Falling In (The Surrender Trilogy 1)

He wasn’t delicate with her. He sucked her flesh hard, bruising the tender tips, but it felt too good to ask him to be gentle. His mouth moved from one breast to the other and then back to her lips. It was a cycle she never wanted to end.

Scout thought about that morning and what he had done to her. She wanted to feel like that again. Boldly, she reached around to where he gripped her hips and nudged his hand. She closed her palm over his hand and directed it between her thighs. He pulled his mouth from hers and pressed his forehead to her shoulder. As he panted he looked down at where she had moved his hand.

Suddenly she was being flipped over, and the cool leather upholstery pressed into her back. Lucian dropped to his knees on the floor of the car and peeled her panties down her legs. Her heart raced as she watched him look at her there, completely bare, nothing to cover herself with.

“God you’re beautiful.” He kissed her hip and licked up to her breasts. His strong fingers massaged her ass, and then his mouth was between her legs.

“Lucian, no!”

She reached for his head as his tongue licked her slit. All of her pleasure vanished, suddenly replaced with extreme mortification.

Scout squeezed his head with her thighs and he yanked back.

“Stop.” The command fell from his lips like a whip cracks through the air, sharp and precise.

He wrenched her knees apart and glared at her. His gaze was hard and had her shrinking away as if he’d slapped her.

“Why are you here?” he asked with intent. When she said nothing he barked, “Answer the question!”

“Because you asked me to be,” she whispered, a little frightened.

“And how did I ask you to come to me? What were my conditions?”

Why was he acting like this? “Prepared. You get control.”

“This is not a game, Evelyn. I either have the control when it comes to sex or it doesn’t happen. If you can’t agree to that I’ll have Dugan gather your things and deliver them to your home and our agreement will be over. I will not ever tolerate being told no by my lover.”

“But I’m not your lover,” she whispered, and he looked at her menacingly, one last time, then sat up.

He retrieved his shirt and began to get dressed. She wasn’t sure what was happening. He kept changing the rules. The weight of her sweater suddenly on her thighs made her cringe. What was she doing?

Dressing was a shameful experience. Each item of clothing acted as a reminder of how far she had fallen. By the time she zipped her boots, she was blinking back tears. Being whatever she was supposed to be to him was simply too hard.

She had never been so happy to see Patras Hotel before. She’d go change her clothes, grab her bag and go. Tomorrow she’d beg Tamara to give her her old hours back. When the doors opened to the penthouse floor, Lucian went to the private elevators and she walked briskly toward her room. He cursed and called her name. She walked faster.

As she dug her key out of her pocket she saw him gaining on her. Thankfully she unlocked the door on the first try and had the satisfaction of slamming it in his face.

“Evelyn, open the door.”

“Go away.”

Disappointingly, that’s all it took. He sighed and she heard his muffled steps walk away. He didn’t persevere, didn’t try to convince her further.

Once Scout got over the sting of being so quickly discarded, she began to pack. She rummaged through the drawers, putting any practical items aside, items she could carry with her, wear or sell. She wasn’t taking the majority of the clothes with her, because she simply couldn’t lug it all, but she could at least put them back in the bags and boxes, so returning them wouldn’t be a hardship for whomever got that job.

Pursing her lips, she contemplated her belongings. Were they truly hers? She hadn’t met her side of the bargain. She didn’t steal. Convincing herself that the items were likely inconsequential to Lucian, she stifled any protests from her conscience and stuffed them into a bag.

Her bed was made and her bags were packed. She tied her old sneakers and sighed as she placed her warm coat on the comforter. She’d need that once winter hit. There was a quiet beep, and then she heard the knob turning. Her jaw unhinged when Lucian stepped inside the room and slammed the door.

“What are you doing here? You can’t just barge into someone’s room!”

He looked around dramatically, taking in the walls, ceiling, and floor. “I’m sorry. I thought this was my hotel.”

Exasperated, she grabbed her bags and snapped, “Fine, stay. I’m leaving.” He gripped her arm and pressed her into the wall before she could get to the door. “Get off of me, Lucian.”