Chapter Seventy One

Chapter Seventy One
The sky was slipping into that deep, bruised-purple evening glow when we hit the road. I forced my shoulders down, trying to shove everything else out of my head, but of course, my thoughts were busy throwing a full-on tantrum.

He glanced at me, and just like that, my spine straightened like a guilty teenager caught sneaking cookies. My fingers curled in my lap as I stared out the window, the world sliding by in streaks of gold and shadow.

“You okay?” His voice was low, brushing against me in a way that made my chest thump.

“Totally,” I lied, fishing a piece of gum from the box by the center console.

“Can I have some?” he asked, leaning slightly toward me.

I picked up the box and handed it over, but he shook his head.

“Can’t leave the steering, Baby,” he teased, turning slightly, and my stomach did that stupid flutter again. Then, just as I dropped the box back on the console, his hand brushed against my thigh, and I hated how my body betrayed me before my brain could even blink.

I stared at his hand that couldn’t leave the steering wheel, now resting on my thigh, while the other stayed firmly on the wheel. My gaze followed the line of his fingers up to his eyes. He tilted his head, a slow smirk tugging at his lips.

“Will be sweeter when you do it.”

I picked up the gum box again, plucking a minty piece and holding it up to his lips. He acted like my hand wasn’t even near him. When I tried again, my fingers slipped just a little against his mouth, and he licked them.

“Eww, you don’t even know where that’s been,” I purred, shifting my gaze to the window, grinning anyway.

“What do you do for fun?” he asked, and the question threw me off balance.

Fun? Me? I’ve never really thought about it. Perhaps I enjoy killing and fighting for enjoyment. …No. Definitely not a psycho. I don’t actually have a hobby.

Thank Goddess I closed the link with Nyx, she’d probably be roasting me right now.

“I… I haven’t really had time for that,” I admitted, feeling heat creep up my neck. I rolled down the window, letting the warm evening breeze hit my face. Leaning a little out, I let it wash over me, hoping it distracted me from how flustered I felt.

“I was going for a swim earlier,” he murmured, eyes flicking to mine with that mischievous spark, “but I wanted us to try that new taco place in town. I guess we can order takeout, and then maybe swimming can be your day one of finding a hobby.”



The backyard was quiet, the private pool glowing under soft lights that made the water shimmer like liquid glass. My pulse thumped as soon as I stepped onto the deck. Perfectly calm? Not a chance. My brain was already throwing a full-blown panic party.

Lucian tossed his towel onto a lounge chair and stripped down like it was no big deal. Like he didn’t know half of me was staring. Ugh. Brain. Really? Now?

“You coming, or are you going to stare all night?” he teased, eyes flicking to mine with that mischievous spark.

I scowled, yanking off my cover-up and stepping into my swimsuit. “Watching? Please. I’m obviously judging your technique. Critically.”

He laughed, a low, dangerous sound that had my stomach twisting, and stepped closer, brushing past me as we walked to the pool. My thigh nudged his, and I swear my pulse jumped like it had a mind of its own. Coincidence? Totally. Sure.

I dipped my toes in first. The water was just the right temperature, cool and inviting, and I gasped when I slipped in fully. Lucian followed, standing behind me in the shallow end, close enough that our shoulders brushed. My body betrayed me with a shiver. Focus, Iris. Just swimming. Not melting into a puddle of lust in the shallow end.

He leaned closer, letting his hand rest lightly on my hip. My eyes widened, and I froze. Wait. That’s not casual. That’s oh no, oh no, oh no.

“You okay?” His voice was low, teasing, sliding straight into my nerves.

I rolled my eyes, pretending I wasn’t hyper-aware of the hand that should not exist there. “Totally. Fine. Absolutely fine,” I said, though my pulse screamed the opposite.

He smirked, dipping his hand into the water and flicking a splash at me. “Fun’s optional, but apparently mandatory.”

I splashed back before I could stop myself, laughter spilling out. I wasn’t just laughing at the splash. It was him, the ridiculous situation, the way my heart was doing somersaults over a hand on my hip. Somehow, in all the chaos, I realized I was smiling freely, like I hadn’t in months.

Lucian moved closer again, brushing his shoulder against mine, his hand grazing the small of my back this time. “See? Told you this would be fun,” he said, eyes dark with mischief.

I swatted at him, water flying everywhere. “You’re impossible.”

“Maybe,” he said, leaning so close I could feel the heat radiating from his chest, “but you like it.”

I wanted to argue, wanted to tell him to move his hand, to stop melting me into chaos, but I couldn’t. Instead, I let myself drift back slightly, heart hammering. Okay. Just breathe. Just enjoy the water. Just don’t die of stupid hormones in the shallow end.

Then he splashed me again, a grin spreading across his face as I sputtered and tried to dodge him. “You’re never going to win,” he teased.

“Oh, I’m winning!” I shot back, diving under the water to escape him, only to pop up behind him and grab his ankle, making him stumble. He laughed, a deep, full sound that made me want to punch him and hug him at the same time.

Finally, we collapsed on the shallow edge, both of us panting, water dripping down our bodies. I leaned back, letting my arms float in the pool, and watched him grin. He had that smirk, tilted just enough that I could feel the pull in my chest, the heat I couldn’t deny.

“You really are impossible,” I said again, but this time my voice was lighter, laughing despite myself.

He tilted his head, eyes glinting with amusement. “And yet, you’re still smiling.”

I shook my head, water dripping off my hair. “I’m not smiling.”

“Right,” he murmured, leaning a little closer, so close I could feel the warmth radiating off him. “Not smiling at all.”

And damn it, I was.

The sun had fully set, and the pool lights reflected off the water, casting dancing patterns across our skin. I floated there, letting myself enjoy it, the chaos, the teasing, the sparks flying between us.

I realized I hadn’t felt this alive in months. Not from adrenaline, not from training, not from any fight. Just this, splashing in a pool with him, soaked, laughing, heart hammering, and utterly undone by the man who shouldn’t have this kind of effect on me.

Lucian leaned back on his elbows beside me, still smirking, watching me like he owned my pulse. “So… your day one hobby?”

I splashed water at him, hard, but I couldn’t stop the laugh that tore out of me. “I think I’m officially addicted,” I admitted, grinning like a fool.

He caught my wrist, holding my hand lightly against his chest. “Told you,” he said, eyes softening just a fraction, the smirk never leaving.

And I knew, right then, that this was only the beginning.