Chapter 18

Lucien’s POV

I woke up with the feeling of rightness. Like I've finally come home.

Hair tickles my chin and I look down. Corrigan is lying with her head pillowed on my arm. Her lips are slightly parted in sleep and she looks young and innocent.

Her long lashes cast a shadow on her cheek seductively. The long, elegant expanse of her back is bared for my eyes, and I watch with appreciation. Her right hand is pillowed on my chest, and her leg is thrown over mine.

The scent of sex is thick in the air. It brings out something primal in me. Makes me want to push her on her back and sink into her wet, hot channel again. Caesar seems to like that idea.

I want to keep this moment, but I know how fleeting this is and I don't trust Corrigan. She might be as faithful as she wants till someone she prefers better comes around and she would be the treacherous bitch once again.

That thought brings me down to earth quickly. I peel her hand away from my chest gently and let her rest her head on the pillow instead of my arm. I get out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her, and walk to the intercom.

Thankfully, she hadn't flung that at me last night. I feel a smile creep up on my face as I think of last night. I'm definitely keeping her.

“Can I get cleaning staff in here?” I say as the front desk picks up. I look around the suite. “And breakfast.”

Corrigan’s POV

I wake up to see the space beside me empty. It's expected. I’m not naïve enough to believe that sex would link Lucien and I now any more than it had in the past. In the end, it was still sex. Heavy, hot, explosive sex, but sex all the same. No real commitment.

He still didn't trust me. He still didn't love me. The fact that he liked having sex with me didn't mean that he wouldn't dispose of me; the taste for novelty died off. I blink back the tears. The voices in my head that make me feel cheap and easy.

Blackthorn’s whore.

“Good morning.” I hear Lucien say.

I look at the foot of the bed. He is standing there, fully dressed in a white shirt and beige slacks. He has a cup of coffee in his hands. I smile at him. What better way to light up my day?

Carefully, I wrap the sheets around me and get out of bed, walking to him so I can take the coffee. He kisses my neck with aching familiarity and tugs the sheets down, wrapping his arms around me. Something had changed. We're not in an actual relationship yet—I'm still his mistress. But our relationship is not quite as stilled as it had been yesterday.

I look around and notice the room has been tidied up. “You cleaned everything up?” I ask, sipping the coffee.

“With the help of a few staff.” He helps me get into the plush hotel robe, taking the coffee from me.

“The hotel staff came in here? While I was asleep?” I ask, embarrassed. It would be all over the place soon.

He seems to notice the change in my expression. “Hey.” He says, taking my chin and forcing my gaze to meet his. “What’s wrong?”

“It's…” I move away from him, sitting at the table and picking up a berry. I run my hands through my hair, trying to kill my agitation. “The looks I get, the comments…”

I want to hit something but I restrain myself. “You know what?” I say. “just forget it.”

He looks down at me almost reflectively. “Who exactly gives you these looks and comments?” he asks, sitting on three chairs opposite me and taking a grape too.

“Staff, guests… It's alright that I'm a “kept woman” who caused your exile but I really wish I didn't get people staring daggers into my back for something I did there years ago.”

He lets out a breath. “Wait for me, pet.”

He picks up the intercom and dials the reception. “Good morning, Diana…Yes…Please do me a favor and gather all the staff who have attended to the presidential suite on the top floor and send them up here. Thank you.”

With that, he sets down the receiver. I frown, realizing what he wants to do is coming to me. “No, Lucien. Don’t do it!”

He takes my wrist and pulls me to my feet, looking at me. “Come with me.” He says, pulling me along with him to the reception of the hotel.

Staff stand side by side in a line by the time we get to the ground floor. I belt my robe tighter around me, avoiding eye contact. Lucien stands beside me, his arm draped possessively around my waist. I feel vulnerable. Straight out of bed with my hair sticking out in all angles, wearing a robe and a pair of slippers. I can't wait for this to be over.

“It has come to my notice that a few of you here have problems with Miss Price’s presence in this establishment.” Lucien says audibly.

“For the sake of formal introduction,” He gestures to me. “This is Miss Corrigan Price. A very special guest of mine. She is not to be treated with disrespect of any kind whatsoever. Your personal beliefs or morals have absolutely nothing to do with Miss Price’s presence here and neither does any antipathy you feel towards her.”

He places his hands on my shoulders. “From now on I would like you all to treat her as is fitting.

She is an honored guest of mine. The daughter of the previous beta of the Blue Ridge pack. If you have a problem with this you are free to leave as the doors are wide open and seek employment somewhere else. Have I made myself clear?” he says.

They respond in unison. I stand, mortified, as they disperse.

“I’m sorry if that embarrassed you.” He says as we stand together in the elevator on our way back to the suite. I nod.

“It’s nothing.” I say.

“It caused the violent outburst yesterday so it's definitely something.” He says. “Nobody has the right to judge you.”

“So you stopped people from saying bad things about me in public.” I say as the elevator stores and the doors slide open. “Who's going to stop me from thinking those things about myself?”

With that, I walk into the room, shutting the door behind me.

Lucien’s POV

“So she doesn't know?” I hear Cormac say behind me.

I turn. “You really should stop sneaking up on me.” I say calmly, walking into my office. “I’ve killed for less.”

I pour myself a shot of whiskey and watch him take a seat. “Would you like some?” I ask. He pours some for himself.

“So why doesn’t she know about the planned usurpation?” Cormac asks. I down the drink, welcoming the burn in my throat.

“It does not concern her.” I say, sitting down and picking up files that were dropped off on my desk.

“The fact that she could be used against you and that the entire group of rogues planning to overthrow you can not wait to get their hands on her doesn't concern her?”

I hate how reasonable he sounds so I ignore him, focusing on the work in front of me.

“So you would rather let her think that she’s nothing but your whore and let her have such a low opinion of herself than tell her the truth?”

“I’m doing it to protect her.” I snapped at him, irked. I look at the stupid smirk on his face and roll my eyes, forcing my temper back into place.

“The pack house is not safe right now.” I say. “ I'm still stuck trying to convince everyone to stick together and that I'm not a bastard like Dante and that I actually have their advantage in mind. Certain pack members do not agree.

I won't let Corrigan into that sort of place. When everything gets settled, I'll take her back.”

“You do realize that her father is currently joining forces with Niles Rhodes to make sure your head loses its place on your shoulders.” Cormac says. “And that she could decide to take their side any time soon.”

I have thought about that. More often than I should have. If the opportunity presented itself for her to see me dead once and for all, would she do it? Would she help to bring me down?

I don't realize that I have shattered the glass with my grip till I look down at the debris on the documents.

“I would, if I survived this hypothetical usurpation, exile her.” I say calmly.

“You never really planned to kill her, did you?” Cormac asks, grinning like an idiot. I scowl and pour myself a drink.

“Took you a bit too long to realize, didn’t it?”