Elara woke the next morning with her heart still racing. The kiss from last night lingered on her lips, her skin still tingling from the memory of Lucien's touch.
She tried to focus on breakfast, on the daily routine, on anything—but every glance at him made her pulse quicken. He was seated across from her, dark eyes smoldering, his expression unreadable.
"Elara," he said suddenly, voice low, drawing her attention.
She looked up, meeting his gaze. "Yes?"
He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearm on the table. "Last night…" His voice was rough, husky, but not angry. "Do you regret it?"
Her stomach twisted. "No," she whispered honestly.
Lucien's eyes softened, a flicker of something tender crossing his features. "Good. Because I don't. And I'm not going to apologize for it, either."
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. A notification flashed across the screen: a social media post from the gala last night.
Blackwood Gala Scandal: Lucien Blackwood and Wife Caught in Intimate Moment!
Her cheeks burned as she read the comments: "Is this a real relationship or just a scandal?" "Did they… kiss?" "So bold!"
Her hands trembled. "Lucien…" she muttered, panic creeping in.
He leaned over, reading the post, jaw tightening. "So Adrian Kane wasn't just lurking… he leaked this to the media," he muttered, a dangerous edge in his voice.
Elara's stomach sank. "What… what do we do?"
He reached across the table, brushing her hand. "We handle it. Together. But you need to stay close to me today. No mistakes."
Every nerve in her body went on high alert. The kiss had been private, sacred… and now it had exploded into the public eye.
The day dragged on with tension thick in the air. Everywhere they went, whispers followed, curious glances tracked them, and Elara felt a mixture of embarrassment, fear, and a strange thrill.
Then, just as she began to relax slightly, Adrian Kane appeared again—this time at a charity board meeting they had to attend.
"Lucien," he said smoothly, smirking as his eyes flicked to her. "Quite the moment at the gala, wasn't it?"
Lucien's hand brushed hers under the table, tight and possessive. "Keep your distance," he said quietly, voice like a steel blade.
Adrian's smirk faltered, replaced by a cautious smile. "Of course."
Elara's pulse raced. She looked up at Lucien, eyes wide. "He… he knows everything now."
"I don't care," Lucien said, dark and dangerous. "Because now, everyone knows you're mine."
Her chest tightened. His possessiveness, his dominance, and the memory of the kiss left her trembling. She wanted to pull away—but a small, thrilling part of her didn't want to.
By the time the meeting ended, Elara realized something:
The kiss had not only changed her relationship with Lucien—it had thrown them into a storm of jealousy, public attention, and dangerous tension that neither of them could escape.
And deep down, she knew… this was only the beginning.