Page 39 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

His suspicion didn't clear. He looked down at the fragrance again, his finger still resting on the edge of the dish, like he was thinking something through. A few seconds passed before he spoke, his voice softer than before. "You started making these again because of me?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Lucifer looked at me, his eyes even more tender. His hand circled my waist and pulled me toward him.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "It smells nice."

I smiled too. "I'm glad you like it." Lucifer's arm tightened slightly, and suddenly I was sitting on his lap. His face buried in my chest—the gesture both intimate and provocative. I couldn't help but shudder, my toes curling involuntarily. His pheromones wrapped around me again.

I gasped, wanting to push him away, but my hands had no strength. "Lucifer..." He'd been getting bolder lately, more affectionate with me.

"Yeah?" Lucifer looked up, looking rather innocent. "What's wrong?" As he spoke, he nuzzled me a few more times. The tingling sensation immediately spread from the top of my head through my entire body. I could even feel the heat of his lips through the fabric of my dress, kissing that soft flesh, once, then again.

"Let's go to the bedroom now." His voice turned husky, carrying a dangerous suggestion.

I went completely limp. "Lucifer—"

The study door suddenly flew open. I jerked, instinctively trying to get up, but he held me tighter. The mood shattered. Lucifer looked up irritably, but even after seeing who it was, his brow stayed furrowed. "Lina, what are you doing here?"

My face turned red. Our current position wasn't great for others to see, but Lucifer didn't seem to think so at all. He even rested his head in the crook of my neck, his breath sticking to my skin. My body went completely slack in his arms. Damn bond.

Lina saw us and her expression flickered, but quickly she adjusted back to her usual smile. "I came to talk about the Harvest Festival." She waved the file in her hand, her tone cheerful. "I just drafted a list—activities, guests, everything."

She walked to the desk and spotted the dish with the fragrance.

"Oh? What's this?" Lina's tone was strange, her voice lilting upward. It made me uncomfortable. "Elena made it," Lucifer said, shifting to a more comfortable position while holding me. I could even feel his chest muscles moving against my back. I bit my lip and pressed my legs together hard. "It helps with sleep."

Lina repeated it. "Sleep aid?" She blinked. "But some fragrances mixed together can affect your health—"

"I used gentle ingredients," I said, my voice not loud. "Rosemary, lavender, mint. All common. They won't affect health."

Lina turned to look at me. The smile was still there, but her fingers lifted from the dish's edge. "I didn't mean anything bad. Just a reminder. After all, Lucifer is—"

"I like it."

Lucifer spoke, his voice echoing in my ear. "I like this scent. No need to change it." His arm was still around my waist, the warmth reassuring. He was supporting me.

Lina's smile froze in that moment. Her hand by her skirt clenched tight.

Lucifer glanced at the file. "As for the Harvest Festival, have Elena handle it this year." My eyes went wide. So did Lina's.

She opened her mouth, the smile vanishing completely. "But I've done it every year, and besides—" She glanced at me. "Luna just got married and isn't familiar with the affairs yet, so it would be better if I—"

Lucifer cut Lina off. "She's the Luna. These things should be her responsibility. And she's already studied Luna duties."

He paused, then added weight to his words. "I trust she'll do well."

A warmth spread from the bottom of my heart, even making my nose sting a little. The study fell silent. Lina pressed her lips together, her mouth twitching several times before curving back up. "Fine. I'll go then." As she left, her gaze swept across my face, her expression like a thin layer of ice with a smile pasted on top and coldness underneath.

I didn't look away, meeting her gaze directly. Lina withdrew her eyes and closed the door.

"What," Lucifer lowered his head, "nervous?"

I smiled and turned to look at him. "No, excited. Lucifer, this is my first time taking on duties as Luna. It means I can truly stand beside you."

Lucifer was silent for a few seconds, then he kissed my lips.

My wolf lay inside my body, its tail draped over my heart, swaying back and forth.