a|n :
An official welcome to the Bounty Series. As you guys can already see, this is Lucian and Lexie's adventure. The next characters in the Bounty Series will more or less appear in other books first before they have their own. It's just how I roll and I love doing it. Keep your eyes peeled for it.
I don't edit as I go. So pointing out mistakes is fine but don't be rude about it. I also will try to have quotes of my favourite books at the start of each chapter to spritz some inspiration up in here.
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Straightaway, she'd called to the guard, "Oh, boys?" She'd sauntered to the glass in only her black lace bra and panties. "I need some assistance," When they slowed, agog, she'd purred, "Can one of you help me find my orgasm?"
— Kresley Cole
Chapter 1
There was a reason mixing business with pleasure was asking for straight trouble. The crossing of such blurred lines was easy- but downright abhorrent when wanting to seem professional and serious.
I knew this.
But then why was I considering it? Crossing that thin line that we had somehow created between the two of us with the barest interactions.
***
My intentions were apparent the very second I had opened my eyes this beautiful morning. The sun was still hiding behind the clouds; the birds were still sleeping, but I had already woken up, my intentions already crafted so it could no longer be changed.
I clung onto them all day until the opportunity to act on it was dangled in front of me. And as expected, I jumped at my only chance. Which would explain why my heart was suddenly thumping loudly in my ears, my lungs compressing, rendering the oxygen levels to my brain. Which would then explain how my mind went suddenly clear for a few seconds, wiped off everything I had planned to do or say.
It was too late to turn around and gather myself. My hands had already acted out of their own accord and opened the door into the room.
And there he stood, leaning against the window ledge with one hand on the window glass, the other pressing his phone on his ear.
Lucian Frey.
The most incredible, beautiful, and mysterious man I had ever come across in my life. His equally incredible muscles that were burgeoning through his fitted navy shirt complimented his massive frame. His hair, coming past his shoulders into beautiful dark waves with golden strands peaking through whenever it caught the right light, framed his hard face. It gave him that softness he just needed to make him that bit approachable.
His gaze caught mine once I took a step into his office and closed the door behind me. He raked his gaze down the whole of my body, lingering at my bare legs before they shot back up to my face.
I had on a rose ruched off the shoulder dress and complimented it with peep toe lacy heels. I wore my dark hair like usual, leaving it in its natural wavy state and falling down to my lower back.
"Do what you have to do." He muttered into his phone before he hung up, not once breaking his gaze from me. I was mimicking his own actions, finding it increasingly difficult to stop staring at him as I kept seeing him.
"Lexie." He drew out my name in greeting. Hearing my name roll off his tongue awakened some deep-rooted desire within me. I contained myself, clinging onto all aspects of self-respect I had in me. I repeated my mantra back and forth between my mind.
Do not mix business with pleasure. Do not mix business with pleasure.
"I'm here to cash in that favour you owe me." I said to him, my back straight, my voice giving away nothing.
If he was surprised, he didn't show it.
Lucian and I had met several times, always amongst other people. I had noted him all those times as well, and each time he left me speechless. And then there was that fated game we played in Nolan's strip club, where I had to answer his question or owe him a favour. I answered and even bagged a favour of my own. And I was here for it now.
I had no intentions to ever cash in on this favour of his. The thought of being close in his proximity again was unnerving and knowing he only had to crook his finger at me and I would gladly open my legs for him was scary. He was that good-looking.
Again, I clung to my self-respect as hard as possible since it craved to do a runner itself.
Lucian slowly walked towards where I stood, his powerful legs carrying him with such feline grace. I kept my eyes trained on his face, no hint at all what he was thinking.
"What can I do for you?" He asked, stopping a healthy distance from me. My mind scandalously imagined Lucian walking the rest of the distance and coming pressed against me. I would run my hands along his chest before rounding them over his neck. He would graze his full lips across my bare throat, a scrape of his teeth ever so slowly branding me.
I shifted on my feet, battling the heat that pooled within me.
I don't know how Lucian knew, but his eyes darkened, a hungry glint appearing in them. That was all the indication he allowed to be shown before he schooled his expression into his serious one.
He motioned over to the door. "Let me take you for some drinks we'll talk then."
I shook my head at him. "I need discretion." A public place for drinks. And talk with Lucian Frey? "Everyone knows who you are, Lucian. I can't risk them finding out."
A shadow came over his face. "Them?" He asked me slowly. We were still in his building, but with these crooked, stupid men of the law, they could have anything bugged in.
"The police." I mouthed.
Lucian went utterly still. "Are you running from the police, Lexie?"
I let out a scoff. "There's no escaping the police. Especially if you can fuck them over."
"Are they after you?" He continued to speak. "Are you a fugitive?" I couldn't understand why he would ask that. With the type of business he was running, I was sure he had all the fugitives printed in his mind. And for sure, he wouldn't let me walk free if I was amongst them.
But still I looked at him, aghast. "What? No!" I sputtered out.
Lucian clenched his jaw. He was so magnificent. Never had I come across such a perfect human. Every inch of man and power.
He grabbed my arm and began steering me towards his door. "You want discretion, I'll give it you."
"Your office is fine enough. Unless they've bugged that too."
Lucian stopped just before he reached for the door handle. "Excuse me?"
I bit my lip, realising how that sounded. I just implied Lucian Frey, the leader of bounty hunters so feared even different cities knew of them, that someone could outsmart him.
"You just never know." I whispered to him, pulling my arm from his grip. "And next time, please don't feel comfortable enough to pull me along."
Lucian's eyes narrowed down to my face. "Talk." He demanded.
He eyed me up carefully and for a long while. I stared right back at him, silently. The ends of my teeth grazed the inside of my cheek as an inner debate took over me. Should I tell him?
Was I really going to cash out my favour to help a stranger? And then I remembered her sullen face, the frightened look she had in her eyes. She jumped at every uninvited touch, some accidental and not even meant for her. The familiarity started creeping up in my mind and I-
I swallowed down the knot that formed in my throat. Not the time nor place for that right now.
I raised my head up slightly, dropping a mask over my face to obscure any hint of emotion. "There's this guy who is abusing this girl. Can you get her out of there?"
Lucian said nothing for a minute, except continued to bore his eyes into me. I bulged my eyes at him, willing him to speak.
"Who is she?"
"I don't know."
He frowned at me. "Then how do you expect me to do anything?"
He needed more information. "I know the guy. Adam."
"Don't tell me it's your ex-"
"I know you know. Please." I held his eye. "He is doing it to her, and I know she can't get out. It took me so long. I don't want what happened to me to happen to her. Or worse, to continue happening if he's already done it."
Lucian started pacing in front of me, running his long fingers through his messy hair.
"The police silenced me." I whispered, afraid to add fuel to whatever fire was brewing up inside him. "They'll do more than silence me if I speak up about him again."
"Lexie, this is London. He can't fucking control the entire police force in London."
I shook my head at him rapidly. "I tried, Lucian. I tried everything. Trust me, they're all connected like this big, tight family. He's the Chief's son. They protect their own like mad."
Lucian ended my frantic babbling with a swift kiss. Again? I reared my head back at the intrusion, but instantly missed the chance to revel in this kiss. "Is that the favour you want? I will do it for free."
I breathed out heavily. "Thank you."
Lucian gave me a swift nod. "Is that all?" He asked slowly.
I nodded, ignoring the other question behind his words. "I'll see you when I do." I said and swiftly walked out his office.
A/N
-> I'm just starting over since I started writing this nearly 2 years ago with a complete different vision for it. I'm attempting a slow-burn kinda romance :)