ALINA’S POV

Before he could finish his thought, I grabbed his face and pulled him in for a kiss.

As expected, his body tensed up for only a split second before melting into the kiss. Hisrge handb, /bwhich had been resting around bmy /bthroat, slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss.

He kissed bme /blike his life depended on it. The kiss was raw and possessive, bursting with an intensity that sent shivers bracing /bdown my spine. I had to admit, it was the best kiss I’d ever had.

Not bthat /bI had much topare it to.

This was my first kiss.

I know, I know—a twenty–four–year–old who had never been kissed before. It’s not bthat /bI didn’t want to, but for some reason, in my past life, Adrian never liked to touch me. I get why now, but looking back? I’m honestly relieved he never did.

Right now, I could feel the whole damn zoo in my stomach.!--

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Honestly, I could kiss Lucian forever, but then I suddenly remember that I needed to breathe

My hands pressed against his chest as I gently tried to push him away. But he wasn’t having it.

He caught both my wrists bin /bbone /bhand, pinning them against the wall above my head, while his other hand stayed at the back of my neck, keeping bme /bin ce.

If this keeps up, I’m going to pass out.

Thankfully, his lips finally left mine, trailing down to my neck, nting soft, butterfly–light kisses. A shiver ran through me as his mouth found my ear.

He gently bit my earlobe before whispering in his deep voice, “Next time, don’t forget to breathe through your nose.”

Heat flooded my face, turning my pale cheeks a bright shade of red. I buried my face against his chest,pletely embarrassed.

Before I could say anything, a suddenmotion erupted from downstairs making us both turn our head to the door.

My brows furrowed in confusion bas /bI wondered who could possibly be here at this hour?

Then it hit me.

Seraphina

Of courseb, /bit had to be her. Who else would waltz in here like they owned the bce /bat this ungodly hour?

I bmade /ba move to bleave/b, but before I could take a single step, a strong hand pulled me back, pressing me against a hard chest.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Lucian’s voice was bicy/bb, /bsinged with annoyance. A deep frown creased his forehead as bhe /blooked me

bover /b

“Seraphina is here.” I tried to keep it vague, but I could tell he didn’t like that answer bone /bbit..

“bSo/b?” His arms tightened around me, almost protectively.

He knew that Seraphina was bad news. Nothing bgood /bever bes /bfrom her visits.

“I just go, dismiss her and be right back.” My tone was reassuring, my fingers brushing softly against his cheek.

Hh eyes softened a bit, but I could still see bthat /bflicker of uncertainty and doubt lingering there.

*I’ll trust you this time, Doll His voice was soft and gentle but then it turned sharp and cold again. “But don’t think for ba /bsecond that I wouldn’t dare to hurt you if you tried to pull a fast one on me.”

Damn, I have a lot of work to do if I want to bwin /bhis trust.

6:27 AM

“I won’t, I promise. I’ll send her away ande right back.” My voice was hasty as my eyes pleaded for his trust.

He scanned my face for a moment before finally nodding and loosening his grip on my waist. I pressed a quick kiss to his lips before heading downstairs.

As soon as I stepped into the foyer, my gazended on Seraphina. She was being blocked by Lucian’s most trusted assistant, who also happened to be his bodyguard, while she unleashed a stream of profanities at him, threatening to get him fired.

As if she had that kind of power.

“Ace, it’s fine.” I said, making my way toward them.

“But ma’am” Ace began to protest, but one look from me was all it took for him to shut up and back down

The moment Ace stepped aside, Seraphina threw herself at me.

“Oh my bGod/b, Ally! Are you bokay/b? Did that bastard hurt you?”

My body tensed at her touch and even though it was all in my head, I could have sworn I bsmell /bgasoline on her. I couldn’t take her hands on bme /bany longerb, /bso I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away from me, keeping her at arm’s length, literally

I’m fine, Seraphina. As you bcan /bseeb, /bI’m not bhurt/b.” I said tly, trying hard not to roll my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, “What am I doing here?” She retorted sharply, her voice dripping with offense. “I came to bcheck /bon how my is doing. Is that a crime?”

Anyone listening might think she was the caring sibling looking out for me. But I knew better.

