Lucius (Luna Lodge #3) (2 page)

Irritated, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand to his nose. Her pulse beat wildly beneath his thumb, and his own picked up to match hers. Taking a deep breath, Lucius put his nose nearly to her hand in order to capture her smell. Again, like every other time, his nose came up with nothing. He glanced over to her and felt his jeans tighten at the sight of her. Lips slightly parted, she took in short breaths. Her nipples strained against the front of her dress. Lucius felt himself leaning forward.

He dropped her hand as if burned by it and sat upright quickly.

“Nothing,” he said and put the car in drive. “Maybe the smell is just lingering in your nose.”

Hannah sat, staring at her hands in confusion, and wrinkled her nose.

“Maybe you’re right,” she said.

He was glad she didn’t press the issue. The last thing he needed was a debate about his ability to smell. In his world, she might as well be questioning his dick.

They drove quietly along a dirt path. Things around the compound were moving quickly. Titus expected to start laying the concrete for roads soon. It was going to be a damn mess trying to get anywhere for a few days, but he supposed it was a better solution with winter just around the corner. Last year had been hard enough trying to get around, and spreading salt hadn’t seemed to help much. Besides, they were growing faster than anyone expected. More men wanted their own places, and that meant they were further apart. Sol, as the normal head of security, and Lucius, as the acting head of security, hadn’t been thrilled with the idea, but it did mean that they would be covering more land, and so there would be less chance of someone slipping in undetected.

He sighed as they pulled through the parking lot to the small hospital. Seeing Doctor Rachel Miller wasn’t on the top of his list. She was snarky, and he didn’t like her, but there was no helping it. She had to be taken home, and he was the one to do it tonight. Lucius turned to tell Hannah when she hopped out and shut the door. He wondered if he had been too rough on her before. She had been so quiet for the ride, and he assumed it was just part of her nature. He groaned. Maybe it would have been better just to scold her for wearing something that smelled. Working with women was a pain in the ass.

Lucius climbed out and glanced around as he went to her side of the car to help her out. Things were quiet. He placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her to the front door. Not stopping, he pulled the door open and watched her walk through. He knew it wasn’t wise to torment himself, but the sway of her hips made him ache. A low growl echoed through the quiet entryway.

He stood frozen as she turned to stare at him. The thump of her heart speeding up reached his ears, and he knew his eyes had started to glow.

“If it’s not an emergency, you’ll have to come back tomorrow,” Rachel said as she came around the corner. “Oh, good!”

Lucius watched as she grabbed a hold of Hannah and pulled her through the hall. He frowned and followed them.

“Um,” Hannah said as she glanced back to Lucius. “Rachel, I think we’re going home.”

“Just a minute,” she said and smiled widely. Her dark brown hair whipped wildly around her as she turned and sped up. “First, I want to show you something.”

Hannah scrambled to keep up with her faster and longer legged friend. They turned the corner into a bright room. She blinked at the bright lights and looked around. It seemed to be some sort of lab with large microscopes, a computer and tubes. Lots and lots of tubes.

Rachel pulled her over to stand by a computer.

“Sit here,” she said and sat Hannah hard on the chair.

She watched as Lucius walked in and glared at them both. Her heart sped up again at the sight of him.

“I don’t have time for a tour, Dr. Miller,” Lucius ground out.

Rachel ignored him and kept rummaging through a drawer. When she came back up, she had a packet of things in one hand and a vial of clear liquid in the other.

Hannah swallowed as Rachel came her way.

“Do you know what I’ve done?” She beamed.

Hannah shook her head and looked over to Lucius, who looked equally perplexed.

Rachel shook the vial in her hand and set it on the desk. Hannah watched as it rolled back and forth. She jumped when Rachel pushed up her sleeves and swiped something cold across her arm.

“What—” She stopped when Rachel brought out a large needle.

“You know we were having issues with birth control not working and condoms that don’t fit.” Rachel smirked at Lucius, who just glared in response.

Hannah swallowed, glanced over to Lucius and then back to Rachel. She hadn’t known that. Not that she was complaining, but no one seemed to want to talk about those sorts of things with her.

