Lucian (Filthy Marcellos #1)(16)

"Infatuation, is that what he called it?"

Paulie shrugged, smirking over his shoulder. "He did. Because you were trying to hide it from him. You like to remind everyone you're not a boy anymore, yet you still feel the need to cover up things that may hurt or concern your mother and father. So yes, he called it an infatuation, because that was all he gathered from your behavior."

"And?" Lucian asked.

"And I reminded him long ago it was he who found himself staring at a woman only once and deciding he wanted her, too, but worrying what his family would think of his high expectations. Well, I think Antony decided he really wanted Cecelia after she threatened to shoot his foot off if he didn't get out of her bedroom. He took a wrong hallway and ended up there after he tried to find the bathroom, you see."

Lucian laughed. That was the first time he heard this version of the story. According to Antony and Cecelia, they met by chance, which apparently wasn't entirely untrue, and a fast-paced relationship, then engagement, and a marriage followed soon after. Although both admitted it was love at first sight, or very close to it.

Lucian wasn't entirely sure he believed in that sort of thing.



       
         
       
        

"I haven't decided anything about Jordyn."

"But maybe your heart has, Lucian. Have you thought of that?"

"I don't even know her," Lucian said, feeling like it was the thousandth time he had.

"Well, you'll have lots of time for that over the next while. She's going to be tender and sore, so take a special effort to be careful with her while you learn. Lord knows you, like your brothers, are so damned impatient when it comes to having to wait for what you want."

Paulie didn't attempt to hide the suggestive undertone to his comment at all. For the first time in years, Lucian felt his cheeks heat up. The man made him blush, for Christ's sake.

Lucian needed to change the subject, and fast. "When will she be awake?"

Paulie had, with Lucian's help and observation, carefully cut the shorts from Jordyn's body. They took note of all her injuries, cleaning and preparing them for wrappings. An IV had been inserted into her right hand, feeding her veins with a cocktail of antibiotics, fluids, and the occasional drip of morphine for pain. Paulie made the schedule for that particular narcotic very clear.

"If the morphine does its job, and it will, she'll sleep for a few more hours. Come tomorrow night, I'll take her off the morphine. She probably won't need it, then. Just the over the counter pain meds will be enough. Try to make sure she sleeps as much as possible for the next week at least. And takes the antibiotics and pain medication on time. She needs the rest for her body to heal. Lots of fluids. These bandages will need replaced twice a day, and four times or more for the burn. Frankly, that injury would be better cared for in a hospital, but I understand why we can't."

Lucian shoved his hands in his pockets, watching as Paulie released Jordyn's limp hand he had bee holding. "You'll be around, yeah?"

"I'll come once a day to check her IV, change the bags and fluids, and the tubes, if needed, until she's okay without them. I'll be around, don't worry. Everything will be fine."

Lucian hoped so.



• • •



Jordyn's body felt like it had gone through a hurricane. Just moving her arm was an effort, one she found to be not worth the job of doing it at all. Something tugged in her hand, a slight discomfort stinging her skin around the area, but it was nothing compared to the rest of her aches and pains.

A deep, almost melodic voice came from her side, soothing her. "You have to be careful, piccolina. If you pull out your IV, I won't be able to get it back in myself and Paulie won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. You need the fluids." 

Jordyn shuddered with every breath. She recognized that voice, his accent, and the way she seemed to react to his words, as if something inside was fighting to reach for him.

Lucian.

"Do you remember what happened yesterday?" Lucian asked.

Jordyn opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to the darkness of the room with a slowness she wasn't accustomed to. Her brain was a muddled mess of thoughts, and none were clear. Slowly, she shook her head, but regretted the action immediately. Sickness threatened to spill from her stomach.

Her whole body felt warm. The pain, while it was there, felt almost dulled. She was dizzy and tired.

"Sleep, sweetheart," Lucian whispered. "It's okay to sleep. You're safe here."

