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† Lucian's Unit †
Lucian stepped out of his room with Marcelo trailing silently behind him. His stride halted when his eyes caught Mirabel slipping out of Dave's room. His jaw tightened, fury flashing across his face.
"Marcelo," his voice was low and sharp, "call her to my room. She stays there until I return."
"Yes, boss." Marcelo bowed quickly as Lucian walked away.
Marcelo approached Mirabel. "The boss wants you to wait in his room. Do not leave until he returns."
Mirabel nodded nervously and obeyed. Inside Lucian's room, she perched on the edge of his bed, but her restless eyes wandered over every corner. Finally, fatigue won over curiosity—she sank back against the sheets and drifted into sleep.
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Three Hours Later
Lucian entered his room, his eyes sweeping across until they landed on her—sleeping soundly on his bed. Something inside him stirred. Slowly, he stepped closer, his gaze tracing her delicate face.
"She looks… too damn beautiful," he thought as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek. The urge clawed at him—to wake her, kiss every inch of her body, pin her beneath him until she begged for mercy.
Her lashes fluttered, and Mirabel stirred awake. She rubbed her eyes, startled to see him looming above her. Quickly, she stood. "I'm sorry, sir," she whispered, her voice trembling.
He ignored her words. His hand gripped her chin firmly, pulling her face up. Then, without hesitation, his lips crashed against hers.
Shock jolted her, but the raw hunger in his kiss stole her breath. It was real—too real to be a dream. Her eyes fluttered shut just as he pressed her back onto the bed, his mouth devouring hers, demanding, seeking, claiming.
His tongue teased the seam of her lips until she parted them with a moan, and her fingers tangled helplessly into his hair. The sound drove him wild.
Lucian's mouth descended to her neck, kissing, biting, tasting her soft skin until he found the spot that made her whimper. His teeth sank gently into her flesh, leaving a mark—a claim. Heat pooled between her thighs, her body betraying her with every touch.
Growling low in his throat, he tore open her shirt, revealing the pink peaks straining for his mouth. He seized one breast with his hand while his lips captured the other, sucking, biting, drawing sweet moans from her. His free hand roamed lower, tracing down her stomach, inching dangerously close to her wet core.
That was when Mirabel snapped back to herself. With trembling hands, she seized his wrist.
Lucian froze, his breath ragged. For a moment, frustration burned in his veins—he hated himself for losing control. She had looked too tempting, lying in his bed, vulnerable and his for the taking.
He released her abruptly, shoving down the hunger tearing through him. Mirabel scrambled up, hastily buttoning her shirt before bolting from the room, her cheeks burning, her body still throbbing with the ghost of his touch.
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‡ Outside ‡
Angelica was strolling through the corridor when she collided with Daisy.
"Well, if it isn't the pig still roaming around," Daisy sneered. "Don't forget—you're nothing but a loyal dog. Soon, my brother will throw you out like the trash you are… just another sex slave."
Angelica's lips curved into a sharp smirk. "As long as I'm in this house, I'm not going anywhere. Your brother likes me more than he'll ever like you. That's why I'm still here."
"Trust me," Daisy hissed, "he'll grow tired of you. And when he does, you'll be discarded like the filthy mongrel you are."
Her heels clicked away, leaving Angelica trembling with fury. Clenching her fists, she turned toward Lucian's quarters. But then she froze—her eyes widened as she spotted Mirabel rushing out, her shirt disheveled, a vivid hickey staining her neck.
Angelica's heart skipped, shock flooding her features.
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