Song recommendation: kehlani
Gangsta
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The gentle sound of the water filled the room, the only noise braking the silence. Lucian's mind stayed blank and calm, until the image of Kat's smiling face flashed in his head, and his eyes fluttered open with a shallow breath.
After some time, he stepped out of the bath, water dripping down his body, with droplets continuing to fall from his hair and wet strands clinging to his forehead.
Mary approached with a towel, starting at his feet and working her way up, wiping away as much water as she could. When she reached his shoulders, she stepped back, respecting Lucian's boundary – he never allowed anyone to touch his hair. She wrapped another towel around his waist before stepping back to her spot, bowing her head. Lucian took another towel from the rack and dried his hair himself before exiting the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of Mary out of the corner of his eye, who remained quiet and still in her place.
Returning to his room, Lucian saw Kat still asleep on the couch, her figure undisturbed. He approached the door opposite his bed and opened it, revealing his spacious and elegantly designed closet. The closet's regal and mature aesthetic mirrored the rest of his room. He selected fresh clothes and returned to the room, dropping them onto his bed.
Lucian removed the towel from around his waist, standing naked except for the towel on his head, seemingly unconcerned about Kat's presence on the couch. He began dressing, oblivious to the fact that Kat had stirred from her sleep.
The sun had already set, and the room was now illuminated by the warm light of the fireplace and a few candles. Shadows filled the corners of the room, casting an eerie gloom. Kat's eyes lazily fluttered open, then closed, repeating the motion several times as she slowly woke. When she finally opened them fully, nothing could have prepared her for the sight before her.
Drowsy-eyed, Kat's gaze adjusted to the dim light, and she caught sight of a figure by the bed. Her eyes narrowed, and it took a moment for her to register that it was Lucian, standing shirtless as he dried his hair. Kat's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected to wake up to this sight. With limited experience with men, Kat had seen various physiques before, but none had ever captivated her attention like now. His back was to her, and his body glistened faintly in the low light, making it difficult for her to look away.
Kat couldn't help but stare at Lucian, her eyes tracing his figure - his strong, veined arms, still raised as he dried his hair, his broad shoulders, and his perfectly toned chest. He resembled a masterpiece sculpture, every muscle defined and powerful. The dim light accentuated his masculine presence.
Kat swallowed hard, snapping out of her trance when Lucian moved to pick up his shirt. She quickly averted her gaze and shut her eyes just in time before he turned to face her, narrowly avoiding his glance. Even with her eyes closed, Kat's heartbeat raced uncontrollably. She pretended to be asleep, hoping Lucian wouldn't notice her pounding heart. With her eyes closed, her other senses intensified. She focused on the sounds of Lucian moving around - the rustling of fabric and the soft thuds of his footsteps. She still couldn't believe she had been shamelessly staring at him.
The footsteps stopped abruptly, and Kat's heart skipped a beat. She felt Lucian's presence looming before her. The silence stretched out, and she remained still, sensing his gaze lingering on her. Then, she felt his warm breath and a gentle touch on her head. The sensation of his fingers brushing her hair behind her ear sent shivers coursing down her spine. She struggled to remain impassive. Lucian had detected her racing heartbeat and sensed a hint of nervousness. He glanced at her but saw she was still sleeping. Assuming she was having a nightmare, he approached the couch and examined her face closely. He noticed her slightly flushed cheeks and rapid breathing, and he frowned.
Just like last time, Lucian was uncertain how to proceed. He reached out, gently patting her head, and then tenderly brushed the hair out of her face. Wondering if she might be developing a fever, he placed his hand on her forehead, but her temperature was normal. He sighed, feeling puzzled by his own actions. He couldn't explain why he even cared.
A drop of water from his hair fell onto her cheek, and when she flinched, he examined her again but this time his eyes narrowed and he gently wiped the droplet away with the back of his index finger. Lucian stood up, picked up the book beside her, Kat let out a quiet sigh of relief as she heard him move away, but then he returned.
Before she could react, Lucian's strong arms scooped her up from the couch, securely wrapping around her to support her weight. He then carried her out of his room.
As an actress, Kat found it easy to stay in character and relax in Lucian's arms as he carried her. Her body instinctively surrendered to his embrace, and she rested her hand against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. The sensation reminded her of the day he had saved her from the kelpie. There was something peculiarly comforting about being held like this, and she found herself unconsciously synchronizing her heartbeat with his. With each inhale, she breathed in the sweet, woody scent of rosewood emanating from him.
Lucian carried her to her room with calm, measured steps, glancing down to see her breathing had steadied, and she seemed peaceful in his arms. As he approached her room, the door creaked open on its own, and he stepped inside before it shut behind him. He gently laid her on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, and quietly left the room.
Kat heard the door close and finally opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. Rolling onto her side, her mind replayed everything that had just happened. The memory of Lucian's arms around her lingered, the surprising warmth of his fingers in the cold night, sending a pang through her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, scolding herself as her nails dug into her pillow. Despite her efforts to push it away, Lucian's face kept flashing in her mind, the feeling was persistent.
Meanwhile, in his room, Lucian sat on the couch beside the large window, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. The full moon cast an ethereal glow outside, its silvery light illuminating the night's darkness. The air was crisp and cold, with a hint of frost, and the windowpane was chilled to the touch. He took slow, deliberate puffs, allowing the smoke to drift out into the night air as he stared blankly at the moon's luminescent face. The room was quiet, except for the faint rustling of the curtains in the gentle breeze. A subtle, sweet scent of coconut and floral lingered in the air, a reminder of Kat's presence earlier. Lucian's face remained impassive as he gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
The next morning, she stretched lazily as the morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a pale glow over the room. The air was still chilly, and she could see her breath as she exhaled. She rubbed her eyes, yawning, with images from the previous night still etched in her mind. Shaking her head, she tried to dismiss them before rolling out of bed.
