Chapter 136- To Keep My Distance
Arabella:
When I stepped out of the bathroom, Lucien was standing near the window with his phone pressed to his ear.
He had already showered while I was in the bathroom because his hair was wet, and the only thing around him was a towel wrapped low around his waist.
"I told you, Bradley. Don’t disturb me," he hissed into the phone. "I’m busy. Stop calling me again and again."
Bradley’s voice carried clearly through the phone. "Busy doing what exactly? A few Omegas saw Arabella sneaking into your room last night. I had to shut them up before the entire palace heard about it."
My steps slowed. The entire palace heard? Good. Let this reach Jasmine.
"And now you’re too busy to come out of your room," Bradley teased. "Do let me know what important task has suddenly taken priority over running the kingdom."
Heat rushed straight to my face. Lucien glanced toward me, but I quickly moved my gaze away.
He had teased me enough this morning. I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of watching me hide behind my embarrassment again. I straightened my shoulders and walked toward him.
Three years ago, I probably would have quietly found myself a corner and waited for someone to bring breakfast. I wasn’t that Arabella anymore.
I stopped beside him and tapped his shoulder. "Do you want to have breakfast?" I asked, making sure my voice came out perfectly normal.
Lucien turned his head and looked over his shoulder. With a nod, he spoke into the phone. "Bradley, I need to go."
On the other side, Bradley chuckled. "I heard her, mate. Go. But I’m reminding you about the meeting at noon... the one you moved from this morning, remember?" Lucien ended the call without answering him.
I stared at the phone in his hand. "He’s your beta... and that was rude."
"He’ll survive." His attention returned to me. "I’ve already asked them to bring us breakfast."
My night t-shirt was still in the bathroom, and I was wearing his bathrobe right now. It was ridiculously big on me. The shoulders were hanging too low, and the sleeves were swallowing my hands unless I pushed them back. The hem fell almost to my ankles, but I didn’t mind.
Feeling his eyes on me, I walked past him and took a chair. When I glanced at him, I found his eyes roaming over me. The corner of his mouth lifted as he took in the oversized robe, looking far too pleased with the sight.
"What?" I asked him, crossing one leg over the other. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but then seemed to change his mind. Shaking his head, he took the chair opposite mine. "Nothing."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Then stop looking at me like that." A faint smile touched his lips.
Instead of answering, Lucien got back to his feet and came around the table. He stopped in front of me and held out his hand. I looked at it suspiciously before placing mine in his. He pulled me to my feet as his arm slipped around my waist.
"Lucien. What are you..." My voice trailed off because he didn’t let me speak. His mouth came down on mine, claiming me with a hunger that stole the question from my lips.
My hands went to his face as I kissed him back, pressing closer. One kiss turned into another, and when Lucien finally began to pull away, I found myself following his lips. My forefinger was already circling one of his nipples. A quiet laugh escaped him, and I couldn’t tear my gaze off him.
Goddess. He was too hot to handle... especially with that damn grin on his face.
"What?" I whispered against his mouth, looking into his golden eyes boldly.
He kissed me again. "I’d forgotten how fucking intoxicating you are."
My face warmed, but this time I refused to look away. "Sounds like a you problem." I shrugged carelessly, pretending my lips weren’t still tingling from the kiss.
His grin widened just as a knock sounded at the door. I glanced toward it.
"Breakfast is here, sweetheart," Lucien murmured.
Good. Perfect timing.
***
Whatever embarrassment I still had from last night disappeared the moment the Omegas brought breakfast in. My eyes went straight to one of the trays that had jam-filled buns.
A whole pile of them, still warm, with a full jug of mango smoothie beside them. Goodness! My gaze snapped to Lucien, who was already watching me.
"You remember?" I asked quietly, not sure why I suddenly felt so emotional.
He gave a small nod. "Why wouldn’t I?" His gaze stayed on mine. "I remember everything about you." For a second, I forgot about breakfast altogether.
The Omegas continued setting everything on the table before stepping back. "Your Majesty," they bowed.
"Bring the coffee after a few minutes," Lucien said, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. They immediately headed out, and I watched them leave before looking back at him.
"Don’t worry. They won’t utter a word outside this room," he assured me. I nodded with a solemn expression.
Who the hell was worried about that? If anything, I was hoping they’d do exactly the opposite.
My attention went straight back to the buns. Forgetting the plate in front of me, I reached across the table, grabbed one and took a huge bite.
Warm bread and sweet jam filled my mouth. I closed my eyes. "Umm. That’s heaven. I missed these," I said with a full mouth.
Lucien chuckled from across the table, but I was too busy taking another bite to care. After another bite, my eyes drifted back to Lucien.
Three years had passed, yet he still remembered something as small as my favorite buns and mango smoothie. I didn’t know why that touched me more than all the kisses and teasing this morning.
I lowered my eyes to the bun in my hand, hiding the smile that refused to leave my face.
Damn him.
He was making it dangerously easy to forget all the reasons I was supposed to keep my distance.