Chapter 58

Lucas

Marvolo was a fool for thinking that he deserved even a moment of my time.

But I was almost grateful for the dunce.

His eager desire to pull me aside for the night gave me the perfect opportunity to slip away from Valerie. If only for a bit.

I couldn’t believe how weak I’d been. I was seconds from losing control.

I could have taken her. I could have sunk my teeth into her neck and tasted the sweet beat of her heart. I could have stripped her naked and brought the brothel walls down with her cries of pleasure. All night. All night, I could have done it.

And I might’ve. If I’d entered the room with her on our return. I might’ve given in. I could still feel that hungry, gnawing me down to the bone. It took all I had to restrain myself.

But I hadn’t laid a hand on her, and I was glad for that.

She looked too much like Chelsea. Reminded me too much of her. Even smelled like her, which seemed outright impossible. The longer she stayed by my side, the more I was beginning to see Chelse