After dressing, Kat headed to the dining room, her footsteps echoing softly against the floor. Breakfast was a little off, as Sebastian and Lucian were both absent. She attempted to strike up a conversation with a maid to dispel the awkward silence, but stopped when she noticed they seemed frightened and only gave brief, polite responses. Perplexed, Kat didn't press the issue and ate in silence.
Finishing her breakfast, Kat turned to one of the maids. "Excuse me, could I have a bowl, please?" she requested. The maid looked confused, repeating, "A bowl?" Kat nodded, and the maid bowed, handing her a bowl. "Thank you," Kat said, taking the bowl. Back in her room, Kat retrieved two bags of chips and placed them in the bowl.
Heading to Lucian's room, Kat found Mary standing by the door. They exchanged a quiet look, and Mary bowed her head. "Good morning, my lady," she greeted. Kat returned the greeting, knocked on the door, and entered.
As Kat closed the door, she flashed back to the previous night. Shaking her head, she tried to clear the memory. She turned away from the door, intending to greet Lucian, but her voice caught in her throat as she froze on the spot. Before her stood Lucian, stepping out of his bathroom, wrapped only in a towel around his waist and another on his head. Kat's cheeks grew warm, and she felt a mix of irritation and embarrassment. Quickly, she turned around to face the door, her heart racing.
"What is wrong with you?! Have you no shame walking around half-naked in front of me?!" Kat exclaimed, her face burning with growing annoyance.
Lucian didn't respond, his calm demeanor unwavering as he walked to his closet. His wet body glistened with dripping water, but he seemed unfazed by Kat's outburst.
"You're shameless, Lucian!" she exclaimed again. Lucian remained silent, his expression serene as he entered the closet.
"So shameless," Kat said once more. Lucian raised an eyebrow, stepping out with fresh clothes. "Shameless?" he repeated calmly, dropping the towel to reveal his nakedness as he began to dress.
"The real shameless person is you," he stated matter-of-factly. Kat sneered, "I'm not shameless like you, don't compare us."
Lucian glanced at her, his expression unchanged. "What would you call taking advantage of a person's vulnerability and staring at a man getting dressed without his knowledge? If that isn't shameless, do tell me what is, Katherine."
Kat's eyes widened in shock, her face flushing deeply. She paused, unable to find words, as Lucian's statement hung in the air.
Kat still struggled to respond, caught and denied. "Vulnerable state? What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Lucian chuckled, a low, husky sound escaping his lips. "I never thought you'd be a pervert, Katherine. Your lying skills are almost as poor as your acting."
He clicked his tongue in distaste, and Kat's face grew hotter, aware of his nakedness behind her. "I'm not a pervert! And what makes you think your body is so impressive? I wouldn't even glance at it," she scoffed, trying to sound braver than she felt.
"Oh please, I've seen better," she added, still not turning around.
Lucian nodded, his voice calm. "Oh really?" He hummed, picking up his shirt and walking towards her. Kat heard his footsteps approach and bit her lower lip.
As Lucian's mildly wet hands gripped her shoulders, Kat's body tensed. He turned her around, his eyes glancing down at the bowl in her hand before meeting her face. Lucian towered over Kat, his height making her feel smaller. He placed his right hand on the door beside her head, his gaze intense.
Lucian's intense gaze met Kat's as he leaned in, his voice low and husky. "You've seen better, have you?" he asked skeptically, his eyes flicking to the delicate braids at the side of her head. His fingers toyed with the edges, tracing the small gold beads that added a touch of elegance to her hairstyle. His touch was light, almost reverent, as he lingered on the braids.
His gaze shifted downward, noticing the way her lips parted slightly as she took a deep breath before pressing them shut again. The space between them seemed to close even more as Lucian leaned in, his face inches from hers. His warm breath caressed her skin, making her lips tingle.
Kat's eyes fluttered shut, a reflexive response, as if bracing for something she couldn't quite anticipate. The closeness was both electrifying and unsettling, leaving her tense and breathless.
Lucian's voice whispered against her skin, "Such a liar." Kat's eyes fluttered open, meeting his intense gaze. She tried to maintain her composure, but Lucian's half-dressed figure made it difficult. Her cheeks flushed as she struggled to keep her expression neutral.
"Yes, I have," she responded, her voice less confident than intended.
Kat couldn't take it anymore. Lucian's closeness was overwhelming. She gripped the bowl tighter in one hand and raised her other hand to his chest, attempting to push him away. It wasn't a forceful push, but a slow, deliberate effort, as if trying to move something immovable.
When Lucian didn't budge, Kat swiftly stepped to the side, slipping out of his reach. "It's vile enough you cornered a woman in your room; at least have some decency and get dressed," she muttered irritably, letting out a quiet sigh of relief to be out of Lucian's grasp.
Lucian merely chuckled, his expression didn't change from its usual indifference. To think that just a second a she was cowering like a scared little squirrel between his hands, now she acted like a Fierce lioness.
He didn't say anything and casually started putting on his shirt. Kat moved to the table, her back to him as she set the bowl down.
Lucian walked over, his eyes flicking to the bowl. "What is that?" he asked, taking his seat.
"Chips," Kat replied, trying to sound nonchalant as she fiddled with the edge of the book she'd left on the table earlier.
Lucian hummed in response. Kat sighed and continued, "Unlike last time, I want to read while having a snack." She said it in a way that implied he shouldn't bother her about it.
He picked up a random book and started reading. "Continue reading the book you were reading yesterday," he instructed. But Kat frowned, glancing around. "Where's the book?" She asked.
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking me?"
She huffed, "Because you took it yesterday, obviously."
Lucian stared at her blankly. "So, you admit you were awake when I took it."