’t let him go at it alone.
There was a car waiting when we exited the building and I climbed in, Lucas following me. His second-in-command Rocco was sitting in the passenger seat and gave me a small nod before the car pulled off.
Lucas reached over and pulled me against him, wrapping his arm around my waist so that I would be pressed against his side. Inhaling his scent, I allowed my head to rest on his shoulder, my thoughts going a million miles an hour about where he was taking us.
This new Lucas—worried and reserved—wasn’t the man I was used to. And if he was worried, then I should be as well.
What if he was taking me to my father? Surely not. If he was going to do it, I would think that Lucas would have already done it by now.
Besides, he had told me he loved me, right? From the way he held me, I came to the conclusion that he had no intention of having me go anywhere else but right next to him.
Especially now that he was pressing his lips into my hair, drinking in my scent like I was doing with his. Closing my eyes, I tried to remember this feeling, just in case it was my last.
I must have drifted off because of Lucas’s body warmth because the next time I opened my eyes, the car had stopped. Lucas was still holding onto me.
“Where are we?” I asked. “Are we here?”