Chapter 5 5

VALERIA’S POV

I felt alive.

Goddess, I have never felt this much heated and energized at the same time. My skin was sweaty, hot and I was irked with arousal. The entire room does. My breathing came out in pants as I lay with eyes facing the ceiling in Lucius' study.

It doesn't take a Genius to figure out what had just happened. In case you aren't one, then Lucius and I completed the ritual right there in his study, at his desk to be precise.

I have always saved myself for the right man and the right time and boy was it worth it? If I was told then, during all my days of contemplation and endurance that this was how my first day would be, I would have it all and protect myself even harder.

“Valeria?” I heard my name being called from the other end of the room. I don’t trust the rest of my body to make any movement so I opted to turn my head to have a better glimpse of where the sound was coming from.

Lucius stood completely dressed and ready to go on with his day like he had not just brought mine to a halt. I wasn’t even sure how long ago it had been but I was still a sweaty mess, trying hard to set my brain cells back in place after he had succeeded in dispersing them.

“I will be having a meeting in here in the next few minutes.” His voice sounded as casual as he looked, making me wonder just how much experience he had to attain this level of self-reserve.

He wasn’t going to ask how I was? If I enjoyed it or even tell me how much of a pleasure it was to have me? I thought that was how it was done.

I swallowed, forcing back the hard lump in my throat as I tried to pull myself up. I winced almost immediately as all my muscles protested against the movement.

“Shit!” I beat hard on my tongue to stop the pathetic cry from escaping. What was I expecting? To be as chill as he was.

He was beside me in a heartbeat, putting his hand around my shoulder and pulling me into a seating posture calmly. “Where does it hurt?” finally the question came.

I bite on my lower lip in an attempt to keep the pathetic cry within my control. “I can manage, I just wasn’t expecting the pain to be this unbearable.”

He arched his perfectly shaped brow, something I noticed he was so fond of doing. “You were expecting pain, just not this unbearable?” he sounded amused.

I shrugged and nodded, wondering what part of my statement was funny to him.

“Here, let me give you a hand.” He scooped me into his hands like my weight was not more than a feather.

“Put me down.” I started slowly, still shaken by the shock of being swiped up without a warning.

“Grant me the honor of moving you around, I did this to you, didn’t I? Let’s show the world what we are now.” He laughed, the whole situation more funny to him than anything.

“Put me down, I am perfectly capable of walking myself to my room.”

“No you aren’t. Your legs are still too weak to act.”

“I am fine, I am. Please let me down.” I lamented but he paid no heed to my words. He carried me tucked in his arms through the hallway filled with guards, courtyard with servants and maids, I had to resolve to hide my face on his chest until I heard him unlock the door and close it behind him after he walked in.

“You can loosen up now, there is no one around.”

“You shouldn't have done that for Goddess' sake, that’s humiliating.” He set me down carefully on the bed as I talked. Then he observed me keenly.

“I assume you are not the shy type.”

“Well, you know that you assumed wrongly.”

“You were anything but shy a few hours ago.” He wiggled his brows and sauntered toward the bathroom.

My cheek heats up at the memory of what happened between us. I like to think of myself as a pretty level-headed person who can confront anything without too much a double thought. But Lucius was just too direct, more direct than I have seen any other person being.

I heard him move around in the bathroom for a while before he sauntered out, muttering something about needing to change a room for me.

“I will have the maids bring up water to your bathroom. I think the room has been vacant for so long they didn’t bother to check.”

I simply nodded, still staring at him.

“Are you going to start a war with Godric because of me?” I whispered, my voice conveying just how vulnerable I was. I have been ripped of my freedom for so long, now that I have had a taste of what it feels like to be free, I fear nothing but being deprived of it again.

“Let’s see.” He leisurely strolled back toward me. “Absolutely stunning woman, well spoken, great sex, great company. What else could a man seek? And to think I got all of these in one woman and you assume I will let her go?” He settled beside me. “Let me tell you something exciting about myself. You should have figured it out on your own but I will spell it out in case you haven't. I am fucking greedy. If I set my eyes on something I adore, it’s the end of it for any other person.”

“Even if she comes with a lot of trouble?” I couldn't help but mirror the expression on his face. A smile.

“I love trouble. I am in trouble.” He grinned wildly.

“That’s saying a lot because I do attract trouble.”

“This is going to be one heck of a ride then.”

“I trust it will.”