ALINA’S POV.

    My eyes fluttered open the next morning to the sound of birds chirping outside the bedroom window.

    I turned to the other side of the bed to find the space there empty.

    Lucian wasn’t there.

    The sheets were still warm, so I knew it hadn’t been long since he left.

    “That exins why I had no nightmares.” I muttered, stretching.

    My whole body was deliciously sore, but it was the best sleep I’d had in a week. !--

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    There was a knock on the door.

    “Come in!” I yelled.

    The door pushed open, and a servant came in. She was holding her cleaning materials.

    “Good morning, Madame.” She greeted me with a polite smile.

    “Good morning.” I responded in a bright tone.

    “Uhmm… do you want me toe back?”She asked, hesitating at the door.

    “Nah, go ahead.” I said, standing up from the bed and walking out of the room and into the bathroom with a slight wince in my step, giving her space to do her job.

    After brushing my teeth, I decided to search for Lucian.

    I walked past a couple of servants in the hallway, each busy with one chore or the other.

    “Good morning, Madame.”

    “Morning.”

    “Good morning, Mrs. ckwood.”

    “Good morning.”

    I loved when they referred to me as that.

    “Do you know where Lucian is?” I asked the servant who had called me Mrs. ckwood.

    I didn’t know her name, and she didn’t look familiar either. There were a lot of servants, and they ran shifts, so I was always seeing a different face every day.

    “He is in his study, ma’am.” She responded.

    “Thank you.” I smiled before almost skipping to his study, until I remembered the soreness in between my legs.

    I limped the rest of the way, bumping into Ace, who was just stepping out of Lucian’s study.

    “Oh hey. Ace.” I greeted in a chirpy tone.

    He raised a surprised brow at me. “Good morning, ma’am.” He greeted. “Uhm are you okay?” His concerned eyes flickered to my limping leg.

    “I am fine.” I rushed out as color spread across my face.

    I was dying of embarrassment.

    “Are you sure? You’re limping.”

    “God, Ace, I am fine.” I groaned.

    “Why are you so red? Do you have a cold or-ohhhhh.” He said in realization as his eyesnded on the hickies spread around my neck.

    “Yes oh.’I rolled my eyes.

    “Uhmm, I’ll just go.” He said awkwardly, jabbing his thumb to the right. “Boss is inside.” He added before rushing away.

    “Thanks, Ace.” I called after him with a chuckle.

    Now he was the one embarrassed.

    I pushed the door open, and a smile tugged at my lips when I saw Lucian on hisptop.

    He looked so gorgeous in his casual attire, his sleeves rolled up, hair slightly tousled, and his face illuminated by the glow of the screen. He was so focused I doubted he even heard mee in, or maybe he thought it was Ace.

    “Good morning, gorgeous.” I greeted him, sitting on hisp and burying my face in his neck.

    I inhaled deeply, savoring his masculine scent that always managed to ground me.

    “Morning doll, You’re awake.” He spoke, running his hand up and down my back. “The ground is cold, why are you not wearing any shoes?” He asked, his tone scolding yet warm.

    Oops. I almost forgot he hates it when I walk around barefooted.

    “Sorry,” I mumbled into his neck. “I was just so eager to see you I forgot.” I told him truthfully.

    “How do you feel this morning?” He asked softly, his previous scolding tone melting away into concern.

    “Sore,” I responded, pulling back slightly to look at his face. “It felt like I was run over by a truck this morning, and to make matters worse, Ace saw me limping and thought I was injured until he saw the hickey on my neck. Then the situation went from embarrassment to awkwardness to embarrassment again-”

    “Uhm… doll.” Lucian tried to talk.

    “What did you do to mest night? I mean, I’m notining and I want a repeat as soon as I don’t feel sore down there anymore,” I continued, rambling breathlessly. “But I was hoping we could do other things this morning.” My hand began to trail from his chest down to his crotch. “But you were gone when I woke up.”

    He grabbed my hand before I could make contact.

    “What?” I frowned, looking at his face. “Don’t you want to?”

    hal than a good time-

    Bui sait eating in and kang hin

    the loved me back only for a second before gribbing the back of my neck and gently pulling me away.

    Chr. Mr. dowood maybe we should reschedule” A voice spoke from hisptop, making me freeze.

    Cord please auf