Chapter 9 Your Warm Embrace

• Alas, it was all too late - what was done could not be undone. In a desperate attempt to cover up, I offered him some spicy lobster.
• Lucian stared at me like I was some strange animal. Hesitating for a while, he then picked the lobster up and shove it into his mouth, forcefully swallowing down. And the result was a fit of violent coughing.
• Crap... he doesn’t eat spicy food? Then why the hell would he order them?
• Meanwhile, Jack was baffled by our evident ignorance of each other’s dietary requirements. But luckily, Lucian was quick on his feet and muddled through with, “Hey... I think there’s no need to accommodate our diets to each other - it’s a little too difficult.”
• I merely nodded and dared not look in Jack’s eyes.
• To eradicate any remaining suspicions, Lucian dragged me into his room after dinner, telling me that it was best if we could spend a night together. “By then, Grandpa would surely believe that we’re a real couple,” he said.
• “A night together? I don’t want to! What if you do something to m-”
• Unfortunately, my incoming protests were muffled by Lucian’s hand on my mouth. “Oh, relax. It’s just an act for Grandpa. I won’t touch you.”
• He did not seem like he was lying, and so I agreed.
• In the bedroom, what seemed like an unintentional stare battle had begun. He sat on the sofa while I was on the bed, and the both of us staring at each other blankly for one hour. Eventually, drowsiness got the better of me. So I decided to take a hot shower and get some rest.
• However, midway through that, I realized in horror that I forgot to bring in my sleepwear.
• I can’t possibly walk out with just my undergarments! Lucian is, after all, still an excitable young man, and this is probably going to spark unwarranted imaginations.
• Just as I was trying to come up with a plan, there were knocks on the door. Annoyed, I replied, “I’m not done yet. Hold on.”
• Even so, the knocking continued, and a voice sounded out. “It’s sleepwear.”
• Oh.
• Hesitantly, I opened the door - just a little - and took the clothes in. Frankly, I should not be so paranoid as he was merely trying to help. My concerns were a little irrational at that point, and I was aware of that.
• He had, in fact, given me his pajamas. It was so big that the top was all the way to my thighs, and I had to roll up the sleeves and hems of the pants.
• The pajamas were notably of good quality as the material felt soft against the skin. There was even a slight fragrance that wafted out from the collar.
• After I finished, I opened the door, and he entered the bathroom immediately after I walked out. Wait... No! My bra!
• But it was too late - with a gentle click, he locked the door.
• Just when I was dying of embarrassment, the door opened suddenly, and an outstretched arm emerged. My innerwear was dangling from Lucian’s fingers; he was holding it like it was something disgusting. “Get it out!”
• My cheeks flushed red as I quickly snatched it over. “Can’t you just leave it in there? You don’t have to touch my personal belongings!”
• “I can’t bear to see something like that hanging in the bathroom... Makes me want to do something that I shouldn’t do.” There was a smirk on his face when he said that.
• I could feel my face burning up as I distanced myself from the bathroom. “Just shut up and do your thing!” I should not be reading into his words, but... What exactly would he have done?
• The weather in June was as erratic as ever. Without warning, a thunderstorm shook the earth as fearsome lightning pierced through the blackening skies just then. Heavy rain poured intensely all of a sudden, threatening to shatter the glass windows.
• What terrified me the most among all was the deafening thunder that roared across the horizons. Jumping out of the bed, I quickly pulled the curtains together and buried myself under the blankets, afraid of whatever was looming beyond.
• In a daze, Lucian got on the bed beside me and snatched the sole source of comfort away from me mercilessly. I panicked and went after the blanket, only to come into contact with a warm body.
• Is he... topless?
• I could feel his Herculean build and the accompanying warmth. Hot with embarrassment, I slowly backed away. However, another thunder strike only prompted me to re-embrace him.
• I was literally close to tears at this point as I clung to him despite his resistance.
• Afraid that he might push me away again, my fingernails clawed against his back, leaving behind streaks of red. The pain prompted him to grab my chin underneath the blanket to ask what was wrong.
• “I-I’m scared. L-Let me hide in there.” I buried my face under the blankets once again, aware of Lucian’s heaving chest. He was probably furious. But at that point, I was already scared out of my wits. Back home, my bed was not placed anywhere near the window, so it was not as terrifying. But in this room, the stormy weather was practically in my face.
• The thunder continued, and I refused to budge from Lucian.
• He was soon fed up with my antics and hurled me across the bed before draping the blanket over himself.
• At that moment, I was petrified. The skies were glowing behind the curtains like a monster that could invade the abode anytime.
• Looking over at Lucian, I contemplated pouncing on him again but decided not to in the end.
• For a moment, it felt as if the world was collapsing on me, and I was but a helpless child amidst everything. Shivering in a corner, tears trickled down my cheeks silently.
• Soon, Lucian seemed to realize that something was wrong. I could feel his eyes on me.
• But at that moment, I felt nothing but hatred towards him. I turned my head stubbornly to the side, evading his observing gaze. All of a sudden, I felt his warmth circling me as his two arms wrapped around my waist.
• I struggled against his hold, but Lucian merely dragged me closer to him.
• A sense of security surged through as his deep voice rumbled, “Sorry, I didn’t know you were afraid of thunder.”
• “I don’t think that concerns you.” To my own surprise, I began to cry uncontrollably again. A mix of emotions overwhelmed me, and I had no idea how to process it. I had no idea why I did it either, but I ended up leaving a deep bite mark on Lucian’s palm. “Why are you so annoying! Aren’t you unconcerned about me all the time?”
• Nonetheless, the man simply replied, “Let’s just go to sleep. We still have to wake up early tomorrow.” With that, he draped the blanket over me gently and held my hand.
• Maybe it was lethargy, or maybe it was the warm embrace. Either way, I managed a peaceful slumber that stormy night.
• Sunlight peaked through the curtains on the following morning as if it were making up for the tantrum it threw the previous night. It felt nice waking up to such weather.
• The first thing I realized was that my head was resting on Lucian’s chest, while a leg dangled over his body. He was still sound asleep when I woke up. Embarrassed, I darted off to the bathroom to wash up.
• When I returned, Lucian was up. He looked at me from head to toe and said, “I’ll bring you to bring some more pajamas later.”
• “It’s fine. I can just go home to take some.”
• There was no way I would stay at this place for more than three days as I had no intention to spend his money.
• Breakfast was largely uneventful except for Jack’s meaningful tease for us to get married soon. Yet again, I merely said that I needed more time to think about it.
• After that, Lucian sent me back home. I entered the villa alone but soon noticed that there were voices coming from the room on the second floor.
• Did someone break in? I opened the door swiftly, only to see two unexpected figures - Howard and his mother, Susan!