I Heart You Page 2

  Rachel folded her arms across her chest and glared at the detective. “What exactly are you trying to say?"

  Detective Petersen didn't answer her question. Instead, he pulled out his card and gave it to her. “If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to call me."

  Turning on his heel, he left the store without a backward glance. Rachel remained where she stood, not realizing that Lucian was behind her until he touched her shoulder. She nearly jumped out of her skin and spun around to face him.

  "You scared the hell out of me!"

  Lucian pulled her into his arms, his hands stroking her spine. “I'm sorry."

  His voice was so soothing that Rachel ached for him to cover her with his body, but the detective's words remained in the back of her mind as she hugged him back. He sighed beside her ear, his hot breath making her melt even as she wondered about him.

  She broke the embrace and looked into his eyes, recalling the look on his face when he returned to the alley and found the stalker there. His expression of surprise and anger seemed so genuine, and he hadn't hesitated in rushing to her aid.

  No, it's impossible. Lucian can't be involved in this.

  He cupped her face in his hands, leaning down to brush her soft lips with his. Their mouths joined, and she gasped as their tongues dueled. He tasted of cinnamon, and she moaned into his mouth at the wonder of kissing him. He was delicious. Before she knew it, she had wrapped her arms around his neck and her body was melded to his. The heat and hardness of his erection brushed against her mound, and her inner muscles clenched at the thought of taking him inside.

  Lucian broke the kiss and raised his head, his gaze intense. “You don't have to do this, Rachel. You're upset, and I don't want you to have regrets about tonight."

  Rachel swallowed hard as her reasoning and desire went to war again. She appreciated his thoughtful words, but she couldn't deny the fact that she wanted him. Her attacker's eyes haunted her as she stood before her would-be lover, and she made her choice. I could have been killed tonight. I need something beautiful to chase away the darkness.

  Daring herself to take the next step, she met his gaze. “Lucian, I trust you. It's true that I'm still processing what happened, but even if that psycho hadn't threatened me, I still would've wanted to spend time with you. As for what might happen ... let's just get out of here and see how things develop from there."

  He nodded and silently extended his hand to her, and she took it without hesitation. Together they left the bookstore, and Rachel's entire body tingled at the thought of what the rest of the evening may have in store for them.

  * * * *

  The man in black let out a frustrated growl as he removed his ski mask. The icy wind hit his exposed face full force, but he barely noticed. He trudged through the snow, unable to think of anything but the thrill of finally meeting Rachel Malone in the flesh.

  I almost had her.

  His blood ran hot at the memory of her frightened eyes and trembling lips. The vision kept the night's chill at bay. In that alley, he'd been close enough to notice the light dusting of freckles on her face. He caught a whiff of her floral perfume, breathed it in and wanted to make it a part of him. He reveled in her fear and helplessness, and his cock was diamond hard. In that moment, he had wanted her more than any other woman in his life.

  He grit his teeth. He would have taken her if that young fool hadn't interfered.

  Patience, he reminded himself as he continued walking down the deserted streets. Tonight's loss was only a minor setback. He had only just begun the dance of seduction, and it was only a matter of time before Rachel would be his.

  "You looking for a date, handsome?"

  The young woman's voice was nothing to get excited over, and he rolled his eyes at the unwelcome interruption of his thoughts. Cursing to himself, he turned towards her and stopped when he got a good look at the hooker that stood before him. A powerful surge of desire claimed him as he took in the sight of her scantily clad form beneath her open winter coat, her firm breasts tempting him. He wanted to squeeze them in his hands to see if they were real. She had beautiful legs, and he imagined them wrapped around him.

  The man licked his lips, staring at her with unmasked hunger. More than anything else, he was riveted by her face. With her long dark hair blowing in the wind, she looked almost exactly like Rachel. They also shared the same height and build. Amused by the similarities between the two women, the corners of his mouth twitched.

  Perhaps tonight won't be a total disappointment, after all.

  He managed to speak, his voice rough like gravel. “How much?"

