A heart of the vampire

Chapter 13

Serena lay nestled against Lucian's side, the remnants of their shared passion still swirling in the air around them. The soft glow of candlelight flickered against the walls, casting playful shadows that danced along the surface, echoing the aftershocks of their encounter. Every touch, every whispered word from moments ago still tingled on her skin, igniting a warmth deep within her.

She turned her head to study him, fascinated by the way the dim light accentuated the angles of his face. His eyes, dark and smoldering, met hers, and a spark of desire reignited between them.

Serena's body tensed at the sound of the doorbell, cutting through the peaceful silence of the room. Her head instinctively turned toward the door, but before she could sit up, Lucian's hand gently cupped her face, guiding her gaze back to him.

"Don't worry," he whispered, his voice deep and soothing. "The maid will take care of it. Let's stay here, together."

His cool fingers traced through her hair, sending a shiver down her spine as the warmth from their shared moment clung to her skin. The urgency of the world outside seemed distant, insignificant compared to the tenderness in Lucian's eyes.

She could feel the pulse of her own desire still burning beneath the surface, her heart beating in sync with his calm, deliberate breathing. His thumb gently brushed against her cheek, and the contrast between his cold touch and the heat of her skin sent a delicious thrill through her.

"You're safe here," he murmured, leaning in to press his lips softly against her forehead. The gesture was intimate, filled with a tenderness she hadn't expected. It soothed the lingering tension in her muscles, replacing it with a sense of peace she rarely felt in moments like these.

Her heart, which had been racing moments before, began to settle into a slower rhythm. She allowed herself to relax against him, her body melting into the comfort of his embrace. Lucian's gray eyes held her with a steady calmness that made everything else fade into the background.

"I don't want this to end," Serena whispered, her voice barely audible as she traced a line down his chest with her fingertips, savoring the coolness of his skin.

Lucian's lips curved into a gentle smile. "It doesn't have to," he replied softly, his eyes never leaving hers. His hand continued to stroke her hair, his touch light but reassuring, grounding her in the moment.

For a long while, they lay there in silence, the distant sounds of the outside world a mere hum beneath the weight of their shared stillness. The flicker of candlelight seemed to mirror the quiet dance of their breathing, slow and steady.

Eventually, Lucian's gaze flickered toward the door, as if sensing that their brief respite from the world couldn't last forever. But his focus quickly returned to Serena, his thumb brushing her lower lip, making her breath hitch.

"No one can take this from us," he said quietly, his voice laced with certainty. "We have this moment. And I want to make sure you know how much it means to me."

Serena's chest tightened with emotion. She reached up, placing her hand over his, her touch soft but firm. "I do know," she whispered back. "And I feel the same."

The doorbell rang again, more insistent this time, but neither of them moved. The outside world could wait. In this moment, it was just them—two souls tangled together in something deeper than either had expected.

The sound of quick footsteps echoed down the hallway, interrupting the quiet intimacy that had settled between them. Serena tensed slightly, and Lucien's expression shifted, a subtle shadow crossing his features. His gray eyes flickered toward the door, and he let out a quiet sigh, his hand still resting lightly on her skin.