Freeing Luka: The Clecanian Series Book 2 by Victoria Aveline (readict books TXT) 📕

a while. She found herself longing to push his hair back and look at him more fully.

Since it appeared to calm him and definitely calmed her, she continued speaking out loud. “Are you not answering because you can’t understand me, or because the drug in your system is messing with your mind?” Alice scooted an inch toward him.

For as long as she could remember, Alice had always held a soft spot for injured and broken things. Her mother, along with her friends at work and school, had constantly chided her for being too nice. When she was a child, she remembered walking around their house, looking for bugs to catch and release into the wild. Her mother hated bugs and killed them on sight.

As she got older, and rescuing bugs had turned into rehabilitating small injured animals, Alice had decided she wanted to become a veterinarian. At present, she was putting herself through college by working at a sleazy bar.

If there was ever a creature in more need of help and tenderness than Luka, she couldn’t imagine it. She studied him, her heart breaking more as each new injury was revealed.

Even dirtied and bruised, she could tell he was handsome. His shoulders and chest were broad and chiseled. The pearlescent markings she’d seen on Mr. Yellow-Eyes, Sal, and Helas also ran over Luka, but in a different pattern. They were vine-like and curved over his body, delicate against his overall powerful physique. Her eyes followed one particularly beautiful marking as it trailed down his six pack and disappeared beneath his pant line.

Alice gasped, and her gaze darted to the ceiling, her cheeks heating, when she noticed the outline of a huge erection could be seen through his thin pants. Whatever drug they’d given him must really be working.

“Come, female,” a deep, rough voice said, startling her.

Goosebumps spread over her skin at his rumbled command, and for a moment, she had the inexplicable urge to do as he said. “Uh, no thanks. I’m good right here,” she said, with an awkward chuckle.

“Come!” he commanded, giving his chains a hard, fast tug.

When she still didn’t move, he began pulling on his chains with more force. Alice couldn’t decide if it was a good thing or bad thing that he seemed to know what he was doing. On the one hand, he was threatening her by showing he’d break his chains if she didn’t get closer. On the other, it meant he wasn’t completely lost to whatever drug coursed through his system. Luka was still making decisions, and she hoped that meant he had more control over himself than she’d been led to believe.

When the metal gave another low groan, she blurted, “Okay!”

Slowly, she scooted toward him, ready to bolt at any second. When she was within a few feet, she stopped.

He growled low in his throat. “Closer.”

Heartbeat pounding furiously, she moved until they were separated by only a foot and waited.

Why did he want her to come to him? So far, he wasn’t trying to do anything to her. He just looked her over. His gaze traveled up and down her body, lingering where all men’s gazes lingered. She chuckled to herself. I guess boobs are universally appealing.

When his stare returned to her face, he attempted to shake the strands of hair out of his eyes fruitlessly.

Without thinking, she reached up and smoothed the dark brown mass back, making sure she didn’t pull at any tangles.

The bone structure she uncovered was gorgeous. Dark, heavy brows framed his black eyes. A small white tattoo wound its way from his forehead to his high cheekbone. When she started to pull her hand away, he leaned his cheek into her palm and closed his eyes.

He looked like he was deeply savoring this simple touch, and it made Alice’s heart squeeze painfully in her chest. After being locked up for so long, Luka probably needed a little gentleness. Surprise, followed by warmth, spread through her when she heard a rumbling purr emanate from his chest.

“You’re just a big, scary cat, aren’t you,” she whispered.

Eyes flashing open, he turned his mouth toward her hand and gave her lower palm a hot, wet kiss. A jolt of pleasure shot to her core. She pulled her hand away, clutching it to her chest.

He gave a weak growl and leaned toward her as far as he could.

She held up what she hoped was a stern finger. “Nope!” Her breath was shaky as she spoke, and his eyes focused on her waggling finger. “We aren’t going to be doing any of that. You’re not in the right state of mind, and I don’t even know you.”

His eyes narrowed at her words, but he did sit back.

She let out a relieved sigh. “Good boy, tiger.”

This could work, she thought hopefully.

Luka didn’t seem to be able to understand most of what she said, but he could speak a little and backed off when she told him to. Maybe coming in here every day and talking with him wouldn’t be so bad.

Oddly, out of the few aliens she’d met so far, Luka made her feel the safest. He was turned on and could get out of his chains at any minute, but he hadn’t. Apart from the scalding kiss to her palm, which she could still feel and had liked way too much for her own good, he hadn’t done anything too bad to her.

If he thought he was her mate, would he even be protective of her? It’d make sense. On Earth, male animals protected the females. It was instinct. Maybe it was in her best interest to get those marks to show up after all.

Helas had said Luka’s mating marks would appear on his hands and wrists. She craned her neck, trying to peek behind him, but his hands were bound too