The 18th Floor

Chapter Twenty Four

(MATURE CONTENT)

We get lost in discussion, completely oblivious to Simon snoring lightly next to us. I've somehow moved up into the corner of the sofa, the blanket Lucien handed me draped around my legs stretched out in front of me and Atticus asleep on top. Lucien has also been inching closer and closer, his arm on the back frame of the sofa, almost as if it is around me.

I sigh and lean back into the silence as I say, "thank you."

He looks at me and says, "for what?"

"For everything. For this job, for helping me settle, for all the little things you do for me. They don't go unnoticed", I say, slightly feeling the excitement and exhaustion of the night catch up with me. "You don't have to do them, but you do. I appreciate it", I carry on, my head leaning on the back of the sofa. I feel his hand inching towards my hair.

He nods, "I would never want you to feel uncomfortable", he says.

I turn to look at him, his face a few inches away, "thank you."

"You already said that. More than once Cyrene", he breathes out.

My name on his tongue is a sound I want to hear all the time and I can't help but find myself staring at his lips. My eyes go back up to his and I don't think I am the only one who is finding it hard to breathe right now. His eyes are warm, inviting, lighter than what they normally look like. Better.

"I know, I just want to make sure you understand."

"I do, Cyrene."

"It means a lot to me Luci-"

"Stop talking."

"What?", I ask panic flaring inside of me.

"Cyrene, stop talking so I can kiss you."

I still. My lips part in shock and in doing so, a small please escapes my mouth.

"Can I kiss you, please, Cyrene." He says again, smirking.

I nod. It's all the invitation Lucien needs before inching forward and grabbing the back of my head with one hand and my cheek in his other. And in the moment our lips touch, I feel all my senses heighten. I feel on fire, like I'm burning inside out, Lucien setting and extinguishing the fire all at once. I can taste the bitter whiskey after scents on him, but I can also taste the musky scent he carries and with our tongues crashing, I find my arms holding onto his neck. They threaten to go lower, but it takes all my will power to stop them from exploring the abs that I know are hidden under that unbuttoned shirt.

His arms however, don't remain shy. I feel them work down my body, onto the small of my back before they grab my thighs. I can't bring myself to pull away from him, scared I'll lose the hold of the moment, but before I know it, I'm on his lap. Straddling him as I breathe him in like oxygen.

"Cyrene," he says as he pulls away breathlessly.

"Yes," I say, eager to get back to what we started.

"I can't kiss you the way I like with Simon snoring behind us", he says.

Disappointment starts to fill me, but then he cups my chin and says, "I'm going to carry you to my room." And before I can object, Lucien's lips find mine again whilst he lifts me up. I'm holding his face, my legs straddling his waist, his hands firmly gripping my arse, as we start to make our way to his room, leaving Simon behind. I can feel the shadow of his fingers on my body and slightly plead a thanks for my earlier prayers being answered.

He opens the door and carries me over to the bed. I don't have time to look at his room, discover the finer details that make Lucien Lucien, as he sits on the edge of the bed with me still on his lap.