CHAPTER 18
When Rayne and Lucian returned home from the restaurant, no servants were around. They must have left after finishing their work for the day.
“Should I fill the bathtub for you?” Rayne asked, heading upstairs.
Lucian nodded and sank onto the sofa. Goldie wasn’t there either; Lucian had sent him to his parents’ house since he had been alone all this time.
Rayne went upstairs and started filling the bathtub. Just then, his phone rang. The call was from Iosif.
His heart skipped in fear. What would Lucian think if he found out Rayne was still in touch with his ex? Instantly, Rayne blocked Iosif’s number.
When the bathtub was finally filled with warm water, Rayne stepped out of the bathroom, only to find Lucian standing there.
“Oh, you’re already here. Are you feeling okay? No fever, right?” Rayne asked.
Lucian was shirtless, his broad chest and defined abs on full display. Rayne swallowed hard and looked down, embarrassed.
A moment later, Lucian stepped closer.
“Why don’t you check for yourself if I have a fever?” he said.
Rayne gulped and tentatively placed a hand on Lucian’s forehead. His temperature was normal. He was about to pull his hand back, but Lucian grabbed it, making him flinch, and brought his fingers to his mouth, sucking on them.
A ticklish sensation spread through Rayne’s fingers as Lucian’s warm lips coated them. His sharp teeth nibbled gently, and Rayne’s face heated instantly. He tried to pull away, but Lucian kept sucking, moving with a seductive intensity that made Rayne’s heart race.
“Lucian!” Rayne called, and only then did Lucian release his fingers.
The air was thick with pheromones, Lucian’s warm scent filling the space and making Rayne’s body tingle. His knees weakened, and before he could fall, Lucian wrapped his arms around Rayne’s waist and pulled him close.
“You’re so hot… I want to devour you right now,” Lucian murmured.
His hands slid down to Rayne’s hips, lifting him effortlessly. Rayne clung to Lucian’s shoulders in surprise.
“Lucian, what are you doing? Put me down, or I’ll fall!” he protested.
Lucian only smirked and carried him straight into the bathroom, setting him gently in the bathtub before stepping in himself and sitting opposite Rayne.
The water, though warm, felt cold against Rayne’s soaked skin. Lucian reached for his hand again, but Rayne shook his head. He knew what Lucian wanted, and even though part of him desired it too, fear gripped his chest. He had never gone this far before.
But the moment his hand touched Lucian’s, the alpha pulled him onto his lap with a single, powerful motion. Rayne’s chest heaved as his heart pounded wildly, their proximity amplified by Lucian’s lemon-scented pheromones, which coaxed out Rayne’s own sweet scent.
“Your milk-candy scent is too sweet. I can’t control myself anymore,” Lucian whispered, pressing his lips to Rayne’s. His tongue slid into Rayne’s mouth, deep and insistent.
Rayne’s arms wrapped around Lucian’s neck as heat surged through him. The kiss was dizzying, unreal, Lucian’s lips moving greedily against his.
“Your lips are sweet… just like you. Why are you driving me this crazy?” Lucian murmured against his mouth, teeth tugging lightly at Rayne’s lower lip before trailing kisses down to his chin and neck, licking softly. His hands slipped inside Rayne’s soaked clothes, eliciting involuntary twitches.
Rayne was melting, breathless from Lucian’s relentless kisses.
His tongue moved expertly against Rayne’s, as though trying to consume every part of him.
He clutched Lucian’s shoulders, desperate to signal how overwhelmed he was.
Even when he tried to push him away, it was impossible—Lucian held him too tightly.
“Mmnn~~~” Rayne smacked Lucian’s chest, finally breaking the kiss. Panting, he leaned against Lucian, grateful for the brief reprieve.
“Are you alright?” Lucian asked, concern in his eyes. Rayne nodded quickly, then looked down, too embarrassed to meet his gaze. The memory of the kiss replayed over and over in his mind.
They stayed like that for a while until Rayne realized they couldn’t remain in the bathtub all night. He moved off Lucian’s lap, and Lucian immediately grabbed his hand.
“Don’t leave me!” he said, his face so sad that Rayne couldn’t help but feel pity.
“What are you saying, Lucian? Why would I leave you? You are my husband, my alpha,” Rayne said with a small smile, offering his hand.
Together, they stepped out of the bathtub. Lucian donned a bathrobe, removing his wet clothes, and started walking out.
“Wait, Lucian, can you hand me my pajamas from the wardrobe?” Rayne asked. Lucian nodded and went to get them.
Rayne locked the door from the inside, and a few seconds later, there was a knock.
“Here are your clothes!” Lucian said. Rayne opened the door slightly and took the pajamas. He showered quickly, dressed, and emerged from the bathroom, towel in hand.
“Your hair is wet. Let me dry it for you,” Lucian said with a soft smile. Rayne froze, shocked at the unexpected offer.
