Chapter 238: Don’t Tempt Me

“Yu sure you well now, Lei?” Marita asked, gently rubbing her hand over Leitana’s forehead, checking for temperature. “Yu still look a little warm. Mi no like how yu fainted last night.”

Leitana smiled tiredly from where she was lying on the couch in the sunroom, a light blanket over her legs. “Mi fine now, Riri. Just a little weak. The doctor said it’s normal for pregnancy sometimes.”

Marita didn’t look convinced, but she sat down beside her best friend and took her hand.

“Mi still worry. Yu carrying small baby and yu body no strong strong. Yu have to rest more, okay?”

Leitana nodded, squeezing her hand. “I will.”

Marita studied her for a moment, then smiled softly. “Good. Because if yu faint again, mi will fight Mr. Ravial myself. Even if he’s scary.”

Leitana laughed weakly. “Yu no fight mi husband, Riri. He will just look at yu and yu will run.”

“True,” Marita giggled, then stood up, smoothing down her dress. “Anyway, mi have to go now. Lucius is waiting.”

Leitana’s eyes widened as she finally took in what her best friend was wearing.

A soft, flowing cream-colored sundress with thin straps that showed off her shoulders and collarbones. The dress hugged her petite figure beautifully and danced around her knees. Her wild curls were loose and glowing in the sunlight.

Leitana blinked. “Where yu going dressed like that? Yu look so pretty.”

Marita smiled shyly, twirling once so the dress flared around her legs. “Today mi following Lucius to Mr. Ravial’s company. He said he needs help with some organizing and filing. Mi no really understand, but he said mi can learn.”

Leitana’s eyebrows rose. “Lucius asked you to go with him?”

Marita’s cheeks turned pink. She looked down, biting her lip.

“Yes… He said he wants mi close to him. That mi am smart and he trusts mi.” She paused, then added softly, “He also said mi no have to keep following yu to piano class every day if mi no want. That mi can work with him instead.”

Leitana stared at her for a second, then a knowing little smile spread across her face.

“Riri… yu and Lucius…?”

Marita’s face burned brighter and she covered her cheeks with both hands.

“Mi no know!” she whispered dramatically. “He kiss mi the other night too. Deep deep. Mi still feel it in mi stomach and he told mi to suck on his tongue and learn. Mi was so embarrassed but… mi liked it. A lot.”

Leitana’s mouth fell open, then she burst into soft laughter.

“Marita! Yu bad girl!”

“Mi no bad!” Marita protested, laughing too. “He is the bad one! He kiss mi like he want to eat mi alive. And he touch mi waist and mi bum… Mi almost melt right there.”

Leitana was grinning now, eyes sparkling with amusement despite how tired she felt.

“So yu going to work with him every day now?”

Marita nodded, still blushing. “He said he will teach mi.” She looked down shyly. “Mi like being close to him, Lei. He makes mi feel… safe and warm. And like mi important.”

Leitana reached out and took her best friend’s hand again.

“Then go. But be careful, okay? Lucius is… intense. Like mi Ravial. They are the same type of man.”

Marita smiled, squeezing her hand.

“Mi know but mi think mi like intense.”

She leaned down and kissed Leitana’s forehead.

“Rest well. Mi will come check on yu later. And eat something good, not that green monster juice Mr. Ravial keep forcing on yu.”

Leitana laughed. “Mi will try.”

Marita gave her one last bright smile, then turned and walked out of the sunroom, her sundress swaying around her legs.

As she stepped outside into the warm afternoon light, she saw Lucius already waiting by one of the black cars. He was dressed in a crisp black shirt and pants, looking tall, calm, and dangerously handsome.

When he saw her, his eyes darkened with obvious appreciation. He opened the car door for her without a word.

Marita walked up to him, suddenly feeling shy again.

“Mi ready,” she said softly.

Lucius looked her up and down slowly, then reached out and gently brushed a curl behind her ear.

“You look beautiful,” he said, voice low. “Too beautiful for the office.”

