Escaping The Beast: A Darkhills Romance (The Darkhills Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Greene (young adult books to read TXT) 📕

needed to clear his head before he figured out what he was going to do next. He stripped out of the remainder of his clothes and stepped into the shower, his hand waving lazily to turn on the hot spray. The instant heat sunk into his tense muscles as he leaned his head forward, allowing the water to sluice over his body.

He should release her from her contract and let her return to her studies, call her father back to Tumbricane. But if he did that, the man could rightfully claim a breach of contract and he would get away with not repaying his debt as agreed. Then when would his recklessness end, how far would he go in his gambling and scheming to secure the lavish lifestyle that he so clearly craved? When would he stop relying on Katherine to clean up after him?

Lucian’s mind raced. If he let her leave but under the condition that she did not tell her father, perhaps he would still seek to repay the debt within the two months agreed. How could he know for certain that she wouldn’t tell him that she’d been released? He couldn’t restrict her ability to communicate with others, or to be seen in public, it’d be as unjust as having her stay with him at Tumbricane and he knew now that he should do the decent thing and let her go.

But God, he wanted her to stay. Lucian braced his hands on the tiles in front of him

He didn’t want to even think it but the truth was there staring him in the face. He had feelings for the woman. She was smart, stubborn, challenging, and for some reason unknown to him, she seemed to care for him too. His mind returned to the fight with Etienne in the forest, she had refused to leave without him, she had thrown herself in harm's way to foolishly attempt to get to him when he had been thrown across the clearing. She had demanded to see to his injury while in his room. She had stood firm in the face of his deliberate intimidation and instead of cowering before him, she’d risen to meet his challenge and demanded he kiss her. A kiss that he would replay in his mind for the rest of his long existence.

There was a fierce attraction between them, he knew he wasn’t alone in his desires. The constant back and forth dance that was their unspoken power struggle was a strong aphrodisiac for them both. Arguing with her was one of the most enjoyable experiences of his life, each of them looking for gains wherever they could, each of them dipping into an internal toolbox of tactics to go for the win. It was like a never-ceasing type of foreplay. Lucian didn’t even mind making a few losses, he still enjoyed seeing her glow in her victories.

He wished he would see more glimmers of that passion within her. She held so much in check, but every little involuntary gasp, moan, or cry she had made as he pleasured her, was a little victory to him. Each moment bringing her closer to letting herself go and trusting him with her vulnerability. He’d never wanted anything so badly in his life. He wanted her fragile trust, he wanted to take it and pour every ounce of his strength into it so she’d allow herself to flourish, instead of being so guarded.

She was clearly the type of person who pushed herself towards excellence constantly as deep down she felt as though her performance would never be enough. When in truth even her ‘mistakes’ or slip-ups were a credit to her. Most people wouldn’t achieve what she already had in her 26 years, and most people wouldn’t have had the kind of disruptive upbringing that she had lived through.

Lucian pushed away from the wall and ran his hands through his hair. He wanted to go to her again, demand that she let him in. He would love her so thoroughly that when she next gazed into his eyes as she shattered, there would be no shields up, no battle of wills, no defiance, just pure and unbridled passion in her golden eyes. The thought of sharing such a moment with her as he buried himself deep within her soft body was too much.

He gripped his aching length in his hand and began stroking himself to the image in his mind of having her spread out before him, her legs wrapped around his hips as he thrust deeply into her.  Lucian huffed out a breath as he imagined her pleasured moans filling his ears as her eyes looked at him like he were everything, chasing away the loneliness that followed him everywhere.

He stroked his hand faster as in his mind’s eye he watched her pulling on the silk ties that held her hands above her head, her hips slamming against his as she met his demanding thrusts. His hands would hold her waist firmly as she arched her back in pleasure, he’d pull her down onto him as he pounded into her, her slick, hot channel taking everything he had. Her chin would be tilted in defiance but her eyes would tell him she was his; all his and gladly so. She’d cry out his name as her climax tore through her and pulsed heavily around him.

“Katherine,” Lucian choked out, as his own release rushed from him.

He splayed his free hand against the tiles and continued to pump his fist until the shame of his dirty, selfish fantasy crept up to chase away the euphoria of his orgasm.

What kind of a beast was he?

She wanted to leave but he was desperate for her to stay. Why? Because he wanted her. He wanted to feel something beyond the constant suffocating darkness that was his long and empty existence. He wanted to share something with a woman who was too guarded to show any weakness for fear of being hurt. He