For a moment… neither of them moved. Elena could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Lucian was too close. Much too close. His arms were still braced against the door behind her, trapping her between his body and the polished wood. The warmth of him surrounded her completely, and the faint scent of his shower gel mixed with the deeper masculine smell that seemed to belong to him alone. Sandalwood, dark cedar, and something dangerously intoxicating.
Her breathing had grown uneven without her realizing it. Lucian noticed. Of course he noticed. His dark eyes remained fixed on her face, studying every small reaction she failed to hide. The way her chest rose and fell. The soft pink flush spreading across her cheeks. The way her amber eyes flickered nervously between his gaze and his lips.
A slow, amused smile curved one corner of his mouth. "Relax, darling." His voice was low, calm… almost lazy. "You look like you think I'm about to devour you."
Her eyes widened instantly. "I do not!" she protested.
Lucian's eyebrow lifted slightly. "Oh?" He leaned closer, his presence overwhelming. The movement was subtle, but it made Elena's back press harder against the door. His breath brushed lightly against her skin, making her shiver involuntarily. "Then why," he murmured, "are you breathing like that?"
Her heart nearly stopped.
"I'm not—"
"You are." He leaned in just enough that his breath ghosted across her lips.
Elena opened her mouth to argue again but quickly realized that speaking might only make things worse.
Lucian's gaze slowly dropped to her lips. Just for a second. But that single second felt like an eternity.
Heat rushed to her face immediately. "You're impossible," she muttered.
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "You walked into my bedroom," Lucian said calmly. "You stayed when you saw me."
Elena's eyes widened again.
"I didn't stay!"
"No?" he asked softly, tilting his head slightly, his dark eyes glinting with unmistakable mischief. "I seem to remember you standing there… staring."
Elena's entire face turned bright red.
"I was not staring!"
Lucian didn't answer. He simply looked at her. That look alone said everything.
Elena groaned softly in frustration and covered her face with both hands. "This is humiliating."
Lucian laughed quietly under his breath. The sound was low and rich, vibrating through the small space between them.
When Elena slowly lowered her hands again, she found him still watching her. But something in his expression had shifted slightly. It was softer now. Curious. Almost entertained.
"Tell me something," Lucian said after a moment.
Elena immediately narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It probably is." His gaze flickered down her figure briefly. The loose cream-colored shirt she wore slipped off one shoulder slightly, exposing smooth skin beneath the dim bedroom lighting. The oversized fabric hid most of her curves, but somehow that only made the image more distracting. Lucian's eyes darkened almost imperceptibly.
"Do you usually go around entering people's rooms when they don't answer?" he asked you could hear the possessiveness in his voice dripping like venom.
"What?!" she whispered, her eyes widening at the sudden question. She looked up at him wondering if he had gone crazy all of a sudden. But his eyes told her he was dead serious. "No, I do not. I only came to say thank you. That's all."
He nodded ever so slowly. "But that's hard to believe, because you came in without my permission and now you're trying to escape."
Elena lifted her chin stubbornly scoffing lightly. She was hyperaware of the little space between them. "Because you're being ridiculous."
Lucian hummed thoughtfully. "Am I?"
"Yes."
His lips curved again.
"Interesting."
Elena folded her arms.
"Can you move now?"
Lucian didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze studied her carefully. From her bright eyes to the faint nervous tension in her posture. She looked both annoyed and flustered at the same time. It was… adorable. Dangerously adorable. Lucian leaned a little closer again, just enough to make her breath catch. "Elena." Her name rolled off his tongue slowly.
"What?" she whispered defensively.
"Next time you come to my room…" His voice lowered just enough for her to hear him. "…make sure you're ready for the consequences."
Elena blinked. "What consequences?"
Lucian's smile deepened slightly. He knew she wasn't clueless. "The kind you clearly weren't prepared for tonight."
Her mouth opened in shock.
"You're unbelievable!"
Lucian finally stepped back. Just like that. The sudden space between them felt almost shocking. Elena hadn't even realized how much his presence had been surrounding her until it disappeared.
Lucian reached behind her and opened the door with one smooth movement. The corridor lights spilled softly into the room. He stepped aside. Completely calm. As if nothing had happened. "You can go now," he said casually.
Elena stared at him. "You're just going to let me leave?" it did surprise her. Just a moment ago it felt like he was about to swallow her whole… and now he was simply letting her go?
Lucian looked genuinely amused.
"Were you hoping I wouldn't?"
Her cheeks turned red again.
"No!"
"Pity."
Elena glared at him.
"You are the most annoying man I've ever met."
Lucian leaned casually against the wall, folding his arms.
"And yet you came to my bedroom tonight."
She pointed a finger at him.
"That was a mistake."
Lucian's eyes glinted.
"Was it?"
Elena refused to answer that. Instead, she turned quickly and walked out into the hallway. But she only managed three steps before she heard his voice again. This time it was softer.
"Goodnight, Elena."
She stopped walking. For a moment, she considered turning around. But she didn't. Instead, she continued down the hallway without looking back.
Lucian watched her go until she disappeared around the corner. Only then did he close the door slowly. He walked to the bedside then stopped.
The room was silent again.
Lucian ran a hand through his damp hair and let out a quiet. The little stunt he had pulled with her didn't affect her alone. It had almost made him question his self-control.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Elena," he murmured. Then he glanced toward the door she had just walked through. Something dark and possessive flickered briefly in his eyes. ""You really shouldn't walk into a wolf's den… unless you're ready to be hunted." He turned off the bedside lamp. And the room slipped into darkness.