  The prostitute hesitated for a second before smiling, and he wondered if she was new to the skin game. He pushed the thought away. It didn't matter. She took a deep breath before speaking. “It depends on what you want and how long..."

  "Let's go.” His dick throbbed like mad against his right thigh. He needed her now.

  She glanced around the area where they stood, and he was relieved that there was no one else nearby. He wasn't in the mood to deal with any pimps or other working girls. His jaw tightened with annoyance at her hesitation. “Do you want to get paid or not? You're not the only walking pussy available in this city."

  The girl's eyes widened at his words, and he wanted to shove his cock into her. He almost laughed at the irony. She was in the business of selling her body, but her facial expressions were the picture of innocence. Oh yes, he was going to enjoy this.

  She smiled at him. “Okay. Do you have a car? It's really cold out here."

  He pointed to his car in the distance, giving her a feral grin. “Right this way."

  The man in black led the way to the parking lot, biting the inside of his cheek to control the urge to shout out his excitement. He may have missed out on his object of desire, but beside him was the next best thing. He could feel her warmth next to him as they walked together, and he couldn't wait to sample what she had to offer.

  They reached his car and he pressed the remote to unlock the doors. She climbed in and sat as he opened the driver's side door and pushed the button to unlock the trunk. The hooker looked at him with a confused expression as he turned the key to start the engine.

  He returned her stare, his dark eyes penetrating her lighter ones. “I need to get my wallet out of the trunk. Stay here and relax while the car heats up. I won't be long."

  She nodded and he rushed out of the car. The trunk was empty except for a few tools, a couple of rags and a small brown vial. After checking to see if the girl was looking at him, he took a piece of cloth and unscrewed the vial. He poured the clear liquid onto the fabric before stuffing it in his pocket. He chuckled to himself. Let the games begin.

  He returned to the car, sliding into the driver's seat with a sigh. “All right, let's do this."

  The girl frowned at him, her hand grasping the door handle. “Where's your wallet?"

  His laugh was chilling. “I've got it right here,” he snarled as he covered her nose and mouth with the rag. Her muffled scream amused him, as did her struggles. But the chloroform did its work, and she soon slid into unconsciousness.

  After buckling the seatbelt over her limp frame, he put the car in drive and sped away into the night. He was so excited that he nearly forgot to keep below the speed limit as he carried his precious cargo to their destination, looking forward to enjoying the dark pleasures that awaited him.

  * * * *

  "Feeling better?"

  Lucian regarded her intently, and Rachel was intoxicated. It had nothing to do with the wine she'd sipped with dinner. It was all him, and his company was every bit as delicious as the food. She sighed, content. “Mmm, yes. Much better. Thank you."

  He flashed her a grin, his eyes shining in the candlelight. “My pleasure. So enlighten me, Ms. Malone, how did you decide to go into the romance business? I mean, have you always wanted to be a writer, or was it something that just happened?"

  Rachel took another swallow o
f wine, peering at him over the rim of the glass. She put it down, the corners of her mouth turning upward in amusement.

  "Is it me, or is this conversation getting a bit one-sided? Come on, Lucian. Spill."

  His eyebrows shot up at the double entendre, and a giggle escaped her lips before she could stop it. The combination of the lovely atmosphere of the Italian restaurant, the wine and the man before her shattered her defenses, and she was truly enjoying herself. She hadn't been so relaxed with a man in what seemed like ages, and she was very interested in exploring Lucian Drake ... in all possible ways.

  Lucian's wink was full of mischief. “All in due time. But for now, I'd like an answer."

  She released a shaky breath, one she hadn't realized she'd been holding. “Okay, then. I guess my answer is yes and no to both questions, if that makes sense. I've loved writing for as long as I can remember, but I never dreamt that I'd make a career out of it until a few years ago. In fact, there was a time when I actively pushed it away."

  Rachel's gaze dropped to the white lace tablecloth, and she traced the intricate pattern with a finger. Her voice was distant as her mind drifted.

