LOGINI pressed my hands against his broad shoulders, feeling the tension coil beneath my fingers like a living thing. Lucian’s skin was warm, and despite the bruises and fresh cuts, it felt smooth and almost soft under my touch. My heart hammered, betraying the calm I tried to maintain. I told myself to focus—this was a massage, nothing more—but every subtle shift of his body, the way his muscles flexed under my fingers, made it impossible to think straight. He leaned forward slightly, letting out a soft sigh that vibrated through his chest. It was a sound that belonged entirely to him, a mixture of exhaustion, relief, and something I couldn’t name. My hands moved instinctively, kneading and pressing, trying to loosen the tight knots I felt in his back. I was careful, tentative at first, unsure if I should go harder, but the way his body reacted under my touch encouraged me. “You have no idea how tense you are,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice even. I hoped he didn’t notice the s
I pressed my hands against his broad shoulders, feeling the tension coil beneath my fingers like a living thing. Lucian’s skin was warm, and despite the bruises and fresh cuts, it felt smooth and almost soft under my touch. My heart hammered, betraying the calm I tried to maintain. I told myself to focus—this was a massage, nothing more—but every subtle shift of his body, the way his muscles flexed under my fingers, made it impossible to think straight. He leaned forward slightly, letting out a soft sigh that vibrated through his chest. It was a sound that belonged entirely to him, a mixture of exhaustion, relief, and something I couldn’t name. My hands moved instinctively, kneading and pressing, trying to loosen the tight knots I felt in his back. I was careful, tentative at first, unsure if I should go harder, but the way his body reacted under my touch encouraged me. “You have no idea how tense you are,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice even. I hoped he didn’t notice the slig
My hand froze midair, hovering just inches from the edge of the door, my mind screaming at me to leave. I should’ve walked away the moment he asked me to massage him. I should’ve run straight out of the room, straight into the hallway, into the safety of the empty villa. I should’ve reminded myself that I didn’t belong here. That I wasn’t supposed to do this. But I didn’t move. My body betrayed me, caught somewhere between fear, disbelief, and… something else, something I didn’t want to name. My pulse had doubled, and my stomach churned with anticipation I wanted to ignore. “Julia,” he said softly, his voice low, deliberate, just enough to pull my attention back. Not a command, not a threat—but the sound of it was magnetic. I stopped, my hand stiff at my side. My feet rooted to the carpet, my back tense as though bracing for something I couldn’t quite predict. He didn’t need to repeat himself. I didn’t need to hear it again. My own instincts were doing the work for him, slowly, p
The moment I stood from the couch, my mind racing faster than my heartbeat, I realized I should leave. I should’ve walked straight out of his room the second I decided I had no business staying there. My feet shuffled toward the bathroom door, the soft carpet muted my steps, yet my pulse made every movement feel loud in my ears. My hands trembled slightly, my stomach twisted, and my chest felt tight as if I were holding in something I wasn’t supposed to even feel. I told myself over and over: I should go. I’m meant to leave. This isn’t safe. This isn’t…normal. But my legs didn’t carry me fast enough. I was almost there, my hand reaching for the edge of the bathroom door, when it swung open suddenly. Lucian stepped out, completely soaked from the shower, water dripping down the angles of his muscles. My feet slipped slightly on the smooth floor as I stumbled forward, and before I could even catch myself, I slammed against his chest. My arms instinctively wrapped around him to prevent
Julia's POV The moment Lucian disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door, I finally let out the breath I had been holding for minutes. My chest felt tight, my palms were cold, and my mind wouldn’t stop replaying every small detail of what just happened—his voice, his stare, the way he looked at me like he was seeing something I couldn’t hide even if I tried. I stood there, frozen for a few seconds, then my legs felt like they had lost their strength. I didn’t even realize I was walking back until I found myself in front of the couch again. My whole body was trembling with exhaustion, adrenaline, and something else—something I didn’t want to name. I refused to go back to that bed. His bed. Sleeping there beside him after everything that just happened felt too intimate, too vulnerable. I wasn’t going to lie down next to the same man who made my heart race and my stomach twist and my thoughts scatter like broken glass. No. I wasn’t doing that. I lowered myself into the couch
Lucian's POV I left the office with my mind half on the business I had just settled and half on the city streets below. The night was quiet, almost too quiet, and I welcomed it. But my instincts never let me rest for long. That’s when I saw it. A man, clumsy and desperate, had a woman pressed against the wall, his hands roaming too far, his voice harsh and commanding. The way she flinched, the way her body stiffened under his weight—it made something in my chest twist. I didn’t know her, and yet for a split second I thought of Julia. Not her, not really, but her. The way she always tried to stay strong even when fear was written on her face. The thought made my pulse spike. I didn’t hesitate. I moved faster than anyone would have expected. By the time the man realized someone was behind him, it was too late. He swung at me, wide and clumsy, and I leaned back just enough to let his fist sail past. I barely registered the laugh that left my lips. The woman’s eyes were wide as sh







