It was cute, really, even if Jordyn was the one who added the spices.
In that moment, Jordyn realized she wanted what these two people had. A love like this with a man who noticed everything about her, even if it was silly and ridiculous. Jordyn's heart sped up when Lucian's hand found her knee under the table, squeezing gently.
"You okay?" Lucian asked quietly. "It's been crazy today, I know."
"More than okay," Jordyn said, truthfully.
Antony continued staring at his wife like the rest of the people at the table weren't watching their exchange with rapt attention. "I didn't say it wasn't good. It's very good. I said it was different. It is, isn't it?"
Cecelia nodded. "It is."
"Is that all you're going to give me? I'd like to know why the sudden change."
"Eat your food, Antony. I can't give anyone specifics unless it's a Marcello woman, you know this. Change is good."
"It's just an old family recipe. You should get over this secrecy thing. I'm your husband, and even I can't know?" Cecelia still refused to say a thing. Antony shook his head, sighing. "I love you, but sometimes you're so difficult to understand, Tesoro."
"And you didn't say grace, either," Cecelia added with a smile, ignoring his remark. "Be quick about it. The rest of us are hungry."
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."
"Apparently I needed a date. Going alone was not acceptable. She attended the same private school I did. It worked."
"Huh. Was she your girlfriend?"
Way to be subtle, Jordyn thought.
"Reagan?" Lucian laughed, taking the album from Jordyn and closing it up. "No. A friend of a friend. Her date cancelled last minute, or some nonsense. Cecelia had a fit when she figured out I was planning to go alone and leave right after arriving. So, Reagan and I hooked up for the prom."
"Literally, or figuratively?" Jordyn asked.
Lucian's smirk grew into a full blown grin. "You're jealous of something that happened ten years ago?"
"No."
"Liar, you are. You're cheeks are even turning pink. I like it."
"You like my jealousy?" Jordyn couldn't quite get her head wrapped around that.
Lucian took a step forward, crowding Jordyn against the bookshelf with his bulk, warmth, and fresh scent. She didn't even try to move away, instead bracing both hands to the shelf behind her. The towel covering his lower half drew in her gaze once more, straight down to his defined rows of abs, and the hard cut V of his groin.
How much of Lucian was it going to take before Jordyn could feel like she was able to breathe again?
"Yes, I like it," Lucian murmured low. "It's a flash of heat. Straight in the gut. Instant anger and disbelief. That's what it feels like, right?"
Jordyn nodded. "Yeah, just like that."
"Possessiveness in one fell swoop. It's intense. Takes over everything. It doesn't have to be rational, or even satisfying. It just is. But, it does mean something good."
"What's that?"
"It's a clear sign you consider something, or someone, only yours, sweetheart."
Lucian leaned forward, grazing his nose along hers before another knowing grin split his lips. "Like after the dinner at my parents, how I threatened to cut out Gio's guest's eyes if he looked at you one more time. At least my brother thought it was funny."
Jordyn tried not to let it show how much his words affected her, and failed miserably. "You can't be doing that."
"Why not? You're beautiful, I know. That doesn't mean I want every other man in this world admiring something that isn't his. Once is good enough, a second time is asking for trouble. And I am exactly the kind of man who likes a bit of trouble in his life. You're certainly providing that."
"You didn't really hurt him, did you?"
Lucian chuckled deeply, the sound rocking her straight to the core. "No, but I would have if he hadn't been in the home he was. He didn't take my threat seriously. I always follow through. Every single time."