Chapter 179: Infuriating to the Core

Lucas Zeller watched helplessly as Claire Grace hastily adjusted her clothes, grabbed her bag, and stormed out of his bedroom without a backward glance.

Damn it. Frustration bubbled within him. They had been so close, just a breath away from something real, something raw. But of course, he had to ruin the moment with his incessant talking. The mood had soured, and now, everything was in shambles. Judging by the resolute way she left, there was a very real chance she wouldn't want to see him again. Yet, her touch—her kiss—had been fervent. He knew she still felt something for him. So why had she pulled away at the last second?

No. He couldn't let her go. Not like this.

Without a second thought, Lucas ignored the protests of his fevered body and leapt out of bed, rushing out of the bedroom.

The door was ajar. Just outside, he spotted Claire standing at the door of the adjacent room, her back to him. She was fumbling with something in her hands, possibly her keys.

"You're my neighbor?" he asked, feigning surprise.

Claire stiffened but refused to acknowledge him. Instead, she kept her focus on the door, treating him as if he were no more than a gust of wind. A very persistent and aggravating gust of wind.

But even she couldn't ignore the weight of his presence. Her hands trembled as she struggled to fit the right key into the lock, betraying the nerves she tried so hard to suppress.

"You seem to really dislike me," Lucas mused aloud, breaking the silence. When she still refused to answer, he added with a teasing edge, "Actually, dislike might not be the right word. Because if I'm not mistaken, your feelings for me are still very intense. In fact, your response earlier was more passionate than ever. You really seemed to enjoy my kiss."

Claire's hand faltered, but she didn't turn around.

"Are you looking for your key? Need help?" he asked, his voice laced with mock politeness as he closed the distance between them. Now, he stood just inches behind her, so close that she could feel the heat radiating off his fevered body.

"Mr. Zeller, I don't like people invading my personal space, and I don't need your help. Please step back," Claire said sharply, her voice shaking slightly. Her pulse raced, and an unsettling warmth spread through her body. She hated how he affected her, how he could so easily unravel her composure with his mere proximity.

"You don't like being close to people?" Lucas repeated, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. He leaned in closer, his breath brushing against her neck. His dark eyes locked on her flushed cheeks, which seemed to glow even brighter under his intense gaze. "That's strange, considering how tightly you were holding onto me earlier."

"What?" Claire whipped her head around in indignation, and in that instant, her lips accidentally brushed against his. The unexpected contact sent a jolt through both of them, a spark igniting between their parted mouths.

For a moment, neither moved. The kiss lingered, scorching and magnetic, until Claire's mind snapped back to reality. She pulled away abruptly, spinning to face her door and pressing her back against it.

"You claim you don't like being close to people, yet you just kissed me. Care to explain that?" Lucas asked, his amused grin growing wider. His expression was maddeningly smug, as if he had uncovered some great secret.

"I did not kiss you! You leaned in on purpose!" Claire retorted, her voice trembling with anger and embarrassment. Her eyes darted anywhere but at him. How dare he corner her like this? He was insufferable, infuriating, and—most of all—completely impossible to ignore.

"What are you mumbling about?" Lucas asked, stepping even closer. He placed one hand on the door beside her head, effectively trapping her between him and the solid wood panel.

"None of your business!" she snapped. She wanted to yell, to push him away, but his towering presence drained her of confidence. Around him, her fiery demeanor always seemed to falter.

"You're afraid of being alone with me, aren't you?" he asked, his tone laced with challenge.

"Afraid? Of you? Don't be ridiculous!" she scoffed, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Then why are you shrinking against the door and avoiding eye contact?" he pressed, his sharp gaze catching every telltale sign of her discomfort.

"We… we're not anything to each other anymore," she stammered, grasping for an excuse. "And… and men and women shouldn't be alone together in situations like this. You understand, right?" Her words tumbled out in a flustered mess, making her sound more uncertain than she intended.

Lucas chuckled, a deep, raspy laugh that sent an unwelcome thrill down her spine.

"What's so funny?" she demanded, glaring up at him. "Keep laughing, and you'll dislocate your jaw or something."

"Who said we're not connected anymore?" Lucas countered, his laughter fading into a serious tone.

"What do you mean?" Claire asked, confusion flickering in her eyes.

"Are you referring to that divorce agreement?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Obviously! What else would I be talking about?" she snapped, the reminder of their past cutting deeper than she expected.

"That agreement? It's framed and hanging in my old home as a reminder of my biggest mistake. But here's the catch—I never signed it," Lucas said, leaning in even closer. His voice dropped to a whisper. "You're still my wife, Claire. You're still Mrs. Zeller."

Claire's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?"

"So, how about you forget this door and come back to my side? We can pick up where we left off," he suggested with a wicked grin.

"Are you insane?" Claire exclaimed, pushing his face away and pinching his cheek for good measure. "I don't care if you signed it or not. We're done! Now move, or I'll… I'll call security!" Her words were defiant, but her heart was a chaotic mess.

Lucas didn't budge. Instead, his smirk widened as he murmured, "You can call whoever you want, Claire. But I'm not letting you go that easily."