CHAPTER FOUR

Lucas pov

I woke with a start, eyes flying open as the early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. Glancing at the clock, I was surprised to see how early it was earlier than I'd wakened in a long time without being roused by an important meeting or business obligation.

But today wasn't about work. Today was about Claire...and Brian. A small smile tugged at my lips as I thought about the little boy who could quite possibly be my son. The resemblance was uncanny, and the more I pondered it, the more I felt that unshakable gut instinct that he had to be mine.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I threw off the covers and headed for the shower, thoughts of Claire and that amazing night we shared flooding my mind. As the hot water sluiced over my body, I found myself growing hard just reminiscing about the softness of her skin, the breathtaking noises of pleasure she made as we moved together in perfect rhythm.  

Shaking my head to dispel the sensual memories before I got too carried away, I finished rinsing and towelled off briskly. I dressed quickly in a simple t-shirt and jeans, forgoing my usual business attire. If I was going to pursue this, I wanted to show Claire a different side of me than the powerful, affluent businessman.

Margaret hadn't arrived to prepare my breakfast yet, but I didn't mind. I was too keyed up to eat much anyway. I grabbed my keys and headed straight for the door, impatience driving me even before the sun had fully risen.

The drive to Claire's place seemed to take an eternity, but finally, I was pulling up in front of the modest townhouse she called home. I killed the engine and just sat there for a beat, steadying my nerves. When I spotted movement through the curtained windows, I knew it was now or never.

Taking a fortifying breath, I exited the car and strode up the front walk to knock firmly on the door. It opened a moment later to reveal Claire, looking as beautiful as ever even in simple yoga pants and a tank top. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of me.

"Lucas? What are you doing here so early?" She glanced almost self-consciously down at her casual attire.

"I hoped I could catch you before you left for work," I replied with an easy smile, trying my best to put her at ease even as my heart hammered in my chest. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

Claire shook her head, amusement flickering across her features. "No, but you're earlier than I expected. Brian isn't even ready for school yet."

"Actually..." A small voice piped up from somewhere behind her. A moment later, Brian himself appeared in the doorway, eyes bright with curiosity. "It's Saturday, Mommy. I don't have school today, remember?"

"That's right!" Claire laughed lightly, ruffling his hair with affectionate familiarity. "I forgot you were coming to help me out at the office again today. You're such a good helper."

My chest clenched almost painfully at the motherly pride so evident in her tone and expression as she gazed at Brian. The way she looked at him with such pure, unconditional love... made me ache for that same bond between a father and his son.

Brian beamed up at her praise before turning those hauntingly familiar eyes on me. "You can come too if you want, Mr. Lucas! I'm gonna be helping Mommy organize files and stuff. I'm good at it."

"You certainly are," Claire agreed with a fond smile. She looked back up at me almost shyly. "Brian has a real passion for design concepts and bringing creative visions to life. He's been an invaluable helper around the office lately."

The swell of paternal pride that rose in me at her words was nearly overwhelming. This brilliant, talented child could be mine - no, he had to be. As I studied Brian's eager, expectant expression, so reminiscent of my own at that age, I felt more certain than ever before.

"I'd love to come along if you'll have me," I replied at last, hardly able to tear my gaze from the boy. "Getting design input from a young creative mind would be incredibly valuable."

Brian's face lit up with a blinding grin that damn near stopped my heart. God, had I looked that adorable at his age? "This is gonna be so cool! Come on, Mr. Lucas, I'll show you some of the mock-ups I've been working on!"

Looping his little hand through mine with easy trust, he started tugging me toward the open door, bubbling with youthful enthusiasm. I went willingly, throwing a slightly dazed look over my shoulder at Claire, who simply smiled and shook her head in bemusement.

At that moment, I felt more at peace and content than I had in years. Like this was where I was always meant to be - with Claire and the boy I was more and more convinced was my flesh and blood. The family I never knew I desperately wanted until they quite literally walked into my life.

As I followed Brian inside, I vowed to leave no stone unturned in uncovering the truth. And if the results proved what my heart already knew, then nothing would stop me from claiming them both as mine.

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Claire pov

I watched with a mixture of amusement and amazement as Brian practically dragged Lucas upstairs, bubbling with enthusiasm to show off his "mock-ups." For a five-year-old, his talent and passion for design work were astonishing.

"He's such an incredible kid," I murmured to myself with a shake of my head. Smart, creative, wise beyond his years - sometimes it was hard to remember he was still just a little boy.

As they disappeared into Brian's room, I headed for the kitchen to throw together a quick breakfast for us. My mind kept drifting back to Lucas's unexpected but welcome arrival at our doorstep. The look of pure joy and pride on his face when interacting with Brian... made my heart flutter in a way I didn't fully understand.

Could he somehow sense the connection between them? Did he suspect Brian was his son? A tiny kernel of doubt took root - what if he did know and this was all an act leading up to him trying to take my baby away?

No, I tried to push those dark thoughts aside. Lucas seemed so genuine in his affection for Brian. And Brian already adored his new "friend." Watching the easy rapport between them was enough to melt my heart into a puddle.

Still, I couldn't quite shake the nagging fear that if I revealed Brian's paternity, Lucas might turn cold. Maybe he'd resent me for keeping that from him all these years. Or worse, maybe he'd decide to pursue full custody, managing to wrestle my son away with his wealth and influence.

I'd heard the horror stories of billionaires doing exactly that - using their money and power to take children from their mothers on a whim. The thought of being separated from Brian, of losing that precious little face and sunny smile from my life...it was unthinkable. Unbearable.

Blinking back the sudden prick of tears, I busied myself with cracking eggs into a skillet, focusing on the simple domestic task to settle my nerves. I couldn't borrow trouble before it started. For all I knew, Lucas's interest in Brian was purely platonic, fueled by affection and not paternal instinct.

Though if I was being truly honest with myself, the resemblance between them was striking, from those soulful brown eyes to that mischievous grin. Brian looked so much like the rare photos I'd seen of Lucas as a child that it was eerie. Hell, it was one of the biggest reasons I started wondering if he could be the father in the first place.

Letting out a long, shaky breath, I arranged the eggs, bacon, and toast onto plates just as Brian came thumping down the stairs, Lucas in tow. My son looked utterly delighted, chattering a mile a minute about design concepts and colour palettes. Lucas, for his part, seemed equally engaged, nodding along with Brian's enthusiastic explanation.

"Food's ready!" I called out, setting the plates on the table. "Come and eat so we're not late for the office."

They joined me without protest, digging into the simple fare with gusto. Throughout the meal, I couldn't help studying the pair, watching as they gestured animatedly while discussing Brian's "mock-ups." The bond between them, the easy rapport - it was like two long-lost relatives reuniting after years apart.

And maybe, just maybe, they were.

Part of me desperately wanted to lay all my cards on the table right then and there. To finally share the truth about Brian's paternity that I'd kept so closely guarded all these years. But another, much louder part of me trembled with uncertainty and self-preservation.

What if this was just a fluke? What if Lucas wasn't nearly as interested in Brian once the initial novelty wore off? Or worse, what if he did try to take my son from me? I couldn't risk that, not now, not ever.

So for the moment, I bit my tongue and smiled warmly at the pair, allowing myself to bask in their obvious joy and connection. Let Lucas's interest play out, however, it may be without my pushing it in any certain direction. When the time was truly right, the truth would come to light, one way or another.

Until then, I would savour every moment of this incredible new dynamic, while still protecting my heart - and my child - from potential devastation.