The hum of the event faded into background noise.
Alina stood still, her heart still unsettled from his words You're not walking away from this.
And the worst part?
He didn't sound like he was guessing.
He sounded like he knew.
Before she could respond, Lucien stepped slightly closer.
"Come with me," he said quietly.
Not a request.
But not a command either.
Something in between certain enough that it made her hesitate.
Her brows tightened slightly.
"Where?"
His gaze held hers.
"Somewhere quieter."
A pause.
Then, softer
"Unless you're afraid you'll run again."
That did it.
Alina exhaled sharply and turned without another word.
She hated that he knew exactly how to move her.
He led her through a side corridor away from the main hall, the noise slowly dissolving behind them. The air changed cooler, calmer, more private.
Alina stopped when they reached a quiet lounge space dimly lit by warm lights and glass walls overlooking the city.
No people.
No noise.
Just them.
"Here?" she asked, folding her arms slightly, trying to regain composure.
Lucien turned to face her.
"Yes."
Silence settled.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Alina felt it again that pull. Stronger now without distractions. Without witnesses. Without escape routes.
"You keep doing this," she said quietly.
"Doing what?" he asked.
"Showing up… pulling me in… making me feel like I don't have control."
A faint shift in his expression.
Not denial.
Not apology.
Recognition.
"I'm not making you feel anything you don't already feel," he said calmly.
Her breath caught slightly.
"That's not fair," she whispered.
His eyes darkened just a fraction.
"Neither is pretending you didn't want this."
The words landed too close.
Too accurate.
Alina looked away for a second, trying to steady herself.
But then
Lucien moved.
Slowly.
Closing the space between them again.
Her heart began to beat faster.
"You shouldn't be this confident," she said, though her voice lacked strength now.
"I'm not confident," he replied softly.
A beat.
"I'm certain."
And then
Before she could process it
He lifted his hand and gently held her chin, guiding her gaze back to him.
No force.
But no escape either.
"Lucien" she started.
But he didn't let her finish.
He kissed her.
This time, there was no hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just control measured, deliberate, deeply intentional.
It wasn't rushed.
It wasn't chaotic.
It was commanding.
And it stole the air from her lungs instantly.
Alina froze for a second
Then melted into it.
Her hand instinctively moved to his chest, gripping lightly as if to steady herself, but it only made her feel him more. The warmth. The presence. The absolute certainty of him.
Her mind went blank.
Her body didn't.
And that was the problem.
Lucien's hand at her chin shifted slightly, guiding her reaction not letting her take over, not letting her rush it.
He was in control.
Completely.
When he finally pulled back slightly
Just enough for her to breathe
Alina's eyes were unfocused.
Her breath uneven.
Her legs unsteady.
And she hated how much she felt it.
Lucien watched her for a moment.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Like he was observing the exact point where she started losing herself.
"You see?" he murmured softly.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came.
He leaned in just enough that she could feel his voice brush her skin again.
"You don't lose control," he said.
A pause.
Then
"You give it away."
That hit deeper than the kiss.
Alina swallowed, trying to steady herself, but her thoughts were still tangled, still replaying everything.
And before she could respond
Lucien stepped back.
Just like that.
Breaking the closeness.
Breaking the heat.
But not the effect.
Never the effect.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"No" she started, confused, breath still uneven.
He tilted his head slightly.
"You should go back," he said calmly.
Her chest tightened.
"That's it?" she whispered.
A faint, unreadable look crossed his face.
"That's enough for tonight."
He turned slightly as if to leave first.
Alina stood there still shaken, still breathless, still trying to understand how he could pull her so close…
And then leave her like she was the one chasing.
But before he walked away completely
He paused.
Without turning back, he said softly:
"Try not to think about me too much again."
And then he was gone.
Leaving her in the quiet.
Completely undone.