EZRA
Pain. Deep, throbbing pain in my chest. My head felt heavy, my limbs weak.
Rustling. A sound too close. Where was I?
Darkness swallowed everything. I couldn't see. My breathing hitched.
"Ahh!" My voice cracked. "Somebody… anybody… help me!"
A deep chuckle slithered through the air.
"My baby is awake."
That voice.
My blood ran cold.
"Lucius…" I whispered, dread gripping my throat.
"Mmm…" His voice was laced with amusement. "The way you call my name in fear makes my blood rush to my cock"
"Lucius, please…" My voice trembled. How did he find me? No, this can't be happening. If he..
SLAP!
THUD.
"He's unconscious again? Damn it. Does he get fed at all?"
"Sir, for the past three days, he has refused all food and water."
"Mmm, I see. Take him to my room."
The scent of candles filled my nose. My body ached.
I opened my eyes, blinking through the haze. A room. Familiar. Too familiar. My heart pounded as I pushed myself up, wincing.
No. No, no, no.
I was back.
The doorknob turned. My breath hitched.
The door swung open, and there he was. Tall, broad, imposing. Water dripped from his silver-gray hair, tracing paths down his sculpted chest, his thick muscles. A towel hung loosely around his waist.
I swallowed hard.
Lucius.
His hazel eyes locked onto mine, brows furrowed.
"Ezra," he drawled, my name stretching between us like a snare. My pulse quickened.
"Lucius, I swear I wasn't trying to run away!" I stammered, inching back.
His lips curved slightly. "Ezra, baby, if you wanted to go for a ride, you should've told papi first."
The way he said it made me shudder. Tears welled in my eyes. I wiped them away quickly and forced a smile, my heart pounding.
I had to survive.
I stood up and walked toward him, ignoring the screaming pain in my limbs. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tiptoed and pressed a chaste kiss to his nose. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd be back so soon."
His fingers twitched.
SLAP!
I crashed backward, my head slamming into the nightstand. CRASH!
The bedside lamp shattered on my head.
Pain exploded through my skull. Warm liquid trickled down my forehead. Blood.
My vision blurred. I gasped, gripping my head, feeling the sticky wetness between my fingers.
"Why did you lie to me?" His voice was low. Dangerous.
I forced myself to focus. "Lucius, I didn't… I swear, I didn't run from you!"
"That's not what I asked." His eyes darkened. "Why. Did. You. Lie?"
Panic clawed at my throat. "What? No, no, I have never lied to you, Lucius. I love you, remember?"
A flicker of something, mockery, disbelief, flashed in his gaze.
"You know better than to play games with me, baby."
My knees buckled. I swayed. "Lui…" I whispered. Everything hurt. My mouth was dry. "I won't leave you. I promise."
I reached out.
SLAP!
THUD.
"Lucius, please…"
POW! POW! POW!
The blows rained down, each one slicing through my body like fire.
"Dirty little bastard!" SLAP! "I told you not to mess with.." POW! "…me!"
I coughed, barely able to hear my own voice as I whimpered, "Lui, please…"
******
Creak. Creak.
"Are you awake?"
The voice was unfamiliar. My body ached in places I didn't know could hurt.
"Well, I'm not dead," I muttered through the pain. My head was wrapped in thick bandages.
I turned, wincing.
"You!" My voice cracked as I shot up. "You were the guy in front of the alley!"
The man sat across the room, arms crossed. "You didn't even see my face."
I frowned. "Well, you should have changed if you were planning to lie."
"I didn't lie. You never saw my face. Only my clothes."
He had a point.
Embarrassed, I glanced away. My eyes trailed over his face, really taking him in for the first time.
He was beautiful.
He stood, walking toward me. "Here. Drink." He handed me a glass of water before returning to his seat.
I hesitated, then took a sip.
"So…" I glanced at him. "You work for Lucius?"
"That's correct."
I swallowed thickly. "What's your name?"
He looked at me, expression unreadable. "Malachai."