Outside — Lucian
Rain drummed softly on the rooftop of the building as Lucian walked toward his SUV, his coat still dripping from the earlier storm. He opened the car door but didn't get in immediately, he stood there in the shadows, fingers still tingling from where he'd touched her, Riah's warmth hadn't left him, her scent still clung to him, her voice saying his name echoed inside his mind like a chord he couldn't quiet, he loved how she called his name, he looked down at his hand, Pathetic, he scolded himself, but the faint redness at the tips of his ears betrayed him, he slid into the driver's seat, shutting the door. The moment the sound faded, the car felt too small… too quiet… his heartbeat too loud he rested his head against the seat, eyes closing briefly, he hadn't planned any of this he hadn't planned to feel anything, but when she looked at him—wet, scared, trembling—something primal and furious inside him snapped. And when her eyes softened again… something else broke open entirely, Lucian let out a rough breath.
"…Riah."
Just saying her name under his breath made something dangerous coil in his chest, he turned the engine on, the low hum filling the silence. Midnight blue eyes flicked to the apartment window one last time, and for a single, quiet moment, he allowed himself the truth: was already in far deeper than he intended.
….
Riah managed to take a quick shower, letting the warm water rinse away the rain and the chaos of the night, the moment Riah stepped out of her bathroom, she didn't even bother turning on the lights, she just collapsed onto her bed with a soft thud, burying her face deep into her pillow. A muffled, dramatic groan escaped her.
"Get it together, girl," she scolded herself into the pillow, she flipped over, hugging the pillow to her chest, cheeks burning.
"Damn, he's hot…" she whispered to the empty room, her voice embarrassingly breathless, she recall the moment he carried her, his firm hand on her waist,the warmth of his body leaning into hers, it all came flooding back like a wave, and she swore she felt his touch still lingering on her skin, she found him damn attractive.Riah lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling as the gentle rain drummed softly outside, turning her room into a cozy cocoon of shadows and cloudy light.
Just one innocent thought slipped in…she whispered without even knowing she voiced it.
"What would it feel like if he kissed me?"
Her legs kicked the air on their own, like a high school girl with a massive crush, and she let out a squeaky laugh before she caught herself.
"Oww—" she started to say, expecting pain from her injured leg…
but nothing. No sting, no ache. Just a mild tightness from the swelling.
She frowned, curious.
"I literally limped to this bed," she whispered, sitting up.
She tested her weight—then straightened fully, still swollen, but the pain? Gone, her heart thudded, she hurried to her bag, digging out the small tube of ointment Lucian had given her, she squeezed a bit onto her palm and stared at it with a smile that reached her eyes. She blurted out.
"It worked already....., of course it did." She spinned around her room happy, everything about him felt… different. Powerful. And somehow meant for her, still smiling like a fool, she had save his number as Mr Blue Eyes, she grabbed her phone while staring at the name she used to save his contact she chuckled inwardly, Without overthinking, she typed: Home already? With a smiley face, she hit send before she could chicken out. Riah jumped back on her bed , her back laying on the bed ,while she face the ceiling, she dropped her phone on her bed,
like it was going to explode. she smiled and blushed like she was watching a romcon movie.
…..
The drive from her house to his penthouse was quiet, but not in a peaceful way, not when she was still in his head—her scent, her warmth, her stubborn little pout, curiosity wasn't his problem, he didn't waste time wondering why he felt drawn to her, his only obsession was how to make that little vixen his, how to peel back every layer she tried to hide, how to uncover every secret, every blush, every sound she'd ever make for him.
By the time he stepped into his penthouse, the rain had thickened into a heavy curtain outside, he didn't turn on the lights. He liked the darkness.m, only the faint glow of the city and the raindrops sliding down the tall glass windows lit the massive room, he threw himself onto the sofa, letting his head fall back.
And there she was again—
Riah, wet from the rain, soft in his arms, looking up at him like she didn't even realize how tempting she was, her warmth still lingered on him, annoyingly… intoxicatingly.
His phone buzzed.
He lifted it lazily—then stilled.
Hey…..you home already? with a smiley emoji From her.
He stared at the message longer than he should've, letting the sweetness settle in his chest before he realised it… a slow, wicked, soft smirk curled onto his lips... sweet but sinful, as he typed back:
…..yeah…
with a smirking emoji and he hit send, he. didn't put the phone down. He waited for it to vibrate again.
Riah:ok I was just checking .… just checking.
Lucian smirked harder, as his reply followed.
Lucian:Do you miss me already little vixen?.
And the second he sent it — he didn't wait for her reply, didn't give her time to overthink, didn't give her time to hide behind shyness, as he hit call instantly.
The ring barely made it past the first beat before she answered, breath slightly breathless like she wasn't prepared.
"Erm….hey" Riah answered,
Lucian voice dropped, low and sinful against her ear.
"I asked you a question, did you?" he asked.
"I— I was going to reply," Riah breathed.
"You hesitated," Lucian countered softly. "Why?,....You can lie if you want. I'll hear the truth either way."
Riah's breath hitched,he sounded closer than he should, like he was right behind her.
The rain fell harder outside,Lucian leaned back on his sofa, eyes half-lidded, voice warm and dark.
"Tell me, Riah… do you miss me?"
"I didn't hesitate," Riah whispered...dismissing the question as if she heard nothing
"Good," Lucian murmured. "Now I want to hear it."
"Hear what?" she asked, her pulse leaping.
"That you miss me," he said, voice dipping lower, darker.
"And maybe… that you're thinking about me as much as I'm thinking about you."
Riah's breath hitched, with the thought of if he was teasing her intentionally
"Lucian…"
He chuckled softly, the sound warm and dangerous.
"Say it,…. I want to hear you… vixen."he whispered in a low-soft tone.