Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“Jack the Ripper,” he revealed.
It was just like him to choose a character from the shadows, one that held a morbid fascination and a hint of the forbidden.
The track ended and a familiar, slow-tempo song by The Police began to play, immediately setting a more intimate tone.
“The DJ is on a roll,” Lucian acknowledged with a low laugh placing his hands securely on my waist, pulling me in close with a confidence that almost reduced me to a blushing cliche.
“He has a good taste,” I replied, taking a moment to breathe him in, inhaling the scent of sandalwood and a hint of something else I couldn’t place. Without thinking, I voiced the thought. “You smell amazing.”
His solid chest vibrated with laughter. “So do you.”
“Thanks.” I smiled up at him.
“Remember our midnight rendezvous?”
“Among other things.” I tilted my head back and looked into his eyes, the long-standing question bubbling up. “Where've you been all this time, Lucian?”
He stared back at me with a cryptic half-smile. “Here and there. Everywhere and nowhere.” His evasive response, delivered in a teasing tone, told me he wasn't about to divulge anything just yet.
He held me as if the years apart had merely been moments, but it was impossible to ignore the obvious while swaying to the beat in his arms that were undeniably toned. The boy who was obsessed with Goosebumps and who'd introduced me to his favorite anime episodes was still there, but he was now veiled behind the intensity of the gorgeous man before me.
He lowered his head so that I could hear him better and asked, “Did you miss me?”
The directness of his question, combined with the flood of emotions and the effects of the alcohol, had me glancing away to regain some semblance of composure.
“Every day,” I admitted softly, my voice barely audible.
I couldn’t forget the heart-wrenching pain I felt when he disappeared. He had been my confidant, my partner in crime, my best friend. One day he was an integral part of my life, and the next, he and his family were just gone, leaving an echoing emptiness in their wake and an endless number of questions and confusion.
I felt Lucian's head dip again, his nose nuzzling the top of my hair. The sensation both relaxed and caught me off guard, sending a flutter through my stomach. Growing up, we'd always been close—sharing secrets during sleepovers, holding hands when the world seemed a little too big, and then there was the kiss behind his shed. It was those kinds of firsts—innocent and exploratory—that had carved a special place for him in my heart.
I allowed myself the luxury of sinking into his scent and the solidity of his presence, realizing the innocence of our past was long gone. It had been replaced by an undeniable and mature attraction.
“This song always reminds me of you.”
I furrowed my brow, silently signing along, my mind sifting through each word and phrase. The Police's tunes often held a mix of yearning and intensity. He didn’t strike me as someone who would listen to this kind of music anymore, whereas it was a staple in my house that I continued, especially on Sundays. Just like when I got to have lazy days with Mom and Dad back home.
“Why is that?” I asked cautiously, trying to keep my voice steady.
“It just does,” he replied flippantly, leaving me in a whirlpool of emotions, contemplating the love and obsession intertwined in the song’s lyrics.
My gaze shifted slightly over Lucian’s shoulder, and I locked eyes with a familiar face.
Liam.
Of course, he would be here.
His expression was hard to decipher, a mix of surprise, annoyance, and something deeper, more longing. Seeing his face brought back the sting of his betrayal. He looked like he was about to approach, but Lucian instantly sensed the shift in my demeanor. He turned his head and followed my line of sight.
“Who's that?” he asked, his voice a low rumble in my ear, while subtly turning us, positioning himself between Liam and me, his stance protective.
“He’s…” I hesitated, not wanting to get into the gritty details right then. I decided to borrow a page from his book. “Just someone I used to know.”
His dark eyes searched mine, trying to glean more information. “In what way? He’s staring pretty damn hard.”
I tried to keep my tone nonchalant, but I was sure he detected the strain. “It's complicated.”
Without waiting for further explanation, he tightened his hold on me, drawing me even closer. “Whatever he wants,” his lips brushed the shell of my ear as he whispered, he should know better than to stare at what's mine.”
The possessive edge to his voice sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to pull back slightly, wanting to see the depths of his eyes, to gauge what was truly going on in that closed-off mind of his. But he held me firmly in place, his grip on my waist unyielding.