“Good. One more second in this town, and I might burst into flames.”
“I always thought the devil was one to cast flames, not succumb to them.” I slide the seatbelt across my body, where it slips between my breasts, and I click it in place.
He seems to take notice, staring for a moment, before he throws the car in drive. “So did I. Until you decided to wear that dress.”
Chapter 48
Lucian
The speedometer hovers around a-hundred-twenty on the ride back to the Manor. The trees that whip past the window are nothing but a black blur beneath the moon that sits high overhead.
Beside me, Isa curls her fingers into mine, squeezing and releasing, as the anxiety undoubtedly escalates with every mile the car swallows up like a reckless game of Pac-Man. Only the quiet hum of the motor can be heard beneath her nervous whimpers.
“Okay, this is … really fast.” If not for the belt strapping her in, she looks like she’s ready to crawl out of her skin.
“You’re nervous.” The needle edges past one-thirty. One thirty-five.
“We … we’re … almost going a-hundred-fifty miles-an-hour.”
I slide her hand onto my lap over the rock-hard erection that’s been pressing against my zipper for the last hour. The pressure through the fabric is enough to send a zap of ecstasy shooting up my spine, and on reflex, I hit the gas harder.
She slices her gaze toward me, eyes wide on my groin, where her hand grips my shaft. “Jesus. You’re like stone right now.”
Adrenaline courses through me, the speed and her delicate hands drawing me closer to the edge. But that’s not the only reason.
Being with her today, seeing her in this element, how she’s learned to survive with all the shit life has thrown at her, has only made her more irresistible to me. I want to steal her away from these vultures who’d pick at her bones until there’s nothing left of her. The same ones who’ve picked at me. Ones who’ve ravaged and discarded her. I want to shield her from their petty scorn and judgment.
I’ve been careful to avoid repeating my mistakes, but Isa is the kind of girl to make me pile them up like a fucking stack of pancakes with syrup on top. She makes me reckless and possessive.
With a squeeze of her hand, the car accelerates. Faster and faster. I tighten my fist around hers, grinding my teeth to keep from combusting, but it’s not enough. I need more.
I press the brake and jerk the wheel toward the shoulder of the road, squealing to a stop that sends her hands flying out to keep from bashing into the dashboard.
“What are you doing?”
“C’mon.” I flick my fingers for her to climb onto my lap. That dress has been messing with my head all night, and I can’t take it anymore. I want her. One taste.
There isn’t much room in the car, but she slides over the console and wedges one knee beside me, the other propped up on the driver’s door panel. Grabbing either side of her face, I pull her in for a kiss, rougher than I intend.
Doesn’t matter how many times we do this, her lips always taste like candy. A sticky, strawberry lollipop that I could lick for hours and never tire of the flavor.
My phone buzzes against the console beside me, but I ignore it, instead focusing on the softness of her skin as I eat the soft moans that leak from her lips.
The phone buzzes again.
Isa breaks from the kiss and looks down at it. “It’s Rand.”
“Fuck Rand,” I say, pulling her to my face again.
“What if it’s your mother?” she asks against my mouth, and at the mere mention of the woman, everything inside of me deflates. With a groan, I swipe up the phone. “Yeah.” The irritation in my voice is both unmistakable and intentional.
“Forgive me, Master, but I just received a call from Dr. Voigt. He’s been trying to reach you in your office.”
“I’m not in my office.” As Isa slides back toward the console, I squeeze her thigh to keep her from moving off my lap.
“I realize that, Sir. Um, I didn’t know you’d planned to be out this afternoon.”
The aggravation is killing my libido by the second. “What is the nature of his call?”
“He asked that you make a trip up to the Institute this week. He apparently has some important matters to discuss with you.”
Important matters. I can’t think of a single thing he’d need