Emma's heart raced in her chest, the scent of Lucas's cologne filling her senses. It was masculine and alluring, his warm breath caressing her cheek as he pinned her against the wall. Fear gripped her as she waited for his next move, her back pressed against the hard surface."I don't appreciate how you speak to me. I genuinely care about you and what you're going through. The scoundrel who betrayed you doesn't deserve you. Only a fool would leave someone as beautiful as you for a so-called friend. Emma, your heart is pure. Don't let him alter who you are," Lucas murmured softly, his gaze shifting from her eyes to her full lips, a dark desire flickering in his eyesSensing his intense stare on her lips, Emma seized the moment to push him away. "You don't know me at all. You're trying so hard to pretend you're different. You're not. I won't fall for your sweet-talking ways, Mr. Sugarcoated lover boy. Stay out of my path," she retorted firmly."You are drunk, Emma, you have no one to loo
Upon arriving at his penthouse, Lucas carried her with ease, her body limply draped over his arms as he made his way to the bedroom. He had considered taking her to one of the many guest rooms in his house but ultimately decided against it; he couldn't afford to let a stranger wander his home without his watchful eye.As he laid her gently on the bed, Emma emitted a soft moan, and fresh tears escaped her tightly shut eyes. Lucas carefully removed her shoes and pondered whether to also remove her dress, wanting her to be as comfortable as possible. But he ultimately decided against it, not wanting to take advantage of her vulnerable state. He helped her into one of his shirts and a pair of shorts and then undressed himself, preparing for bed. But as he was about to enter the shower, he heard her sobbing.Turning to face her, he could tell she was deep in a dream. He wondered how much the wound of her betrayal must have hurt for her to cry in her slumber. Gently pulling the covers up t
Lucas was keenly aware of the need to vacate the room and put as much distance between himself and her as possible before committing the gravest error of his existence. For half a decade, he had remained chaste, refraining from inviting any woman into his private quarters or allowing anyone to stay the night. With fervent prayer, he hoped no ravenous journalists were covertly spying on his residence, eager to capture a headline-worthy photograph that would bring in a torrent of online traffic and potentially extort him for a hefty sum."Are you famished?" he asked, already heading for the door, "I am. You can get cleaned up while I have the cook prepare breakfast for us." He exited the bedroom with haste, seemingly as if his backside were aflame.Emma let out a long sigh of relief as she watched him leave the room, unable to deny the powerful effect he had on her. With just one touch, she could feel her panties becoming soaked - a fact that infuriated her. Why did she feel this unden
With every savory bite of the lamb served with homemade mint jelly, tiny roasted potatoes, and for dessert, homemade pudding topped with whipped cream that Emma wholeheartedly indulged in, Lucas felt a strange but warm stirring in his heart, enthralled by how her eyes lit up when she took a huge mouthful of the meal.The way her lips embraced the fork as she withdrew it, and her tongue darted out to catch any stray crumbs and sauce, sent a sudden surge of desire through him. He could feel the warmth spreading in his stomach, and the tightness growing in his pants made him shift uneasily in his chair. He wondered if Emma was aware of the innocent effect she had on him.Unaware of Lucas's inner turmoil, Emma continued to relish her meal. These were by far the most delicious meal she had ever tasted, and the fact that they were prepared by a man only piqued her interest. She had grown accustomed to taking care of all the household tasks, including cooking, laundry, and picking up after T
Her phone slipped from her grasp and hit the ground with a thud. Lucas rushed to her side, bewildered by her scaring actions. With a worried expression, he grasped her shoulder and a single tear slid down her cheek. "What's the matter, Emma?" Lucas inquired, gently guiding her to the nearby sofa.Emma sniffled as tears continued to fall. "He wants me out of the house. The devil said I have 24 hours to leave," Emma sobbed, burying her face into Lucas's shoulder.Lucas's jaw clenched as the anger that had subsided resurfaced. He already despised Trevor, even though he had yet to meet him. That stupid, fucking asshole.When he returned to find her still crying, he offered her a glass of water, watching as she gulped it down. Her tears seemed unending, and he wished he could take away the pain etched on her face. After what felt like an eternity, exhaustion overtook her and she curled into a ball on the couch, her sobs gradually fading into quiet whimpers.Once he was certain she was deepl
Anxiety surged through Lucas as he fought to control himself. "Not today," he told himself as he stepped back, closing the door behind him. Emma was left speechless, anticipating his next move, if he ever succumbed to his weaknesses. She let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Disappointment washed over her, mingling with the heat pooling between her thighs and the ache in her chest. Her body longed for his touch, something she knew she shouldn't even consider. She yearned to feel his skin against hers, but at the same time, she was grateful he didn't push it. He didn't want her to feel like prey or to take advantage of her, especially since she was still in a fragile state.It was too soon to be entangled in another relationship, especially one that seemed destined to end like her last.At this moment, she craved closure and retribution against the only person she had ever loved and devoted her time to. Despite her efforts and dedication, she was treated as if she
"Easy does it, Emma," a familiar voice rang out, halting Emma in her tracks. She turned, her anxiety replaced with surprise upon seeing Lucas standing beside her. She had assumed he had already left after dropping her off, but there he was, an unexpected source of comfort amidst her turmoil. His expression was unreadable, but Emma found solace in his presence nonetheless."Allow me to speak with the guards," Lucas offered, his voice steady and reassuring. Emma nodded, her breath catching in her throat as she closed her eyes, determined to remain composed. She couldn't shake off the shame of being evicted and having Lucas witness it, but she was grateful that he had stayed by her side once again. She took a moment to collect herself, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm the rising panic within her before dialing her phone.With each ring, Emma's anxiety grew, her heart pounding in her ears like a relentless drumbeat. The first ring ended, and Trevor's familiar voice suggested she
As the chaos subsided, Ivanka's eyes fell upon the familiar figure holding Emma against his body, preventing her from further engaging in a fight. Her shock was evident as she recognized the person - "Lu... Lucas?" Her voice trembled, conveying the shock in her tone as she took a step back.Feeling a wave of shame and remorse, Ivanka averted her eyes from an angry Emma who was still fixing her hair and clothes, to Lucas, whose expression mirrored hers.Lucas snapped out of his daze, meeting Ivanka's gaze with a mix of indescribable emotions. The sadness of knowing that Ivanka may have provoked Emma to fight with her settled on him, causing him to look at Emma and then back at Ivanka with a blank, motionless expression."What... What are you doing here?" Ivanka stammered, swallowing hard as she looked up at Lucas, who now had a pitying and disgusted look on his face.Their eyes locked, silently exchanging memories and unspoken questions which didn't go unnoticed by Emma. Lucas's expres