Chapter 3

I couldn't believe what I had just heard. The words echoed in my skull. Jake was certainly with another girl. My heart hammered a frantic, painful rhythm against my ribs. I called him. It rang. And rang. And then, voicemail.

I decided not to think the worst. Not yet. Maybe I was just overthinking it. I tried to promise myself I wouldn't jump to conclusions, but the cold dread coiling in my stomach was a truth I couldn't ignore.

I went to the closet to change into the clothes Lucien had dropped off earlier. It was a light, floral dress, delicate lace hanging from the sleeves. I ran my fingers over the soft fabric. A small, genuine smile touched my lips. He knew my taste, sometimes better than I knew it myself.

I went downstairs to meet Lucien in the dining room. He was already seated, a glass of wine in his hand, the low light catching the sharp planes of his face.

"Finally, you decided to show up," he said, his voice a low rumble, his eyes still fixed on the amber liquid in his glass.

"I'm sorry, I was caught up with something," I said, my voice smaller than I intended as I took my seat.

"Mhm."

On cue, the cook appeared and set our plates before us. I lifted the silver cloche and a breath of relief escaped me. Mushroom risotto. My absolute favorite. I picked up my fork, but as I looked at the creamy dish, I noticed it was different from his, which was flecked with herbs.

"I told them to make yours bland," Lucien said, finally looking at me.

"Oh… thank you." A flush crept up my neck, warming my cheeks. He remembered. He remembered I was allergic to thyme.

I looked up and felt myself shrink under the intensity of his gaze. It was a look that saw right through me, past the polite smile and the careful facade.

"Go on, eat, Bella."

The way he said my name—Bella—was a caress.Only Lucien called me Bella. To everyone else, I was Mira or Mirabella. On his lips, it was something more.

"So," he began, taking a slow, deliberate bite of his food, "how's our boyfriend? Jake, right?"

The name was a splash of ice water. The one name I wanted to hear least.

"Yeah," I managed, my gaze dropping to the risotto I was suddenly no longer hungry for. "He's good."

"Are you alright? Is something wrong with the food?"

"No, no, nothing's wrong." I forced a smile, but it felt brittle on my face.

"You know you can tell me anything," he said, his voice dropping. He slid his chair closer, the legs scraping softly against the floor. The scent of his cologne—sandalwood and something darker, more dangerous—filled my senses, making my head swim. His eyes pried into mine, unwavering and patient.

"I think…" My voice cracked. The dam of my composure broke. "I think Jake is cheating on me." The words tumbled out, followed by a hot tear that traced a path down my cheek.

In an instant, Lucien was there. His thumb, cool and firm, brushed the tear away. He tilted my chin up with a single finger, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Well, that's his loss, Bella."

My breath hitched. "What do you mean?"

"Why would anyone cheat on a pretty girl like you?" His voice was a low murmur, his gaze dropping to my lips for a fraction of a second. The air between us grew thick, charged with an unspoken electricity.

I blushed, my skin tingling. I caught sight of his lips, full and set in a thin, serious line. A wild, reckless thought flashed through my mind: I wanted to kiss this man. I wanted to feel the weight of that mouth on mine, to see if it tasted as potent as the tension crackling between us. "You think I'm pretty?" I whispered, the question fragile.

He let out a soft chuckle, a sound that vibrated deep in his chest. He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear, his whisper a deliberate, intimate torture. "Not just pretty. You're fucking sexy."

A shiver, sharp and exquisite, shot down my spine. My nipples tightened against the lace of my dress, and a dull, insistent throb began to pulse between my legs. Ugh. This man would be the end of me.

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his own dark with intent. "How about I make you forget him?"