The concrete is now digging painfully into my back, and my ass has long since gone to sleep when I start wiggling against him. “You’re getting heavy, babe,” I sigh in his ear as I continue to stroke a hand down his back. He pulls back immediately, picking me up in his arms and walking back toward the steps to sit down with me on his lap. When I’m snuggled against his neck, I squeal as I notice his neck…and his shoulder. “Oh, crap, Luc, I can’t believe I did that.”

Looking more curious than anything, he asks, “What did you do?”

I drop my head on his shoulder, embarrassed at having done something so juvenile. “I…marked you. God, I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was doing it that hard.”

He pinches my naked ass with a wolfish grin. “You gave me a hickey? Little bit eighties, but it’s sexy as fuck. I think I’ll return the favor.” I jump up from his lap, trying to get away. Before I have taken more than a few steps, he is on me.

“Nooooo,” I yell as I try to dodge him. Once again, he has me trapped against the pool and his mouth is lowering toward the vulnerable skin of my neck. “Luc,” I giggle, “you wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, baby, believe me, I’d dare.” With that statement, his lips connect with my skin, and he is sucking on my neck. Who knew getting marked could be so damn sexy? My toes are curling and my nipples are hardening as he sucks my skin. By the time he pulls back, I am ready to ride his cock again. From the feel of his hot length pressing against my belly, he’s of the same mind.

He releases my neck with a pop and pulls me from the pool. Without a word, he lies back on a lounger and pulls me astride him. “Take it deep, baby, and ride me.” I line his cock up at my entrance and slowly lower myself on his massive width until he’s fully seated inside me. His big body is tense, but he waits for me to adjust to his size and set the pace.

My body arches as my hips circle and buck. He puts his hands on my hips to guide me up and down, hitting the places we both need stroked. Again, within moments, I feel the pressure building inside me. When Lucian releases my hips to rub my clit, I float away. His mouth at my nipples, swirling and biting, sends me to nirvana. My body clenches and convulses around his length. His hips rise up off the lounger as he slams into me one, two, three more times before stiffening in his release. “Oh, Luc,” I pant out… “That was so unbelievable.”

I lay down against his chest, enjoying the heat of his body against mine. His hand rubs my lower back before moving upwards to stroke the rough skin of my scar. His hand pauses as he feels me stiffen against him. “Lia…you’re beautiful and sexy as ever-loving fuck. This in no way takes away from that; it just makes me furious to think of how you got it.”

I relax back against him, letting him continue touching me. “I have to go to court on Friday for the preliminary hearing for my mother.” I hope I don’t sound as nervous as I feel about it. I would rather Lucian believe I’m not terrified by the prospect of seeing my stepfather again.

I am floored when he says, “I know. My lawyer and I will be there with you, of course.”

Pulling back, I look at him in astonishment. “Wh…what?”

“Of course, baby. I know you’re scared; hell, anyone else in your position would be. I’d never let you go to something like that alone. Max is going to see if they will let you give video testimony so you don’t have to be in the courtroom.”

To my horror, I feel tears gathering and washing down my cheeks. It’s like the floodgates have opened. Before I can stop the flow, I’m sobbing all over his chest. I can say nothing but, “Oh, Luc,” as I embarrass myself all over him.

He seems stunned, then panicked at my loss of control. He sits up quickly, pulling me onto his lap. “Honey, what’s wrong? What did I say?” He strokes my hair gently while I struggle for control.

“It’s just…I’m not used to…people caring. Really, you will come?” I know I’m sitting there looking at him with my heart on my sleeve, but I’m powerless to stop. Debra and Martin would do anything for me, and I have Rose, but I’ve never had a man in my life, someone who seems to worry about me. I want to lay back and revel in the safety of his arms. I never want to leave them.

He wraps me tighter against him, kissing my ear. “I know you’ve been worried about it. I’d never leave you to face that alone. I talked to Max about it as soon as I found out. I’m sorry; I should have told you earlier.”

I can’t resist saying, “That’s okay, you were too busy avoiding me for a week, remember?”

A faint blush lines his cheeks as he smiles at me. “Yeah, I remember. Sorry, baby. Just a lot of shit in my past I don’t deal with too well sometimes. You make everything feel better, though. I want to move forward for the first time in so damn many years.” His admission is both unexpected and touching. I am also more than a little curious as to what has happened in his past. I’ve seen pieces of a very complicated puzzle, but I’m not even close to solving the mystery. I decide to ask him one thing that has been bugging me. I’m curious as to his reaction.

“So, I saw some pictures that were on the mantle. One was of you, Aidan, and Cassie.” Bingo, his harsh breath and taut body answer one question for me. Cassie might not be all of his past problems, but she is there somewhere. Both his and his aunt’s reaction confirm that. I know I shouldn’t, but I go one-step further. “Aidan works with you, but there hasn’t been any mention of Cassie. I take it you all grew up together, so where is she now?” The hand that had been stroking my hair is now twisted in it, causing my scalp to sting. I don’t think he is even aware of what he’s doing. Not wanting to change the subject, I don’t protest the pain.

“Lia…Cassie’s been gone from here for years. She...lives elsewhere now. I just...please, can we not talk about her?” His skin beneath my hand has gone clammy, and his face is pale. I feel like an ass for pushing him on the subject. I wonder if Cassie is dead; maybe that’s what he and his aunt mean by her not being here anymore. Whatever the reason, it causes both Lucian and Fae pain to talk about her, so I decide to let it go. Thankfully, when I make no further mention of Cassie, Lucian’s grip on my hair loosens, and the pressure is gone.

Trying to lighten the mood, I sit back on my heels and lift my hair. “So, what does my neck really look like? You do realize people at school will notice this tramp stamp I have now.” His chuckle is light, but shadows remain in his eyes. I stand, trying to wiggle my ass in some halfway-seductive manner and dive off the side of the pool into the deep end. When I surface, a smile plays over his lips, and the darkness is leaving him. I give him by best straight face and ask, “Do you guys have a pool boy who could come in and assist me? I fear the pool drain has captured one of my nipples.” When he stands and prepares to jump in, I know…I’ve got him. He’s mine for now. The past will have to wait.