Chapter 16
1122 Words
I woke up tangled in my sheets, my body slick with sweat. My heart was racing, but whether from the remnants of my vision or something deeper, I wasn’t sure. The weight of it still clung to me – the press of Lucas’s chest, the commanding touch of Cassian’s fingers, the heat in their gazes. It wasn’t just a dream. I knew that now.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, pressing my palms into my thighs as I took a steadying breath. Get it together. Whatever the hell was happening to me, I couldn’t afford to let it unravel me completely. I had work, deadlines, and the ever-present challenge of avoiding making a fool of myself in front of my maddeningly attractive colleagues.
By the time I made it to the office, I had managed to shove the lingering sensations to the back of my mind. Or so I thought. Because the moment I stepped through the door, my body reacted before my brain did – like something in the air itself recognized where I was.
Lucas was already at his desk, his eyes flicking up as I passed. “Rough night?” he asked, his voice laced with amusement.
I hesitated, then forced a smirk. “You have no idea.”
His gaze lingered, sharp and assessing, and for a moment, I thought he might press further. But he just leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his broad chest. “Well, if you need coffee to recover from all the drinks you had, I’ll make you one. Just say the word.”
I barely had a chance to respond before a low, velvety voice cut through the space.
“Miss Delacroix.”
My breath hitched at the sound of my name. Cassian. His presence filled the room before I even turned to face him. He strolled in like he owned the world – because, in a way, he did. Every step deliberate, every glance a calculated weapon.
I swallowed hard, feeling his golden gaze settle on me. “Yes, sir?”
The corner of his mouth twitched, like he found my formality amusing. “My office. Now.”
Heat licked down my spine, but I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. I could feel Lucas watching me as I followed Cassian down the hall. The walk felt longer than usual, every step echoing in my ears. When we reached his office, he pushed the door shut behind us, and suddenly, the air felt heavier.
“You seem… distracted.” Cassian leaned against his desk, his arms bracing against the edge. “Something on your mind?”
I hesitated, my pulse quickening. Was this a test? A game? I couldn’t tell. “Just tired,” I said, forcing a casual shrug. “Didn’t sleep well after last night’s little outing.”
Cassian’s gaze flickered over me, assessing me from head to toe. Then, to my utter shock, he took a step closer. “I see.”
The air between us crackled, thick with something unspoken. He reached out, and for a brief, terrifying second, I thought he was going to touch me. My skin burned in anticipation... Then his hand veered, grazing the edge of my necklace instead. The movement was deliberate, intimate in a way that sent a jolt straight through me.
“You should take better care of yourself, Miss Delacroix.” His voice was a murmur, something dark curling beneath it. “I’d hate to see you… worn out.”
My breath caught. He knew. Maybe not everything, but enough to unsettle me. Before I could respond, he stepped back, putting just enough space between us to leave me reeling.
“You’re dismissed.”
I practically fled from his office, my skin still tingling where his presence had pressed against me. As I turned the corner, I nearly crashed into Lucas.
“Whoa,” he said, gripping my arms to steady me. “You okay?”
I looked up at him, my heart still hammering, and something in his expression softened. “Eloise.” His voice dipped lower, more personal. “What’s going on?”
I shook my head, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him just slightly. Lucas’s hands tightened, his thumbs brushing absent circles against my arms.
“I – ” The words tangled on my tongue. I wanted to tell him. Wanted to say, something’s happening to me, and I don’t know how to stop it, but before I could, the world blurred again.
A flicker of candlelight. The feeling of silk against my skin. The scent of old books and burning embers. Lucas’s hands on my waist, his lips at my ear. “You don’t have to fight it,” he whispered.
I gasped, the vision vanishing as quickly as it came. My knees nearly buckled, but Lucas caught me, his grip tightening. “Eloise?”
“I…” My breath came in sharp bursts. “I think I need that coffee now.”
His gaze lingered, full of questions. But thankfully, he let it go. “Come on, then. Let’s get you something strong.”
As we walked toward the breakroom, I felt another set of eyes on me. Cassian, watching from his office doorway, his gaze knowing.
I tried to shake off the tension curling in my stomach as Lucas handed me a coffee, his fingers brushing against mine. My skin tingled at the contact. “Thanks,” I murmured, taking a sip, but my hands still trembled slightly.
Lucas didn’t miss it. “Eloise, whatever’s going on… you don’t have to go through it alone.”
I looked up at him, his expression open, concerned. For a moment, I considered telling him everything, laying out the strange visions, the memories that weren’t mine, the way Cassian’s touch triggered something inside me I couldn’t explain. But how could I, when I didn’t understand it myself?
Instead, I gave him a small smile. “I appreciate that.”
His eyes darkened slightly, searching mine. “Good.”
Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps made me tense. Cassian’s presence filled the room, even before he spoke. “Enjoying your break?” His voice was smooth, unreadable.
Lucas’s jaw tightened just slightly as he turned. “Just making sure Eloise takes care of herself.”
Cassian’s gaze flicked between us, something dark lurking beneath the gold. Then he smirked, slow and knowing. “How noble.”
These guys definitely have something for breakrooms!
The tension between them was palpable, thick enough to choke on. And I, standing between them, felt like I was balancing on the edge of a knife.
I wasn’t sure who would cut me first.
- Writer
