Chapter 19

Arabella’s POV

Why did I even call that asshole’s name? Why did I even have a nightmare about him?

“He’s no one,” I replied, eager to drop the conversation.

I don’t want to talk about the man who put me in this situation. I don’t want to talk about the man whom I poured everything that I have but still ended up discarding me like I was nothing. I don’t want to talk about him. I hate talking about him.

“Then why were you crying while calling him? Did he accuse you of something? Why are you begging him?”

I hate Lucien but I hate him more now. Why is he so nosy?

I took a deep breath to calm myself and looked straight at Lucien’s eyes. “Adrian is an asshole. I was accused of a crime I didn’t commit and he believed it,”

“Is he a rogue like you?”

“Yeah,” I shortly responded.

I just want to end the conversation and drink some water. My mouth was too dry and even swallowing was hard but Lucien doesn’t seem to care. All he wants is for his questions to be answered to satisfy his curiosity.

“Do you like him?”

Really? He won’t drop this conversation about Adrian?

“No,”

But I loved him and that is none of your business Lucien.

“Then why did you beg him to believe you? What is he? A rogue Alpha or something?”

“Yeah. Whatever,” I rolled my eyes.

“You don’t talk to me that way woman,”

I rolled my eyes again. “If you want to interrogate me can you please give me a glass of water? I can’t produce any more saliva and here you are asking questions that are not part of your business,”

I thought he wouldn’t move but Lucien stood up and poured me a glass of water. He went back to bed still frowning.

What now? Wasn’t he used to being ordered around? Why did he even do it anyway? It’s not like I forced him.

“Thank you,” I said in a small voice as I took the glass from his hand but instead of letting it go, he tipped it to my lip.

“Drink,” he coldly ordered.

It took me a few seconds to process. This is unlikely for him. It will be more believable if he smashed the glass on my face but here he is helping me to drink. I didn’t think the grumpy and ruthless Lucien Drake had a soft spot for a useless rogue like me.

I took a sip of the water with a smile on my face. This is the first time he has treated me like this. I should enjoy it.

“Can you put a pillow on my back? My back hurts,”

I even pouted to make me look pitiful. This time I was expecting him to say no or worse choke me to death. To my surprise, the great Lucien Drake put a pillow on my back and even helped me lean on it.

Okay. This is new. I am kinda enjoying it.

“Can you massage my legs?” I pouted my lips even more. “It feels sore. I couldn’t move it,”

Lucien looked at me sharply but still he took my legs and placed them on his lap. He started massaging my calf.

“So…” he trailed. “Where is this Adrian now? Is he in Maine where I found you?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know,”

“When I found you wounded in the forest, was it because of him? Is he chasing you?”

“That’s no longer your business, Alpha Lucien,”

I tried to pull my legs away but he held them firmly. The warmth of his hand spread through my skin as he massaged it.

I shouldn’t have asked him to do this. Why do I even love putting myself in trouble?

“That’s enough. I want to rest,”

I tried to pull my legs again but this time his hold turned even firmer. “Lucien,”

My heart began beating in an abnormal rhythm. I can feel my body trembling under his hold…not out of fear….not out of pain…but out of something I never want to feel.

“W-What do you w-wan’t? Let me go,” I tried to sound brave, like he doesn’t faze me but the way my voice tremble give it away.

“Don’t call that man again. Don’t say his name. Never beg to him or to any man—“

I can’t help but scoff. What’s his problem again? Does he really think he can dictate to me? I’m never allowed to do this. I’m never allowed to do that. And then what else? I have to control my thoughts even my nightmares?

“Stop telling me what to do. I will say any name I want. I will beg anyone I want. You don’t get to dictate me in everything—“

“You’ll say that asshole’s name again?” His hand that was holding my thigh went up to my legs…to the side of my waist…brushing the side of my boob until he reached my throat. His hold wasn't tight but breathing became hard. “You’ll beg to that asshole again, my dear little rouge?”

His blazing red eyes start to pierce my soul. I tried to regain my strength but staring at him made it impossible. He has full control over me and I have no idea how I can recover.

“Answer me rouge,” he firmly demanded.

I slowly shook my head. A smile crept on his lips and before I could even dodge his next move I already felt something warm on my lips.

He fucking kissed me! He fucking kissed me and I closed my fucking eyes!

When I heard his chuckle, I was pulled back to my senses. Lucien was looking at me filled with satisfaction.

“Take a rest,” his hand climbed to my jaw and his thumb started caressing my cheeks. “I won’t mark you tonight but if I hear you say that asshole’s name again…” he trailed and leaned forward, his hot breath caressing my neck. “I will mark you in this very bed. I will dig my pang on your neck and suck the hell out of you until all you can remember is me…only me, my little rouge,”