CHAPTER 22
Lucien
The estate felt alive tonight. Every door, every hallway, every shadow seemed to move with intention.
I paced slowly across my office, hands brushing over the cold marble desk, eyes flicking to the rain streaking down the tall windows.
The storm outside mirrored the storm inside me, a storm fueled by one thought, one obsession.
She entered quietly, as if she knew exactly how I would react.
My breath caught the instant I saw her. Emerald green, long sleeves, fitted at the waist, swaying softly over her hips.
Her hair was wet from the mist outside, cascading in soft waves over one shoulder but it was her eyes that held me.
Storm grey, calculating, fierce. She was no longer the fragile girl who had arrived weeks ago.
She was deliberate now, purposeful, and every movement whispered danger.
“You’re late,” I said, my voice low.
“I wanted to review some manifests,” she said, steady. Calm. Too calm.
I moved closer, letting my gaze trace the lines of her face. The curve of her jaw, the faint blush across her cheeks, the subtle arch of her brow. I memorized it all. Everything about her demanded attention. Everything about her demanded possession.
“You’re sharper than I expected,” I said quietly.
Her lips trembled slightly, though she didn’t notice. I knew she felt it, the heat rising between us, the unspoken tension. She was walking on the edge of something she didn’t fully understand yet.
“You’re learning quickly,” I continued. “But be careful. Some lessons burn.”
Her pulse quickened. I could feel it through the small space between us. I wanted to warn her. I wanted to claim her but control was essential. I would not let this desire dictate my actions. Not yet.