Page 6 of Sins of Winter
“We’ve had plenty of time to do so.”
“Plenty of—okay, seriously, how did you guys meet? How long ago?”
Thorne’s gaze darted to Lucian. “It feels like it was ages. Something that was always bound to happen.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I’d been observing their behavior since they came to sit with us at the bar. “You two are awfully evasive. What’s the deal?”
“It’s not my place to share.” Thorne’s vibrant blue hues met mine. “Some stories are better left to the ones they belong to.”
At that, Lucian shifted slightly, drawing my attention. “Winter, could we speak in private for a moment?”
I glanced at Mara, hesitant to leave her completely alone with Thorne.
She seemed comfortable with him, but we’d all been drinking, and he was Lucian’s friend, not mine. I hardly knew the guy let alone trusted him. Sensing my apprehension, he smiled slyly. “Don't worry. I won't bite. Not unless she begs me to.”
Mara scoffed and waved him off. “Someone is getting ahead of themselves.”
Taking that as my cue she’d be okay for a few minutes, I followed Lucian into the bedroom. As we entered, he quietly shut the door behind us, turning the lock with a soft click. The weight of the room immediately seemed to press in, making the space feel both intimate and charged.
“Do you want to sit?” His voice was gentle, but there was an undertone of something else.
I wanted to keep my composure, stay standing and meet him head-on, but my feet had other plans.
Almost of their own accord, they carried me to the edge of the bed where I sat, perching on the plush mattress. He took a moment to remove his costume jacket. As he did, the fitted black button down he wore underneath clung to his well-defined upper body.
Jesus.
Each ridge and curve of muscle betrayed a strength that was both visual and palpable. I tried not to, but I couldn’t help but compare him to my ex.
Liam was clean-cut, the perfect depiction of an Abercrombie model. His dirty blonde hair and soft green eyes seemed worlds away from the edgy and intense presence before me. Lucian’s entire aura was infinitely more captivating. It took effort to stop my visual assault. When I reluctantly lifted my gaze to meet his, the intensity I found there sent a blush crawling up my cheeks.
"Do you approve, Winny?" His voice was laced with amusement, the corners of his mouth tilting up in a teasing smirk I knew all too well. It was then I caught the glint of something metallic. A tongue piercing—another new development that I had overlooked, too captivated by the rest of him. The realization sparked a different kind of warmth to flood my cheeks.
“Your tongue,” I commented stupidly, groaning inwardly at how I was rapidly becoming one of the girls that lost all intelligence in front of beautiful men.
It was a new and unsettling territory for me, having always prided myself on keeping my wits about me.
“Do you like it?”
I hesitated, my eyes still locked on his full mouth, tracing over his jawline. “It suits you.”
“Good. I hope you like the others, too.”
“Other piercings?” I tried to keep my voice light, despite the tension in the air. I swept my gaze over him for the millionth time, head to toe. I couldn’t see anything, which meant they were somewhere beneath the clothes he still had on.
“Uh huh.” He watched me closely, clearly amused by my reaction.
A nervous laugh escaped me, cut short as he abruptly closed the distance between us. His nearness enveloped me in the subtle notes of his cologne, a scent that stirred the air and my senses simultaneously. He towered over me, his dominating presence making me feel tiny and vulnerable.
It was akin to a beast cornering its prey. Oddly enough, I didn't mind feeling trapped. Noticing where my thoughts were veering, I quickly sought to change the direction of the conversation. “So, what did you want to talk about?”
Instead of answering, he reached out and deftly lifted a strand of my silver hair, letting it slide between his fingers. “I like this shade on you,” he murmured, voice softer than before, causing my heart to race. “It makes your eyes stand out even more than they usually do.”
“Lucian...” My voice trailed off as the sound of Mara's laughter echoed from the other room.
His hand lowered, gently cupping my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “These eyes haunt me day and night.” He then ran his fingers down the length of my throat, making me swallow hard as tingles spread throughout my body. “I’ve always known you’re the prettiest girl in this town.”
I audibly scoffed at that. I knew I was pretty, but to say I was the best-looking girl in the entire town was a stretch.