Freeing Luka: The Clecanian Series Book 2 Read online

  Alice rose, gaze fixed on the ground to hide her eagerness. “If you bring me some medical supplies, I’ll touch him. He has lots of bruises and cuts that need to be tended to.”

  He let out a humorless chuckle and turned to face her again. “You aren’t in a position to make demands.” A wicked grin curved his lips. “He will not be healed. You will touch him. If you don’t, I’ll send a shock through his cuffs. Any pain or suffering he experiences today will be on your head, not mine.”

  Tears welled behind her eyes again. She focused on controlling her breathing to keep him from seeing how his words affected her.

  He stepped through the door, and Alice followed him quietly, walking with her head hung low all the way to Luka’s room. She couldn’t bear to see Helas’ triumphant expression. It was stupid for her to have mentioned healing Luka. Now Helas knew she cared whether the man was hurt or not. She’d shown a weakness to him, and he’d use it to control her.

  This is exactly why I should try not to care! I’ve just made it worse for us both.

  His gaze followed her as she moved through the open door of the cell. “Remember, I’ll be watching.”

  Alice shuffled into the dim room, and her eyes locked on Luka’s. He was still kneeling and chained, but now instead of his hands being bound behind him, his arms were spread wide. The shackle at each wrist was resting, as if glued, on a new metal plate on the stone wall.

  “His chains allowed him to have some freedom, but after yesterday’s episode, we decided restricting his movement would be wise.” Helas met her disdainful stare. “Magnetic cuffs are less comfortable, but he won’t be able to break out of them.”

  She frowned at the back of his retreating head. He talks about chaining a man like he’s doing him a favor.

  As the door closed behind Helas, she returned her attention to Luka. He tugged on the cuffs weakly and let out a pained groan. Dark, ugly bruises covered his torso, making Alice wince in sympathy. She knelt on the ground in front of him. His eyes weren’t black the way they’d been the last time she’d seen them. His pupils were still dilated, but he looked slightly more aware than he had yesterday. He let his gaze roam over her hungrily.

  His head snapped up when a loud voice boomed from somewhere in the ceiling. “Touch him, Alice!”

  She glanced back to Luka. His whole body had tensed at the sound, and his eyes were wild.

  Before she could react to the sudden command, a bolt of electricity shot through Luka’s chains, causing him to double over and roar in pain.

  Alice cried out and moved toward him. As much as she wanted to disobey Helas, she couldn’t allow Luka to suffer. She waited until the electric buzz had faded, then, when she was sure she wouldn’t be shocked, she reached out and tentatively placed her hand on his shoulder. Immediately, he leaned into her touch.

  Luka glanced up at her, the pain evident on his face. How hard had Helas kicked him yesterday? If his ribs were broken, then seizing up like that must be excruciating.

  Alice raised her other hand as well and caressed her fingertips over his bunched shoulders. His hard muscles relaxed under her touch, and he began purring. She smiled and whispered, “I’ve never heard a man purr before.”

  As she rubbed his shoulders more firmly, her musings from the night before came back to her. Luka was very strong. Stronger than any man she’d ever met. What if she was able to get these shackles off him? He’d already proven to be protective of her. He could help them escape.

  Smoothing back his hair, she looked into his eyes. “I’m so sorry they’re hurting you. Maybe we can get out of here together.”

  I need a plan.

  Alice allowed her hands to gently run over Luka’s arm until she reached his wrist. With her back to the camera, she hid his shackle from view and examined it. She’d never picked a lock before, but maybe she could learn.

  “Shit,” she whispered under her breath. The thick metal circling his wrist didn’t have a keyhole, or any opening for that matter. Fingerprint. I forgot.

  She was just about to move away to examine the metal plate itself when he snagged her hand with his own restrained one. She glanced at him, startled, but saw his eyes were focused on their interlaced fingers. He gently flexed and relaxed his fingers, running them against hers. His eyes slid closed, and his purring intensified.

