Breaking Out (The Surrender Trilogy 2)

“Why does any of this matter? Parker hates money. He thinks seeing it as anything more than a means to an end is the fastest way to corruption. He hates his father and anything to do with him.”

“But Parker will be rich all the same.”

She laughed at the absurdity of such a prediction. “How do you figure?”

“Because no matter how hard he fights the current, he will be ‘borne back ceaselessly into the past..’”

“Do you know who Parker’s working for, Lucian? Is he in trouble?”

He shut his eyes and sighed. “Ah, will your heart ever stop bleeding for him, Evelyn?”

She stiffened. “He’s my friend, Lucian. If he’s gotten into some sort of trouble I’d expect you to help him.”

He opened his eyes. Those black orbs stared through narrowed slits at her. “He’s a man, Evelyn. If he fucks up his life, it’s on him. You see him as a vulnerable boy. I assure you, he’s not. He’s got teeth sharper than razor blades beneath that charming smile. Don’t be a fool.”

She stood. “You’re drunk and now you are being a prick. I’m going to bed.”

She turned to walk out of the room and he said, “You’ll see. Your shining white knight is cloaked in secrets. One day you’ll see him for who he is. Let him sell you his bullshit about money being corrupt. It’s only as corrupt as the person who wields it. Every man is capable of manipulating others. Give them money and you’ve given them power. It’s a sword to reach farther and cut down obstacles more swiftly.”

She didn’t know what he was talking about and was developing a headache. Rather than sit there and listen to the nonsense of a drunken man, she turned and went to their room.

***

Evelyn’s body was turned onto her back, but her eyes didn’t open. Lucian’s weight settled on top of her as the blankets lifted. His mouth, hot and searing, fastened to her taut nipple, and she arched. Soft suckling sounds filled the darkness as his arms lifted her upper body off the bedding. His cool hair tickled her collarbone, and the scent of stale brandy prickled her nose.

There was nothing aggressive in his touch. He seduced her from her sleep with gentle kisses and caresses. What was becoming of them?

The weight of his erection balanced on her belly. He embraced her, but did not trespass. Who was this man and what had happened to her domineering Lucian? Only at her own physical invitation did he enter her.

There were no words. He pressed into her, not to build pleasure, but to remain deep in the foundation of her being. Like the kiss in the condo the night before, there was something frightening and desperate about the way he touched her now.

She wanted to scream with bewilderment. She couldn’t go on like this. Lucian either needed to confide in her about what was going on with him or she didn’t know what would happen to them. This couldn’t all be the result of her going to find Parker. He was keeping something from her and it was killing him.

They made love in the dark, and that stone she seemed to have swallowed sloshed about her belly, never letting her forget its presence. It was a tiny ball of tension, but there all the same, intruding on the serenity of her life, irritatingly present at every step like a pebble in her shoe.

***

She awoke to the scent of bacon and eggs. Her muscles pleaded as she rose from the mattress. What time had he come to bed last night? They had made love for a while. It was soft and gentle, but within the shadow of something dangerous.

Evelyn never had a relationship before Lucian, but she had the foreboding feeling that he might be readying her for a breakup.

Did this have to do with the apartment he was renting? She decided she would get some answers today.

After a quick shower, she donned a pair of cotton pants, a top, and sneakers. She headed downstairs and grinned at Lucy, who was dusting the furniture in the entryway. She found Lucian behind the six-burner stove, shuffling fluffy yellow eggs in a copper pan.

When he noticed her he smiled. “Good morning, beautiful. Breakfast’s almost done.”

She took a seat at the table and poured herself some coffee from the carafe. Lucian carried a plate of steaming eggs to the table and a pitcher of juice. “Lucy’s upset with me. Apparently she had her own breakfast planned for us, but I told her I needed to do some groveling for my behavior last night and I would be the only one cooking for you this morning.”

At least he wasn’t planning on acting like nothing happened. He sat and they quietly ate. He was watching her but not saying anything. Finally, she plunked down her fork and stared at him. “Since the brandy is locked away now, I’m going to ask. What the hell is going on, Lucian? Don’t lie to me either. I know something’s bugging you. You’ve been acting weird since last week.”