AI ---
The door creaked open before the deadbolt could even click.
A gust of cold air rushed in, carrying the scent of rain-slicked pavement and the faint metallic tang of old blood—like the time he’d cut himself shaving and left a towel on her bathroom floor. She’d found it three days later, the stain still damp, the fabric stiff with dried salt. *You’re a mess *, she’d thought, but her fingers had lingered on the wound anyway, tracing the jagged line like she could stitch it back together.
Aurora Carter froze mid-step, her delivery bag slipping from her fingers as the scent hit her full force. The cane tapped once against the wooden floor, a sharp *thunk * that echoed through the empty flat. Then, the slow, deliberate click of the door closing behind him.
“You’re late,” she said, voice steady despite the way her pulse hammered in her throat. The scar on her wrist itched, as if remembering the last time she’d been this close to him .
Lucien Moreau didn’t turn. His back was rigid, shoulders squared, the charcoal suit jacket straining over his broad frame. The cane rested against the wall now, blade hidden but not forgotten. “I’m never late for a debt.”
She exhaled through her nose, a sound that was half-laugh, half-sigh. “You owe me money?”
“No.” His voice was smooth, dangerously so. “But you owe me *this *.”
The words hung between them, heavy as the silence that followed. She set the bag down on the counter with a thud, the clatter of takeaway containers echoing . The flat smelled like garlic and soy sauce and the faintest hint of something darker—something that made her skin prickle. *His cologne.* She’d never been able to place it, but she recognised it now, like a brand burned into her memory.
“You’re not here to collect,” she said, voice low . “Not unless you ’ve come to finish what you started.”
His head finally turned. One amber eye, one black, locked onto hers. The heterochromia was a trick of the light, she’d always thought, until she realised it wasn’t. It was a choice. A weapon. “I’ve come to collect *you *.”
The words should have been a punch to the gut. Instead, they settled in her chest like a live wire, humming against her ribs. She swallowed, hard. “You’re delusional.”
“Am I?” He stepped forward, the hem of his jacket brushing the edge of the counter. “Because I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Her breath hitched. The memory was a brand, too—hot and sharp. The night he’d kissed her in the rain, his hands rough against her skin, his teeth grazing her lip like he couldn’t decide whether to bite or claim. She’d let him. For three seconds. Three *terrible * seconds before she’d shoved him back and called him a liar.
“That was a mistake,” she said, but her voice cracked.
“No.” He reached out, his fingers brushing the scar on her wrist. “That was the beginning.”
She jerked away, but not fast enough. His thumb traced the crescent, slow and deliberate. “You still carry it,” he murmured. “Like a souvenir.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s a reminder .” His gaze flicked up, locking onto hers. “Of what you *almost * did.”
The air between them crackled. She could feel it, sharp and electric , like the second before a storm breaks. Her fingers twitched, itching to reach for him, to pull him closer, to—
“Aurora.”
The voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. She turned, heart lurching , and found Eva standing in the doorway, Ptolemy the tabby cat perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown. The cat’s green eyes narrowed , tail flicking in irritation.
“What the *fuck *?” Eva’s gaze darted between them, taking in the way Lucien ’s hand still hovered near Aurora’s wrist, the way her chest rose and fell like she’d just run a mile. “You’re *dead * to me.”
Aurora didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her brain had short-circuited, her body locked in place like a statue caught in the middle of a dance .
Lucien ’s lips quirked, just slightly . “Eva.”
“Don’t.” Eva’s voice was ice. “Don’t *Lucien * me. You’re not welcome here.”
“Neither is he,” Aurora said, finally finding her voice. “He’s not here to collect rent.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “No. But I am here to collect *her *.”
Eva’s eyes narrowed . “You’re out of your mind.”
“Am I?” Lucien stepped closer, his body blocking the doorway. “Because I remember the way she looked at me in that alley. The way she *begged * me not to stop.”
Aurora’s face burned. “Shut up.”
“No.” His voice was a purr, low and dangerous. “I won’t.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora shook her head, her gaze locked onto Lucien ’s. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s grip tightened. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
“You don’t have a choice.” Eva’s eyes flashed. “Not if you want to keep your life.”
Lucien ’s smile turned predatory. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
“Am I?” His voice was a purr, low and dangerous. “Because I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *begged * me not to stop.”
Aurora’s face burned. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat was too small for the three of them, the air thick with tension . Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the room, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Lucien leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto hers. Eva paced back and forth, Ptolemy perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown.
“You’re not welcome here,” Aurora said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat was too small for the three of them, the air thick with tension . Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the room, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Lucien leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto hers. Eva paced back and forth, Ptolemy perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown.
“You’re not welcome here,” Aurora said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat was too small for the three of them, the air thick with tension . Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the room, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Lucien leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto hers. Eva paced back and forth, Ptolemy perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown.
“You’re not welcome here,” Aurora said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat was too small for the three of them, the air thick with tension . Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the room, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Lucien leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto hers. Eva paced back and forth, Ptolemy perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown.
“You’re not welcome here,” Aurora said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat was too small for the three of them, the air thick with tension . Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the room, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Lucien leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto hers. Eva paced back and forth, Ptolemy perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown.
“You’re not welcome here,” Aurora said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat was too small for the three of them, the air thick with tension . Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the room, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Lucien leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto hers. Eva paced back and forth, Ptolemy perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown.
“You’re not welcome here,” Aurora said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat was too small for the three of them, the air thick with tension . Aurora stood frozen in the middle of the room, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Lucien leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto hers. Eva paced back and forth, Ptolemy perched on her shoulder like a tiny, disapproving crown.
“You’re not welcome here,” Aurora said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The flat seemed to shrink around them, the walls closing in, the air thick with tension . Aurora’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re playing with fire,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper .
Lucien ’s laugh was dark, amused. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Eva’s hand shot out, grabbing Aurora’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
Aurora jerked away, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You should.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Before he does something stupid.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’ve already done that.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”
---
The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing through the flat like a gunshot. Aurora’s breath hitched, her body locked in place. She could feel Lucien ’s gaze on her , hot and intense, like a brand.
“You’re not welcome here,” she said, her voice steady despite the way her heart hammered in her chest .
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but I am.”
And then he was moving , his body blocking the doorway, his gaze locked onto hers. “I remember the way you looked at me in that alley. The way you *tasted *.”
Aurora’s breath hitched. She remembered. The way he’d kissed her . The way he’d—
“Aurora.” Eva’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
Aurora turned, her fingers curling into fists. “I’m not leaving him.”
Eva’s eyes flashed. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lucien ’s smile widened, slow and dangerous. “Oh, but she *does * have a choice.”