TERESA’S POV
As I walked into the kitchen, I could already hear Max laughing about sothing, his booming voice carrying across the room, while Katrina and lissa were helping Madi prepare dinner. The sll of roasting garlic filled the air, and the batter for a cake sat half-mixed on the counter. I reached for the whisk automatically, sliding in next to Madi, trying to blend in with the lively chatter around .
After my visit to Luke, things settled back into their usual rhythm at the estate. Mornings ant work, afternoons were for lazy lunches, and evenings filled with laughter and chatter with my friends. Juliette, on the other hand, had beco increasingly hard to pin down. She was always busy, but I couldn’t ignore the strange pattern I’d picked up on.
Every month, especially around the middle or end, the estate would turn into a flurry of activity. People rushed around, filling the hallways and gardens with purpose. Even Juliette, who usually had ti for , vanished during these tis, and Lucian? He’d beco like a ghost. The last ti I saw him was nearly a week ago, he didn’t even acknowledge my arrival back from visiting Luke when he was the one that rushed back. It was very frustrating. Whatever they were up to, no one would clue in - not even my friends.
"Teresa, you’re zoning out again," Max teased, nudging with his elbow. "Thinking about so prince charming?"
"Who knows?" Katrina quipped, her eyes darting over to playfully. "Maybe she’s got her eye on soone."
I rolled my eyes, brushing off their teasing with a forced laugh, but inside I was grateful that they hadn’t caught on to my feelings for Lucian. Every ti I thought about him-his calm, unreadable face, the way he moved with quiet authority-a warmth spread through that I could barely hide.
"I’ve just...got a lot on my mind, I guess," I murmured, stirring the batter more aggressively than necessary.
lissa raised a brow, her gaze sharp and curious. "Oh? Spill, Teresa. We’re all friends here, aren’t we?"
I bit my lip, glancing at the others. "I don’t know, it’s just... everyone seems so busy around here lately. It’s like... like there’s this whole secret world going on, and I’m on the outside."
The room went unusually quiet for a second. Madi continued chopping vegetables, her movents deliberate, but I could tell she was listening. Even the two bodyguards by the door shifted, as if on alert.
"Well, you know how it is," Max said, forcing a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Just...estate stuff. Nothing special."
I wasn’t convinced, but I didn’t push it. "Right...estate stuff."
"Hey, there’s this pretty dress I saw a week, ago and I know it was made for you. Will you co with tomorrow so we can go try it on?" Katrina asked, changing the subject with a forced cheeriness. "We’ll make it a shopping spree to rember."
I tried to smile, but the thought of not knowing what everyone was hiding gnawed at . And worse, the feelings be away from Lucian for even a few hours clawed at .
Madi nudged gently, pulling from my thoughts. "Why don’t you go take a breather, Teresa? You’ve been distracted all evening."
I hesitated but nodded, setting the whisk down. "Yeah, maybe a quick walk will clear my head."
As I stepped outside, the cool evening air hit , bringing a slight chill but also a much-needed calm. I took a deep breath and started down the path toward the gardens, hoping the walk would ease my mind.
But then, as I rounded the corner, I saw him. Lucian, walked toward the edge of the woods with that purposeful, steady stride. Without thinking, I found myself following him, a thrill of nerves and excitent pushing forward. Part of wanted to turn back-I knew I was being reckless-but the other part couldn’t resist.
******
"Are you following ?" Lucian’s voice, low and unwavering, broke through the silence. I froze, cheeks flushing as if I’d been caught red-handed doing sothing dangerous. How had he known?
"I-I...yes? No! I an..." My words stumbled over each other as his intense gaze bore into , sending a shiver down my spine. Lucian looked so irresistibly handso tonight. His eyes, sharp and conflicted, hinted at an internal battle, as if he was restraining or sothing; I didn’t really understand it. His jaw tightened, and I noticed the way his fist clenched and unclenched.
Lucian took a step closer, slow and deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine. The way he looked at made feel like prey, yet I couldn’t move-I was rooted to the spot, held by sothing beyond my control. I wanted to be near him, to feel his breath close to mine, as if drawn by so magnetic pull.
"You don’t know, do you?" His voice slipped into a darker tone, the words laced with a low, seductive edge that sent another shiver up my spine.
I shook my head, gazing up at him, confused and nervous. "Know what?" My voice was barely a whisper, a mixture of fear and longing tangled in my throat.
Lucian’s lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile as he leaned in, his intense gaze burning through . "You’re tempting fate, Teresa," he murmured softly, the words as sweet as they were ominous, making my heart skip a beat. Was this real? Or was I dreaming again?
His gaze softened, though his eyes never lost that fierce glow. "Why did you follow ?" His voice dropped, wrapping around like a spell. There was a dark charm to it, magnetic and consuming, like nothing I’d ever heard from him before.