Her eyes widened when Rachel dipped the needle into the liquid and pulled some into the syringe.

“Well,” Rachel said, holding up the full needle. “I’ve found our solution.”

Hannah felt her stomach lurch and the room start to spin. This was all getting way out of control.

“I don’t think—”

She yelped as Rachel plunged the needle into her arm. Within seconds, she was out.

Chapter Two

Her ears started to work long before her eyes and brain caught up.

“I’m telling you she’s perfectly fine.” Rachel’s muffled voice floated into her head.

“You better hope that’s all that’s going on,” Lucius growled.

“Back it up, lover boy,” Rachel said quietly.

Hannah moaned as she tried to sit up. If she didn’t move, things were going to get serious.

Her eyes slowly blinked open, and she was faced with two very yellow eyes.

“Are you okay?” Lucius asked. He was closer than she remembered his voice being. She could see the worry on his face as he leaned forward.

Hannah closed her eyes slowly. She was processing what he said, but replying was harder than she had anticipated. It was always a little hard to talk when he was near, but this was a little different.

She opened her eyes to find a cup very near her lips.

“Maybe you should drink something,” he said quietly.

When she struggled to sit up, his thick arm slipped behind her head and supported her.

She took several long drinks from the cup. The cool water soothed her parched mouth, and she was glad he thought of it.

“All right, big guy,” Rachel said. “I think you should let me take a look at her.”

His arm flexed under her head. Hannah was surprised when he leaned over her.

“No fucking way,” he growled. “I think you’ve done enough.”

Panic rose in her. The last thing she wanted was for them to start arguing again. She lifted her hand and placed it on his wide chest.

“It’s okay,” she rasped out. His concerned eyes came to rest on her again. She gave a weary smile. “I’ll be fine.”

Lucius glared at Rachel and then looked back to Hannah. She couldn’t help but think she saw hurt flash over his face.

“Fine,” he said brusquely and laid her back on the table.

She watched in silence as he stomped to the other side of the room as Rachel examined her. It wasn’t like there was much she could do though. Rachel was the doctor, and she was the only one who knew what had been given to her. It was silly. She shouldn’t have to feel bad because she wanted a doctor to look at her.

“Open your eyes as wide as you can,” Rachel said and flashed a bright light in Hannah’s eyes.

Her head throbbed a little as she looked into the bright light. Within a few moments, Rachel pointed it away.

“Good,” Rachel said. “Looks like there were no side effects.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Lucius stormed over from the wall. “She passed out.”

Hannah swallowed hard as her friend crossed her arms over her chest. She had learned that was Rachel’s no-nonsense look.

“That had nothing to do with my shot.” She glared at him. “If I had to attribute it to something, I’d guess that Hannah has a fear of needles.”

Lucius stepped forward. His hulking shadow fell over Rachel. “Well, if you had taken the time to ask, that might never have happened.”

Rachel looked down to her with guilt in her eyes. “I had no idea,” she said. “I was just excited I’d actually created a birth control that worked with the hybrids.”

Hannah nearly choked on her own tongue. “A what?”

She sat up and hung her legs over the side of the bed. Just the act of sitting up was proving to be a little more difficult than she expected. She sighed when Lucius stood behind her and steadied her upper half. His strong hands wrapped around her shoulders, and she leaned back against him. It was strange having her head cushioned against his firm chest.

Rachel rolled her eyes at them and moved to shuffle through some papers on the counter.

“We all have to have the shots while we work here.” She glanced over her shoulder at Hannah. “Titus’s orders.”

“I’m betting his orders weren’t to randomly poke people,” Lucius mumbled.

Hannah placed her hand on his arm to quiet him.

“Did you just say you put me on birth control?” she choked out.

Rachel turned around with a paper in hand and stared at her.

“Yes.”

She nearly laughed. It was all so ridiculous being given birth control when she wasn’t even with anyone to have sex, let alone being given it without her consent.

“And you didn’t think you should maybe ask me first?” Hannah snapped.

Rachel stepped back like she had just been slapped.

