26

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
GABRIELLE
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My fingers were gripping too tightly on my dress. I stepped inside the house where I knew the devil was waiting.
The sound of his voice made my footsteps falter, perhaps I might have had the opportunity to run back if Fred was not solidly behind me. I guess he was safely guiding me to his master who had ordered my presence.
My eyes fell upon Lucian the moment I stepped inside the overly large living room. He was dressed in a black business suit, his hair was brushed neatly backward.
His commanding presence oozed dominance from where he stood, merely a few feet away from me.
The power of his gaze made my stomach coil with tension, my heart was pounding heavier and heavier, I thought I would pass out.
His eyes lingered on my face and slowly trailed down my flowery dress and flat sandals before returning to my face.
His lips curved in a half-smile, his eyes giving the impression that he was pleased to see me, I wished I could say the same about him.
"Come to me, Brie!"
That was the voice that haunted my dreams these past days.
My unwilling legs ventured further into the room, he wasn't alone.
The girl who stood beside Lucian looked younger than I was, probably in her teens? Who was she?
My eyes shifted towards the other man behind Lucian.
He possessed the same cold eyes as his boss, I just started to think about where I had seen him when I realized that he was the person who had hurt Derek that day at the airport. I hadn't seen him around the house ever since Lucian and I got married, but today, he was suddenly here. Did this mean anything?
What if he was here because Derek was... Dead?
No! It couldn't be.
Maybe he was here for some other business with Lucian.
It had to be that.
I didn't realize I was staring at him unblinkingly until strong fingers enclosed mine. I jolted slightly and met Lucian's frosty stare, why did I suddenly have the feeling that he was upset? I couldn't think of anything that I've done wrong.
"Why do you keep staring at Devin, wife?" He murmured for my ears alone.
Devin? That had to be the name of the man.
"Don't tell me you fancy him and that's the reason you can't keep your eyes off him? " He chuckled. I wouldn't be fooled by the softness of his voice, nor make the mistake to think that he was merely joking.
His other hand slowly raised to brush a strand of my hair that had fallen out of place. His steely gaze never wavered from mine.
His dark heart must be thinking of something cruel to do to me.
I bet he didn't know that I would rather die than want anything to do with him or his people.
"No, I think he looks familiar, that's all" I whispered.
He stared at me for some seconds, then seeming satisfied with my response, the fingers around mine eased a bit.
His eyes left mine and shifted towards the younger girl in the room.
"This is my sister Loretta, she'll be staying with us from now."
His sister?
My eyes flew to the girl who was staring straight at me.
I was hearing about her for the first time, I also couldn't explain why I found his announcement very surprising. I already knew that his parents were dead, but never did think of a sibling. I guess it had been easier to imagine that a cruel person like him didn't have a loved one.
"Loretta, this is my wife Gabrielle."
There was a sudden frown in her eyes.
Dislike?
But we've never met before, why would she dislike me?
I pushed aside the disturbing feeling in my heart, I was the type of person who grew up wanting everyone to like me and would get upset when someone did not.
But not anymore.
I wasn't here to befriend anyone and certainly not a member of Lucian's family, whatever she thought of me didn't matter, the sooner that I find a way to free Derek, the earlier I could leave this place.
She smiled tightly, it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Nice to meet you. I'm quite tired, I'm going to take some rest. I guess we'll see each other around." She left as soon as she uttered those words.
Devin also gave a quick nod and left. As much as I detested him, I would have preferred if he had stayed because now, I was left alone with Lucian.
I gasped when he whirled me around, so I was facing him.
He dipped his head down as he used his thumb to graze my cheek.
His fingers sank into my hair as he angled my head.
"god! I have missed you!" He groaned and captured my lips with his. His tongue thrusting its way inside my mouth.
The hunger in the kiss knocked my breath away, I stiffened in panic.
I wanted to push him away but I was too scared.
I should be fighting his touch but my body refused to obey my mind.
I was too afraid of enraging him. The last memory before he traveled replayed in my mind and I shuddered.
He appeared to be in a good mood now, that would change if I get him angry.
He would transform into a beast, and he would hurt me.
I was being a coward. I despised myself for allowing him to do as he pleased,
In the end, I allowed him to ravage my mouth like a man dying of thirst.
"I will never get enough of you! " He rasped and pulled back, staring intently into my eyes, I felt my heart skip with panic. His eyes held a fascinated glow.
"Did you miss me, wife? " He murmured silkily, caressing my lower back.
My lack of response made his lips tighten.
"Tell me that you miss me, say it!. " There was a frightening flash in his eyes and a sob choked down my throat.
"I m..miss you." I stammered
BETRAYER!
My insides screamed at me. I could feel another part of me dying.
I didn't mean those words! I didn't betray Derek, I just had to survive somehow, right? I questioned myself.
"Then, kiss me."
My insides flared with panic when his two fingers touched my lower lip.
"L...Lucian..."
"Don't worry little wife, I'm only interested in these lips...at least for now. " He smiled as though he found my fear amusing.
"If you continue to delay, I might change my mind though."
Ignoring the flare of anger in my heart, my shaky legs managed to get on tiptoe, I had to place my hands on his shoulders to keep myself from falling.
It would have been easier if I closed my eyes, I wouldn't have to see his intense eyes burning through me then, but knowing him, he would just order that I keep them open.
I briefly pressed my lips against his and pulled away as far as he would let me. Even though I told myself that I had no other choice, the guilty feeling threatened to eat me up from the insides.
"Good, good wife." He praised and I couldn't avoid a cringe.
He left.
To be honest, I was surprised and filled with relief.
I never thought that he would let me go this easily.
But for how long did I have until he comes back?