  Butterflies began flapping around in her stomach, and she attempted to tug her hand away. Luka’s eyes shot open, and he looked at her with brows drawn. He squeezed her hand softly then released it.

  Even drugged, he was being more of a gentleman than a lot of guys she knew. He wanted to touch her, that much was obvious, but he also released her when she asked him to.

  Moving to kneel in front of him again, she reached up and wound her arms around his neck, embracing him in a hug. Luka’s body tightened, and he pulled at the metal around his wrists, trying to get closer to her.

  He nuzzled his head against her neck, giving her goosebumps.

  Focus, Alice! she scolded.

  This closeness was probably giving him the wrong idea, but she needed to talk to him without the guards hearing. In his ear, she whispered, “Can you understand me?”

  He said nothing, but stilled when she spoke, so she continued, keeping her voice low in case Helas could hear her as well as see her. “I need your help to break out of here. Can you understand me?”

  Again, he said nothing but instead began running his hot mouth over the sensitive flesh just below her ear.

  Her plan to whisper to him and work out an escape together had failed, but Luka’s soft touches were helping to melt away her stress, so she hesitated a moment too long before pulling away. Heat flooded her core when his head dipped to press a hot kiss to the junction of her neck and shoulder.

  Alice felt his chest expand with his inhale, and a low, rumbling growl escaped him. She jerked away from him and found his eyes were black again. He strained toward her.

  Even after everything she’d been through, Alice still found herself drawn to this man, and a fleeting urge to kiss him overwhelmed her.

  Embarrassment and shame made her flush, and she quickly scooted away from him. He was restrained and loaded up with drugs to make him horny. Of course he wouldn’t want her to kiss him. He probably didn’t truly want to kiss her either and was only touching her that way because he couldn’t help himself.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, hugging her knees to her chest.

  Luka glanced at his manacled wrist, then back to her. He released a frustrated breath and closed his eyes in concentration. In a broken voice, he grated, “Come back…Alice.”

  Hope soared in her. Alice quickly scooted toward Luka and placed a hand on his knee. “You remembered my name! Can you understand me?”

  He said nothing. Frustration overwhelmed her. Still, she thought, if he’s aware enough to remember my name, then maybe he’s fighting off whatever these meds are doing.

  Helas had told her he was a scientist. If that was true, it meant Luka had to be at least a little smart. If he could break out of this haze, then maybe he’d have a clear enough mind to think of a way out of here.

  A new plan formed in her mind. Distancing herself from him had caused him to talk, so now it was time for some positive reinforcement.

  She removed her hand from his leg, earning a low growl from him, then pointed to him. “Luka.”

  He stared at the hand she’d just removed from his knee.

  Alice waved a hand in front of his face to get his attention. She pointed to her mouth and said, “Luka,” then to his mouth and said, “Luka,” and finally, she hovered her hand over his knee.

  He followed her movements with his eyes. She pointed to his mouth again and waited.

  He blinked a few times but finally repeated, “Luka.”

  She cheered quietly, balling her fist in success before placing her hand on his knee again.

  Luka purred quietly, and his gaze shot from her face to her hand. He raised his eyes to the ceiling i
n thought, then looked at her again and said, “Luka.”

  She laughed lightly. “You are a smart guy.” She placed her left palm on his other knee.

  Shifting in his seat, he chanted, “Luka, Luka, Luka.”

  Alice actually laughed out loud. “Okay, tiger, but we need to get you to say some new words.” She placed her hand in front of his face. “Hand.”

  He looked at it for a moment and rattled his hands securely locked in place and repeated, “Hand.”

  Alice eyed Luka, wondering where to touch him as a reward. An odd combination of guilt and arousal assailed her as she examined his half-naked body. Even beaten and bruised, he was still magnificent. His broad, hard chest was covered in tanned, smooth skin. The small white tattoos that ran over his body begged for her to trace them with her finger.

  “Hand,” he repeated firmly.

