My best friend stopped dead in the bathroom doorway, her eyes going wide as she took in the scene, me pressed against the wall, Lucian shirtless with his hands framing my face, the two of us clearly about to kiss.
"Oh," Ava said, her voice very small. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I didn't know— I should have knocked— I'll just—"
My face burned with embarrassment as the moment shattered around us. I started to duck under Lucian's arm, mortification making me want to disappear into the floor.
"It's fine, Ava," I stammered, trying to escape the suddenly too-small bathroom. "What did you need?"
But before I could take more than a step, Lucian's hand shot out and caught my wrist, keeping me exactly where I was. His grip was gentle but firm, and when I looked up at him in surprise, his violet eyes held a determination I'd never seen before.
"No," he said quietly, his gaze never leaving mine.
