Chapter 17: Possessive Warning

Dinner ended in the same heavy silence that had become normal. Lucian barely spoke after the short exchange about Ethan yesterday. He just ate, watched me with those intense grey eyes, and then stood up the moment Mrs. Hale cleared the plates.

“Come with me,” he said, his voice low and commanding.

I followed him out of the dining room, my heart already beating faster. The hallway was dimly lit. As soon as we were away from the dining area, Lucian turned suddenly. In two quick steps he had me backed against the wall.

His right hand came to my waist, gripping firmly, fingers spreading wide over the curve of my hip. The touch was possessive, almost desperate. He leaned in close, his breath warm against my forehead.

“Tell me the truth, Aurora,” he said, voice rough. “What did Ethan say in that message?”

I swallowed hard, pressing my back against the wall. “He said he was paid to betray me. He apologized and wanted to talk. I deleted it. I didn’t reply. I swear.”

Lucian’s fingers tightened on my waist, pulling me a little closer until our bodies were almost touching. “You will not speak to him again. Not one word. Not a message. Nothing. Do you understand me?”

His voice was low, dangerous, but there was something else underneath it, something raw and heated. His hand stayed firm on my waist, thumb slowly stroking the fabric of my dress. The touch sent heat spreading through me despite everything.

“I understand,” I whispered. “But you can’t just control every part of my life like this. I have no freedom here. No friends. No one to talk to except Evelyn in secret. You treat me like I’m your prisoner, not your wife.”

His eyes darkened. He leaned in even closer, his other hand planting on the wall beside my head, completely caging me in. “You are mine. My wife. My responsibility. Ethan is dangerous. He hurt you once, and I won’t let him do it again.”

The possessiveness in his words made my breath catch. I pushed back, even as my body reacted to how close he was. “I’m not your property, Lucian. You married me to save my family’s company, not because you wanted me. So why do you care so much who talks to me?”

He let out a harsh breath, his hand flexing on my waist. His fingers pressed deeper into my curves, like he couldn’t help himself. “Because you’re under my roof. Because I know what men like Ethan do. And because…” He stopped, jaw tight, eyes dropping to my lips for a long second.

His body was so close I could feel the heat coming off him. My heart pounded wildly. For a moment, he leaned in like he was going to kiss me, his mouth hovering just inches from mine, breath mingling. I could see the struggle in his eyes, the way his hand trembled slightly on my waist.

Then he pulled back abruptly, releasing me like I burned him. He stepped away, running a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face.

“Stay away from him, Aurora,” he growled. “That’s final.”

He turned and walked away down the hallway toward his study, shoulders rigid, fists clenched at his sides.

I stayed pressed against the wall for a long time, breathing fast. The argument had been intense, more charged than any we’d had before. But it wasn’t just the anger. It was the way he touched me. The way his eyes had dropped to my lips like he wanted to devour me. The way his voice had gone rough when he said I was his.

I touched the spot on my waist and closed my eyes. Was this really all because of some business arrangement? Or was it because of me, my body, my innocence, the way I looked and moved that seemed to crack his cold control?

I had always been curvy. Innocent in ways that made people underestimate me. In my old life, it had made me a target for Natalia’s cruelty. Here, it seemed to fuel something dangerous in Lucian. Every time he touched me, even when he was angry, there was this hunger in his eyes. Like he was fighting not to take more.

I went up to my room and sat on the edge of the bed, mind spinning. The scariest part was that some small, confused piece of me was starting to like him touching me.

I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling. Lucian’s words kept echoing in my head. You are mine. The way he had gripped my waist. The way he had almost kissed me. My body still felt warm from his closeness.

I touched my waist again and sighed. Maybe my curvy body and the way I looked really did affect him more than he wanted to admit. Maybe that was why he fought so hard to stay cold.

Or maybe I was just imagining things because I was lonely and desperate for any kind of connection in this cold house.

Either way, the cracks between us were deepening fast. And I wasn’t sure either of us could stop them anymore.

Lucian’s Pov

I slammed the study door and paced the room like a caged animal. Her body was driving me insane.

I poured a drink and downed it quickly. I wasn’t supposed to want her like this.

I promised to keep her safe and out of danger.

But now she was here. Living under my roof. With that body that made me lose my mind every single time I got close. Those full curves. That quiet innocence that made me want to corrupt her and protect her at the same time.

I sat down heavily and pulled up the security feed. There she was in her room, sitting on the bed, touching the spot on her waist where I had gripped her. The sight made my chest tighten painfully.

“Oh god” I muttered, clenching my fists.

The argument tonight had been too much. I had almost lost everything I was trying to hold back by trying to kiss her.

I had to stay strong. For her sake.