( Noah’s POV) I wasn't sure what Daniel was driving at but I couldn't have been more thankful when the masseurs stepped into the room, because now he'd let go of whatever he was trying to find out from me. The masseur’s hands were firm, professional… but foreign. Every press of his palm on my back made my skin tighten instead of relax. I wasn’t used to this. I wasn't used to people touching me gently, purposefully, like I was something worth caring for. My shoulders tensed, my chest felt too tight, and I almost flinched. No one had ever touched me like that. No one except Lucien. The thought slipped in before I could stop it. I shut my eyes, exhaling slowly, and imagined it was him… his hand tracing my back, his breath hovering just behind my ear, the low hum of his voice when he’d say my name like it belonged to him. The discomfort started fading. I pictured Lucien instead of the stranger, and suddenly, the heat in the room didn’t come just from the room's temperature. I was gon
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