Chapter 51 Esteem
“Careful, Lucien. Tread carefully.” Olivia said through her teeth.
“Oh?” Lucien mocked, cocking his head to the side. “Can't take it?”
“This is not about taking it.” She said sighing.
“Enlighten me then, what is this about?” He said, interrupting her as he leaned in, faking full attention.
“Don't do this, Lucien.” She said exasperatedly. “I'm trying to do what is good for the region. You are on the verge of losing the throne.” Her voice rose.
“Don't I know that?” Lucien matched her temper, his veins pulsing. “You think I don't know that?” He asked again, this time calmly.
“I think you have forgotten what is at stake.” She stood up slowly and catwalked to where he sat.
Lucien stood up, matching her height. She was tall, but not as tall as him. And he wasn't going to sit and let her intimidate him.
Her hands ran through his chest.
“What are you doing, Olivia?” Lucien's breath caught. Having her so close to him, made his skin tingle.
“Reminding you of what you stand to lose.” She whispered in his ear, bringing her mouth to his nose.
She was so close to him, and he could remember what she tasted like ten years ago.
Olivia's hands ran through his shirt, stopping just below his waist. “I can see your body still recognises my touch.”
She pointed at his hardened groin. “Why? Does she not satisfy you as I did? She's so innocent, Lucien.”
Without warning, she skillfully unzipped his trousers, packing him up.
Lucien froze. He'd not realised how much he'd missed her touch, her expertise.
“You miss this, don't you?” Isabella whispered into his ear as she bent down skillfully, her hands on the buckle of his belt.
“Stop.” He commanded, his hands on hers. “Go further and I promise to kill you.” His voice was cold.
Olivia froze, standing up immediately as she walked majestically back to her seat behind the desk.
“Your loss.” She tsked.
Lucien faced her, his body composed as he adjusted his clothes. “As I said, Olivia, you people should go and fuck yourselves. You especially.
He slammed the door noisily and stepped out of the room. He'd barely taken a few steps forward when he came face-to-face with Isabella.
His brows shifted, the anger disappearing from his face as though he'd just been poured a cold bucket of water.
“Izzy,” he said softly. “Thought you were asleep.”
“I was,” Isabella responded calmly. “Woke up and couldn't find you, just before a maid stepped in and offered to show me around the place.”
“That cunny bitch.” Lucien swore under his breath.
“Are you okay?” Isabella glanced at him. “You look like you could use some sleep.”
Lucien nodded. “Let's go. We're leaving.”
“What?” The words had come as a shock to Isabella. “But we're not done.” She was trying hard to hide her astonishment but was failing woefully at it. She could see the guards stealing glances their way.
“I'll tell you all about it,” Lucien said, nodding. “But for now, we have to go.”
Isabella let her eyes run through him. “Okay.” She accepted. “Let's go pack our luggage.” She said and made her way back to the room they'd assigned to them, with Lucien on her heels.
“What is it?” She asked, concern etching on her face, the moment the doors closed behind her.
“We have to leave. It's futile. They're not giving us their support.” His veins pulsed with every word that came out of his mouth.
Isabella grunted. “You've said that before.” Her voice was firm. “What really happened, Lucien?”
“That's not really important. I could tell you as we leave.”
“Really?” Isabella's voice hardened. “All the talks about partners and this is how it ends? I should have known.” Her lips curled in disdain, her back turned to him.
Lucien sighed. “But we are partners.”
Isabella scoffed. “Yet you wanna treat me like I'm some kid that needs protection.”
“You're not…” He trailed, wondering why she was suddenly flaring up.
“Spare me the talk, Lucien. I'm a grown woman.”
“I'm well aware of that.” He grunted.
“You should take it, you know? Take her offer.”
Lucien's voice hardened. “What are you talking about?”
Isabella folded her arms, her expression accusatory. “You must really take me for a fool.” She muttered.
“Olivia's offer.” She spat. “Take it.”
“You heard the conversation?” He asked. It was not really a question. “How?”
Now, this was a question.
“That's not the point, Lucien. I know and that's all that matters. Take it and return home to claim your throne.”