“I didn’t really think…”

Hannah flinched. She hated being angry. It reminded her too much of her past. Even one step in that direction was one too many. She sighed and closed her eyes. Everything was just too much to handle.

“Let me take you home.” She nearly jumped when Lucius rumbled in her ear. He had been standing quietly behind her while she rested on him. It had been comforting. She liked his nearness and his calming effect.

Hannah tilted her head back and opened her eyes to look at him. They were a deep amber, and she wondered why that color seemed to dominate the hybrids.

She watched as his eyes shot across the room to Rachel, who hadn’t moved since Hannah closed her eyes.

“Let’s go,” he said, unwavering.

Hannah turned her head to look at Rachel.

“I can’t,” Rachel said meekly to Hannah, the guilt heavy in her voice. “I’ll call Marius to stop by on his way out. He’s always working late on some project.”

Lucius seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. “I’ll call him now,” he said.

Hannah gasped as his hand pulled out from under her hand and slid it up her middle.

“I’m just going to help you stand,” he mumbled in her ear.

She shivered as his words stirred the hair at her neck. Her heart raced, and his hands stilled on her ribs. Again, she could have sworn he was smelling her. The idea of it excited her. She hoped it did the same for him. And Lord did she hope that she smelled good.

Without much trouble, Lucius swiveled her on the table and set her on the floor, her body brushing his as they moved.

“Thanks,” she whispered. Her knees shook as she swayed toward him.

His eyes flashed yellow and before she could say something, Lucius moved to the door, phone in hand.

“Oh, Hannah,” Rachel said and raced around the table. “I’m so sorry. I was so excited about the shot and that Titus approved it. I just didn’t think.”

Hannah sighed.

“It’s fine. I’m just not a fan of needles or blood.” She blushed. It was silly considering the life she had been dealt, but maybe that was just the thing. Too much of that had led her to never want to see it again.

“You’ll need this.” Rachel shoved a paper in her hand. “It’s all the information you’ll need. Should be good for three months, but it wouldn’t hurt to use a condom.”

“I don’t think that’s a problem,” she grumbled.

She watched as Rachel hitched an eyebrow and looked around her. “Uh huh.” She winked.

“Rachel!” she nearly shouted.

The young doctor grinned broadly at Hannah and tilted her head toward Lucius in the door. His back was to them, and what an amazing back it was. The deep grooves of his firm muscles were clearly outlined by the thin material of his t-shirt. Once again she was reminded of how amazing he looked.

She turned back to her friend and glared. It wasn’t like she wasn’t aware of the situation. Rachel knew more than anyone of her feelings for Lucius. Everything in her was pulled to the distant and brooding man.

Rachel grinned at her, and Hannah knew what came next couldn’t be a good thing.

“I’m sure you’ll find a partner,” Rachel said loudly. “Maybe Apollo.”

Hannah started to say something but stopped when she noticed a low growl resonating through the room. She looked over to Lucius and found him standing in the doorway, his muscles tight and eyes glowing slightly.

“Marius will pick you up,” Lucius said, glaring at Rachel.

He stomped into the room, his eyes still on Rachel as he came to her side of the bed. Hannah jumped when he placed a gentle hand at her back. He was so large, and yet every time he touched her, it seemed to soothe her very soul.

“Let’s get you home,” he said. His voice was low and sent tingles through her.

Hannah nodded, too afraid to speak. When she turned to Rachel, she winked at her and gave a thumbs up. Hannah rolled her eyes. Her friend was going to seriously get her into trouble one of these days.

There was going to be hell to pay from Marius next time Lucius saw him. He wasn’t too happy about having to come pick up the doctor, not that he could blame him. The damn woman was too reckless and never seemed to care about the consequences. He’d have to talk to Titus about this. Something had to be done. They couldn’t just allow her to run around as she pleased anymore doing random experiments on them like they were still at the Horatius Group.

Lucius breathed a sigh of relief when they hit the cool night air. He knew he was more man than beast, but there were times when he really wondered how true that was. Being outside always seemed to set him more at ease, especially at night.