Chapter 42 42. A Harlot's Womb
His lips met mine softly at first, like he was testing waters. Then I reached up and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.
Warmth bloomed on my tongue, and the bitter edge of coffee faded into a pure, dizzying sweetness that belonged only to this moment.
It tasted like surrender, like everything I'd been denying.
When we broke apart, I didn't open my eyes immediately, but when I did, they were on his slightly wet and slightly curved lips. My mind was a blank, static-filled screen, except for one thought: Again. I need that again.
He rested his forehead against mine, his breath coming in a rough, beautiful gasp. His eyes were darker than I'd ever seen them.
"That was-" I started.
"Overdue," he finished.
I laughed despite the sting in my side.
"How's your pain?" he murmured. "Should I call the nurse?"
"No. I'm okay." I touched his face. "Better than okay."
He caught my hand, pressed a kiss to my palm. "Good. Because we need to talk about what happens next."
"Next?"
"You're staying in my penthouse until you're fully healed."
"Lucien-"
"Non-negotiable." His gaze didn't waver. "Someone shot you, Camila. Until I know who and why, you stay where I can keep you safe."
I should've argued for my independence, but the fierce protectiveness in his voice stole my will to fight.
"Okay," I whispered.
He smiled, and it transformed his entire face.
"Now rest," he said, standing. "I'll get you some food and call the nurse."
"Wait." I caught his hand. "Will you keep reading to me?"
He looked at the book. Then at me. "If that's what you want."
"It is."
He settled back into the chair, opened the novel, and began to read. I closed my eyes, letting his voice carry me somewhere safe, like home.
Even if I knew it couldn't last.
Even if I knew reality would crash back in soon enough.
We can never be together.
For now, I let myself have this and not think about the consequences.
\---
I woke to sunlight spilling through the windows and the faint smell of coffee.
Lucien sat in the chair beside the bed, laptop balanced on his knee, typing something. He was already dressed for work. Charcoal suit. White shirt. No tie yet.
He looked up when I stirred. "Morning."
"Morning." My fingers brushed my lips before I could stop myself; they were still tender from last night.
His eyes caught the movement. Something flickered behind his calm smile before he turned back to his screen.
"How do you feel?"
"Better."
"Good." He closed the laptop and stood. "I need to get to the office. There's food in the kitchen whenever you're ready, and I'll be back as soon as possible. Two guards and nurses are on standby while I'm gone."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead.
"Lucien."
He paused at the door.
"About last night-"
"You need rest, Fiera. We'll talk later."
He left before I could respond. I stared at the closed door, that kiss still burning on my lips.
He said we'd talk about it later, but three days passed with me waiting for him to bring it up, but he didn't.
The routine became familiar.
Lucien left late, came back early to stay by my side and always brought something for me.
Sometimes food. Sometimes he just sat in that chair and read a few chapters from my new books.
His voice would wrap around the words, turning them into something intimate. Something just for us.
But we never talked about the kiss.
By the first week, I could walk alone. By the second, I roamed the penthouse freely.
The nurses were kind, the bodyguards were like silent shadows.
Lucien remained attentive yet distant. Close enough to make me ache, far enough to make me wonder if the kiss had meant anything at all.
\---
"We're attending an event Thursday night," Lucien said over dinner. I'd insisted on eating in the dining room for once.
"What event?"
"The Cosmic Veil relaunch and new movie premiere."
I set down my fork. "Why would we go to that?"
"Because I want to see how badly he fails this time." He cut into his steak. "He invited us personally. It'd be rude not to attend."
"Since when do you care about being rude to Ronan?"
"I don't. But I care about knowing what he's planning." His gaze lifted. "He never does anything without an agenda. Neither do I."
I raised an eyebrow. "So what's yours?"
"To watch my brother crash and burn. Again."
"Why do you even hate him so much? You're brothers."
"Half-brothers." His jaw tightened. "And hate's not the word. I just don't trust him."
"Then tell me why."
He was silent for a long time, studying the wine swirling in his glass. Then he leaned back.
"When I graduated college, Don gave me one million dollars. He said whoever built the most successful enterprise before he retired would inherit Elysium Pinnacle."
"The real-estate conglomerate worth sixty billion?"
"Exactly. He gave Ronan the same deal. Same money, same timeline-or so I thought."
He paused. "A year later, I learned Don had secretly given Ronan another ten million. He funded his first three ventures, bailed him out each time he failed, meanwhile my startup was dying."
My chest tightened. "So the one million was just for show. To make it look fair."
He nodded once.
"But why would he do that to his own son?"
Lucien's smile turned bitter, head tilting. "What do you think, Camila?"
"Wait. No way. That can't be," I shook my head. "You're not his-"
"I am his son, just not in the way that matters to him."
He looked away. "My mother was a mistake he tried to bury. When she showed up pregnant, he took the child and erased her from his world. Raised me, yes, but never let me forget where I came from. A Harlot's Womb."
"Ronan was born two years later to his wife. The legitimate one."
It all fell into place.
Ronan was the favored child that kept failing, with his father secretly trying to justify giving Ronan everything.
He knows Don wants to hand over his empire to Lucien.
This was it all along. It was never about getting justice!
He has been using me.
"Do you know how much my father loves that empire?" he said quietly. "He'd take it to the underworld if he could. But since his favorite son keeps failing, he gave me an ultimatum two days ago."
I understood the moment he stretched his hand to mine and squeezed it. Something inside me twisted. I don't want to be caught in a family rivalry.
And even more, Lucien could get hurt. I doubt he knows his brother has a gang and never hesitates to shoot people that get on his nerves.
"Lucien, can't you step back? You're already a billionaire. Why chase more? You could get hurt, or the people who love you could."
"Camila-" He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Just tell me you'll go with me. I need my wildfire by my side. You can leave whenever you want. Just say the word."
"What word?"
"Any word that tells me you're uncomfortable. You're more important than my vendetta against my brother."
My heart tripped over itself.
Before I could respond, the doorbell rang.
We both turned toward the sound.
A guard appeared moments later. "Mr. Hayes, Ms. Jessica Bloom is here. She says it's important."
My smile faltered. Lucien noticed instantly; his grip on my hand tightened.
"Tell Ms. Bloom she can leave a message," he said coolly. "And inform the others we're not to be disturbed for the rest of the evening. I don't appreciate interruptions when I'm with my lady."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. The guard nodded and left.
Lucien's smile deepened. "You're blushing."
"I am not-"
Tiny footsteps pattered down the hall.
A small voice, soft and bright, called out,
"Daddy! We brought cookies!"