  "Growing up, my home life wasn't ... writing was a beautiful escape. It was wonderful to have the power to shape my world into whatever I wanted it to be, to craft a fantasy and lose myself in it for a while. No one understood why I needed to sit by myself under my favorite tree, why I spent hours writing in my notebook while my older brothers always jumped through hoops to please my father. Christ, that man was something else."

  Lucian's hand closed over hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. She raised her head, and from the intense look in his eyes she knew he understood. “You don't have to say any more if you don't want to,” he whispered.

  "No, it's okay. He didn't abuse me or anything, but he made it clear that I was a disappointment to him. My father wanted only perfection from his children. When his sky-high expectations weren't met, heaven help the one involved. I remember one day when I brought home a report card with a C on it, and whoa nelly!"

  Her laughter lacked mirth, and Lucian stroked her skin with his thumb as she continued. “It didn't matter that the rest of the marks were straight A's. He still blew a gasket over that C, screaming at me until he was red in the face about how I'd never get a scholarship or a decent living if I continued down ‘the path of depravity,’ as he called it. After that blowup, he gave me the silent treatment for a month."

  Rachel's dark eyes were filled with pain. “Needless to say, that wasn't the only incident of its kind between us. For the life of me I couldn't see what his problem with me was, and I fought him at every turn. Our family was divided over this, mostly my parents. My mother encouraged me to follow my dreams while my father sought to tear them down."

  A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another. “Then my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my days of writing were over before they'd even begun ... or so I thought. In an attempt to bring peace into our chaotic house during her illness and make things easier on her, I tried hard to mend fences with my father. I began working for the family business while going to college full-time, spending every spare moment with Mom. I worked my ass off and eventually got a degree in the field he chose for me, but my heart wasn't in it."

  She bit her lip at the memory, and she tasted blood. “She struggled with that awful disease for five years, Lucian. Watching her fade away while I was powerless to save her ... that was as close to Hell as I ever want to get. When the doctors made it clear that she wouldn't survive the last recurrence, my mother called me to her bedside and gave me the kick in the ass I sorely needed. She told me that I had become a shadow of my former self to please my father, and that watching me live a lie brought her more agony than the burning tumor in her chest. ‘You have to stay true to yourself,’ she said."

  Her fingers tightened on his. “She died three days later. My heart was broken, and I didn't think it was possible for the situation to get any worse until my mother's will was read. It turned out that she'd left me some money that even my father didn't know about, enough for me to leave home and get a new start. The stranger that was once my father was livid at the news, and he demanded that I sign the money over to him or he would disown me."

  Rachel chuckled. “Let's just say that I told him exactly where to stick the business degree that I never wanted to begin with. It was time for me to follow my dreams. I took the money Mom gave me and moved to Chicago to make a new life, and I have no regrets."

  Lucian's eyes gleamed with appreciation. “I'm glad you're here."

  Her chest was tight as she looked back at him. “So am I."

  Their joined hands remained on the table, and he lowered his head to place a kiss upon her skin. She shivered at the contact of his sensual lips, and the earlier sparks of desire grew into a five alarm blaze. She wanted him in every way: above, below, behind and inside her. As soon as possible, she wanted to lie with him with her body as naked as the emotions that coursed through her. She wasn't willing to accept anything less than everything he had to offer.

  She took a deep breath and spoke from the heart. “Take me home with you, Lucian."

  The liquid silver of his eyes heated from her words, and they mesmerized her. In their depths she recognized a soul-deep longing that matched hers, an ache that needed to be treated with care. She was determined to give it to him, and get some herself.

  Lucian stood and took her hand, and they left the table. He slipped her coat onto her shoulders, and Rachel moved as if she were in an underwater ballet. She was weightless and free, like she was floating instead of walking. Her body was alive with sensual energy, and each touch of his hands on her skin made her want in a way she'd never experienced before with anyone. She yearned for this man all the way down to her cells. She had to have him. As if he'd read her mind, he smiled at her before opening the front door.

