“Lucien!”
He dove in after her, the water exploding around his massive frame. The splash echoed against the cliffs as he emerged, pulling her against his chest with a single move.
Her palms smacked playfully against his shoulder, laughter spilling. “You pushed me!”
And then… something happened.
For the first time since she’d met him, Lucien smiled. Not a smirk, not the cruel grin of a warlord hiding fire behind ice. No, this was unguarded… it was open, startlingly beautiful. His lips curved into something raw, almost boyish, and for one suspended moment, it stripped the God-like presence from him and revealed the man beneath.
Anana froze… For a moment, she thought she had imagined it. But no… it was real. Her eyes widened as her heart stuttered.
“Wait… did you just smile?”
Lucien’s