"I...I don’t know," I managed, my cheeks growing even warr as my heartbeat pounded in the quiet night. Lucian tilted his head, studying with that captivating smile, and I felt my body respond instinctively to his presence, a sensation that both thrilled and unsettled .
"Liar," he whispered, leaning closer still. The warmth of his breath brushed against my skin, and every inch of felt as if it were on fire. His gaze softened, but the intensity only deepened as his hand reached up, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his thumb grazing my cheek in a way that made my pulse race. The warmth of his touch, the roughness of his skin-each sensation ignited sothing within , sothing fierce and wild that was impossible to ignore.
Acting purely on impulse, my hand reached up, trembling as I looked into his eyes with a longing that I couldn’t suppress, though it frightened . "I don’t know what’s happening, Lucian," I whispered, my voice fragile in the stillness. "But I know you wouldn’t hurt ...right?"
He held my gaze, his expression unreadable, and for a mont, the world seed to stand still, as though we were the only two people in existence.
"Co here, Teresa," he finally said, voice like smooth velvet with an edge of impatience, like I’d kept him waiting for ages. I was frozen for a second before I took a hesitant step closer, the closest I have been to him. Why did I feel like I was stepping into a trap... one I wanted to fall into?
He raised an eyebrow at my reluctance, his smirk half teasing, half predatory. "You’re acting like I bite." He paused, a glint in his eyes. "Often."
"Oh, um... I just wasn’t expecting..." I stumbled over my words as his gaze flicked over , assessing, as if he could see right into my muddled thoughts. He was so calm, so composed, but his eyes held a spark of sothing else entirely. And he had that look on his face that always left feeling like I was both the joke and the punchline.
"Not expecting what?" he asked, drawing closer. "This?" Before I could answer, he dipped his head toward mine, stopping just close enough that his breath ward my cheek.
I inhaled sharply, but I didn’t pull away. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to. And Lucian, he noticed. Of course, he noticed. He noticed everything.
His voice dropped to a low murmur. "If you don’t want to kiss you, Teresa... just say so."
But I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. I was too caught up in that dark gaze, in the way his lips curved with the tiniest, knowing smile. When he finally closed the distance, his lips t mine with a surprising softness that contrasted with the intensity burning between us. It was tender, careful at first, but soon it was as if he couldn’t hold back anymore. His hands slid up to cradle my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks. My heart thudded wildly as I found myself gripping onto his shirt for balance, feeling his warmth seep into .
His lips were hot and demanding now, pulling deeper, and his usual sarcasm and distance lted into sothing fierce, sothing I felt to my core. His kiss was a strange mix of restraint and barely-held-back passion, like he was giving only a taste of what he wanted but wasn’t willing to reveal yet.
I don’t know how long we stood there, lost in each other, but eventually, he broke away, leaving breathless and a little dazed. He looked down at , his expression unreadable for a mont, and then his lips twitched into a smirk.
"You’re awfully red," he teased, voice laced with that dry humor of his. "Didn’t scare you too much, did I?"
I shook my head, cheeks still burning. "N-No... not at all," I managed to stamr, trying to find so semblance of composure, but my voice betrayed .
"Good." He tilted his head toward the house. "Let’s go."
Lucian led the way, his long strides making hurry to keep up. His hand was warm and strong, firm around mine. We passed through the woods, then into the house in silence, and I could feel my heart racing, not quite believing what had just happened, and sohow even more nervous about what was to co.
He led up the sweeping staircase, his fingers still entwined with mine, and I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. The rare kindness he was showing made my heart flutter in a way I couldn’t explain, and a shy smile tugged at my lips.
"Do you like it here?" he asked, his voice softer than usual as we reached the landing.
"Yes... it’s beautiful," I admitted, feeling a little shy but happy. He wasn’t usually this... this nice.
He led down a dimly lit hallway, his steps slow and asured, as if he was giving ti to soak everything in. "Well, you’ve never seen the best part."
With a light tug, he led into his room. And I was stunned.
The room was grand, yet surprisingly cozy, with dark mahogany furniture and walls lined with bookshelves. It felt warm, private, and entirely his. His captivating scent was everywhere. My eyes wandered around the space, from the massive bed to the soft, flickering fire in the corner. The room felt... like him.
I turned to him, feeling my cheeks warm again. "It’s... wonderful, Lucian."
He just smirked, leaning casually against the doorfra, watching with that sa half-amused, half-intense gaze. "Glad you approve."
I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled, feeling a little silly. But Lucian didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he stepped toward , reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a mont longer than necessary.
"You look happy," he noted, the edge of his sarcasm softened by sothing... almost gentle.
"I am," I whispered, feeling more than a little overwheld by everything.
"Good," he murmured, his voice dipping, that familiar mischievous glint in his eyes. "Because you’re not leaving anyti soon."
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