Lucian observed Eliza with an intensity that seemed capable of splitting the world in two. She was sitting across from him, her hair still damp, falling in disheveled waves over her shoulders, wearing that tiny swimsuit he had chosen especially for her. But it wasn't just her appearance that had him captivated; it was the way she bit into the strawberries, slowly, deliberately, as if each bite were a direct challenge to his self-control.
He brought the champagne glass to his lips but didn't drink. His golden eyes remained fixed on her, devouring her in silence while his mind filled with dark and possessive thoughts. Each of her movements, every gesture, was like a calculated provocation, though he knew Eliza wasn't doing it on purpose. Or maybe she was. Perhaps she knew exactly what she was doing with that little smile playing at the corner of her lips as chocolate slid down her finger before she licked it off with exasperating slowness.
