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When the elevator opened, it revealed a space so luxurious that Kendall blinked several times. Lucien vanished inside, leaving her to cautiously step out of the elevator alone.

The elevator opened directly into his penthouse foyer, where she could already glimpse a sprawling living room and sleek kitchen bathed in city light. The floor-to-ceiling glass stole her attention, showing off a brilliant view.

Sighing in admiration, Kendall cautiously sat on the edge of his massive, dark grey L-shaped sofa.

He suddenly reemerged, and she shot to her feet, hands held politely together.

Stopping in the middle of the living room, Lucien finally looked at her, his face shadowed. “You can sit.”

Blinking, she slowly lowered herself back onto the sofa.

“You’ll stay here,” Lucien continued, his voice too dark and rough for Kendall’s comfort. “If you don’t want to stay here, then I will get you a place. Find an apartment you like, send me the details, and I’ll have it purchased by the end of the week. Then you can stay there.”

She was silent, looking up at him.

“But what you will not do,” Lucien continued. “Is step foot into that bastard’s apartment ever again. He's not your friend. You understand me?”

Her eyes searched his face, and what she saw had her expression tightening with sadness.

When she didn’t respond, he sighed and turned to leave. “Your stuff is in the bedroom.”

“You blame me.”

Her words stopped him in his tracks. Lucien slowly turned, looking at her. “What?”

Kendall stood. “You blame me, don’t you? I… I can see it in your eyes. You’re mad at me for going there and putting myself in that position.” She sighed, lowering her gaze. “I know. I should’ve known better. If I hadn’t—”

“What in the hell makes you think…?” Trailing off, Lucien started walking toward her, eyes narrowed like he was trying to solve her riddle of a mind. “I bury my fucking fist in his face for you… and you conclude that I blame you for what he did?”

She swallowed hard. “You haven’t looked at me since we left his place. And you’re angry—”

“Not at you. And I wasn’t looking at you because I was fighting the urge to go back there and finish what I started.”

“Are you sure? Because it feels—”

“If you had been naked in a room with him, that bastard still wouldn’t have the right to touch you!” he hissed. “I don’t care if you were in his apartment, or in his bed, did you say no?”

She pursed her lips, firmly nodding as tears glimmered in her eyes.

“Then he shouldn’t have touched you!” he growled. “And that’s what pisses me off, don’t you see?! Kendall, I…” He stepped forward, hands clenching and unclenching like he was battling the urge to hold her. Neither hand touched her.

He sighed. “None of it was your fault. I don’t blame you, and I’m not mad at you, sweetheart.”

Her green eyes glistened as she gazed up at him.

He stared back at her, drowning in her eyes. Lucien slowly sensed the danger.
He tensed, studying her face. He needed to leave.

He swallowed hard, turning away. “I’ll come back in the morning.”

Only a few steps away, two slender arms wrapped tightly around his middle, her face pressed against his back. Lucien stopped, staring dazedly into space.
She didn’t say anything, and it only made the moment more tense.

“Kendall,” he said, and it sounded like a warning to them both.

“Please, just… five minutes,” she whispered. “I need this. I just need to feel warmth. To be held.”

Lucien’s eyes turned up to the ceiling, and he cursed his own negligence. He’d been so busy avoiding trouble that he’d forgotten how hurt she probably was.
The girl had just been attacked by a rabid dog. Of course, she’d need comfort. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

He started turning around, and her arms fell away, hanging at her sides as she stared sadly up at him. She was waiting to be pushed away, he could tell.
He sighed. “Okay."

Her eyes widened slightly. “Really? I… I can get a hug?”

“Yes. But, only for five minutes.”

Surely five minutes was a safe duration; nothing would happen that he couldn’t resist.

“Okay,” she whispered gratefully, nodding.

Trying not to let it get too tense or awkward, Lucien walked past her and grabbed the remote to turn on the TV as he dropped onto the chaise and pulled his feet up. She followed, sitting beside him and watching him expectantly.

He leaned back into the cushion and gently tugged her toward him, and she let herself be pulled in until her cheek rested on his chest, her legs alongside his.

With a sigh, he wrapped his arms around her, one hand stroking her back.

Kendall was tense with shock at how deeply her body hummed with satisfaction at his touch. His warmth surrounded her, and a gentle sense of peace wafted over her.
She slowly melted against him, eyes falling closed as the television’s hum faded into the background.
How was Lucien Sinclair always able to make her feel this way?

“You okay?” he whispered.

She slowly nodded.

His hand stroked her hair. “Don’t worry about a thing, sweetheart. I’ll make sure he pays for it. I swear.”

Her body buzzed with delight at every word he spoke. The ‘sweetheart’ melted into her senses like a drug, until her arms were sliding around him to hold him.

His hand, gentle and relaxing, stroked up and down her back. It reached up, softly brushing through her hair. Every finger that stroked her skin affected her like it was a live wire.
“It’s okay,” he soothed.

Kendall was warmed, and then she was suddenly heated. It felt so good to be held by him. He’d never held her like this before. As an ironic effect of her heat, a shiver raced through her body.

Lucien paused at her tremor. “You cold, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” she whispered, turning her face and moving to tuck it closer to the crook of his neck.

His body tightened, and he could no longer deny it. Five minutes were up. Things... were no longer innocent.
He held her closer, palm stroking over her back. When his thumb brushed over her waist, her breath hitched, and she squirmed against him.

He knew what he was doing to her. He knew he needed to stop, but he couldn’t. He had no idea why he was so addicted to seeing her react to his touch.

Her breathing was shallow against his neck when he brought up his hand, brushing back her hair.
Slowly, he traced her jaw and then, grasping her chin, eased her head up. He lifted it until she was facing him, lips parted and eyes dark with arousal.

His thumb, once more, slid over to her plump bottom lip, stroking its pink fullness.
He swallowed hard, feeling his restraint fade into the distance. He wanted to kiss her so badly.

“Kendall…” His voice dripped with need. “Just… just five minutes more. Then we’ll stop.”