ADELE’S POV

His eyes never left mine as he stood from the bath, water streaming down his body in rivulets that caught the dim light of the bathroom. The cold had done its job—my skin no longer felt like it was on fire—but the heat inside me had only shifted, deeper, hotter, aching for something only he could give.

Lucien stepped out first, strong arms lifting me effortlessly with him. My legs wrapped around his waist on instinct, my wet breasts pressed to his chest, and I couldn’t look away from his face. Those dark eyes held mine like they were anchoring me to the earth, promising things he’d denied...