Lucien took a steadying breath as he pulled back, his eyes locked on May's flushed face. Her lips were swollen, her blonde curls wild from where his fingers had tangled in them, and in the dimming light, she looked like some kind of beautiful dream—a vision he couldn't quite believe was real. He could still feel the heat of her against him, his heart pounding as if he hadn't kissed a woman in years. But this was different; May was different.
He hadn't anticipated feeling this way. He'd been captivated by her from the start—her warmth, her resilience, the way she didn't flinch or fawn over him like most people did. May had met his gaze that night at the restaurant with a mix of charm and defiance that had intrigued him. She was a mystery he wanted to solve, a woman who hid her struggles with strength instead of looking for sympathy. And that only drew him closer.
As they stood side by side, gazing out over the endless expanse of water, he could see a vulnerability in her eyes, something soft and uncertain. He wanted to reach for her again, to let her know that this pull between them wasn't just some passing fancy for him. She had awakened something in him that he had buried long ago—a longing for something real, something that couldn't be bought or earned through his usual ways.
Without thinking, he took her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers, grounding him. She glanced up at him, her smile shy but genuine, and his heart gave an unfamiliar ache. Lucien knew he was treading new ground here. This wasn't like his usual pursuits, his casual encounters. With May, he wanted more. And for the first time, he felt like he was willing to risk something for it.
He'd spent his life building an empire from nothing, creating his world out of sheer willpower and ambition. He was used to being in control, to manipulating circumstances to get what he wanted. But here, with May beside him, he felt something slipping—a realization that, perhaps, he couldn't control this.
"May," he murmured, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "I know this might be sudden, but I want you to know something. This isn't just a game for me." His gaze met hers, and he saw a flicker of surprise, followed by a softening of her expression.
She opened her mouth to respond, but he gently pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her. "Let me say this," he whispered. "I've spent a long time focused on everything I wanted—wealth, success, power. But right now, I find myself wanting something...someone...that none of those things could ever give me."
He paused, his voice softer, almost vulnerable. "If you'd allow me, I'd like to see where this goes. No pretense, no expectations...just us."
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath as he waited for her response. And when she looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with an emotion he couldn't quite place, he felt something settle inside him—a quiet, steady warmth that told him he was exactly where he was meant to be.
