The Cost of Belonging
Kai woke with Lucien's arms around him.
That realization hit before his eyes even opened.
Warm.
Solid.
Heavy.
Lucien did not sleep.
He was watching.
Kai felt it.
Slowly, Kai opened his eyes.
Crimson met dark.
"You didn't leave," Kai said.
Lucien brushed his thumb across Kai's cheek.
"You didn't tell me to."
Kai swallowed.
Memory flooded back.
The kiss.
The confession.
The way he had given in.
Panic followed.
"This doesn't change anything," Kai said quickly.
Lucien's mouth curved slightly.
"It changes everything."
Kai tried to sit up.
Lucien's arm tightened.
Not painful.
Firm.
Possessive.
"I have class."
Lucien said calmly, "Cancel it."
Kai glared. "I have a life."
Lucien studied him.
"You had a life," he corrected.
Kai's chest tightened. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
Silence.
Thick.
Heavy.
Kai whispered, "You can't own me."
Lucien leaned in close.
"I already do."
Kai's breath hitched.
Lucien pressed a kiss to Kai's jaw.
Then his neck.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Testing.
Kai shuddered.
"Lucien…"
"That sound again," Lucien murmured.
Kai grabbed Lucien's shoulders.
"Stop."
Lucien froze instantly.
Not annoyed.
Not angry.
Attentive.
"Yes?"
Kai stared.
Confused by the immediate obedience.
"I need space," Kai said.
Lucien studied him.
Then nodded.
Lucien released him and sat back.
Just like that.
Kai's heart pounded harder than before.
That was worse.
Because it meant Lucien wasn't forcing him.
Lucien was choosing him.
And that made everything dangerous.
"You don't understand what you are to me," Lucien said quietly.
"Then explain."
Lucien's eyes darkened.
"You are my anchor. My weakness. My cure. My destruction."
Kai whispered, "That's not love."
Lucien tilted his head.
"Isn't it?"
Kai had no answer.
Lucien stood.
"I will give you today," he said. "Use it to realize you cannot escape me."
Kai's voice shook. "That's not romantic."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"I am not romantic."
Then he vanished.
Not walked.
Not stepped.
Gone.
Kai sat on the bed, shaking.
Because part of him already missed him.
And that was the real cost of belonging.