My fingers curled into his shirt, anchoring myself as I tilted my head up to accept his kiss.
The warmth from his arrival earlier spread from my stomach through my whole body, along with a tingling that had me pressing closer, wanting more.
But then he pulled away, laying his forehead against mine. His breathing was harsh and unsteady, his eyes closed.
I’d never seen Lucian like this before-almost like he’d momentarily lost the reins of the control that so firmly leashed him.
“What’s wrong, Lucian?” I panted softly.
He pulled back just far enough for me to see the storm in his eyes as he opened them. “Tell me you weren’t actually thinking of going back to him.”
My pulse stumbled. “What?”
“Kieran,” he ground out, his mouth tightening like the name hurt coming out. “I heard what you said to Celeste, and I know you could have anyone you wanted, but-“
A laugh escaped me, breathless and sharp. “Are you…jealous?”
The muscle in his jaw ticked, but he didn’t deny it. “Yes.” His voice dropped lower, rawer. Damn right I am. I’ve spent the past few days telling myself to trust you, that you’d never let him crawl back into your heart after everything. But the thought of you with him-alone on that island, for days-“
He broke off, his hand sliding up to cup my jaw, thumb stroking just beneath my ear. “I missed you, Sera. More than I thought was possible.”
My amusement faded away, and something inside me softened. Guilt and sweetness tangled until I didn’t know which pulled harder.
“Lucian…” I whispered, cupping his face. The stubble on his jaw lightly grazed my palm, and I couldn’t resist placing a chaste kiss on his lips.
“I only said those things back there to rile Celeste. Kieran is…my past. My painful, lonely past. I never want to go back.”
I might have momentarily wavered; I might have lost my damn mind on that island. But I could see everything clearly now.
Kieran belonged with his Celeste-and I belonged with Lucian.
‘Mine…’
I shook my head. “I’m not going to go back. I’m focusing on my future now.”
My voice trembled slightly. “And if you’ll have me, I want that future with you.”
Lucian’s hand tightened at my waist, a rush of something like relief breaking across his features before he bent down again, kissing me with a gentleness that quickly melted into fire.
The kiss deepened, heat winding low in my stomach.
His lips demanded more this time, coaxing and taking all at once. I could feel an edge of dominance in him, a dark edge he rarely let show-but instead of frightening me, it sent sparks racing under my skin.
It wasn’t tender or hesitant or nice like our other kisses; it was demanding, urgent, unrestrained.
I loved it.
My palms flattened against his chest, and I could feel the thunderous roar of his hear as his body pressed closer, pinning me between him and the car.
The world outside blurred-until the sharp chime of my phone broke through.
We stilled, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together.
Lucian muttered something vicious under his breath before digging in his pocket for his phone.
He rolled his eyes when he saw the caller ID. “Of course,” he muttered.
Then he handed it to me. “For you.”
I was trembling so much I almost dropped the phone twice before I finally answered the call and brought it up to my ear.
“Sera-fucking-phina!”
I almost dropped Lucian’s phone a third time as I winced, holding it away.
Lucian chuckled, his irritation giving way to fondness. “She missed you, if you couldn’t already tell?”
I laughed, bringing the phone back to my ear. “Hi, Maya.”
“I fucking missed you!” she yelled.
My grin split my face in two. It was a little unbelievable and a lot overwhelming that my absence had had such an effect on Lucian and Maya.
I wasn’t used to people wanting me around, let alone missing me when I was gone.
“I missed you too,” I told Maya, emotion clogging my throat.
“I have a welcome back present for you!” She was still shouting. I could hear bass in the background and a loud clattering and other people yelling in the background.
“Is it tinnitus?”
“Ha ha ha!” she barked. “I missed your sarcastic ass. Tell Lucian to get that ass over here, pronto!”
She hung up, and my hand dropped from my ear. I laughed softly, shaking my head.
“Looks like I’ve been claimed by someone else tonight.”
Lucian arched a brow, lips still hovering a dangerous inch from mine. “Do I need to be jealous of her, too?”
I shook my head, smiling. “I have it on good authority that Maya is ‘die-hard Team Lucian.”
His answering smile was slow, heated. “Good. Then she won’t be mad if we keep her waiting a few minutes longer.”
And before I could protest, he kissed me again-hungry, unashamed, fierce.
I clung to him tightly, letting every other thought fall out of my head.
The world around could wait.
SERAPHINA’S POV
My first clue about Maya’s ‘welcome back present’ should have been the fancy garment box
Lucian presented me with when we stopped at my house to drop off my luggage and freshen up.
Inside was a gorgeous soft cream dress that took my breath away. It was made of flowy chiffon that hugged my waist and swayed around me like water when I moved.
My second clue should have been when Lucian told me to pack an overnight bag.
And yet, I was still blown clean off my feet when I stepped into the lobby of the Hot Springs
Hotel.
“SURPRISE!” the OTS members shouted in unison. A burst of laughter followed as confetti rained down, sticking in my hair and glittering against my dress.
I blinked rapidly, overwhelmed, until Maya came rushing toward me in a flowing teal gown that matched her bright spirit and practically glowed against her bronze skin.
“Sera!” She threw her arms around my neck, and a breathless laugh fell out of me as I hugged her tightly.
“I missed you so much,” I said, grinning so hard my jaw ached.
She pulled back, cupping my cheeks. “Of course you did! Quite frankly, I have no idea how you survived that long without me by your side.”
I laughed. “I could say the same about you.”
She rolled her eyes, pulling me behind her into the grand hall.
I looked around, my mouth dropping open slightly. “Maya, this is…”
The entire hall was bathed in soft golden light. Paper lanterns floated above, glowing like captured stars. A long table was set up with food, desserts stacked on polished trays, and bottles of champagne chilling in silver buckets.
Warm steam drifted from the open-air hot springs outside, perfumed with herbs and faint floral oils.
The place wasn’t extravagant in the cold, sterile way the previous galas and social gatherings I’d attended had been. This was warm, intimate, thoughtfully designed.
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