Chapter 111: Not Here
Lucian’s only goal tonight, when he first laid his eyes on her, was simple: don’t lose control.
Do not ruin it.
Wait.
Just wait.
But after listening to her continuous nagging while she wrapped her scarf around him, he could hear the chains he had locked himself in begin to crack. Her scent filled him, clinging to his skin, reaching into a part of his mind filled with unholy thoughts.
Before he knew it, he felt the last thread of his sanity snap.
Then his hand reached out, cupping her face to keep her still. The next second, his lips were on hers. He felt her hand grip his chest in resistance—the first sign he should’ve stopped.
But he didn’t... he couldn’t.
Her lips were too sweet, sinfully delectable.
Her warm breath spread through him, sending heat from his mouth down to the very ends of his nerves, making him crave more... and more of her.
Wake up, he told himself. Don’t... ruin it.
Reluctantly, he hissed under his breath and pulled away. His chest rose and fell heavily, not because he had drowned himself in the sweetness of her lips, but because pulling away, restraining himself, took far more effort than continuing.
Much to his surprise, when he drew back and blinked at her, Ashley looked at him with brief shock. Her eyes glistened, her cheeks flushed red. Her lips—slightly swollen from the kiss—were smudged faintly at the corner.
Then, she smiled.
She even chuckled softly, her eyes still holding his.
He had expected her to awkwardly pull away... or at least show a hint of discomfort. Even though she often stole kisses on his cheek, this was different.
His was different.
Her kisses were sweet and mischievous.
But his?
Lucian knew she understood exactly what he meant.
And yet... she smiled. She even laughed.
Her fingers remained curled against him, not pulling away as he expected. She stayed still, as if... waiting.
Waiting for more.
"You..." the word slipped out in a whisper.
His eyes softened as his entire body burned, his thumb brushing the lipstick his lips had ruined. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out the quiet hum of the night and the rustling wind.
Tilting his head once more, Lucian leaned in again.
This time, he watched her closely, watched as her eyes slowly closed the closer he got. That alone sent a tremor through him, his hand sliding from her neck down to her back.
The moment their lips met again, every thought in his mind fell silent.
His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her firmly against him, while his other hand remained at her jaw.
As his lips moved against hers, hers parted instinctively, letting him guide her as though she were learning. And the longer it went on, the deeper it became.
Meanwhile, her arms slowly slipped from his chest until they circled around his neck. She gasped each time their lips parted for air, only for him to take her breath again the next second.
He breathed her in.
Bit her lips.
Tasted her.
He could do this forever.
Lucian wanted all of her... and it couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
He wanted her now.
"Mhm—"
A soft sound escaped her lips as he bit down a little harder in his growing excitement.
That was all it took for him to freeze on the spot. As if a bucket of ice had been dumped over him.
His sudden stop made her brows knit as she pulled back slightly.
"Lucian?" Ashley panted, struggling to catch her breath.
Confusion spread across her face as she stared at him. Just moments ago, he had been kissing her like he would consume her whole, barely giving her time to breathe.
Now, he was just staring.
His eyes filled with a thousand unspoken thoughts.
"Boo—" she started, but her voice caught in her throat when her feet suddenly left the ground.
Lucian had swept her up effortlessly.
Before she could react, she was already in his arms. Her eyes widened slightly, her arms instinctively wrapping around his shoulders.
"Not here," he muttered under his breath, meeting her eyes briefly before striding forward.
His words made her breath hitch.
Her cheeks burned hotter, her body following. She lowered her head, shrinking slightly in his hold, burying half her face against his shoulder while peeking past it.
Silence fell between them as he carried her toward the car.
Ashley knew that look and that tone.
It was the same look he used to give her in her previous life whenever he wanted her. The only difference? The helplessness that once lingered beneath it... was gone.
All that remained now was... desire.
Pure desire.
And whenever he looked at her like that, there was nothing else in his mind.
Just her.
Just them.
Just their bodies tangled beneath the sheets, their lips locked, their hearts as one.
Thinking of it, her face grew even warmer. She hid deeper into his shoulder, her grip tightening against his shirt, wrinkling the fabric.
Her eyes softened as they lowered, already knowing where this was heading.
Tonight... would be another first for us, she thought. A first where it was wanted.
A first where it was hers to choose.
When she woke up in this lifetime, she had awakened in the middle of it with him. It had been a long time since then... and Lucian had been holding back for far too long.
Ashley peeked at his profile, catching the sharp intensity in his expression. And she knew even if the world ended right now, nothing would stop him.
That was Lucian.
He could be patient. But once that patience snapped... there were no extensions.
Soon, they reached the entrance where his men and the car were waiting.
Everyone straightened immediately. But the moment they saw Ashley in his arms, their expressions shifted.
Gustav quickly approached.
"Master, are you alright?" he asked, his gaze flickering to Ashley. Though her face was hidden against Lucian’s shoulder, the flushed red along her neck, jaw, and ears was unmistakable.
Was she drugged too??
Gustav panicked internally, knowing Lucian would take things far more seriously if Ashley—or Primo—was involved.
Lucian didn’t stop or slow down.
When he reached the car, he cast Gustav a brief glance.
"Drive home. Fast," he said coldly. "And put on your earplugs."
Then he stepped into the back seat, placing Ashley inside first before circling around and joining her.
"Put on my earplugs?" Gustav muttered, his face twisting.
When he turned to the others, they were already avoiding his gaze, slipping into their own vehicles.
His eye twitched. Of course they heard that. And of course none of them were going to switch places with him.
Gustav clicked his tongue, only to pause when the driver approached him, holding something out.
Earplugs.
The driver was already wearing his own.
"...That was fast," Gustav muttered, exhaling deeply as he took them. "No helping it if both of them are under the influence."
He got into the front passenger seat while the driver settled into the driver’s seat.
As soon as they were inside, Gustav raised the partition and turned on the music, loud enough to drown out anything from the back.
But even with the music blasting, his seat suddenly jolted forward as if someone had kicked it from behind.
Gustav: "..."
Driver: "..."
And later, everyone in the mansion, when Lucian carried Ashley inside and told them to stay away from their room:
"..."