CHAPTER 119: ENJOY THE RAIN

Lucien draped a towel over Leia’s head before walking over to the cupboard. As he slid open its glass door, Leia pulled the towel down, drying her hair while eyeing him curiously.

"You already arranged clothes for us? When did you even plan that? How long have you been thinking of bringing me here?" she asked, her tone laced with both surprise and amusement.

Lucien glanced back at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I planned it just today. But I did ask the housekeeper earlier to keep a set of clothes ready for us."

He turned and gently placed the neatly folded clothes into her hands. "Change into them. I’ll be back soon."

She watched him leave the room and locked the door from inside. Changing into the clothes, she let her dress dry on the open balcony outside the room.

"Wow! The view is so nice from here." Leia’s gaze stretched far and wide over the ocean. She could hear the gentle waves hitting the shoreline. The thundering of the sky made her look up only to find it had darkened.

Returning to the room, she looked around before sitting on the low, plush bed. Lying down on it, she looked at the ceiling.

"It’s so peaceful here," Leia murmured, letting her eyes close briefly.

Just then, her stomach growled loudly, and she instinctively pressed a hand to her belly. A faint chuckle escaped her lips.

"I didn’t see any shops or restaurants nearby," she mumbled, sitting upright again.

Curious, she stepped out of the room and padded down the wooden stairs. She made her way toward the kitchen, only to find it completely empty.

Leaning her elbows on the counter, she sighed.

"Looks like we’ll have to order something," she muttered to herself.

Drawn by the calm outside, she wandered toward the front door and stepped out. A small, serene garden surrounded the beach house, its trimmed grass still glistening faintly from the humid air. Just as she stepped into the soft green, a raindrop landed on her forehead.

Looking up, she saw the sky. The rain came lightly at first, then picked up speed.

She quickly moved back into the covered porch while looking for Lucien. "Where did he go leaving me alone?" Leia mumbled.

A few seconds later, Leia spotted Lucien running toward the house, her sling bag slung over his shoulder and a carry bag in one hand.

He hopped onto the porch in a light stride, droplets of rain clinging to his shirt. Without missing a beat, he handed her the carry bag.

"The food. Let’s go in," he said, brushing the wet strands from his forehead.

"Sure. But where did you get this from? I didn’t see any restaurant nearby," Leia asked curiously as she stepped back inside.

"I ordered it before we went to the beach," Lucien replied, unbuttoning his damp shirt as he climbed the stairs. "I’ll get changed. Then we can eat together."

Leia watched him disappear upstairs before heading into the kitchen. She opened the carry bag and began unpacking the food, transferring everything neatly into containers. Taking out the cutlery, she arranged the dishes on the dining table and poured water into two glasses.

Just as she placed the last spoon down, she turned, and there he was.

Lucien stood a few meters away from her, his damp hair tousled. A fresh change of clothes clung comfortably to his tall frame.

"Let’s eat," Leia said, pulling out a chair and settling down.

Lucien followed suit, taking his seat across from her. The aroma of braised chicken pasta in garlic sauce filled the air, accompanied by warm garlic bread on the side.

"This would’ve gone perfectly with a drink," Lucien remarked after the first bite.

Leia licked her lips, savoring the flavor. "Too bad there’s nothing here. Not even a bottle of beer," she said with a small laugh. "But honestly, it’s delicious. You really picked a good meal."

"I’m glad you’re enjoying it," Lucien replied, a soft smile curving his lips.

Once they were done eating, Leia gathered the plates and walked them over to the sink. She had just started washing them when Lucien appeared behind her, gently catching her wrists to stop her.

"I’ll ask the housekeeper to take care of this," he said.

Leia glanced over her shoulder. "Let’s not bother her. It’s not like there’s a mountain of dishes," she reasoned, her tone calm.

Lucien relented, remaining by her side as she continued. His eyes drifted to the way her hair kept falling forward, how she repeatedly pushed it back with the back of her hand.

Without saying a word, he reached out and gently gathered her hair.

Leia paused, water running from the tap. "What are you doing?"

"Making a hair bun," Lucien murmured, his fingers carefully twisting her hair, his touch unexpectedly tender. Leia remained still, patiently waiting for him to finish.

"It’s done," Lucien said as he secured the bun in place and slowly pulled his hands away, though it wasn’t easy. Her scent, sweet and dizzyingly potent, lingered in the air, tugging at his restraint.

Leia, oblivious to the effect she had on him, dried her hands with a washcloth. "Finally, all done," she declared with a satisfied sigh. Her gaze drifted to the large kitchen window. "It’s pouring out there. Hopefully, we’ll still make it to the mansion tonight."

Lucien stepped beside her, eyes fixed on the rain. "If not," he murmured, "we can always stay here. Just the two of us."

Leia side-eyed him, her tone teasing. "You can teleport, remember? So use it. Your brothers will probably panic if I’m not back."

Lucien gave a slow shrug. "I don’t want to use it."

"Why?" She turned to him fully.

"I told you I wanted to spend the day alone with you. Can’t I have you for myself for a day?" Lucien arched his eyebrow.

"We can sit on the porch, enjoy the rain together," he suggested.

"I love playing in the rain but I’ve only these clothes with me," Leia said.

"Well, I don’t mind seeing you naked," Lucien smirked, and a hard punch landed on his chest.

"You’re pervert," she commented and pivoted to leave. However, Lucien gripped her elbow and pulled her toward him.

"Say it again," he challenged, his thumb brushing her lips.