She wanted what was mine. Too bad she can’t have him.

sister

“Not at allb,/b” I replied sweetly. “But showing up at a married couple’s house thiste at night? People might mistake you for a mistress. Just looking out for you, sis.”

A few servants nearby snickered before quickly covering it with a cough and pretending to be busy.

Lucian and I were not married yet, but I knew throwing that in there would get on Seraphina’s nerves, and I was right.

Seraphina’s expression darkened. “You-

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to explode and reveal her true colors. But she was too clever for that. Her gaze darted to the stairs behind me before she spoke again, her voice bnow /bsickeningly sweet,

“Sis,” She cooed, taking my hand. “I know you’re acting like this because you’re scared of Lucian. But I know the truth, you love Adrian. Right now.

the man you love is in the hospital because Lucian had his men beat him up. And let’s not forget, you and Lucian aren’t even married yet. bYou /bare not even engaged because you bdidn’t /bshow up for the ceremony…

I snatched my hand away from here. I had bhad /benough of her bullshit.

Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand moved on its own ord, delivering a sharp p across her face

The sound rang through the mansion, followed by the gasps of the servants watching

I btotally /bgot why they were reacting the way they were. I bhad /balways been so timid around Seraphina. They had seen her put me down time and again, treating the like I was nothing. For them, this bwas /bjust too much to believe.

Seraphina’s beyes /bbwere /bzing with anger as she held her cheek in bshock/b, “You pped me!”

“Still doubting that it happened, bhuh/b?” I teased, tilting my head. “I could always do it bagain /bbif /bthat would refresh your memory.” I lifted my hand bup/b.

She flinched, and God, words can not describe the satisfaction I felt in that

moment.

“Honestly, you were bbeginning /bto get on my nervesb./bb” /bI shrugged, crossing my arms. “What do I care if Adrian’s in the hospital? If he didn’t want to bend /bup there, maybe he shouldn’t have tried to steal me from my bfiance/b.”

“But you-

I raised my hand to cut her off. “I’m not done talking.”

She clenched her jaw, practically seething.

“Let me get this straight, you want me to go visit Adrian in the hospital, correct?”

“Yes.” Her response was quick, desperation creeping into her voice.

“bAnd /bwhy on earth would I do that?” Iughed. “My incredibly hot fiance is right here in this house. And I should go see bthat /bpathetic bexcuse /bfor ba /bman because?”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. I know she was trying to figure out what drugs I am on to make me act so defiant.

“But you hate bLucian/bb!/b” bShe /bbeximed /bafter a bmoment/b, her face a mix of shock and frustration. “You called him the devil, said you’d rather die than be with him!”

She so badly wants to be Mrs. ckwood, huh? Well too bad.

“First of all,” I said, braising /ba finger, “you will call him Mr. ckwood. bYou’re /bnot close enough to refer to him by his first name.”

Her nostrils red in response, any more and she would begin to breathe fire.

“Secondly,” I continued, lifting another finger, “I might have said those things, but I was young and dumb. Now? I’ve learned a thing or two. I shrugged casually.

Her eyes narrowed. “That bwas /bjust yesterday.” She shot back, deadpan.

Potato potahto

“If there’s nothing else, you can let yourself out. I need to get back to my fiance. My tone was sugary.

Seraphina’s face twisted in rage.

“The ceremony didn’t even happen.” She spat through clenched teeth.

“The ceremony is just a formality. I’m wearing his ring, am I not?” I raised my hand, yfully wiggling my fingers to unt the huge diamond sparkling on my finger.

Lucian really spared no expenses.

Jealousy shed in her eyesb, /band boy was I basking in it.

? “Ace” I called out

“Yes, madame?” Ace, who had been bstanding /bclose by, responded instantly.

“Could you please take out the trash? It’s starting to mess with the mansion’s aesthetics” My tone was bored band /butterly uninterested..

Ace’s eyes went wide as saucers, and so did Seraphina’s as she tried to process bwhat /bI had just said.

By the time her slow brain caught up that I was talking about her, it was already toote. Two guards had grabbed her arms, pulling her toward the exit.

Her screams echoed through the hall, but I wasn’t phased.

b“/bbGood /briddance.” I simply dusted off my hands and turned to head back bupstairs/b.

as soon as I blooked /bup, I froze,

But as bs /b

Неса

Luci