Marita’s heart fluttered wildly.

“Then maybe yu should keep mi at home instead,” she teased quietly, surprising even herself.

Lucius’s lips twitched, the closest he ever got to a smile.

“Don’t tempt me, little bird,” he murmured, helping her into the car. “Because I’m very close to doing exactly that.”

He closed the door, then walked around to the driver’s side.

Marita sat in the passenger seat, cheeks still burning, heart racing like a little drum in her chest. She kept stealing glances at Lucius as he drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting possessively on her thigh. His thumb moved in slow, absent circles against her skin through the thin fabric of her sundress.

She didn’t mind the touch at all.

In fact, she liked it too much.

Lucius glanced at her, his usual calm expression softening just a fraction when he saw her flushed face.

“You’re quiet,” he said, voice low and smooth. “Nervous?”

Marita bit her lip and nodded shyly.

“A little. Mi no know what to do and mi no want to embarrass yu.”

Lucius gave her thigh a gentle squeeze, reassuring.

“You won’t embarrass me,” he said firmly. “You’re not going to be doing normal office work. I don’t need another secretary. I need someone I can trust completely. Someone close to me.”

Marita turned to look at him fully, eyes wide and curious.

“What will mi do then?”

Lucius kept his eyes on the road, but his hand slid a little higher on her thigh, the touch warm and deliberate.

“You’ll help me with private matters. Sensitive files. Organizing certain… delicate information that only a few people are allowed to see. You’ll also handle my personal schedule, my meetings that no one else can know about. And when I need peace, you’ll stay in my office with me.”

He paused, then added in a lower voice, “I want you close. All day.”

Marita’s breath hitched. She pressed her thighs together instinctively, feeling heat bloom low in her stomach.

“Mi… mi will be in your office every day?” she asked, voice small and breathy.

“Yes.” Lucius glanced at her, eyes dark. “Right where I can see you and can reach you.”

The car fell into a charged silence for a moment. Marita’s heart was beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

Then she smiled shyly, playing with the hem of her dress.

“Mi think mi will like that,” she whispered. “Being close to yu.”

Lucius’s grip on her thigh tightened just enough to make her shiver.

“Good,” he murmured. “Because I’ve already cleared the desk next to mine. And I’ve told the staff that you’re mine to look after. No one touches or speaks to you unless I allow it.”

Marita’s face burned hotter. She turned to look at him, eyes sparkling with a mix of shyness and excitement.

“Yu sound very possessive, Lucius.”

He finally looked at her fully, eyes intense.

“I am,” he said simply. “With you… I don’t want to share.”

Marita’s breath caught. She reached down and shyly placed her smaller hand over his on her thigh, tracing his knuckles with her fingers.

“Mi don’t mind,” she said softly. “Mi like when yu act like dat. It makes mi feel… safe and wanted.”

Lucius let out a low sound in his throat, almost a growl. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, then her wrist.

“You are wanted,” he said against her skin. “More than you know.”

The rest of the drive was thick with tension. Marita kept stealing glances at him, her body warm and aware of every place his hand touched her. Lucius drove with calm control, but she could feel the hunger simmering underneath.

When they finally pulled into the underground parking of Ashbourne Global’s main tower, Lucius turned off the engine but didn’t move to get out immediately.

He turned to her fully, one hand cupping her cheek.

“Today, you stay close to me,” he said, voice rough. “If anyone makes you uncomfortable, you tell me. Understand?”

Marita nodded, eyes wide and trusting.

“Yes, Lucius.”

He leaned in and kissed her, his tongue slid against hers, tasting her, licking her lips. Marita whimpered softly into his mouth, hands clutching his shirt.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against hers.

“Let’s go to work, little bird,” he murmured, thumb brushing her swollen bottom lip. “Before I decide to keep you in this car instead.”

Marita giggled breathlessly, face flushed.

“Mi think mi would like dat too,” she whispered.

Lucius smiled, a real, rare smile and helped her out of the car, keeping her hand firmly in his as they walked toward the private elevator.