Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTYMTG5MXX5MJ2MZ9PDRN49

The knock came at 11:47 PM. Rory froze, her hand hovering over Ptolemy's food bowl. She hadn't had any visitors in months, not since Eva had left for her latest research expedition to the Scottish Highlands. The tabby cat wound between her ankles, purring loudly, as if sensing her unease. She padded to the door, peering through the peephole. The sight that greeted her made her breath catch in her throat. Lucien Moreau stood in the hallway, looking like he'd stepped out of a different world entirely. His platinum blond hair was slicked back as always, framing his angular features. The tailored charcoal suit he wore seemed to absorb the dim light of the hallway. In his hand, he held a bottle of wine. "Rory," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. "May I come in?" She hesitated, her fingers curling around the edge of the door. It had been six months since she'd last seen him, six months since their worlds had collided in a whirlwind of passion and danger. Six months since she'd walked away, her heart in tatters. "What are you doing here, Lucien?" she asked, her voice steadier than she felt. He smiled, but there was something weary in his eyes, a vulnerability she'd never seen before. "I need to talk to you. Please." Rory's resolve wavered. She'd missed him, more than she cared to admit. Missed the way he made her feel, like she was the only woman in the world. Missed the way he challenged her, pushed her to be better, stronger. She stepped back, opening the door wider. "Come in." Lucien crossed the threshold, his eyes sweeping over her small flat. It was a far cry from the luxury he was accustomed to, but there was a warmth to it, a sense of home that he'd never quite found in his own life. "Thank you," he said, handing her the bottle of wine. "I wasn't sure what you'd prefer." Rory took it, her fingers brushing against his. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through her, a reminder of all the times they'd touched before. "You know me too well." He followed her into the kitchen, watching as she rummaged through the drawers for a corkscrew. "How have you been, Rory? Really?" She paused, meeting his gaze over her shoulder. "I've been... okay. Busy with work, you know how it is." "And the nightmares?" he asked softly. She stiffened, her grip tightening on the corkscrew. "They've gotten better. Not gone, but better." Lucien moved closer, his hand hovering near her shoulder. "I'm glad to hear that. I know how much they haunted you." Rory turned to face him, her heart racing. "Why are you here, Lucien? What do you want from me?" He reached out, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. "I want to apologize. For everything. For not being there when you needed me, for not fighting harder to keep you in my life." His touch was electric, sending sparks of desire racing through her veins. Rory closed her eyes, leaning into his hand. "You left, Lucien. You walked away, just like everyone else in my life." "I know," he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. "And I've regretted it every day since. I thought I was doing the right thing, giving you space to heal. But all I did was push you further away." Rory opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. In the depths of his heterochromatic eyes, she saw a reflection of her own pain, her own longing. "I missed you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I missed you so much it hurt." Lucien's hand slid around to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair. "Then let me make it right," he said, his lips hovering a breath away from hers. "Let me show you how much I care, how much I need you in my life." Rory's heart raced, her body aching with want. She knew it was dangerous, knew that giving in to him would only lead to more pain. But in that moment, she didn't care. All she wanted was to feel his lips on hers, to lose herself in his embrace. She closed the distance between them, her mouth finding his in a searing kiss. Lucien responded immediately, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her flush against him. The wine bottle clattered to the floor, forgotten, as they stumbled backwards, their hands roaming over each other's bodies with desperate need. Rory's fingers found the buttons of his shirt, her nails scraping against the hard planes of his chest. Lucien groaned, his hips pressing against hers as he deepened the kiss. His hands slid down to cup her ass, lifting her up onto the kitchen counter. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her skirt riding up to reveal the lacy tops of her stockings. Lucien's eyes darkened with desire, his fingers tracing the delicate fabric. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his lips trailing down her neck. "I've dreamed of this moment for so long." Rory arched into his touch, her head falling back as he nipped at her collarbone. "Lucien," she gasped, her hands fisting in his hair. "Please." He responded by sliding his hand between her thighs, his fingers brushing against the damp fabric of her panties. Rory moaned, her hips bucking against his hand as he teased her, his touch light and maddening. "I want to taste you," he growled, his voice rough with desire. "I want to feel you come apart on my tongue." Rory's breath caught in her throat, her body trembling with need. She'd never wanted anyone the way she wanted Lucien, never felt so consumed by desire. "Yes," she breathed, her fingers fumbling with the button of his trousers. "Please, Lucien. I need you." He lifted her off the counter, his hands sliding under her ass as he carried her to the bedroom. The world spun around them, their clothes falling away as they stumbled towards the bed. Rory's back hit the mattress, Lucien's weight settling over her as he claimed her mouth in a searing kiss. They moved together, their bodies fitting together like two halves of a whole. Rory's nails raked down Lucien's back as he thrust into her, his hips rolling against hers in a rhythm as old as time. She wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him deeper, harder, as the pleasure built inside her. Lucien's hand slid between their bodies, his fingers finding her clit as he drove into her again and again. Rory cried out, her back arching as the orgasm crashed over her, her inner muscles clenching around him. Lucien followed a moment later, his hips stuttering as he spilled inside her, his groan muffled against her neck. They collapsed together, their bodies slick with sweat as they struggled to catch their breath. Rory's heart raced, her mind reeling from the intensity of what had just happened. She knew it was a mistake, knew that giving in to her desire would only lead to more heartache.