Chapter 45

“I was just trying to be funny,” Sabrina whined.

Kendall could practically see the pout. She closed her eyes, releasing a long exhale as a mixture of fury and relief filled her heart.

“What’s this about?” Lucien wondered aloud. “Is she the reason you fainted?”

“No!” Kendall looked at him, shaking her head. “Sabrina, it’s not your fault. I have the flu, I must’ve been sicker than I thought.”

Sabrina gasped. “I’ll tell Liam, he’ll bring you some—”

“No,” Kendall firmly said. “I’ll be fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Wait, Ken—”

Kendall tapped the red button, hanging up the call.

Lucien sighed, looking at her. “What prank call is she talking about?”

The disapproval was already clear in his voice.

“Are you letting Sabrina get away with something again? Even though it brought you to the point of passing out?”

“Th-that wasn’t her fault! I’m just not feeling well.” She didn't want to explain what Sabrina had said or why it was bad enough to make her freak out.

“Then let’s go to the hospital.”

“No.”

“Goddamn it!”

She flinched.

Lucien sighed, closing his eyes. “Okay. Fine. You just need to rest. Come.”

He put her phone aside and, before she could stop him, he’d scooped her into his arms.

“I can walk!” she protested, instinctively holding onto him.

“You don’t have to,” he murmured, taking her over to the bed.

Kendall’s head was spinning. One moment, she’d been spiralling, convinced her past had caught up with her. Next, she finds out it was just Sabrina being playful. And now… now Lucien was holding her, carrying her, and flooding her senses with the torment of his cologne and touch. He gently placed her on her bed and straightened, looking down at her.

“Hey, wait a minute.” She sat up, frowning as something occurred to her.

“What? You remember something?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I remember that I never told you my hotel room number. I also didn’t leave the door open. How did you get in?”

Lucien froze. Staring down at her, he blinked. “That’s an… insignificant question.”

“I think it’s very significant, Sir. Answer me, please.”

“You’re not well.” He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her onto her back. “Focus on resting.”

Kendall blinked, staring up at him as her shoulders tensed in his grip.

“You’re not in your right mind,” he whispered hypnotically. “I’m not here right now.”

“Really?” she said dryly, trying to ignore the maddening weight of his hands as he pinned her to the bed. If she gave her imagination just a little free rein… Oh, the things it could create from this moment alone.

“It’s not working?”

“No,” she said. “So, tell me how you got in.”

He sighed, turning away.

“Did you call in a favour?” she asked, sitting up.

“Let’s discuss it later. First, you need medication.”

Before she could say anything more, he had his phone up to his ear. “Arlo. Bring me flu meds….Yes, she’s fine.”

He hung up and looked at her. “I’m very busy, so I won’t be able to stay.”

She sighed, accepting that he wouldn’t tell her how he got in. “Oh, it’s okay, I’m fine.”

He raised a brow. “Are you sulking?”

She pouted without knowing it. “No.”

Lucien stared down at her, his phone forgotten in his hand as he studied the oddly enticing expression on her face. When had she gotten so adorable?

Moved with affection, he ruffled her hair. “You’ll be okay.”

“Ah, my hair,” she complained.

He chuckled, gently brushing it back into place. “I’ll fix it for you.”

She didn’t move, sitting still as he continued stroking her hair. It was a little strange. He was in this hotel room with her, brushing her hair and enjoying how silky it felt on his fingers.

It wasn’t messy anymore, but he didn’t stop touching it. His fingers gently swept a strand behind her ear, making his thumb faintly brush her cheek.

It was a rapturous feeling; Kendall was completely enthralled. Her lips gently parted, her eyelids growing heavy as her body heated from his touch.

Like he was caught up in the same spell, he didn’t stop at brushing her cheek. Tracing his fingertips over her jaw, he cupped the underside of her chin and lifted it until her head was tilted back and her face was fully turned up toward him.

Her full lips, parted and ready, looked so soft and inviting that Lucien nearly did the unthinkable.

To completely shatter the already brittle innocence of his actions, his mind decided to horrify him with an image so vile he could hardly believe he’d conjured it himself.

Spreading through his mind like the dreadful scent of a curse, the thought formed. Him, stroking her full lower lip with his thumb. Pressing the digit past her lips and into the warm depth of her mouth where her tongue eagerly sucked it. Then he’d pull it out and replace it with something thicker, harder, sliding it deep into the silky wetness of her mouth.

And she’d suck it with just as much eagerness, her beautiful green eyes staring pleadingly at him as she moaned around his girth.

Lucien blinked. Like a snapped violin string, the thought shattered, leaving him in stark awareness of what he was doing. What was he thinking?

He yanked his hand away from her like she'd zapped him.

“Uhm…” He cleared his throat, taking several steps away from her.

She was blinking rapidly, lowering her gaze. “You w-were checking my temperature?”

“What?” He blinked. “Right! Yeah, just making sure you’re not… burning up again…”

He was insane. Lucien was insane for having such a thought. He was so disturbed, he couldn’t even think straight. “I have to go.”

He turned shakily for the door and then stopped, going back in the direction of the balcony. “Someone’s going to knock on your door and hand you medication. Take it.”

“Huh?” She straightened, watching him open the balcony door. “What if—”

It was too late, he was gone. Where was he going?

Scrambling out of bed, Kendall hurried after him just in time to watch him go into the room next door through the connected balconies.

She gasped. Hurrying to his door, she peeked in just in time to see him leave the room and slam the door shut.

That was how he’d gotten in?

Lucien had gotten a hotel room right next to hers?

That wasn’t…

She swallowed hard. That wasn’t safe, not for him or her.

In her silk pyjamas, her body was still hot, and it hummed with stimulation as the cool breeze blew over her overheated skin.

What he’d just done to her with nothing but his hands and eyes…

Kendall had seen it on his face, the thoughts he’d been having. She bit her lip, feeling both terror and thrill at the looming danger.

The thrill overwhelmed the terror, and she found herself drowning in longing. She wanted Lucien to look at her that way again. To touch her.

And she wouldn’t stop until he did.