  "I'm going to give you so much pleasure..."

  Chapter Three

  In the hallway outside his apartment, Lucian pinned Rachel against the wall, his powerful hands easily holding down her wrists. His wicked eyes challenged her to fight her way out of his grasp, and she giggled with delight. She squirmed against him in a half-hearted attempt to free herself, her breasts making contact with his chest. Moaning at the sensation of her nipples rubbing against her clothing and his solid form. She arched to increase the pressure between their bodies. “Stop teasing me, Lucian."

  He let go of her wrists and grabbed her ass, bringing their lower bodies together. His cock pulsed in the vee between her thighs, and Rachel wanted him inside her. She moved her hips, loving the groan that escaped him and the way his hands tightened their grip. She purred in his ear. “Fuck me, baby. Show me how devilish you are."

  Lucian laughed. “I can't fuck you in the hallway, Rachel. Keep your shirt on."

  She grinned evilly as he stepped back and fumbled for his keys. “Not for long, I hope."

  He turned towards the door, and a frown creased his forehead at the note he found there. Curious, Rachel tried to read it from where she stood, but Lucian peeled it off the door and thrust his key in the lock. Then she forgot all about the slip of paper as he kicked the door open and swept her inside.

  Rachel waited in the darkness as he closed and locked the door behind her, her heavy breathing audible to her own ears. She could hear him walking towards her, his steps slow and sure. It was as if he knew to take his time, prolonging her ache and increasing her arousal. She was exposed to him. All he had to do was look at her, and her secrets would be known. He reached out for her and turned her around, his face in shadow.

  Neither of them said a word as Lucian removed their coats. He bent his head to kiss her, and she opened to accept his tongue. Rachel allowed herself to be swept away by the taste of the wine he'd drunk with dinner, not realizing that he'd moved them into the bedroom until he pulled away. With a tenderness that left her breathless, he caressed her face and neck before moving down to
the buttons of her red silk blouse. She shuddered as his calloused fingers unhooked the row of fastenings, teasing her exposed skin.

  He peeled away the blouse to reveal a matching bra, and her heart sped up at the sound of his appreciative groan. He tasted her again, his hands going to the side zipper of her skirt and sliding it down. The garment fell to the floor, and she stepped out of it. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice hoarse as he stared at her.

  Rachel kicked off her pumps and laid down on his large bed, breathing heavy with desire as she gazed up at him. “It's your turn now. I want to see you."

  With hasty movements, Lucian stripped off his t-shirt and tossed it to the floor. Her mouth watered at the sight of his broad chest, his dusky nipples begging for her to lick them. The dark trail of hair called out to her, bringing her gaze down to his magnificent abdomen before disappearing into the waistband of his jeans. She licked her lips, wanting to take his cock into her mouth.

  Lucian got rid of his boots and socks before walking to the side of the bed. He reached for his belt, his stormy eyes speaking of pleasures yet to come. He unbuckled it, dragging it slowly through the belt loops. For her, the wait was excruciating. She began to rise from the bed, but he stopped her with a firm “no."

  Rachel was excited even further by the power behind his tone, and she fell back against the pillows. Her mind reeled at what was about to happen. His hand went to the button fly of his jeans, and she forgot to breathe. His eyes never leaving her face, he yanked it open to reveal the outline of his cock straining against his briefs. Hot for him, she rolled her nipples through the lace of her bra. “Lucian, please..."

  He placed the belt on the bed before climbing on top of her. She released a sexy whimper in response to his weight on her body, purposefully inflaming him with the sound.

  Rachel eyed the belt beside her and flushed with need. In the past, she had asked other lovers to dominate and restrain her in bed, but they refused. Frustrated by the lack of power games in her real life, she began to write novels that featured all the things that she had wanted for herself. She wrote sex scenes that showcased the fantasies that she kept locked inside. Her book, Love's Captive, was known as her hottest work of all time.