EVELYN'S POV
After Albert walked away, I slid into my car, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. My mind buzzed with questions, each more urgent than the last. Should I visit Lucas, or would it be smarter to go straight home and let this simmer?
The logical part of me urged caution as there was no need to stir the pot now. But curiosity clawed at me, relentless and insistent.
I exhaled sharply, turned the car around, and headed toward Lucas's house, the engine growling as I sped through the streets of Mooncrest. The trees lining the road seemed to close in as if warning me to turn back, but I pressed on, my pulse quickening with every turn.
The image of Lucas and Clara leaving together earlier replayed in my mind like a haunting reel. The way they moved, the unspoken ease between them, gnawed at me.
Clara had sworn up and down that, their relationship was strictly professional. Her words echoed in my head, but seeing them together now made my chest tighten with something I didn't want to name.
Was she lying? Was there something more between them? The questions swirled, and the unease grew heavier. I thought back to our earlier conversation, to the way Clara had laughed off my concerns with casual charm.
"It's nothing to worry about," she'd said, her voice light and confident. "Lucas hired me to decorate his condo. That's all there is to it."
At the time, I'd believed her. I wanted to believe her. But now, doubt crept in like a shadow, cold and unrelenting.
LUCAS'S POV
I glanced at Clara, her figure in the seat opposite me, her presence heavy and charged.
My voice was steady but guarded as I said, "Alright, what's the second thing?"
Clara leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. "I've heard whispers of an attack in Mooncrest during the full moon," she murmured, her voice low and conspiratorial. "If I'm in Mooncrest, I'm not joining the hunt. I'd rather hear the story than be dead in it."
I raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise while my thoughts churned. "And the third thing?"
Her lips curled into a slow, deliberate smile. "That," she said, her voice dripping with tease, "you'll only get inside the house."
I studied her, my instincts kicking in. "Clara, are you serious?" I asked, my tone sharp.
She giggled softly, the sound dangerously playful. "Absolutely. I think you should loosen up, Lucas. Just once," she said, her eyes gleaming with provocation. "But only if you're willing to let your guard down a little."
The air thickened, her implication hanging between us like a taut wire. My mind flickered to Evelyn, her hesitations, her disappointments. The thought stung, but Clara's calculated boldness was an enticing challenge. Maybe this risk would pay off.
I leaned back, keeping my expression unreadable. "Alright, Clara," I said slowly, the weight of the moment pressing down. "But don't mistake this for a game."
Her eyes danced with mischief. "I know exactly what it is, Lucas," she said, her voice soft but brimming with confidence. "That's what makes it exciting."
I smirked, a strange mix of anticipation and unease settling in my chest. "Let's see how this plays out, then."
Her smile widened, sharp and self-assured, as she stepped out of the car with an easy grace and I followed.
Inside the condo, the atmosphere shifted. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the sleek furniture, amplifying the undercurrent of unease. Clara's heels clicked softly against the hardwood floor as she entered, her gaze sweeping across the room with practiced ease.
I closed the door behind us, the sound echoing louder than it should have. Turning to her, I cut to the chase. "Alright, we're inside. What's the third thing?"
Clara's smile deepened, her eyes locking onto mine with a glint of something that felt both dangerous and inviting.
Clara stepped closer, the sharp click of her heels muffled by the rug, her fingers brushing lightly down my chest. Her touch was deliberate, calculated, each movement steeped in unspoken promises and threats. Her gaze, steady and unnervingly confident, pinned me in place.
"The third thing, Lucas," she began, her voice a velvet whisper, "is that I know you're the one leading the attack." She leaned in, her lips a breath away from mine, her words laced with quiet venom. "And I know more of your secrets than you think... Like what you did in Mooncrest... Who you really are."
Her revelation struck like a bolt of lightning, but I held my composure, refusing to let her see the storm brewing inside me. My mind raced, piecing together the implications, while my body betrayed none of it.
"And what do you plan to do with what you know?" I asked, my voice calm, almost daring, as I tightened my grip on her waist.
Clara smiled, the kind of smile that promised chaos. "That depends on you, Lucas," she said, "If you want my help, you'll have to trust me. Completely."
Anticipation and apprehension warred within me. This wasn't about sex; it never had been. Clara was a wild card, and she'd just upped the ante. If she was bluffing, I had to call it; if she wasn't, I needed her on my side.
Either way, I had to act.
"How many people know?" I demanded, my tone as cold as steel. My hands slid lower, gripping her firmly, a warning and a challenge in one. "If you want me to trust you, prove you're worth it."
Her eyes gleamed with defiance, a spark of amusement lighting her face. "Oh, I'll prove it," she said, slipping off her shoes with a graceful kick. "But first, let's see if you can keep up with me."
The room seemed to hum with electricity as her words hung in the air. Clara moved with feline precision, stepping closer until there was no space left between us. The tension snapped las she pulled me into a demanding, and fiery kiss, and she was entirely in control.
Her hands moved swiftly, unbuttoning my shirt, while her lips refused to let up. I met her pace, matching her intensity, and soon clothes were flung carelessly around the room, forgotten in the heat of the moment. The dim lighting threw shadows across our tangled forms, and the cool air did little to temper the fire roaring between us.
Every touch was a battle, every kiss a declaration of dominance. Clara wasn't just seducing me, she was testing me, seeing how far I'd go, how much I'd yield. And I knew this wasn't just about passion.
As I pressed her against the edge of the couch, a single thought sliced through the haze of desire: I had to stay sharp. Clara was dangerous, and whatever came next would be a turning point.
But for now, with her body against mine and the stakes climbing ever higher, I was willingly consumed by the flames.