Chapter 13
The kiss lingered, electric and all–consuming. I didn’t even realize I had kissed him back until my hands found their way to the back of his neck, pulling him closer as if on instinct. My body betrayed me, ignoring the protests screaming in my head. You shouldn’t do this. You shouldn’t fall for him again. But those thoughts drowned beneath the tidal wave of emotions crashing over me. It wasn’t just the kiss–it was him. Lucas. And suddenly, I was somewhere else entirely.”
I was back to the first time I saw him.
It had been a garden party at my parents‘ estate, a warm summer evening where the sky blushed in soft pinks and oranges. Lucas had arrived late, stepping out of a sleek black car with that trademark confidence that seemed to radiate off him like sunlight. His tailored suit, slightly disheveled hair, and piercing eyes drew attention from every corner of the gathering. I’d tried not to stare, but it was impossible.
He caught my gaze almost instantly, smirking like he already knew every thought running through my mind. And when he walked over to introduce himself, I’d been too stunned to speak. His voice was warm, rich, and smooth, and when he shook my hand, I swore I felt an electric jolt run up my arm.E
From that day on, Lucas had a way of weaving himself into my life. He was always there–appearing at dinners, strolling through the same social events, even dropping by unannounced when I least expected it. He was charming, maddeningly so, and he had this uncanny ability to make me feel like I was the only person in the room.
lyremembered the time he taught me how to shoot a bow during one of my father’s hunting trips. His hands had covered mine, steady and warm, as he guided my aim. “Relax,” he’d murmured, his breath brushing against my ear. “You’re overthinking it.” When I finally hit the target, his laugh had been genuine, and his grin–oh, that grin–had been enough to leave me breathless.{
I used to have silly crushes on boys when I was younger, fleeting and inconsequential. But Lucas was different. He wasn’t just someone I admired from afar. He had this way of stepping into my life and planting himself firmly in the center of it. And for a while, I let him.
Now, years later, as he kissed me in the middle of a crowded dance floor, that feeling came rushing back–the butterflies, the dizzying warmth, the sense of being utterly consumed by him. It was almost like I was a teenager again, swept up in the wonder of it all.
I didn’t realize we were moving until my back hit a door, and then suddenly, we were in his room. The air between us was thick with tension as his hands cradled my face, his lips relentless against mine. I tried to think, to stop myself, but every time I opened my eyes to look at him, the resolve melted away. Lucas had this way of making me forget everything else $ “You drive me insane, Zoe,” he murmured against my lips, his voice husky and filled with longing. “Every single day.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I was too far gone, lost in the moment as his hands slid down my sides, pulling me closer until there wasn’t an inch of space left between us. His touch was intoxicating, a blend of tenderness and possessiveness that left me trembling.
Somewhere between the kisses and the whispered words, I stopped fighting. I let myself fall, let myself get swept up in him, in the way he made me feel alive and wanted. And when we finally collapsed onto the bed, I didn’t care about the consequences. For once, I let myself have this. I let myself have him.E
my mind
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting the room in soft golden hues. I blinked groggily, my slowly piecing together the events of the night before. My heart sank as I realized where I was–and who I was with. Lucas lay beside me, his bare chest rising and falling with the rhythm of his breathing. His hair was a mess, and there was a faint smile on his lips, as if even in sleep, he was utterly at ease. Meanwhile, I felt like my entire world had just imploded Panic set in. I needed to get out of there–away from him, away from this. Carefully, I slid out from under the covers, trying not to wake him. But as I moved to grab my dress from the floor, a strong hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back. “Going somewhere?” Lucas’s voice was low and teasing, his eyes still half–lidded with sleep. He tugged me back into bed effortlessly, wrapping an arm around my waist to keep me there. “Why do you always like to run from me, huh?“!! “Because this..” I gestured between us, my voice shaky. “This was a mistake.”
He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against my skin as he pulled me even closer. “A mistake? Is that what you’re calling it now?“%
“Yes,” I said firmly, though my resolve was already crumbling. His closeness was making it hard to think straight.”
“Well, too late,” he said, grinning wickedly. “Your brother knows about us.“%
My eyes widened. “What?! Lucas, what did you do?“”
“Oh, I didn’t tell him,” he said nonchalantly. “He figured it out on his own. And from the way he was talking last night…” Lucas’s grin widened. “I think I can already hear some wedding bells.“”
I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. “You’re insane.”
“And you’re mine, Zoe,” he said, his tone softening as he looked at me. “You always have been.”
12:25 PM d.
I didn’t know what to say to that. Part of me wanted to push him away, to deny everything he was saying. But another part of me–the part I was trying desperately to ignore–felt the truth in his words.
As I lay there, tangled in his arms, I realized that Lucas had once again managed to turn my world upside down. And for better or worse, I wasn’t sure I could ever escape him K
