LUCIEN’S POV

"Is that all?" Adele asked, her voice light, almost teasing, like we'd just wrapped up a casual chat about the weather.

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—to fill the heavy silence, but the words stuck. Yeah? No? I didn't know.

Before I could figure it out, she tugged me down by the neck, her fingers firm in my hair, and kissed me. Soft at first, then deeper, her lips pressing against mine with that familiar heat that always set my blood on fire.

I kissed her back fiercely, my hands sliding from her waist to her back, crushing her against me. God, she tasted like home—like everything...