Somehow, Jordyn knew exactly that before he even said it. Even so, she fought the drowsiness slipping around the edges of her senses, threatening to take her under again. She had so many questions.

"But-"

Jordyn's words cut off instantly. It hurt to even talk. The bed dipped to allow Lucian's weight on her right side. He sat down gradually, cautious of his size moving her, as if he wasn't the six foot, three inch tall man she knew him to be and instead, nothing more than a pillow.

"But nothing," Lucian said firmly. "Let some of that swelling go down first, and then we'll talk as much as you'd like. Do you know how much I've wanted to just talk to you, sweetheart?"

Jordyn didn't start in surprise as she usually would when a man touched her without warning. The smooth, hot palm of Lucian's curved along her jaw and neck, fitting there perfectly. He seemed to be mindful of the pressure he placed on her jaw. Something sweet curled in her middle, twisting up to her chest. She melted into that hold, swallowing words and feelings because she didn't know what to say or what they meant.

The touch and her reaction to it, however, said a lot.

Lucian leaned down, giving Jordyn a much better view of his concerned features in the darkness. Worry creased his forehead, sadness turned his usually smirking mouth down into a frown, and those dark eyes of his searched hers unashamed. She wanted to wipe that look off his face.

Gently, Lucian rolled his thumb along her bottom lip. The simple action caused goosebumps to creep all over her body from head to toe. "I'm sorry."

For what?

Jordyn didn't even care what he was apologizing for. She was much too distracted staring at his face, wondering what his mouth would taste like pressed to hers. How did he kiss, slow and controlled like a building wave, or fast and destructively passionate like a raging forest fire?

"I wondered the same thing the first moment I looked at you inside that confessional," Lucian said, smirking just a little.

Had she said that out loud?

"Oh," Jordyn murmured faintly.

She barely had time to react before Lucian leaned down further, removed his thumb, and placed the softest, most tender kiss to her lips. The warmth inside her body seemed to bloom into a full blown heat spreading out from her middle. It only lasted but a brief two seconds before he was pulling away.

Lucian pressed his thumb to her lips once more, the wetness left behind from his own smearing under the digit. "Sleep. The next one will be much better. And I intend for you to remember it."

Jordyn didn't quite think she'd be able to forget this one, either.



• • •



The next time Jordyn woke up, the room wasn't dark. Soft light filtered in through the one window, bathing it in warmth. She quickly noted her mind wasn't as confused or tired as it had been before.

The bedroom she was in wasn't huge, but it wasn't small, either. Pale, beige walls stared back at her. There were no photos on the walls, but a few pieces of art were hung in a stylish way. The comfortable bed she rested in was plush and forgiving to her tender back, the sheets even softer.



       
         
       
        

She noticed immediately the sheet was the only thing covering her, also. She wore no clothing underneath. Lifting the sheet enough to peer under only bothered her further. Bruises littered her arms, along with gauze wrapping in every direction she looked.

Her pain wasn't as dulled this time around, however. It literally made her choke on air when she tried to move. From her head to her toes, Jordyn's body was stiff and sore.

"Ah, the principessa is awake," she heard someone say from the corner of the room. "It's good to see you more alive than what you were yesterday morning. Lucian will be happy about that."

Jordyn jerked in surprise at the unknown intruder. The action caused agony to ricochet all over. A whimper broke from her chest as she turned into the sheets, which only caused more pain. From the distress alone, her body fought back, threatening to upheave what might be in her stomach. A massive headache suddenly pounded in her skull.

"Cazzo merda. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."

Breathing deeply to try and ease the pain, Jordyn slowly calmed down. She peeked over the sheets through squinting eyes to see who the unknown male was. At first, she didn't recognize his green eyes, or dark hair. His features didn't ring a bell.

Then, she took another look.

Jordyn vaguely remembered the young man to be one of the four Marcello men who had been at Legs and Leather.

That brought with it a whole slew of other memories.