Chapter 17
882 Words
The rest of the day passed in a haze, but not the kind that came from exhaustion. No, this was something deeper, something that hummed beneath my skin and made it impossible to focus. Every time I caught a glimpse of Lucas or felt Cassian’s presence lingering just a little too close, my mind spiraled.
I needed a distraction.
The office was quieter than usual, most people having already packed up for the day. I told myself I’d stay late to finish a report, but really, I just needed time to breathe. To shake off whatever spell they had me under. My fingers hovered over my keyboard, my thoughts running in circles. How was I supposed to act normal when my reality had been flipped upside down?
“Working later?” The voice unmistakable. Smooth, rich, and far too familiar.
I didn’t have to turn around to know it was Lucas. His voice alone sent a shiver down my spine. When I looked up, he was leaning against the doorframe, sleeves rolled up, top button undone. Casual, effortless – and entirely too tempting.
“I could ask you the same thing.” I tried to sound normal, but my voice came out slightly breathless.
Lucas smirked and stepped inside, his presence filling the space. “Thought I’d check on you. You’ve been a little… distracted today.”
I swallowed. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t look convinced. He took another step closer, the air between us growing heavy. “You sure about that?”
I hated how easily he could unravel me, how one look from him could send heat pooling low in my stomach. But before I could formulate a response, another voice joined us.
“I’d hate to interrupt.”
Cassian.
He strolled into the room like he had all the time in the world, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement as he took in the scene before him. Lucas turned slightly, but he didn’t step away from me. If anything, he seemed to plant himself even more firmly in place.
I glanced between them, my pulse hammering. The tension in the room shifted, dark and electric. It wasn’t just Lucas or Cassian – it was the way they existed together, a push and pull I didn’t quite understand but felt trapped nonetheless.
Cassian tilted his head, studying me like he was piecing together some intricate puzzle. “You look… unsettled.”
I exhaled sharply. “I’m fine.”
“Are you?” Cassian moved closer, his gaze dipping, lingering on my lips for just a second before meeting my eyes again. “Because I think you’re lying.”
Lucas made a low sound in his throat, something caught between amusement and frustration. “Careful Cassian. She doesn’t like to be cornered.”
Cassian arched a brow. “No?” He reached out then, tracing a single fingertip along my wrist. The contact was barely there, but it sent a jolt through me. “She doesn’t seem to be running.”
I should have. I should have said something, done something, but my body refused to listen. Every nerve was on fire, caught between them, between the impossible pull they both had on me.
Lucas’s jaw ticked. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
Cassian smirked, clearly unbothered. “She deserves to know the rules, then.” His gaze flickered back to me, searching. “Tell me, Eloise… do you remember?”
My breath hitched. The visions. The flashes of another life, of their hands on me, their lips against mine. My knees nearly buckled at the thought.
Cassian hummed, watching the realization flicker across my face. “That’s what I thought.”
Lucas exhaled, shaking his head. “You always did have a habit of pushing too hard.”
Cassian chuckled, stepping back just enough to give me air – but not enough to break the moment entirely. “And you have a habit of waiting too long.”
Lucas’s expression darkened, but before he could respond, Cassian turned his attention back to me. “We’ll talk soon, Miss Delacroix.”
Then, just like that, he was gone, leaving only the scent of his cologne and the weight of his words behind.
I let out a shaky breath, my body still wound tight. When I turned back to Lucas, he was watching me, his expression unreadable.
“He’s right, you know,” he said softly.
I frowned. “About what?”
Lucas reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered at my jaw, the touch sending a fresh wave of heat through me. “You deserve to know everything.”
I swallowed hard, my body betraying me by leaning into his touch. “Then tell me.”
Lucas’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might. But then he pulled back, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Not yet.”
Frustration flared inside me. “Why not?”
His gaze swept over me, something dangerous flickering in his expression. “Because once you know, there’s no going back.”
The words sent a shiver through me, settling deep in my bones. Because despite everything, despite the fear and the confusion… I
wasn’t sure I wanted to go back.
Not anymore.
- Writer
