Hidden Flames [The Ludovicas: Second Generation Book Three]

Twenty-Seven | Claim

I was supposed to update at 3 but nevermind, here's an early update.
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IRENE

Mea said it was real, she saw it too, so I didn't imagine it.

Kian freaking kissed me. More like pecked my lips but whatever.

I couldn't stop licking my lips hoping to catch a taste of him again.

I don't know when he will be back and what if he pretends like the kiss never happened? What if he just kissed me in the heat of the moment? What if he did it out of pity?

That would be disappointing because I want to kiss him again. Properly this time.

"Are you okay?" Mea asked me, looking concerned. "You are not hurt anywhere, right? Except for this of course." She touched my cheek gently.

I nodded. "I'm okay. I am just...thinking about..."

She led me into the kitchen. "The kiss?"

I nodded and sat down on the kitchen island while she brought me an ice pack to put on my cheek.

"What if...he did it by mistake?"

She sat down beside me. "You are overthinking this. He kissed you because he wanted to. That's it. Why would it be a mistake?"

"I don't know", I mumbled.

"Irene, you should have seen him when you disappeared. He thrashed his whole office, he was going insane. He begged his dad to bring you back. I have never seen Kian like this, so desperate for something. He never shows his emotions but losing you made him go wild. Any more time without you and I am sure he would have hurt himself."

"It's normal to overthink this but you know what's the best and the simplest of solutions? Talk. Just talk to him when he comes back, okay? Clear out your doubts." She added.

I nodded hesitantly. Kian was desperate to have me back. Oh God.

She then called over one of the staff members and they brought me a plate of food.

Mea made sure I ate and drank until I was full and then she walked me up to our room.

"Thank you for everything", I told her before going inside.

She shrugged. "You are a part of our family, Irene. It was the least I could do."

I gave her a small smile and then she left, leaving me to my thoughts.

I took a long shower, changed into comfortable clothes and climbed into the bed, exhaustion weighing me down.

It wasn't long before I dozed off to a deep sleep.

.
.
.

It was somewhere in the middle of the night when I woke up to the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing.

The room was dimly lit from the night lamp and it took my eyes a couple of seconds to adjust to it.

The bed dipped beside me and a moment later, an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into a hard, bare chest.

He was home.

I slowly turned around in his arms until we faced each other, his eyes staring into mine intensely, an indescribable emotion on his face and his eyes dropped down to my mouth.