Lucien's War Read Online Free Page A

“College is good for you, Callie. You’ll meet new people, learn stuff
that will help you out in life, and maybe find a guy your own age that will
treat you like the princess you are.”
    His
words struck right in her heart, and she breathed out. Had he realized what he
had just said? The expression on his face told her he hadn’t meant to say
anything like that, but the words were already out there, hanging between them,
and making her long for his touch.
    “Shit,
I hadn’t meant to say some of that.” He lifted a hand and rubbed the back of
his neck. The way his bicep clenched and flexed had this potent desire moving
through her, and she actually felt herself taking a step closer to him.
    “I’m
glad you said something.”
    “Callie,
there can’t ever be anything between us.” He scrubbed a hand over his hair and
breathed out. “Being with you would mean I’d have to cross a dangerous line,
and I can’t do that no matter how much I want you.” His voice broke on the last
word.
    Her
heart was thundering in her chest. Beads of sweat covered the valley between
her breasts, and she could only think about being with him. He said they
couldn’t be anything together, that being with her was a line he wasn’t going
to cross, and she knew he was right. But he had said he wanted her, and she
wanted him. Something inside of her snapped, and she moved toward him without
thinking about anything else aside from being with Lucien. She was close enough
to touch him, but he was a big man, at least eight inches taller than her
five-foot-seven height.
    Callie
breathed heavily, feeling herself grow dizzy from the need to touch him.
    “Callie,
what are you doing?” His voice was deep and husky, and slightly hoarse.
    “I
don’t know, Lucien.” She saw him glance down at her mouth, and she licked her
lips. She couldn’t stop herself, couldn’t hold her emotions in check when there
was all this sexual chemistry. It was like a living entity between them, and
moving back and forth until she was drowning in it, suffocating from the
intensity of it. Her hands were shaking, but she lifted them and placed her
open palms right on his hard chest. His skin was warm and smooth, hard and
powerful. He had his fingers on her wrists, wrapped gently around the bone, but
didn’t push her away. He flexed his fingers around her, almost like he wanted
to send her away from him, but was unable to.
    “Callie,
I can’t do this,” he said, but his voice was still hoarse, and his focus was on
her lips. “We can’t do this,” he said even lower, harsher.
    “I
know, Lucien, but you’re all I’ve been able to think about since that night you
took me back to your place when I was drunk, keeping me safe, and not telling
my father because I asked you not to.”
    “Callie.”
He groaned out almost as if he were in pain. “Goddammit—”
    She
didn’t let him speak anymore, just rose up on her toes, braced her weight with
her hands still on his chest, and placed her lips on his. Callie didn’t apply
pressure, but the electricity that slammed into her when she had her mouth on
his was so intense that she actually moaned softly. Lucien still had a hold of
her wrists, but he smoothed his big, calloused and rough palms up her arms, and
grabbed her shoulders now. For a few seconds, they held their position. But
then he pushed her back, and the look on his face had humiliation filling her.
He looked pissed, torn, and like the kiss they had just shared hadn’t meant
anything. Now she felt like a fool, because kissing him had put this huge brick
between them. Callie didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if she should just
turn and put all of this behind her. But she knew she couldn’t leave things in
this awkward moment. “Lucien, I didn’t mean to—”
    But
before she could finish what she was going to say Lucien was right in front of
her, his hand behind her head, and his face right in front of hers. “I wanted
to stay away, forced myself