Seraphine awoke to the sound of water dripping softly in the background. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light finding it's way through the heavy curtains. It took her a moment for her eyes to fully adjust itself, but the sight before her was enough to snap her into full consciousness.
Lucian stood across the room, just stepping out of the shower. Water dripped down his pale skin like beads, slowly rolling from the crown of his head, down through his well-toned and chiseled torso, disappearing under the towel that hung loosely around his waist.
She knew she shouldn't be watching, it felt so wrong to gaze at his bare body so intently, but for some reason, she couldn't look away. There was something mesmerizing about this man in front of her.
He walked towards the closet, his back to her now, muscles shifting under his skin as he went through his closet searching for something to wear.
Seraphine swallowed as she thought of running her hands through his well toned abs. This was Lucian-her captor, a cold and ruthless vampire who had imprisoned her in his home. Yet, here she was, utterly captivated by the sight of him.
As if sensing her gaze, Lucian paused. He glanced over his shoulder, a playful smirk plastered on his lips. Then, without warning, he dropped the towel. Seraphine's eyes widened, as she gasped, her hands flying up to cover her eyes as heat rushed to her cheeks turning them a bright pink. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. He wasn't supposed to know she was watching!
"I was wondering how long you were going to keep drooling over my body," Lucian said, amusement lacing his voice.
"Haven't seen a hot guy before?"
His tone was teasing. Seraphine's cheeks burned even hotter. She peeked through her fingers, and there he was, still smirking at her.
"You can open your eyes," he added with a chuckle.
"I'm not so cheap to let you see all of me for free."
He turned and walked into the closet, and Seraphine dared to open her eyes, catching just a glimpse of him disappearing into the shadows of the walk-in closet.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. He had been wearing a pair of shorts under the towel the whole time. She felt a mix of relief and embarrassment wash over her. How could she have been so stupid?
When Lucian reappeared, he was dressed in a simple black shirt and jeans. His scent, a mix of something musky and sweet, filling the room, making her swoon over him even more. She had to remind herself to breathe, to stay focused, to not get swept away by the strange, intoxicating pull she felt toward him.
"Still not ready?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Seraphine blinked, confused.
"Ready for what?"
Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded her.
"To get cleaned up. Or do you plan on staying in my Tee's all day?"
She glanced down at herself, suddenly self-conscious.
The last time she recalled, she was in her clothes which were badly wrinkled and stained. When did she change into his Tshirts? She couldn't recall taking a bath, as she has been going in and out of consciousness for days.
Seeing the confusion and hesitation in her eyes, Lucian let out a sigh, the teasing edge to his voice replaced by something softer. He crossed the room in a few long strides and before she could react, he scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing.
Seraphine let out a small yelp, her hands instinctively grabbing at his shoulders.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, though her voice came out breathier than she intended.
"You need a bath," he said simply, carrying her toward the bathroom.
She noticed how his grip was firm but careful, as if he was mindful not to hurting her. It was almost. gentle.
Once inside the bathroom, he set her down on the cool tile floor and reached for the buttons of her shirt.
Seraphine's eyes widened in panic, and she slapped his hands away, stepping back.
"I can do it myself!" she insisted, wrapping her arms around her chest protectively. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Lucian paused, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Relax," he said, leaning in closer, so their faces were just inches apart.
His breath tickled her ear, giving her goose bumps.
"It's not like I haven't seen it all before." Lucian said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
She froze, her mind racing. What did he mean by that? What had he done to her while she was unconscious? The thought made her stomach twist in knots. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and completely at his mercy. But she couldn't show weakness, not now.
"I can clean myself up," she said firmly, looking him in the eye.
'You don't have to go through the trouble.'
He tilted his head, studying her for a moment before his smirk widened.
"It's not trouble," he murmured, his voice low and smooth.
"I enjoyed cleaning you up the past few days, I don't do it for just anyone, but you're special and knowing I own you, made it even more fun.."
Seraphine's mind reeled. Had he really done that? Touched her without her knowing? Her body tensed, muscles coiled tight with fear and anger. But before she could say anything, he continued, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"I just cleaned your face, legs, and hands," he said, as if reading her mind.
"Your clothes were left on...although that won't be for long." He inched even closer, closing the space between them till Seraphine was backed up against the bathroom wall and his body pressed to hers.
Her heart raced as she could feel his cold body against hers, and his piercing stares never left her eyes. She wanted to slap that smug grin off his face, to scream at him to let her go, but she also felt a strange, unwelcome heat spreading through her body at the thought of his hands on her body. It was maddening.
Lucian chuckled softly, clearly enjoying her inner turmoil. He straightened up and turned toward the door.
"Take your time," he said over his shoulder. "I'll be outside if you need me."
He left, closing the door behind him with a soft click, leaving Seraphine alone in the spacious bathroom. She took a shaky breath, trying to calm her racing heart. What was wrong with her? Why did he have this effect on her? She didn't trust him, didn't even like him, yet she couldn't deny the strange pull she felt whenever he was near
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. There was no time to dwell on such confusing emotions. She needed to focus, to remember who he was and what he had done to her. He was the enemy, a monster who had taken her against her will.
She couldn't afford to be swayed by his looks or his charm, no matter how tempting they might be. She must stay focused and find a way to escape him.
Seraphine undressed quickly, stepping into the bathtub. It's been a while she had a proper bath, and she was ready to soak in here for a while, especially since she didn't know when Lucian would will be this nice again. She sank down with a sigh, letting the heat soothe her tense muscles. It felt heavenly, washing away the grime and fear of the past few days. She closed her eyes, trying to let the water relax her mind as well as her body.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the image of Lucian from her mind. The way he had looked at her, his eyes sparkling with amusement and something else she couldn't quite place. The way his scent had filled the room, intoxicating and overwhelming. The way his touch had felt, strong yet gentle, as if he were holding something precious.
She rubbed her face, frustrated with herself.
This was insane. She was being ridiculous, letting her thoughts spiral out of control.
She needed to focus, to figure out a way out of this mess. She couldn't afford to let her guard down around him. Not now, not ever.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally finished her bath and dried herself off. She found a simple robe hanging on a hook and slipped it on. It was bigger than her obviously, and she could have guessed it belonged to Lucian. Feeling a bit more like herself now that she was clean and dressed. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever awaited her outside
When she opened the door, Lucian was lounging on the bed, looking completely at ease. He glanced up as she entered, his eyes sweeping over her in a way that made her skin tingle. She stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated.
"All cleaned up?" he asked, his voice smooth as ever.
She nodded, keeping her expression neutral.
"Yes."
He smiled, a slow, almost predatory grin that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Good, he said, rising to his feet.
"Now, let's get some breakfast. You must be starving."
He didn't wait for her response, just walked past her and out the door. Seraphine hesitated for a moment, then followed him, her mind racing with questions and fears.
"What was his game?"
"Why was he being so.. nice to her all of a sudden?"
As she trailed behind him, she couldn't help but notice the way his shoulders moved, the way his back muscles flexed with every step. She shook her head, trying to banish the inappropriate thoughts from her mind. She needed to stay focused, to remember who he was.
But as they walked through the enormous halls of his mansion, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was more to Lucian than she had thought. And that thought, more than anything, terrified her.