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CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

GABRIELLE

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A sudden movement jerked my eyes open from a short slumber, I recalled that I had sat beside Lucian, somehow I must have managed to fall asleep.

My gaze drifted upward to be met by a pair of stormy grey eyes, his stare was cold. Brutal. Unforgiving.

I shot to my feet and took a step backward, almost stumbling to the floor in the process.

He didn't say a word, but he didn't need to. The fierce hostility in his eyes told me that hell was about to break loose.

I inhaled nervously under his watchful gaze and decided to speak first.

"How long have you been awake, how do you f..feel?"

His silence made increased my worry, I didn't realize that a small fearful sound escaped from my throat when he ripped off the IV drip connected to his hand.

His stormy eyes were like a brewing hurricane, one that was soon about to be unleashed, and I didn't want to be there when it happened.

I should leave, when he was calmed down enough, maybe then we could finally speak.

"Do you need anything? I can get it for you, or maybe I should get the d...doctor" I stammered anxiously. I started to hurry out of the room.

One step.

Two steps

My fingers started to reach for the door handle when he moved.

He struck as quick and sharp as a predator.

He was out of the bed in a blur, I hadn't anticipated his sudden movement, a short startled scream escaped my mouth when he started to charge towards me, wearing a deadly expression.

Weren't his injuries supposed to slow him down?

My eyes fell on his shoulder and my mouth dropped open in shock and alarm, the white bandaged area around his shoulder was starting to become stained with blood.

He was insane!

"Lucian you..." I choked on my words when Lucian suddenly grabbed me around my throat with one hand, squeezing tight until tears of pain pooled in my eyes.

"What did you do!" He growled, his voice laced with venom and his eyes filled with ice, he not only seemed furious but he also had that crazed glint in his eyes.

My hands flew to clasp Lucian's hand but the pressure only increased until I felt that my windpipe was about to be crushed.

I could feel his rage in his grip, my lungs were starting to burn from lack of air.

"You fucking lied to me! How dare you!" He seethed, slamming my back against the wall, pushing against me with his weight.

My eyes filled with tears as a choked whimper escaped from my throat, for a moment I saw his eyes soften with concern, but that look quickly vanished as soon as it came, he stared at me coldly, lowering his head so his face was close to mine.

Just when I thought I was about to pass out, he loosened his grip just slightly, I choked while desperately urging air into my lungs. My weak knees would have collapsed to the floor but his weight kept me trapped.

"Lucia...please!" I pleaded. "You have to believe that I didn't betray you, I didn't lie to you, that's why I came back!"

"Liar!!" He roared, enraged.

I was not able to control my flinch when he raised his hand, for a second, I thought he was going to hit me but he punched the wall beside my head.

"You came back because you knew I would have gotten you back either way! There's no way I'm letting you go! You merely wanted to give your little boyfriend some time to get away!" He snarled and I had to flinch again from the amount of loathing and anger dripping from his voice.

"That's not true! I just didn't want him to die, you would have killed him! I only did what I thought was right at that moment."

"Shut up!" He growled savagely.

A loud shriek escaped my mouth when he suddenly yanked my hand and lifted it to touch his shoulder. oh god! I just noticed that the spot was soaking more blood at a quicker rate. He was hurting me. As well as himself.

"Why didn't you think about me!? Take a look!" He barked, bringing my palm further against his bloodstained shoulder.

"I was hurt, he would have fucking killed me as well! But that is exactly what you would have wanted, isn't it!?" His voice was rough with emotions.

Bitterness, misery, and anguish made his eyes turn darker.

"No! Why would I want you hurt? Listen, I..." I started to touch his arm but he shrugged me violently away from him like a rag doll, I lost my balance, crashing hard against the floor.

I was sobbing louder and openly but it wasn't from the pain of the sudden fall, the salty tears kept pouring. And suddenly, anger flared inside of me. He didn't trust me, he didn't want to listen either, how could he so easily assume that I would try to leave when he already ruined me so severely that I couldn't see myself with any other but him. He had touched every part of me, including my soul which I had sought to protect, I was already tainted and didn't care that he was cruel, ruthless, like a poisonous flower he had rooted himself deep inside of me. How could he toss me aside so heartlessly? I bit my lips hard enough to draw blood, the emotions swirling inside of me were threatening to explode, my heart felt as though it would burst and for the first time I let myself free, I allowed the anger, pain...the love to overwhelm me.

I staggered to my feet and suddenly yanked Lucian by the arm, this time he had to listen to me, maybe after now, I wouldn't have the courage to utter the words I was about to say.

He didn't budge, except to narrow his eyes at me.

"Since you believe I betrayed you, what are you going to do about it! huh?"

His gaze sparkled with ignited fire before growling at me.

"Don't think I won't punish you, you'll regret the decision you took today!" He snapped, taking an intimidating step closer, I thought he was about to squeeze my throat again, that was what I was expecting.

"Are you going to hit me? Strangle me? Or maybe this time you'll finally get rid of me for good! Maybe when you kill me..." I couldn't complete my sentence when he snapped. His fingers curved around the base of my neck as he pulled me to him. We stared at each other silently, our chests heaving heavily in unison.

With a low frustrated growl, he dipped his head and claimed my lips in a heart-wrenching kiss, my breath rushed out of me as our lips crushed together. Our tongues fought to communicate all the things we couldn't say. All the feelings that were suppressed were poured out. I was lost in the kiss and for a moment, everything was perfect, how could he feel so good and dangerous at the same time. How could I fear him and at the same time he could make me throb with the burning heat of want.

It wasn't right but it didn't feel wrong either. His lips left mine to press against my cheek and I realized the continuous flow of tears from my eyes. Those weren't just tears, they conveyed everything I felt at this moment. The confusion, the need, the helplessness as well as the bitterness.

We pulled apart slowly and just gazed at each other silently. It was me who broke the silence.

"I can't be with anyone else," I whispered brokenly. I swallowed the emotions that threatened to clog up my throat.

"Yes, I could have left with him, A normal life without you would have been waiting for me."

I heard his sharp intake of breath but he didn't interrupt.

"But I don't want that life anymore, things have changed so much, I already experienced you, I changed." I paused to hold his gaze.

"You ruined that for me, I should still resent you for how cruel you were to me, but I've seen your good side too, maybe that was why despite knowing you were going to hurt me, I still wanted to return to you, I was willing to take the risk of you misunderstanding me, hurting me than the pain of being separated from you. You are everything that is wrong for me, but I still want you the way I do." A burst of small laughter bubbled from my throat.

"What kind of person does that make me if not stupid? And do you want to know why?" I wiped my face with the back of my hand.

I met his smoldering stare with a resigned look.

"That's because I love you." It came out very simply, maybe it was because I had already acknowledged this truth inside of me all along.

He tensed against me. I didn't breathe either. His stare was intense. flickering brightly with varying emotions. His eyes shone with hope, doubts amongst other things.

"I love you...Lucian" I repeated.

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Another chapter.

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