Chapter seven.

Arya’s POV

I stretched lazily, savoring the feel of the soft sheets beneath me. The warmth of sleep still clung to my body as I let out a small sigh, sinking deeper into the pillows. The bed felt emptier than before.

Wait.

I blinked groggily, my fingers searching the other side of the bed. Nothing. Lucas wasn’t there.

Good.

I didn’t know why I felt relieved. Maybe it was because being around him made me too aware of myself. He had this way of looking at me, speaking to me, twisting my words until they meant something entirely different.

I pushed the thoughts aside and sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The large room was quiet, the morning light seeping in through the half drawn curtains.

A shower. That’s what I needed to prepare myself for the long trip ahead of me today.

Yawning, I swung my legs over the bed, standing up and stretching once again. The extra robe I had thrown on last night slipped slightly off my shoulder, exposing more of my skin to the cool air. I shivered, running a hand through my hair as I stepped toward the bathroom. I was sure to be extremely covered to shield myself from Lucas.

With a sigh, I grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head. It dropped onto the floor.

Then, my hands reached for my shorts. I slid them down, letting them pool at my feet.

Just as my fingers hooked into my panties

I felt it.

A presence.

The sharp tick at the back of my neck. The kind that sends a jolt of warning straight to your bones.

My breath hitched.

Slowly, very slowly, I turned my head.

And nearly died on the spot.

Lucas.

He was sitting casually on the couch across the room.

Leg crossed over the other.

Elbow resting on the armrest.

Smirking.

My eyes widened in absolute horror. “W-What the hell!?”

His smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Good morning to you too, babydoll.”

My arms shot up, covering my chest, even though I still had my thin underwear on. My entire body erupted in flames... mortification, humiliation, rage.

“Are you out of your damn mind!?” I shrieked, stepping back toward the bathroom. “What are you doing!?”

Lucas simply leaned back, watching me like I was the most entertaining thing in the world. “Well, I do own this room.”

I nearly lost my mind. “That doesn’t mean you can sit there like a creep while I undress!”

He tilted his head, gaze dragging down my body... slowly, deliberately...before locking onto my face again. “you can't blame me for staring at what was displayed before my eyes," he shrugged. 

My entire face burned.

I grabbed the closest thing near me.. a pillow from the chair beside the dresser .. and launched it at him.

He dodged it effortlessly, chuckling. “Now... now... no need for violence this early in the morning, babydoll." 

I wanted to strangle him. “You should’ve said something!”

His brow lifted. “Why would I? You seemed perfectly comfortable.”

Comfortable!? I was literally seconds away from stripping completely!

“You’re unbelievable,” I hissed, practically shaking. “Turn around.”

His lips twitched, like he was fighting a grin. “Why?”

I scowled. “Lucas—”

“Not like I haven’t seen it all already,” he mused.

My mouth fell open. “Oh, my God.”

He smirked. “I was just sitting here, enjoying my morning coffee, and suddenly, you started giving me a show. What was I supposed to do? Close my eyes?”

“Yes!”

He exhaled, shaking his head. “Such an unfair request.”

I groaned, spinning on my heel and stomping into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me. My heartbeat beating hard, I could still feel the way his eyes had been glued to me.

That smug bastard.

I turned on the shower, stepping under the warm spray, but I couldn't stop replaying the scene in my head. The way he sat there, all calm and composed, watching me lose my mind. The way his eyes... God, those damn eyes—had roamed my body without a hint of shame.

Why the hell did it make my skin tingle?

Why was I reacting this way?

I scrubbed my body harder than necessary, desperate to wash off whatever spell he had cast on me.

It wasn’t fair.

It wasn’t normal.

By the time I was done, I was convinced I had been in the shower for a decade. But at least the heat had left my cheeks.

I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped out.

I suddenly froze on my spot as my gaze landed on Lucas.

He was still there.

Still sitting in the same damn position.

Still watching me.

I gritted my teeth. “Are you seriously still here?”

His gaze dragged lazily down my body, lingering at the way the towel hugged my curves. “Where else would I be?”

"Literally anywhere but here, at least until I'm done dressing up." I snapped, tightening the towel around me. "You are enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Immensely." He smirked.

I exhaled sharply, stalking past him toward the dresser. But his voice stopped me mid step.

"You're angry," he said, amusement laced in his tone.

"Don't speak to me," I grumbled, yanking open the wardrobe.

"But not because I saw you almost naked," he continued. "You're mad because you felt something when I looked at you."

I went still.

"Didn't you?"

His voice was smooth. Low. Deadly.

I gripped the handle of the drawer tightly, my knuckles whitening. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a response.

Because we both knew the answer.

Silence stretched between us before Lucas chuckled, standing up.

"Keep denying it, babydoll," he murmured, his voice suddenly much closer.

I turned my head, only to realize he was right behind me.

My breath caught.

He leaned down, lips brushing the shell of my ear. "But next time you want to strip, at least give me a proper warning."

Heat exploded in my chest.

My body was betraying me yet again... shivering at his proximity.

Before I could react, he pulled back, heading toward the door.

"I'm gonna leave so you can dress up, although I could swear it isn't half as adventurous as it is if I was watching you do it." he winked, his tone dripping with amusement.

Then, he was gone.

I stood there, my entire body flushed with anger, embarrassment, and something else I refused to name.

I hated him.

I really hated him.

But worst of all?

I hated how much my heart was still racing.