All Chapters of Devil's Bidding: Chapter 81 - Chapter 83

Her body twisted against the sheets, small whimpers slipping from her throat, fragile and broken. The dream had her caught in its cruel grip, dragging her back into that night. Her hands clawed at the blanket, nails scraping, as though fighting shadows only she could see.“No… stop…” her voice cracked, strangled and breathless, trapped between sleep and memory.Lucas’s brow furrowed where he sat at the edge of the bed. He had carried her here after she’d collapsed in his arms, tucked her beneath the covers with a care she hadn’t even noticed. But now he leaned forward, his hand settling firm and steady against her shoulder.“Arabella.” His voice cut through—low, commanding, a tether pulling her back.For a split second, the weight of his hand blurred with the phantom one that had once pinned her down. Her body tensed, recoiling from the echo of it.Her eyes flew open. Terror clung to them—wild, unmoored, her chest heaving as though she expected someone else’s face to be hovering above

Arabella That evening, Lucas was there at dinner.He had kept his promise, and the moment I walked in and saw him, a smile tugged at my lips.I sat quietly by myself, simply basking in his presence.Would he demand I come sit on his thighs tonight? I wondered.Those little gestures he once used to make me uncomfortable had become the very things I craved.I hadn’t said a word, hadn’t asked, hadn’t even dared to glance at his lap—but somehow Lucas knew. He always knew. His chair shifted back with a soft scrape, his gaze locking on me. Then, with a quiet authority that curled heat low in my stomach, he beckoned.“Come,” he said simply.I froze, lips parting in shock, my heart slamming against my ribs. Had he really…?Before I could think, my legs carried me to him, and I settled onto his lap. His arm wrapped around my waist almost absently, anchoring me there, while he continued eating as though nothing were out of the ordinary.I tried to hide it, but I liked it. God, I liked it too m