THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW
"What have you lost your mind, Lucian?!" Sera's voice cracked as he carried her down the hall, her hands braced against his shoulders to keep steady.
"Stop squirming," he warned, his grip firm around her legs. "You'll slip." But she only twisted harder against him.
Heat flooded her face embarrassment sharp as a needle, panic coiling in her gut. She beat her fists against his back, the muscle there solid as stone. Never in her life had she felt so exposed, so off-balance.
"No! Let me go I said I don't want this! Don't you get it? This is wrong you're forcing me, this is ah!"
She shrieked as he let his arms dip just enough to make her feel like she was falling. Her hands flew to his neck, fingers locking tight until her knuckles blazed white. Her heart hammered so hard she could feel it in her throat. But he only let out a low laugh, and the sound made her so angry she pinched his arm hard enough to leave a mark.
"You bastard you're insane! Crazy!" She yelled, the words tumbling out in a rush, terrified he'd keep going.
"Stop pretending." His voice was low against her ear. "I know I get to you, Sera. I'm not harassing you I'm trying to help. It's for your own good, isn't it?"
She furrowed her brow, confusion knotting her stomach. He was so different now just days ago, he'd barely looked at her, his gaze cold as winter rain. "I don't want to! What's wrong with you? You acted like I was invisible, and now you want to help me shave?" She hit his back again, softer this time. "Did you hit your head? Why do you keep switching on me like this?"
Worry edged into her tone his build was the same, his voice too familiar to be anyone else, but still something felt shifted.
Lucian said nothing, his steps steady as he turned toward the bathroom. Sera fell quiet, her mind racing with ways to get free. They'd talked about this once, yes but not like this. She wasn't ready. Her skin bore marks she'd never shown anyone: stretch marks across her hips, a faint scar on her thigh from childhood. She didn't feel like anyone could look at her and not flinch.
"Lucian… please put me down." Her voice was smaller now, breaking on the words. "You'll be disgusted. Just stop."
He paused at last, and she heard the bathroom door click open metal against wood, quiet but final. Anxiety shot through her. They were really here. She'd thought today would be like any other: warm water, the gentle scrape of a washcloth. Not this wave of shame that threatened to drown her.
"Seraphina." His voice was softer now. "I've seen you naked before. When you first came here you were sick, helpless. I had to help you bathe then."
She froze. He was right. She'd blocked that part out, but she remembered waking up in his bed, her skin clean, her clothes changed by hands that weren't her own.
"Did it disgust me?" He set his jaw, his breath warm against her temple. "No. Did it?"
She let out a heavy sigh, the air catching in her throat. "I know. But I don't get it. Why now? Why are you being this way?"
He didn't answer instead, he lowered her carefully into the tub, where warm water lapped at her skin. She heard him move around the room, the clink of a bottle against the tile, then caught the scent of her usual body wash: lavender and chamomile, soft as a lullaby.
She couldn't hold back anymore. The words spilled out before she could stop them.
"When I first got here, you gave me that contract said it was to keep me safe, to pay me back for saving Lola. But it was a marriage contract." She ran her hands over her face, the water cool on her skin. "You were so angry then. Like helping me was the last thing you wanted to do. You told me I wasn't your type that I was plain, messy, not good enough for you." She bit her lip, wondering why she was saying all this now. "And look at us."
"Now I can't stop thinking about how you see me." Her voice cracked. "You're all over the place I've been here two weeks and I still don't know who you are. Why would someone like you marry a blind, ordinary woman in a contract?!"
Frustration boiled over she splashed the water with her hands, sending ripples across the surface. "This is driving me crazy. I'll lose my mind trying to figure you out"
"Your body and soul." His fingers found her hair, warm water pouring over her scalp. "Everything about you is different. You're kind as hell, but you've got fire under your skin."
She felt the shampoo lather between his fingers, gentle circles against her scalp. It was a small touch, but it grounded her she bit her lip and stayed quiet, waiting.
"I'm not used to this." His voice was rough now, honest in a way she'd never heard. "I'll be straight with you I'm rich, but I built every bit of it myself. It's just that" He paused, his fingers stilling in her hair for a second.
"Taking care of you feels like coming home. Like something I was always supposed to do. I just… like it."
A weight lifted from her chest as if a thorn she didn't know was there had been pulled free. Not all her questions were answered, but the knot of suspicion in her gut loosened. He wasn't playing with her. She could trust him somehow, she could.
"It smells so good." The words were soft, barely a whisper, as the sweet scent of strawberries rose from her hair.
He laughed, low and warm. "You like it? It's new. Strawberry fragrance thought you'd want a change."
She nodded, her throat tight. "Y yes." She had no idea what else to say.
"Don't worry I won't hurt you." His fingers traced a light line down her neck, then pulled away. "And for the record? I'm not ugly. I'm handsome as hell."
Her face flared hot. Oh my God he heard me muttering to myself earlier. She cringed, pressing her palms to her cheeks. Why did she always talk to herself? She must look like a fool.
"Once your eyesight comes back, you'll see for yourself."
Her shoulders slumped. "As if that'll ever happen." The words were quiet, heavy with doubt. She'd stopped believing the doctors months ago every promise felt like a lie meant to keep her from falling apart.
"Is that even possible? I've never heard of anyone getting their sight back after something like this."
"It is." He was firm now. "There are cases in other countries. And next week, a private doctor's coming to check your progress."
She nodded, and silence settled over the room broken only by the drip of water from the faucet. His words replayed in her head, each one a small stone dropping into still water.
"You didn't take my clothes off." The words blurted out before she could think, and she scrambled to correct herself. "I mean I got in here with them on. I just… noticed."
Lucian had turned away from her, his back rigid. She heard him take a deep breath, slow and steady. So close, he thought. He'd almost reached for her shirt, almost pulled it over her head even just water trickling down her neck and shoulders was enough to make his skin prickle.
They were talking about everything that mattered, and his body was responding in ways he couldn't control.
"A Ah… I see." His voice was tight, then he turned back to face her.
Heat washed over him the second he looked. Sera was slowly pulling her shirt over her head, and she wasn't wearing anything underneath. The curve of her breast rose just above the water, pale and soft against the warm blue of the tub.
"Wait your undergarments"
"It's okay." She didn't look away, even though she couldn't see him. "It's fine if you see me."
Her mind went blank the moment the words left her mouth. She didn't know what had come over her maybe it was the warmth of the water, or the way he'd said he liked taking care of her. But the shame that had clawed at her just minutes ago was gone, replaced by something quiet and steady.
"G Give me the soap." She reached out, her hand finding the bar on the edge of the tub. "I'll wash myself first. Then you… you can get the shaving things ready." Her face was still hot, but she forced the words out. "You do know how to do this, right?"
Lucian ran a hand over his face, his palm rough against his stubble. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep his composure.
Sera… she was so fcking beautiful it made his chest ache. Even a man who'd spent his life in control of money, of people, of everything could barely handle it.
"Y yeah. I've got it." His voice was thick. "Just call me when you're done, Seraphina."
"O—okay." She heard the door open and close, the click of the lock soft behind him.
Left alone, she buried her face in her hands, her heart hammering so hard it felt like it would burst through her ribs.
"I'm crazy. Crazy." She pounded her fist lightly against her chest. "He's a man oh my God. What if something happens? I'm so embarrassed. At least if I had a body that made sense but ahhh!"
She slapped her forehead, then fumbled for the shower handle. The water sprayed warm over her skin, and she grabbed the soap, lathering it fast between her hands. She needed to hurry before her courage crumbled and she called out for him to stop this whole thing.