Mel tried to wriggle free from Lucas's grasp, but he yanked her hand that was pinned against the book shelf, causing it to rattle softly as she moved forward. The room seemed to tilt as he moved her away, catching her breath in her throat. Books were scattered on the floor, silent witnesses to the way the scene had quickly escaped her control.
"Lucas, stop," she said, struggling to free herself, her words laced with anger.
He didn't. He tightened his grip, but it was far from crushing, more unmoving as though releasing it would mean letting go of something far more significant than the argument. He pulled her through the hall, past doors hoping for anyone to save her.
She felt the evening air fall on her skin like a shock. He opened the car door and pushed her in before she could regain balance. The door closed with a hollow sound, as if they were in a space filled with everything they had never said.
Lucas stood up, moving to the driver's seat, his hand passing through his hair as though to steady himself.
For a split second, his shoulders seemed to sag—enough for Mel to see the conflict he was working to avoid mentioning.
"You can't keep doing this," she said, turning to him. "Let me out you sicko"
He started the engine. The gentle hum of the machine broke the silence. "I already lost you once," he said softly. "I won't make that mistake again."
Mel looked out the window as the car drove away, the city lights streaking by in bands of gold and black. Whatever awaited her on the road ahead, she knew that this time, she would not disappear quietly into the night.
He also drove wildly, speeding along the deserted streets, tires screaming with every sharp turn taken. Mel, whose heart was racing with such force it threatened to explode out of her chest, grasped the seat desperately in an attempt to regulate her own breathing, as the city whizzed by in a colorful haze.
When they finally arrived at the mansion, Lucas parked the car in the garage and killed the engine. He remained seated and did not get out of the vehicle. The silence was almost suffocating.
Then he spoke.
"Don't you remember, Amore
Mel slowly turned toward him, confusion etched across her face. "I have no idea what you're talking about, sir."
"But you weren't calling me sir when you were pinned against the wall earlier, Belly," Lucas burst out laughing, the sound low and frightening.
Her stomach churned at the sound of the name. Reminiscences tickled the corners of her consciousness, moments she had locked away, refusing to assign them meaning. She straightened her back, eyeballing the other man with defiance, instead of the fear he likely expected.
"That doesn't mean anything," she said firmly. "Whatever you think you remember, I'm not that person anymore."
Lucas' smile disappeared, and his eyes took on a different, more focused, dark look. "You can pretend all you want," he said softly. "But the past has a way of remembering for us."
The flickering overhead garage lighting cast long shadows around them as the truth he was keeping hidden seemed to hang precariously around the two of them, waiting to be drawn out.
Lucas' hands cradled Mel's face softly as he ran his fingers over the slight curve of her jawline. Bending slightly toward her, he whispered against the side of her neck, "I have missed this, Mel. The way your scent drives me wild."
Lucas's hands seemed to find their way to Mel's hips, his fingers digging deep into her soft flesh as he brought her in for the intense kiss. His desire for her, her resistance, seemed to only fuel his passion, and he kissed her with such ferocity that she was left breathless. The room seemed to spin around her as Lucas's lips left her mouth and made their way to her jaw, leaving wet, wet kisses.
Mel's heart was pounding in her chest, a mix of fear and arousal running through her veins. She attempted to push him away, but she did so weakly, her strength draining with each passing second. But because of his dominant nature, Lucas appeared to be feeding off Mel's struggle as he deepened his kiss.
"You can't resist me, Mel," he whispered against her neck, his breath hot and heavy. "I've waited too long for this. I need to taste you. Own you." His words ran down her spine like ice and fire.
As he spoke, his hands wandered, exploring her body in ways that told her they had met before. He gently squeezed her breast, and his thumb rubbed against the hard nipple, and she knew she had just felt a rush of sexual need straight to her center. Mel's body had betrayed her, responding to his presence in ways beyond her control.
Lucas's kiss deepened, and his tongue asked for entry, but Mel, despite all her rationalizing, opened her lips and asked Lucas in. The two tongues wrestled, a battle of wills, a battle for domination. He teased, he probed, and he dominated, and Mel could not help but ask for a breath of fresh air.
The room seemed to fade away, and Mel's vision blurred. She was dizzy, her body going slack as Lucas's kiss monopolized the world. His arms locked tighter around her, holding her as though she were the most precious thing in the world. His kiss, which had been so all-consuming, had gentled, and he had finally realized the hold he had.
Mel's body slumped against him, her resistance broken. Lucas's heart beat fast, filled with a sense of satisfaction and desire. He wanted more, craved to push her further, but another part of him, the part that loved her fiercely, wanted to hold back, to savor this moment, to feel her softness, her vulnerability, in his arms.
While Mel lay unconscious, Lucas's mind was in a turmoil, with dominant instinct locked in a battle with feelings of affection. He wanted to wake her, see the fire in her eyes, and feel her once again struggle against him. Yet, another, even deeper, even gentler emotion stayed his hand and kept him silent.
The silence between them felt heavy, an unspoken testament to the strength of their connection. His fingers danced along the contour of her jaw, soft and reverent. His lips pressed against hers in a tender touch, filled with the longing of his love for her.
On the other side of town, Miles was aware of the fact that Mel was missing, as informed to him by Blake, and upon returning to the library, Blake was told it was a Lucas who had taken Mel, while Miles upon learning this stormed out of his office and went to Lucas mansion.