Chapter 74

The room was filled with a hazy tension, her consciousness slipping into a foggy state. Yet her body seemed to pulse with a heat that radiated through every inch of her skin. Her dark hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, creating a striking contrast against the luminous softness of her skin.

Claire's eyes were barely open, her thick lashes casting crescent-shaped shadows under the dim light. Her delicate nose wrinkled slightly, and her parted lips, a soft and inviting pink, seemed to beckon him closer, an unspoken invitation to explore further.

Lucas struggled to keep his breathing steady, his widened eyes taking in the overwhelming sight before him. He blinked, trying to tear his gaze away, as though one more second would push him over the edge, his self-control slipping by the heartbeat. Yet, despite his mind's pleas to look away, his body seemed drawn to her, inching closer on its own.

Somehow, he found himself so close that his arm brushed against her chest.

"No, no. Stay calm, stay calm!" he told himself. Claire wasn't acting like herself; something was off. What was her aim here? Just a moment ago, they were playfully bickering over a glass of water, and now…

"Claire?" he whispered, his voice strained as he fought to control the surge of heat pooling in him. He lightly tapped her flushed cheek, resisting the urge to trace the tempting curve of her jaw.

Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, their gazes locked—his intense, dark eyes meeting her dreamy, glistening ones. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a look both innocent and disarming, as if casting a spell over him. Her small, soft hand slipped around his neck, pulling him down until their noses nearly touched. The warm breath escaping her lips brushed his own, tantalizing him beyond reason. He longed to close the small distance, to claim those soft, inviting lips.

But—

"Lucas…" she murmured, her voice soft and laden with desire, almost like a plea.

Her voice sent a shiver down his spine, his hands gripping the sheets tightly, clinging to the last vestiges of his self-control.

His mind spun, torn between reason and the wild urge rising in his chest. Hadn't he just sworn that intoxicated women were dangerous? And Claire… Claire was even more dangerous than before, without a drop of alcohol.

"Lucas…" she whispered again, her voice pleading as she shifted closer, her lithe legs brushing against his hip, undoing the last shreds of his restraint.

He forcefully disentangled himself from her, yanking the covers over her and turning to his side, breathing hard as he tried to calm his racing heart. But her image burned behind his closed eyelids.

Damn it! He felt hot, unbearably hot, the ache clawing at him from within.

Suddenly, her arm slid around his chest from behind, the blanket slipping away. Before he could even react, Claire's body pressed against his, wrapping him in a warm embrace.

"What… What are you doing?" he growled, teeth clenched, trying to mask the raw desire tightening in his throat. "Do you really have to test me right now?"

He swallowed hard, desperate to keep his last ounce of composure.

"Do you think I'm made of stone?" he whispered through gritted teeth, fighting his natural reaction as she continued to shift closer, intensifying the unbearable tension building inside him.

He couldn't take it any longer, and before he could stop himself, his lips found hers, drowning out every thought and every doubt in the searing heat of their kiss.

For a moment, the world faded, leaving only the two of them lost in an impossible, feverish embrace.

But suddenly, reality flashed back, and Lucas pulled away, finally piecing together the odd puzzle. Images of Claire's strange behavior, the supposedly calming herbal tea, the glass of water they'd fought over—all began to make sense. His mind raced as he recalled how Shauna had taken Claire to that herbal shop earlier.

This must be Shauna's doing, he thought, piecing together the puzzle.