Love Unfortunate Read Online Free Page B

I never thought you were ugly!"
    "Hmm…but I’m much prettier now, aren’t I, little bird?"
    Laurent’s seductive purr pricked her skin. "You are." Their gazes caught, leaving Liana to tremble in perfect dread.
    * * * *
    She could hardly remember his face anymore.
    His real one.
    Gone were the silvery lines crossing his skin, remnants of a woodcutter’s life. Gone were the few pockmarks, proof of adolescence. Gone were the tiny wrinkles bracketing his mouth and eyes.
    Laurent’s perfection sickened her. There was no flaw in his face or form.
    Liana shifted, bringing the coverlet over her naked shoulder. His sleeping face haunted her, a false reminder of another.
    * * * *
    He leaned forward, abandoning the damp linen in favor of placing his hands on the bed. Laurent brushed his lips against her neck. "Don’t you like me this way better?"
    "I liked you the way you were. You never had to change for me."
    "Oh, but you know that’s not true." He kissed her scabbed wounds. "So that’s the dirtiest lie you’ve ever uttered."
    Liana’s conscience recoiled. No matter her resolve, no matter her strength of will, Liana always unraveled. Her need to justify only equaled his need to torment. Anger warred with guilt, ensuring Liana’s personal demon Blame would find its insatiable appetite whetted.
    "You’ll never forgive me, will you?"
    Mirth lightened his eyes to frightening proportions. "You don’t want me to forgive you. If I did, I’d have to let you out." His low laughter elicited shivers. "And you don’t want that, do you?"
    Liana bit her lip, gaze heavy with honest lust. "No. I don’t want you to ever let me go."
    "Good girl." Laurent allowed his words to trail off as his tongue flicked across the small punctures. "Does this feel nice?"
    She turned into his body. Shivers racked them both. "Very nice." Her strained voice elicited a throaty chuckle. Liana wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Please do it again."
    "Again?" Laurent nipped the underside of her chin. When Liana shuddered in pained delight, he blew softly in her ear. "Do you love it, little bird?"
    "Oh, yes."
    "Very good." He rested his smooth chin on her shoulder. "But if you want to play, we need to talk first."
    "Talk? What about, my lord?"
    Not again. Every single time it’s the same. It doesn’t change no matter what I do.
    "I want to talk about lies." Laurent turned his head and smiled into her hair. "Let’s talk about how your last lie is filthier than the first one you told me."
    "What lie, Laurent?"
    He ignored her question with chilling precision. "You remember the first lie you ever told me."
    * * * *
    "Why are you running?"
    Liana glanced at the awkward man-child sharply. Her melodic voice held the ferocity of a wolf. "Why do you ask?"
    He ducked his head in apology. "I meant no disrespect, my lady. Forgive me."
    She felt something hot slither about the bowels of her suspicion. It was guilt. Looking away from him, Liana murmured stiffly, "I’m your equal. There’s no need to give me an honorific."
    "My equal?"
    She heard the hope spring forth from his well of loneliness. "Yes."
    "Then may I ask…"
    His voice trailed off when she met his clouded gaze squarely.
    Liana expected him to fall beneath his discomfort and cowardice. Instead he surprised her.
    He cleared his throat and finished his query. "May I ask your name?"
    "Liana." She raised her chin in perfect challenge. "My name is Liana and I mean nothing to no one and that’s why I ran away."
    * * * *
    Liana swayed towards him and whispered, "Laurent, I never foresaw it would come to this."
    "Really? The thought never occurred in that selfish, careless mind of yours? No, don’t answer." Laurent brushed her hair back with poignant tenderness. "You’ll just lie to me again."
    "Please don’t say that."
    He yanked her head back. "I will say what I wish!"
    "Forgive me."
    Her submissiveness appeased Laurent’s volatile temper. He released his grip and began again. "You told me