Chapter 4

The first thing that hit me was a storm of kisses. Lucas Costa practically devoured my lips, his touch a wildfire scorching a path across my skin. Everywhere his fingertips roamed, they left scorched earth in their wake.

A panic I'd never known before seized me, but it was quickly overshadowed by a thrilling excitement.

I surrendered to the dizzying sensation of his strength, the way he molded me to him.

Lucas's hands cupped my waist, lifting me as his lips branded my neck. "Are you sure you want to do this with me?"

I knew what he was really asking. My consciousness was a small boat, tossed on the waves of his touch. "Don't stop," I breathed.

My body felt like it was melting. I pulled him closer, my legs hooking around his waist. "Help me."

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face. "You'll regret this." He reached down. "But I can help."

I felt the distinct, firm pressure of his fingers against my most sensitive flesh, a friction that sent a jolt straight through me. I clung to his muscular back, my nails digging into his skin.

"I'm not going to take advantage of you like this. If you really want this, you'll come find me when you're sober and tell me yourself."

Lucas took my earlobe in his mouth, nibbled it with the tips of his teeth, and slid down along my neck.

My skin was flushed and burning, like a volcanic rock seared by lava, a reflection I could see mirrored in Lucas's dark eyes.

A growing sense of intense pleasure surged like a tide. I chased after Lucas's lips, eagerly drawing in the saliva from his mouth.

I didn't know when he finally stopped. Through a hazy fog, I thought I heard him whisper, "Remember to come find me."

When I woke up, it was already noon. My entire body ached with a deep, languid soreness.

I pushed myself up on my elbows, a flash of white on the nightstand catching my eye. A note.

The bold, almost aggressively stylish handwriting could only belong to one person.

It was an address, signed simply: Lucas.

He wanted me to find him?

Wasn't this supposed to be a one-night stand? Was he actually thinking about taking responsibility?

A bitter laugh escaped me. Thanks to Theodore, I was done trusting anyone.

But if it was him, I tucked the note away and dragged my heavy limbs to the bathroom. The person in the mirror looked like a rosebush in full, violent bloom, covered in red marks from my neck down.

Was it that intense last night?

But I could have sworn he only used his hands. Whatever. It didn't matter. No matter what he used, I definitely didn't get the short end of the stick.

The immediate priority was finding Lucas and figuring out what the hell he meant.

The address he left wasn't hard to find—a spot on a street in Brooklyn notorious for its nightlife.

But compared to the other clubs, this place looked like it had been abandoned for years. The iron door was streaked with rust.

I paced in front of it, debating whether to go in.

Just then, the door creaked open, and a man with shoulder-length hair stepped out. "You can come in."

I tensed up. "You know me?"

"The boss sent for you, didn't he?"

The boss?

Could that be him?

The man was getting impatient. He lit a cigarette. "So, you coming in or what?"

"I'm coming." I'd made it this far. What was there to be afraid of now?

Lion's den or not, I was going to find out what game he was playing. Besides, he owed me an explanation.

After a series of winding hallways, I finally saw his boss.

It was him. The man from last night.

He'd changed into a champagne-colored suit. A serpent-shaped ring coiled around the ring finger of his right hand. I felt a prickle of recognition, like I'd seen it somewhere before.

Before I could place it, Lucas looked up. His eyes were like deep, bottomless pools. "Feeling better?"

Was he concerned about me? It had been so long since anyone had shown me that kind of care.

I ducked my head, sniffing quietly, refusing to lose my composure in front of him. "Much better."

I seized the opening. "What's your name? Is this your place?"

A dismissive smirk played on his lips as he leaned back into the plush sofa. "It is. And you can call me Lucas."

Lucas? The name sounded familiar.

My gaze instinctively fell back to the serpent ring. A family name flashed through my mind, and suddenly, it clicked, overlapping with the face in front of me.

He couldn't be...

My eyes widened. A nervous knot tightened in my stomach. "Are you," I asked, my voice barely a whisper, "the Don of the Costa family?"

He didn't deny it. Instead, he countered, "Your name."

"Eleanor Vance," I answered honestly.

He patted the empty space beside him on the sofa and gestured for the other men in the room to leave. "We didn't go all the way last night, but I'm willing to make it up to you."

I was tired, and I wasn't about to be polite. I sat down next to him.

He should be sorry. If he'd told me who he was from the start, I never would have picked him for a one-night stand. The Costa family and the Volkers family, I was about to marry into were mortal enemies. If Campbell Volker found out I'd been involved with a Costa right before our wedding, he'd kill me. Escaping would become impossible.

As for his offer of compensation, if I could ask for anything, it would be his help getting the hell out of here. But he'd probably refuse.

I couldn't help but sigh. "I don't need compensation. I have no use for it."

Lucas tilted his head, one eyebrow arching. "You sure about that?"

He looked so certain I'd eat my words. But what could he possibly offer me? Money? Power? All I wanted was freedom.

I pushed myself to my feet, my lower back protesting. I had no intention of staying. "Mr. Costa, what happened yesterday was consensual. You don't need to feel any obligation. Besides, you stopped when it mattered."

I turned to leave, but his deep voice stopped me. "You don't seem very happy about that."

Who would be happy about being left high and dry? But I couldn't exactly say that. "You're imagining things."

"I could marry you."

"What did you say?"

I thought I'd misheard him, but Lucas was suddenly closing the distance between us.

His large, warm hand slid from my back down to my stomach, his sharp jaw resting on my shoulder. "Let's make a deal. You and me. Together. I'll protect you."

His warm breath fanned across my face, just like his kisses last night.

I turned my head away, a stinging sensation filling my nose. "What's the point of saying that now?"

"It's not too late."

"How is it not too late? I've already agreed to marry Campbell."

The man behind me went cold. An oppressive aura radiated from him, making me want to bolt.

His voice was dangerously low. "You agreed to it?"

"I didn't have a choice."

For a split second, I wanted to beg Lucas to take me away. The Costas and the Volkers were evenly matched; he had the power to do it.

But I was just a one-night stand, one that hadn't even fully happened. How could I possibly ask for something so huge?

My shoulders slumped with disappointment. Just as I was about to make an excuse to leave, Lucas spoke again. "I'm giving you a choice."

He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes were a blazing fire, searing every inch of my skin. "Be my mistress. I'll handle Campbell."

"Do you have any idea what the Volker family will do to you?"

"Just tell me if you agree or not."

I didn't want to refuse. I couldn't.

But could I really trust him?

As if reading my mind, Lucas's fingers tightened on my jaw, his tone turning menacing. "Trust me."

Those two words hit my heart with the force of a physical blow.

Without Lucas, I was going to run from that wedding. Since he was offering to help...

I took his hand in mine, letting myself melt into his embrace. "I trust you," I whispered.

Just as the weight on my chest began to lift, Aiden's name flashed across my phone screen.

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I answered. "Dad."

"Where the hell have you been? Campbell is coming tomorrow! You're still not back? Are you trying to get me killed?"

The phone was abruptly taken from my hand. Lucas released my shoulders, his voice firm and final as he spoke to Aiden. "She's not coming back."

He ended the call and turned back to me, his thumb stroking my cheek. "From now on, you're mine."