Chapter 43 43. The Friends-With-Benefits Offer
I froze.
Lucien's chair scraped back. His expression emptied like his mind couldn't decide what to reject first, the sound or the sight.
The tiny girl bounced into the dining room clutching a tin of heart-shaped cookies, curls shiny black and eyes golden like Lucien's.
She ran straight to him, smiling wide. "Daddy!"
The word made my stomach dip.
Lucien's mouth parted, but no sound came out. He crouched on reflex. "What did you call me?"
The child beamed up at him, completely at ease. "Daddy! Mommy said you'd be here!"
"Mommy?" I repeated before I could stop myself.
Jessica appeared in the doorway, perfect as ever. A soft pink dress, glossy curls, and a wide smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She carried a designer tote on one arm and a phone on the other, looking every bit the picture of composed distress.
"Lucien," she purred, sweet as sugar gone stale. "Sorry for the surprise visit. We had a little emergency. I tried calling you, but you didn't answer."
Lucien straightened, tension snapping through his shoulders. "What are you doing here?"
The little girl tugged on his sleeve. "You're taller than I thought, Daddy."
The silence stretched. Then Jessica sighed dramatically.
"I really hate to impose, but our building caught fire tonight. It's chaos everywhere. Water damage, smoke, the whole thing. I tried getting a hotel but they're all full because of fashion week. My sister's abroad and-"
She paused, glancing between Lucien and me. "I thought maybe I could stay here for a few nights until I sort things out."
Lucien's jaw flexed. "I'll have someone book you a suite."
"Oh, Lucien." Her eyes glistened with false vulnerability. "It's about safety. Lily barely stopped crying." She bent to stroke the girl's hair. "She was terrified."
Lily looked up at him, lower lip trembling on cue. "Please, Daddy? I don't like the smoke."
I nearly rolled my eyes. Jessica was too good, using her own child as a pawn. The little girl seemed to be in on the scam as well.
"Are you going to shut out your godchild? Camila, are you gonna let him kick us out?" She looked at me. "You understand, don't you? What it's like to have nowhere to go? I mean, you lived in that tiny apartment before all this."
My jaw clenched.
"I'm sure someone as compassionate as you wouldn't turn away a mother and child," she said, her voice smooth and poisonous.
"Jessica-" Lucien's voice held a warning.
"I'm just saying, Camila knows what it's like to be desperate and need someone's charity." She squeezed Lily's shoulder. "We're not asking for much. Just a guest room. Lily's so well-behaved, you won't even know we're here."
The little girl stared at Lucien with eyes that were too aware for a four-year-old.
"Please, Daddy? Just for a few days?"
The sound of that little voice burrowed under my skin. I hated how it made something inside me twist.
Lucien's jaw ticked once. Then his voice went cold. "I'm not your father."
The words lashed out. Even he seemed to regret it the moment the girl flinched.
Lily's lip trembled, tears spilling as she clutched her stomach. "Mommy, I need to peeee!"
Jessica gasped softly. "Oh! Let's hurry!" She grabbed her hand and moved toward the hallway. "The bathroom's this way."
She walked straight past Lucien like she owned the place. His fingers twitched, but he didn't stop her. Because the child was watching.
My blood simmered. She knew exactly what she was doing, using that little girl as her golden ticket inside.
"Unbelievable," I unknowingly muttered out, turning toward the stairs.
"Camila."
I kept walking.
This is what feeling something for someone like Lucien Hayes looked like. Confusion dressed as passion, heartbreak hiding behind his perfect smile.
I'd known pain was coming. I just didn't think it would arrive this soon, wearing curls and golden eyes.
I reached the bedroom and tried to slam the door. Lucien caught it before it shut and pushed inside.
"I want to be alone."
"No."
"Go attend to your guests."
"That child is not mine."
"Don't bother." My voice shook, and I hated that it did. "I'm not interested."
"Five years ago, Jessica begged me for money," he said, stepping closer. "I don't do charity, so I made her write a business proposal. I invested in her company because it was solid. That's all."
"She has your eyes."
"Like a million other people in the world. Her real father is some club hookup who disappeared." His hands pressed my arms, steady and warm. "Jessica's been trying to force Lily on me ever since. Even after I declined being her godfather."
"And your 'old time's sake' kiss in the photo studio?"
His voice softened. "Camila-"
"Don't." I shoved him harder than I meant to. "Just don't."
My chest ached, but I couldn't tell if it was anger or heartbreak. He caught my wrists and pulled me closer.
"Let go-" He stole my words with a kiss.
I twisted away. "Stop-"
He kissed me again, anger, need, and something dangerously close to confession.
"This doesn't fix anything," I said, breathless.
"I know." His fingers traced my jaw. "But I don't care."
His lips brushed mine again. This time, I kissed him back, hard and desperate, because I didn't know what else to do with the ache in my chest.
We stumbled back until the edge of the bed caught my knees. His weight pressed me down, the world narrowing to the sound of our uneven breathing.
"Still want me to leave?" he asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Says the girl who's falling for me." His thumb brushed my glistening lips.
"I'm not." The lie burned. "It's just physical."
"Just physical?"
"Yes." I forced a smirk. "And since you like business so much, I'm making you an offer."
His eyes sharpened, assessing. "An offer?"
"I'll pay you to keep your body exclusively mine."
He stared, then laughed, deep and dangerous.
"You want to pay for what I'd give you for free?" His hand moved to my jaw. "You can't afford what I'd do to you, Camila."
"You are underestimating this golddigger, Mr. Hayes." I warned.
"Then let's discuss the terms," his voice dropped low with a dangerous undercurrent. He bent until his lips brushed my ear. "A thousand dollars for when you want my fingers on you."
My breath hitched.
"Two thousand," he continued, "for when you want them inside you."
I pressed my legs together. My body shivered as his hands advanced up the sensitive skin of my thighs.
"Five thousand for my tongue." He licked a trail up my neck. "Ten for-"
"Stop."
"You made the offer." His hand kept moving. "I'm negotiating."
"That is ridiculous-"
"Because you can't buy what I'd give you for free." He pulled back to look at me. "But let's play your game. Keep pretending this is just physical. See how long you last before you admit the truth."
"What truth?"
"That you're mine. Heart and all." His smile was soft, almost cruel. "I'll give you two weeks."
"I'll never-"
The door burst open.
"Daddy!"
Lucien closed his eyes like he was silently counting to ten. The universe clearly had a cruel sense of humor.
I bit my lip, torn between laughter and murder.
The little girl clutched her stuffed rabbit.
"I want to sleep with you tonight!"
And just like that, Jessica Bloom had managed to turn my world upside down again.