Page 58 of Their Cruel Play
“Still just friends?” His tone is almost mocking but also knowing.
Some instinct wants me to deny it. This man feels like a predator. Like if we give him anything, he’ll use it against us. I want to draw away and put some space between me and Luke. To deny it, but Luke holds me tighter.
“What do you want?” Luke says. His tone is respectful, but there’s a hint of resignation in it.
“Winter break you will come work at my company and learn the ropes. No excuses.” His father’s smile is almost terrifying. He pushes off the wall. “Also, plan for dinner next week. This time just you and your girl. I want to get to know her better.”
Luke flinches. Is it because of the dinner or because his dad called me his girl?
“Fine.” Luke pulls me with him as we head toward his room.
“And Harper?” his father says.
I look back at Luke’s father. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Wear another pretty dress.”
A shiver of disgust flows through me, but I hide my emotions as Luke drags me into the hallway. He doesn’t stop until we’re inside his room. He closes and locks the door.
“Fuck.” The word is soft, but then he turns into me and takes me into his arms.
He trembles against me, and I don’t even hesitate to wrap my arms around him to try to stop his shaking. I’m scared because if Death is afraid, then I should be terrified.
“We need to leave,” he whispers, not letting me go. He tucks his head against mine and blows out a breath. “We need to get back to the others where you’re safe.”
My heartbeat is out of control. Safe?
“I’m safe with you,” I whisper because speaking in a normal voice would break whatever this is. It’s the truth.
Luke shakes his head. He tips my face up. “My father is not a good man. He’s always looking for ways to hurt me.”
He studies me. Right now, he’s anything but cold. There’s a softness and tenderness to him I’ve seen before in fleeting moments, but right now, it’s almost raw.
“You’re worried he’ll use me to hurt you?” I see the truth of that statement in his eyes. What parent would do that? “Why?”
“I’m the one thing he can’t control. He always has, but the older I get the more I slip away from him and what he wants me to do.” Luke’s finger rubs along my jaw. We’re standing pressed together, and I don’t ever want to move away.
“What does he want you to do?”
“Continue his legacy.” His finger trails over my lips, drawing his gaze down to them before he lifts it to meet mine. “Become him.”
“And you don’t want that?” I’m curious because the guy I thought I knew at the beginning of the school year seemed exactly like the man in the kitchen.
“No, princess.” He shakes his head. “I want to be something more. Something better. Someone worthy of someone like you.”
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. He kisses me, but not long enough for me to respond before he releases me and moves around his room, gathering what we came here for.
Someone worthy of someone like you.My heart stutters in my chest as I watch him. He’s hard to love, but I’ve felt myself giving into the feeling a little more with every moment, figuring he’d never reciprocate. But what if he wants to love me?
I stand there, motionless and speechless. If Luke could love me, is it possible they all could? I don’t know what to do with this new knowledge.
When we walkinto Caden’s, Luke and I hold hands, but he’s pulled away from me at least emotionally. Like that tender moment of need and want never happened.
Little moments. I sigh.
“What happened?” Nico stands from the couch to come over to us.
“My father.” Luke draws me in tight against his side. The physical bond is still there. The chemistry that binds us is like nothing else. But that vulnerable part of him is hidden away again behind the wall he usually has up.