Rayne was shivering now, probably from staying in the bath a little too long. He grabbed the blanket wrapped around him and settled on the floor, leaning against the bed, while Lucian sat on the mattress, drying his hair with a hairdryer.
Rayne’s cheeks were still flushed. Their first kiss had been so intense and sweet that he could feel himself wanting to kiss Lucian again.
Once Lucian finished drying his hair, he wrapped the blanket around Rayne like a burrito and gently placed him on the bed. Then he tucked himself in beside him.
Since it was easy to slip out of the blanket, Rayne crawled into Lucian’s arms instead. Lucian’s arms were warm—so warm that Rayne didn’t want to leave them. Holding him tightly, Rayne closed his eyes, soon drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, when Rayne opened his eyes, a little kid was staring at him. His eyes widened—this was Lucian’s younger brother.
But why was he here? Had Lucian’s family come to visit?
“Morning, kiddo. What are you doing here?” Rayne asked, rubbing his eyes, not wanting to leave the warmth of the blanket.
“Rayne!” the little boy exclaimed, leaning closer to plant a peck on Rayne’s cheek.
“I love you, Rayne. Please marry me when I grow up. Divorce my brother Lucian,” the child declared.
Rayne burst into laughter. What kind of sibling rivalry was this?
“Hey, little pig! I can hear you very clearly! How dare you try to steal my wife? And he is your sister-in-law, not ‘Rayne.’ Next time, call him sister-in-law,” Lucian scolded.
Lucian was right, but it was just a child. He wouldn’t understand. Kids were like that—innocently unaware of the true meaning of marriage. Rayne had been the same when he was little.
“Kiddo… wait, why don’t I remember your name?” he asked, realizing he couldn’t recall it.
“My name is Lin,” the boy replied.
“That’s such a sweet name,” Rayne said, sitting up to pat Lin’s head.
Lin climbed onto his lap and stared at Lucian.
“See? Sister-in-law loves me more. We don’t need you. So get out of here.”
Rayne couldn’t help but marvel at Lin’s boldness. The way he told Lucian off without fear deserved a prize.
“You little pig,” Lucian muttered, snatching Lin off Rayne’s lap and placing him on the bed.
Then Lucian climbed in himself, sitting beside Rayne and resting his head on his shoulder.
“Look, he is my wife. Only I’m allowed to touch him,” Lucian said, still teasing his little brother.
The childish display was immature—but Rayne liked it. Having no siblings of his own, he felt a pang of jealousy watching the bond between Lucian and Lin.
“Rayne, why are you so quiet all of a sudden? This little pig is bothering you, right? Let me kick him out,” Lucian said.
That only made Lin angrier. He climbed onto the bed, heading straight for them.
“Brother, I hate you!” Lin shouted, on the verge of tears.
Rayne felt sorry for the boy, but Lucian’s gentle pat on Lin’s head instantly calmed him. Clearly, Lin adored his older brother.
“What is Lin doing here, by the way?” Rayne asked.
“Oh, since tomorrow is Saturday, he comes here. He has weekends off,” Lucian explained.
Rayne nodded, pleased. It was nice having Lin around; Lucian seemed happier than usual.
“Sister-in-law, do you want to play with me?” Lin asked, puppy eyes staring up at him.
“Yeah, sure,” Rayne replied. Who could resist that face?
Lin beamed and shot a teasing look at Lucian.
“Lucian, can you move? I want to take a bath now,” Rayne asked gently.
Lucian shifted aside, and Rayne folded the blanket before heading to the bathroom in his clothes. When he returned, both of them were gone—Lin must have gone downstairs, and Lucian was likely in the kitchen.
As he reached the stairs, Rayne spotted Lin running around the house, jumping on the sofa and holding the TV remote. Lucian was busy in the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” Rayne asked as he approached Lucian.
“I’m heating up breakfast for us. Why don’t you sit down? I’ll bring it in five minutes,” Lucian replied.
Rayne nodded and went over to Lin, who stopped mid-jump as soon as he noticed him.
“Sister-in-law, you’re here!” Lin exclaimed, sitting properly on the sofa.
“You seem happy. So, what do you want to play?” Rayne asked as he sat beside him.
Lin touched his head with tiny fingers, thinking hard. Rayne patted him reassuringly.
“Don’t think too much, Lin. We can play whatever you want. But first, let’s have breakfast. Lucian is heating it up.”
Lin grabbed Rayne’s hand and followed him to the dining table. The chair was too high for him, so Rayne helped him climb up. He brought breakfast from the kitchen and set it on the table.
“You don’t need to do that. I can do it myself,” Lucian said.
“We should help each other in everything, Lucian. There’s no need for you to do everything alone,” Rayne replied with a smile.
Lucian stared at him in surprise, as if Rayne had said something impossible. Then he smiled, a rare, beautiful smile that made Rayne’s heart warm.
Before they could start eating, Rayne’s phone rang. The caller ID showed “Mom.” He answered immediately, but as soon as the call connected, all he could hear was her crying. His heart started racing with worry.