Lucian was quiet for a moment. I expected him to leave— maybe let out an annoyed sigh and walk away like everyone else did when I messed up. But instead, I felt the bed shift as he moved closer.
“You’re not a failure,” he said softly, his voice laced with something deeper, something that made my stomach tighten.
I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s easy for you to say.” My voice wavered. “You weren’t the one who fell. Again.”
Lucian exhaled, and before I could react, I felt the warmth of his breath near my ear. “So what if you fell?” His tone was lower now, smoother. “I told you, Mia… I’ve got you. I always will.”
His fingers brushed against my jaw, tilting my face slightly toward him. My breath hitched as his lips grazed the side of my neck, slow and deliberate. Heat shot through me, dis
