Fuck yes, I loved meat. I plopped on the chair, grabbed my utensils, and readied myself to cut my steak. Lucian chuckled and slid into the seat across from me.
I bit into the first bite and flavors exploded on my tongue. Medium-rare was the best way to eat steak, and I wouldn’t be swayed.
It’d been a while since I had such succulent meat, I’d forgotten how it tasted, and even then, I doubted I’d ever had something this tender before.
Lucian uncovered his meal and sliced into his own, eating at a much slower pace than me. At one point, he stopped and just stared at me, a soft smile on his lips.
I hadn’t even touched the mash, and I was almost done. Lucian reached over the table and grabbed the wine bottle. He popped it open and leaned to pour me a glass.
“I don’t drink.” I put my hand on the spout so it didn’t tip over.
“It’s apple cider.”
“Oh,” I mumbled, my face heating. It was dark in here, so I doubted he could see my embarrassment. He filled the glass with the bubbling liquid. I grabbed the stem and took a sip. The liquid fizzled on my tongue.
I chugged down some more, but forced myself to stop after the third gulp.
“I’m glad you like it.” Lucian flashed a smile. I returned it and eyed my plate. I’d been starving. He’d had it on the nose. With my hunger satiated, I leaned back.
My stomach felt extra warm.
“Are you sure it’s not alcoholic?” I said lightly, placing my hand over the warmth spreading in my gut. I was pleasantly full, but the sensation of expanding kept advancing.
“Lucian, I don’t feel good.” I pressed my palm to my stomach. It kept somersaulting. The warmth turned searing, spearing over my flesh and raising goose bumps in its path.
Wait. I knew this—My heat.
I lifted my eyes to Lucian’s concerned eyes.
“My heat is starting.”
He stood so fast he knocked over his chair. His eyes were wide, and he seemed frozen as panic filled his eyes. I groaned, leaning into the surface of the table. The prickling over my skin continued to thrum and traveled to my sex.
I whimpered.
“Fuck, let’s get you home,” he spat, already crouched next to my seat. The touch of his hand on my skin forced out a cry from my lips. It felt so good.
31
“It’s too late,” I croaked, squeezing my thighs together. My pussy had begun throbbing, and the friction of pressing my legs together made me suck a breath in.
“Fuck.” Lucian strode over to the phone and dialed.
“Zhao, get the Gold Suite keycard and send Karol to the door to wait for me there.” His eyes hadn’t left mine, and even the way he looked at me made me hotter. I whimpered and braced myself against the edge of the desk.
He slammed his cell phone on the desk and crowded me, hands cupping my jaw.
“I’ll take care of you,” he vowed gruffly and kissed my forehead, already collecting me into his arms.
“I can walk,” I protested, hand on his chest to stop him.
Lucian grunted and, as if I hadn’t spoken, he swept me into his arms, striding down the hall to the elevator.
I didn’t have time to complain because all I could focus on was how good he smelled. I groaned and rested my cheek against his shirt, rubbing against it. My makeup transferred to the blue fabric.
I didn’t care; I just wanted him to walk faster, even though he was already pretty fast with his cast still on.
“Your crutch,” I muttered, but even saying it was pointless; he hadn’t been using his crutch for a while. He tried to make a show of it, trying to act like he was using it, but he’d long since ditched the thing and only carried it around to pacify me.
