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The steady cadence of his breathing expands and contracts his back, where resting muscles protrude beneath his skin. Broad shoulders taper down to narrow hips and tight buttocks, his magnificent body shamelessly on display. Everything about Lucian, from this angle, oozes unearthly perfection.

Full irresistible lips beg to be kissed, and I lean in, feeling the light tickle against my mouth as I brush mine over his. His hand slides lower, lips quirking to a half smile, and he turns to his side, dragging my leg over his hip.

Pressed against his naked form, I feel the enormous shape of his erection prodding my belly. When I shift against him, he finally lifts his eyelids, exposing those beautiful golden irises. The scarred half of his face lies buried in the pillows, and from my angle, all I see is the flawless half. The side of him that he doesn’t turn away when I stare at him, like I am now.

I reach up to trace his perfectly trimmed hairline, down to his chiseled jawline. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re very handsome when you’re not being a jerk?”

He snorts a laugh, turning his face into the pillow, away from my touch. “There she is,” he mumbles. “The smartass.”

“It’s true. It’s like the clouds break open to the heavens and …” I make a choir sound that scratches my throat, knocking out a barky cough.

Face still buried, he shakes his head. “Should’ve stayed in my own bed.” His voice is muffled by the plush fabric. “At least I’d get another hour of sleep.”

“There’s plenty of time to sleep when you die.”

“Which will be long before you.”

“I heard sex keeps you young. Virile.”

Turning to face me again, he raises a brow, the sight of him ruffling the butterflies in my stomach. “And if she happens to be over a decade younger than me?”

“You’re practically a god.”

His grip tightens like a band around me. “Then, I’ve no reason to leave this bed. And neither do you.”

“I actually have to pee, so …” As I twist away from him, an arm reaches out, dragging me backward. Long, deft fingers dig into my sides, and I howl with laughter, the urgency to pee squeezing my bladder. “Lucian! Please! I’m going to pee my pants!”

“You’re not wearing pants.”

“I swear to God I’ll wet the bed!”

“After last night, it’s due for a change of sheets.”

“Lucian! Stop! Right now!” I giggle, squirming and twisting in his unbreakable grasp. “I’m begging you. Please!”

“Yes, I like to hear you beg. It warms my bastard soul.”

Reaching back, I take hold of his swollen balls and squeeze, giggling when he groans and the tickling stops.

“That was a dirty move.”

“Sensitive this morning?”

“As a matter of fact they are. Take your piss and get back here, before I decide to take my chances on a golden shower.”

Wearing a smile, I slide on his discarded shirt from the night before, not bothering to button the front, and scamper across the room toward the bathroom. Lifting the fabric to my nose, I breathe in the scent of his cologne as I relieve myself quickly, followed by a cursory brush of my teeth and hair. When I return, Lucian is propped on his elbow, a vision of divine masculinity, his muscles all bunched up while he stares down at something in his hands.

As I approach, I notice the picture. The one I found beneath the nightstand.

“I’d forgotten about this day.” The somber tone in his voice echoes the expression on his face that I recall from the picture.

Crawling into the bed beside him, I slide in close, trying not to disturb whatever thoughts have his eyes so fixed and contemplative.

“It was one of Amelia’s good days. A rarity.”

“You look so unhappy? Why?”

“I never liked pretending, and when she was happy, the lies just became more obvious.”