The air between them was molten, every breath charged with unspoken promises. Mae’s skin still tingled where Lucien’s hands had touched, and though no words passed between them, she felt the weight of everything unsaid pressing closer than his body.
Lucien’s lips brushed hers again, slower this time, deliberate, as if he wanted her to feel each second stretch. His touch was both grounding and consuming, tethering her to something solid even as the world seemed to unravel.
Mae’s fingers traced the lines of his chest, memorizing the shape of him beneath her hands, each curve sparking a wave of heat. His strength was undeniable, but what struck her most was his restraint, the way he trembled slightly under her touch, as though holding back more than she could fathom.
Her breath caught as h
