Breathe in, breathe out. He drew in a deep breath, exhaled heavily, and repeated the process a few times. Then Lucas Zeller reached for a large, dry bath towel nearby, his movements brisk yet hesitant. He approached Chloe Grace, who was still fast asleep in the bathtub, and carefully wrapped the towel around her. With a slight tremor in his arms, he lifted her out of the tub and carried her to the bed.
This was maddening. It wasn't the first time he had carried her, so why was his heart pounding as if it might leap out of his chest? What was even more perplexing was the involuntary flickering of his gaze toward her exposed skin.
"Lucas, you're done for!" he muttered under his breath, chastising himself. "What kind of person ogles someone like this? If Lily found out how I was taking care of her sister, she'd rise from her grave and scold me to no end!"
His mind swirled with guilt and reprimands as he gently placed Chloe on the bed and quickly pulled the silk blanket over her.
"Ugh… so uncomfortable…" Chloe murmured faintly just as Lucas turned to leave.
Of course, she felt awful—who wouldn't after drinking that much? He sighed and glanced at the bedside table, where a bowl of ginger tea was waiting. Taking it in hand, he sat down beside her.
"Chloe? Are you awake? Here, drink some ginger tea—it'll help." He scooped a spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and held it near her lips.
Chloe exhaled deeply but showed no interest in the tea.
"Chloe?" Lucas lightly patted her cheek. Seeing no response, he leaned in closer to check on her. But just as he did, she turned over abruptly. Her body rolled across the silk blanket, leaving her bare back exposed right under his gaze.
The calm he had struggled to maintain shattered instantly, replaced by a wave of heat rushing to his head. He could almost hear the deafening silence in his mind, broken only by the roar of his racing heart.
Forcing himself to look away, he reached out, hands trembling, and pulled the blanket over her exposed back. But the memory of what he had seen lingered in his mind, unbidden.
"... So hot…" Her sudden mumble startled him, dragging his thoughts back to the present.
"Chloe, can you hear me?"
"Hot…"
Hot, my foot, Lucas thought, scolding her silently. That's what happens when you drink too much! "Come on, just drink the ginger tea, and you won't feel as bad," he coaxed gently, his tone soft and patient, almost tender.
"Ahhh… I'm dying…" Chloe whimpered, frowning deeply, her discomfort evident.
Lucas sighed. "Fine, don't drink it. See if I care. It's not like I'm the one suffering here." He made as if to leave but hesitated, glancing back at her pained expression.
His lips pressed into a thin line. After a brief internal struggle, he made a bold decision.
Setting the spoon aside, he took a large sip of the ginger tea himself. Then, placing the bowl down, he gently turned Chloe's face toward him and leaned in, pressing his lips against hers. Slowly, he let the ginger tea flow from his mouth into hers. To his shock, Chloe responded—her tongue darted out to meet his, as if savoring the tea.
What the hell?! Is she licking me?
Lucas froze, disbelief and panic flooding his mind. Does she think this is a lollipop or something? And what does she take me for—a saint? Just because I resisted her once doesn't mean I'll always keep my hands off her!
He clenched his teeth, a silent warning echoing in his mind. If she keeps this up, I'll lose control, and she'll have no one but herself to blame!
Despite his mental protests, Lucas found himself unable to pull away. Her soft, exploratory movements kept him rooted in place. Then, to his utter dismay, she kicked the blanket off, hooked her arms around his neck, and pulled him closer, their bodies now pressed together.
Lucas stiffened, his mind spiraling. He could feel her hands wandering over his back, tugging at his shirt until it slid off entirely.
"Chloe? Are you drunk, or am I the one losing my mind?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. Why was he the one feeling dizzy and disoriented?
After a nap in the bathroom, she seemed to have regained all her energy, even managing to strip him of his shirt in record time. But wait—why was there a sudden chill around his legs?
Glancing down, his eyes widened in shock. Chloe had somehow managed to remove his pants as well!
Now the two of them were skin to skin, their bare bodies pressed intimately together. Before Lucas could react further, Chloe stilled. Though their lips remained connected, she seemed to have fallen asleep, her hands resting quietly around his waist.
What… what just happened? Did she seriously strip me, latch onto me, and then fall asleep?
Staring at her serene, sleeping face, Lucas felt his frustration dissolve into helplessness.
"Chloe…" he whispered, his voice softening. He had half a mind to shout at her but found himself unable to disturb her peaceful expression.
As he tried to move away, a low groan escaped him. His body, unfortunately, had reacted to their proximity in ways he couldn't ignore.
And then he heard her murmur his name, "Lucas…"
He froze, his breath caught in his throat.
"I… I really like you…" she mumbled, her words slurred but unmistakable.
"Chloe?" Lucas's heart leaped. Was this her true feelings slipping out while drunk? Why did his chest swell with joy at her confession?
Her lips sought his again, and this time, he gave in completely. He pulled the blanket over them, hiding their entangled forms from the world. His fiery kisses deepened, filled with a fervor he could no longer suppress.
Chloe, still in a daze, responded instinctively, her hands tangling in his hair as her body arched against his. The dormant desires Lucas had suppressed for so long were unleashed, and he found himself unable to hold back anymore…