  She reached out and traced a small curving tattoo that ran along his chiseled abs. Luka began purring again, and the tightly corded muscles of his stomach flexed under her touch.

  As she followed the tattoo with her finger lower and lower, she heard a groan escape him. When she reached his pant line, she gasped and pulled her hand back. A massive erection was clearly visible through his thin pants. She looked up at him and found his eyes were black again.

  In a low, rumbling voice, he growled, “Hand.”

  She let out a nervous, high-pitched laugh. “Yeah, maybe if you come up with an escape plan, I’ll give you a hand.”

  Alice swallowed and forced her gaze to remain fixed anywhere but his lap. It must be torture to feel constantly aroused and have no way of relieving yourself.

  She looked up at him miserably, hoping he could understand the position she was in. “I’m sorry, Luka. If you weren’t drugged and you asked me to fool around with you, I would without a second thought, believe me.”

  A booming, gravelly voice echoed from the ceiling again. “Resume touching him.”

  Alice reached out quickly, worried Luka would be shocked again if she didn’t. “Also, they’re watching.” She began massaging his arms and shoulders, shooting a glare at the camera. “Having your arms stretched like this must hurt a lot.”

  Luka’s eyes closed, and he groaned as she rubbed his sore muscles.

  Alice thought back to the voice that’d just commanded her to touch him. It hadn’t been Helas’ voice. Had he left? Where did he go if he wasn’t always here?

  Chapter 4

  Everything was a haze. Disorganized thoughts came to him in bits and pieces, but he couldn’t hold on to any of them. Every time he tried, an overwhelming lust blanketed his mind, leaving a dull, painful ache in his body.

  Soft hands running over his burning skin was his only respite. He could sense her. Hear her. His mate.

  While she was near him, he found he could focus. When she spoke, her voice felt like cool honey dripping down his aching body.

  He couldn’t understand her words, but when he spoke, she touched him, so he focused all of his energy on pushing back the dark cloud of lust that wiped away his senses and identifying the items she indicated. Hand. Door. Alice.

  She was touching his shoulders now. Running her soft palms over his back. He tried to remember where he was, how he’d gotten here, but every time he did, his mind would devolve until a single thought remained. Take her. Take your mate.

  He focused on her hands and her soft words. Concentrate on her.

  She was his lifeline. The only thing connecting him to his unclouded mind.

  He felt cold metal circling his wrists. Although he couldn’t remember how they’d gotten there or why he was restrained, he was thankful. If his hands were free, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to control himself.

  Chapter 5

  Alice had been keeping track of her days the only way she could without a clock, by counting her visits with Luka. Assuming she’d been brought to him every day, she’d counted two weeks in this place.

  She looked forward to those visits more than she could say. Luka not only offered her comfort, with his deep voice and familiar icy-blue eyes, but he also made her feel like she wasn’t alone. Whenever nightmares plagued her or when her anxiety rebounded out of nowhere, Alice knew she could wrap her arms around his neck the next day and he’d soothe her. She’d cried into his shoulder a handful of times now, becoming less and less embarrassed about it the more it happened. He’d nuzzle her neck as she wept and lightly purr, somehow knowing, even through his haze, how to make her feel better.

  After her visits, Sal, Gishen, or Helas would bring her back to her cell, where food would be waiting. If Helas brought her back, as he had today, he’d speak to her about the day’s progress and occasionally, depending on his mood, answer some of her questions.

  Today, Helas sat quietly in the corner, arms crossed, watching Alice as she ate. His normally unreadable mask of innocent charm was gone. Instead, his lips were thinned, and his brow was furrowed in thought. Something had happened to cause this change in his controlled demeanor, but she had no idea what.

  Alice ate her food slowly, forcing herself to swallow the bland mush she’d been given every day. Either people on this planet only ate once per day, or they were only feeding her once per day.

  “He doesn’t have his marks yet,” Helas said, more to the room at large than her.

  Unsure what to say, she blinked.

