I sauntered over to my duffle bag and slipped on a pair of black yoga pants and a grey long sleeve t-shirt. I also decided on no make-up and considering the t-shirt was a dark color, I nixed the bra since my tits weren’t that big and the t-shirt wasn’t see-through. If I was already making those calculations, I had to be honest with myself that it didn’t really matter because Luc had seen me naked at the party a few nights back. As I stepped out of the bedroom toward the main area of the apartment there was a buzzing sound from the intercom at the front door. Then I hear Tim’s voice say, “Press the button.” I did as he said and I say ‘hello.’

“There is a floral delivery for you, Miss Molino.”

“Oh okay,” I responded, wondering who would send flowers. It couldn’t be Luc; he would be down here any minute.

“Okay, I am sending him up,” Tim responded cheerfully. A few minutes later I heard a light knock on the front door. I opened the door to a colorful bouquet that was perfectly arranged. The colors of the flowers were vibrant with blues, purples and fuchsia pink making up most of the arrangement. I almost gasped at their beauty. I took the arrangement and thanked the delivery guy, noticing there was a card on top. I continued to close the door and turn the lock. As I made my way to the kitchen to find a vase I read the card, Vicky, now I know where to find you. Don’t take too long coming to me, or else I will have to come to you. The card didn’t have a name on it but I knew it was from Scott. I wondered if he followed me here this afternoon. Maybe he saw me exit Tyson soon after he left and followed me. How else would he know where I was? I don’t even understand what he wants with me anyway. Can’t he find some woman that is into his game? I clearly wasn’t. Didn’t it register in his head when I was screaming no, that he didn’t turn me on? There’s another light knock on the door but this time I flinched. My body is now super alert and scared. I sauntered back to the door and looked through the peephole to see Luc waiting with his hands in his pockets. A part of me was relieved. He made me feel safe.

I opened the door to a laid back Luc with his wet hair falling on his face, wearing a white t-shirt that hugged every inch of his muscles and a pair of black lounge pants that hung low on his waist. The smell of fresh masculine shower gel wafted into the apartment as he entered, causing my body to thrum with excitement. Only I am too shaken up to appreciate him in that way now.

He didn’t say anything as he stepped inside and his gaze roamed the apartment quickly, “What’s wrong?” he asked with a concerned tone. It amazed me how he could read me so well, after knowing me a short time. I realized that it probably wasn’t something special about me and that he was trained to be this way. My pale face and my shaking body probably gave away my fear.

“He knows where I am. He sent flowers with this note,” I held the note up in my hand and Luc took it and read it. A moment later he growled then cussed in French. He stalked back to me and embraced me in his strong arms.

“I’m sorry you have to experience the likes of this man,” he said. Then he buried his face in my wet hair. I could smell his shampoo and despite my nerves, his touch sent those butterflies flying around my stomach again. I didn’t know if I should run away or dive into this headfirst.

Chapter 11

Luc

That stupid motherfucker had some weird obsession with her, and he was pissing the fuck out of me. As I held her in my embrace, I could feel her perky nipples pressing into me. I couldn’t believe I was here alone with her, in a space where she would not be protected from me. After leaving her earlier, I went for a quick session with Dr. Davies. He spent the hour convincing me that I wouldn’t hurt her and that I should let things happen naturally. I wasn’t sure how that was going to work because I have basically been picturing myself fucking her in every position possible since the moment I saw her. I didn’t think I had ever felt that turned on by a woman before.

“Everything will be okay. I won’t let him hurt you.” I pulled my head back and tucked a lose hair behind her ear. She looked up at me with fear in her eyes. It was like she wanted to believe me but she knew better.

“Vicky, please believe me. I am going to protect you.” With my second reassurance she nodded her head and her shoulders deflated.

“So what are you in the mood to eat?” I asked, trying to pull her attention away from the present circumstance. Having her pressed into me had caused the sexual tension between us to crackle, and I needed to defuse the situation for both of us.

“Ah, what are the options?” she asked, taking a seat on the long white leather couch in the center of the room. I took a seat beside her but maintained some distance between us. I took a deep breath telling myself I was not drunk or stoned, and I could just hang out with the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. As she stared at me with wide green eyes I noticed how vibrant they were, it was like she could see right through me; through all of the broken parts. It was like she could see something good in me. I’d been trying to find the good in me far too long. I wanted to believe in those vibrant green eyes of hers.

“We can have sushi, Italian…” I listed off options but she stopped me.

“Sushi is good,” she smiled softly. I pulled out my cell phone and called one of the Japanese restaurants close by. I didn’t normally cook, so I had a list of restaurants I could call for take-out in my contacts. After ordering a large variety of food, I closed my phone, and placed it back in my pocket.

We sat awkwardly staring at each other for a few quiet moments. “This is a nice place,” I said, placing both hands on my thighs and nodding my head while I looked around the apartment.

“Yeah, it was nice of Bryce to put me up here,” she said, biting her lower lip. As my eyes gazed down to her plump lip and then lower to her chest for a brief moment. I could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra by the way her perky nipples were showing through her shirt. I needed to tame the beast in my pants down.

“So, when did you find out that he was your father?” I asked, hoping I was not pushing too much while trying to distract myself from reaching over and claiming those lips. She still seemed tense, and I had Wellington to blame for that. I would take care of Scott Wellington on my own time. I didn’t want to upset her more than she already was.

“When my mother died. She wrote me a letter and she left it for me. Inside was the truth about my paternity. A part of me felt angry that she had kept such an important detail from me, but that anger quickly dissolved because I knew she felt like she would be rocking our solid family by breaking the news. My papa, Tony, back home raised me from when I was six months old. He was the only father I ever knew. I think she didn’t want to hurt him by taking me away. We were a close family,” she explained looking down at her tangled fingers. It was hard for her to talk about her past, but I appreciated that she was opening up to me.

“So the first time you met him was the other day in his office when you presented yourself as a journalist?” I asked with a playful grin.

“Yeah,” she blushed. “You were there to witness me at my finest moment, Luc,” she said with a playful smile and a hint of sarcasm in her tone. We both eased into conversation and seemed to relax. I still needed to ask her more about Scott Wellington. He was the real reason I was here tonight. That and I liked spending time with her.

“Vicky, I want you to tell me about Scott…I need to know exactly what he’s holding over you, if I’m going to protect you…” I said carefully and her eyes got the deer in the headlights look.