“I used to blame it on his job. It was stressful. He’s a police officer,” she said, and he really didn’t like where any of this was heading. “So, his job could be tough, but after a while . . . I just couldn’t deal with it anymore. We were hardly sleeping in the same bed, and I felt like I was . . .”

“Always walking on egg shells,” he said, recalling when she’d said that before.

Julia nodded. “Leaving him was scary, because he was—he was all that I knew, and I’ve always been hesitant—kind of afraid. It’s not like I don’t do new things—obviously. It just takes me a lot to work up the nerve. I tend to overthink things.”

“Never would’ve guessed that last part,” he teased.

Another small grin appeared. “Anyway, I left him about three years ago. I didn’t stay with him because I was weak. I stayed with him because I thought love would be enough.”

“I don’t think you’re weak.”

Another quick smile appeared. “Sometimes loving someone isn’t enough. I don’t mean to sound bitter, but love can’t fix everything about a person. It can’t just be enough at the end of the day. Not when it no longer feels like the person is walking the same road as you.”

Lucian agreed even though he was quite sure he’d never loved someone outside of his family. “And he still calls you?”

“Hopefully not anymore.” She reached for her drink and took a healthy swallow. “It’s like he likes to check in. I hate it, so I ignore it. I actually changed my phone number, but he managed to figure out the new number.”

Lucian really didn’t like the sound of that.

“The thing is, I know he doesn’t want to get back together.” She put her glass back down and for the first time, she faced him. “He just doesn’t like the idea of me moving on, even if he has—and he has. He’s remarried.”

“He sounds like an asshole.”

“Yeah,” she agreed.

Lucian wasn’t sure if he should ask the next question. “Has he hurt you?”

Her brows lifted. “Like physically? No. He never did that. He pulled the emotional and mental crap. You know, the kind of stuff that doesn’t leave evidence behind.”

“But doesn’t it, though?” he asked quietly. “It’s in the way someone carries themselves. It’s etched into every minute line of the face and in the shadows of their eyes. It still leaves its mark.”

Her chest rose heavily. “You . . . your father—did he?”

“Hit us? From time to time, he was known to get physical. That stopped when I got bigger or my brothers would step in.”

Julia’s expression fell. “I hate to hear that. You should’ve never gone through that.”

“Neither should you.”

“You’re right.” Nibbling on her lower lip, she brought one leg up onto the couch. “Did he hit Madeline?”

“I would’ve killed him if he had.”

She stared at him for a long moment and then a bit of blood drained from his face. “You’re not joking.”

“No.” He met her wide-eyed stare. “I’m not. That’s my sister.”

Julia let go of the edges of her sweater. “Have you . . . ?”

“Have I what?” When she didn’t answer, he leaned forward, moving his hand to her knee. “I’ve done some things.”

She inhaled sharply. “What kind of things, Lucian?”

“Things I’d do to your ex-husband if I ever had the pleasure of meeting him.”

“You can’t mean that. You don’t—”

“Don’t say that I don’t know you, Julia. I do. You’re kind and nurturing. You have the best laugh, but you don’t laugh nearly enough. You’re smart and even if you think you’re scared of things, you’re brave. And I hope you realize that last part. You wouldn’t be in this house, far away from everything you know, if you weren’t.”

She let out a shaky breath.

“And I know enough to know that you fall into that very small group of people that I would do terrible things to those who’ve harmed them.”

“What things?” she asked after a moment.

“Stuff I’m not necessarily proud of, but wouldn’t change.” He slid his hand up her thigh as he held her stare. “I would do anything to protect those I care about. Truthfully, so would my brothers.” He dragged his hand up, over to her hip. “There is nothing that we wouldn’t do.”

“That’s . . . that’s kind of scary.”

He waited for her to pull away or move his hand, but when she didn’t, he leaned in even closer. “But I don’t think you’re scared. I don’t think you’d still be sitting here if you were.” Their faces were only inches apart. “Would you be?”

Her eyes drifted shut. “What kinds of things have you’ve done, Lucian?”

“I’ve made sure that someone who hurt someone I cared about never hurt someone else again,” he whispered against her mouth. “I didn’t kill him, but that would’ve been kinder of me.”

Julia was quiet for a moment. “Was that the situation you all took care of that involved Gabe’s ex?”

Damn. She had a great memory. “It does.”

“Did that someone deserve whatever you did?”

Tilting his head to the side, he dragged his lips along the curve on her cheek. “They’d deserved that and then some.”

She trembled. “You guys . . . your family really is its own world.”

He slid his hand up her side, underneath the sweater. “You know what?”

“What?” Her hand landed on his chest.

Lucian guided her back until she was lying on the couch as he rose above her. Those beautiful whiskey-colored eyes met his. “I want you in this world—my world. Do you?”

Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt. “Just . . . just for a little while.”

A real smile curved up the tips of Lucian’s lips a second before he kissed her. He didn’t hold back. Because if she didn’t pull the brakes on this, he wasn’t stopping. He wanted this—wanted this since the moment he saw her in the bar.

Lucian claimed her with the kiss, and when her body started to tremble, he knew he had to do this first. Because if he didn’t and got naked, he wasn’t going to last. Not when he was already hard and ready.

He lifted, rocking back on one knee. “Take off that sweater.”

Cheeks flushed, she sat up and shrugged off the sweater. It got stuck under them, but he didn’t care.

“Love that top.” He trailed a finger along the lace. Then he moved onto her pants. Grabbing ahold, he slid them down, baring her. “No panties? Ms. Hughes, I am shocked.”

“Shut up,” she said, her voice husky.

He chuckled as he yanked the pants off her legs. He caught her ankle, kissing the arch of her foot and then moving slowly up the inside of her leg, kissing and nipping.

“Oh God,” she breathed as he passed her knee.

Pausing he glanced up, seeing those nipples pebbled under the thin material. He wanted to see them. Catching the edge of the flimsy shirt, he tugged it up. She lifted up, and then she was completely exposed.

Lucian could only stare for a moment, his eyes cataloging every soft swell and dip. His imagination had not done her justice. Jesus, she was a goddess.

So he told her that.

Julia laughed as she gave a little shake of her head.

“I’m speaking the truth.” Lucian cupped her breasts, dragging his thumbs over the rosy peaks. She shuddered in response. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” she said, and she didn’t hesitate.

Lucian kissed her fiercely in response. His dick was so hard, it was going to burst open his jeans. “I want you to sit up and I want you to scoot to the edge of the couch.”

The shudder in her grew as she sat completely up. That beautiful hair of hers fell forward. Taut nipples peeked through the thick strands as he rose off the couch. Knees pressed together, she scooted to the edge of the couch.