  “Do you have any thoughts on this?” he asked with narrowed eyes.

  Taken aback, she sat up a little straighter. He’d never asked for her opinion about anything before. Asshole must really be at a loss.

  The same question had run through her mind every night. Why hadn’t Luka’s marks appeared? The most logical conclusion was that she wasn’t his mate.

  Anxiety took hold every time she pondered this. The possibility she could be Luka’s mate was the one valuable thing about her and was, consequently, the only thing protecting her right now. If Helas came to this conclusion as well, her visits with Luka would likely change dramatically.

  Although she fought with herself constantly to not become attached to Luka, to not care for him, the simple truth was, she did. She was just too weak to keep her heart locked away from someone who’d done nothing wrong. He was her rock, and although they could barely speak to each other, she’d grown to feel a connection to him that she’d never felt with anybody else.

  “Well,” she began, trying to think of a good answer, “maybe it would help if he could speak to me. He doesn’t seem to always understand me. Also, I’m always touching him, right? Maybe if his hands were free and he could touch me a little, it’d work.”

  “You’d be fine with him touching you? The smell of your fear may be detrimental,” Helas replied, eyeing Alice.

  The smell of my fear? She pondered his words but decided not to question them. “As long as I have space to get away if I need to.” She tried to make her voice casual, but the thought of Luka wrapping his strong arms around her and hugging her back made her heart pick up speed.

  “He can’t understand you because we haven’t updated his translator. Your translator has been programmed with our language, but his has not been programmed with yours.”

  “I have a translator?” Alice blurted. She’d wondered why she could converse with Helas, Gishen, and Sal, but she’d just assumed they’d learned English.

  Helas cocked his head at her like she was child who’d said something funny. “What did you think? We all spoke your language on our planet?”

  Alice flushed, feeling stupid for not coming to this conclusion earlier.

  Helas waved a hand dismissively. “Mating is instinctual. There’s no need for you to speak with him, and while drugged, I doubt he’d be much of a conversationalist anyway.”

  “Then maybe you should stop giving him drugs.” She could guess what his response to this idea would be. Helas’ main goal may be to gauge whether she and Luka could procreate, but his sick side project of purifying Luka’s genes seemed like something of an obsessio
n.

  “No, I think we can do better than that.” He leaned toward her. “He will be unclothed tomorrow. You will touch all of him.”

  Alice jerked her head back as though slapped.

  Her outrage at touching a drugged, chained man had weakened with each passing day. While it once had felt intrusive to run her hands over his chest, she now knew the contact helped them both stay grounded. Even so, she argued with herself endlessly that what she was doing was okay because of their circumstances and because he wanted her to. She remained unconvinced.

  Now that he knew a few words, he would often string simple sentences together. “Alice hand arm.” But there were boundaries. It may seem like he wanted her, but unless they were out of this place and he was no longer intoxicated, she couldn’t assume anything.

  Touching him…down there…would be wrong, and being told to do it by Helas turned her stomach. There had to be an alternative. “I think it might be better to sleep in there or in here with him.”

  Instead of yelling at her and threatening Luka as he normally did when she openly disagreed, he considered her offer.

  “You said proximity might do it. I’m only with him a few hours per day. If you brought him in here and let him stay, they might appear,” she quickly added, hoping he’d agree with her reasoning.

  Helas nodded slowly, staring at the ceiling of her room. “We’ll need to make alterations to your room so chains can be attached.”

  Alice let herself relax a fraction.

  “Let me be honest with you, Alice.” He glared at her with unmasked impatience. “One of my colleagues messed up recently. The same ship you were transported on was carrying another female. She escaped six months ago and was found by citizens who don’t share our opinions. Luckily, she didn’t know who took her, but her sudden appearance caused quite a stir. The situation was resolved, and all personnel who had information about this location were killed, but we’re running out of time here. Powerful people are aware of our existence and every day my colleagues grow more nervous about using these facilities. I need for these experiments to work.”