“You're being unreasonable.” He said, groaning.
“Am I?” She fired. “Am I really the unreasonable one?”
“How did you hear us?” Lucien pressed. “I need to know, Izzy. Please.” He muttered.
Isabella sighed. “Was going around, when I heard voices from a room.”
“So you eavesdropped?”
“Eavesdropped?” Isabella scoffed. “I didn't, but now I wish I did. You never tell me anything.”
“That's because I'm trying to protect you.” Lucien almost screamed.
“From what? Yourself?” She matched him. “Cause I don't think I need protection.”
“Izzy?” He called gently, realising he'd just screamed at her. “I'm sorry.”
Isabella looked away.
“I really didn't mean to.” He continued, encouraged by her silence. “It's just, Olivia offering herself to me brought bad memories and I…”
“She offered herself to you?” The anger in Isabella's voice was unmistakable. “I thought the clan…”
Lucien shook his head as he moved slowly to her. “Olivia and I have history together, Izzy. Even before you came to the picture.” He stopped, looking for the right words to continue.
“She was supposed to be your mate?” Isabella asked the obvious.
“Yes. But I just couldn't.” He spun her around, so she could face him. “Listen to me, Isabella Thorne. I know this is a stretch but I don't wanna lose you. Even if it means losing the throne.”
Isabella felt her heart flutter. “I love you too, Lucien Blackthorn. But you're not going to lose the throne.”
Lucien smiled, as he drew her to himself. “Also, I haven't experienced being queen, so I must fight for the throne with all I have.”
“Vain, aren't you?” Lucien teased, sniffing her.
Isabella giggled. “Call it whatever you want.” She said, allowing herself to be sniffed. “I need to stand in front of the crowd, wave my hands and allow them hail me.” Her smile was mischievous.
“I see the vision.” Lucien indulged her.
“I'm glad.” She smiled. “I don't like it when we fight, Lucien.” She murmured.
“Me too,” Lucien admitted. “I love having you in my corner, Isabella Thorne.”
“I do too.” She snuggled into him. “Can we restrategize? We need to know the next plan.”
“You're right, but before then,” he led her hand to his groin. “You're healed, I suppose?”
“You!” Isabella widened her eyes, yet her hand remained on him.
Lucien shrugged. “I really can't help it when I'm around you. You're up for some?”
Isabella rolled her eyes. “Like I have a choice. I wouldn't want to miss this for anything in the world.” She unfastened her gown and let it fall on the floor.
“I like your honesty,” Lucien smirked. “Also for the queenship?” He narrowed his eyes, as he unclasped her bra.
“Err.” Isabella trailed. “Why choose when I can have them both?”
Her answer elicited huge bouts of laughter from Lucien. “You're right.” His voice was soothing. “Why choose when you can have both?”
As he spoke, Isabella's hands worked on him, unclasping his belt, his shirt unbutonned and his trousers flung to some part of the room.
In one swoop, he lifted her as he carried her to the desk.
“The desk huh?” Isabella teased, her hands running through his chest. “That seems to be your favourite spot.”
Lucien grunted as he set her on the desk, before claiming her lips in his.
He ran his hands all over her body, his fingers taking a nipple before pinching it, making Isabella squirm.
They separated, hands still all over each other, as Lucien separated her legs, widening them till her pussy was in his full view, her lips parted and flushed dark pink.
“Two things.” He breathed deeply. “I love the desk, because how else can I admire you?” His breath hitched. “Second, look at your arousal, dripping. I haven't even touched you.”
He muttered, as his fingers circled her clit, moving from lip to lip, before fisting her.
Isabella groaned, her hips arched forward, her throat swallowing greedily, eyes begging him to take her.
“Kneel,” Lucien commanded. “He turned her, still on the desk, making her bend on all fours, her ass in the air, arousal dripping from her pussy and landing on the table.
Isabella could feel herself dying from anticipation. She arched her hip backwards, her hands running through her pussy, before Lucien grabbed them.
“You want your hands, or you want this cock?”
Without waiting for a response, Lucien aligned himself with the entrance and went in slowly, inch by inch, until she had taken him all in.