Chapter 98

Serena's POV

I watched him glide toward the kitchen, his tall figure casting a long shadow across the warm-lit floor. A wave of understanding washed over me - this was why he'd suggested dinner at my place. He knew about my deadlines, wanted to save me the time of going out. The realization made my heart flutter.

"Go on," Lucas called from the kitchen, the gentle clink of dishes accompanying his voice. "I'll handle this."

I hesitated for a moment before gathering my laptop and heading to my study. The glass walls had seemed an extravagant choice when I first moved in, but now they let me catch glimpses of him as he moved efficiently through the kitchen, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Settling into my chair, I opened the autumn collection files. The design for Olivia Warren's showcase piece needed finalizing tonight. My mother's old advice echoed in my mind: "Color is emotion made visible." She'd built an international reputation under a pseudonym, her designs gracing runways while she remained in the shadows. I touched the screen, tracing the lines of the evening gown I'd been working on.

Should I go with the deeper burgundy? The current shade felt too... safe. Olivia had specifically requested something that would make a statement. My fingers moved across the trackpad, adjusting tones and saturations.

A notification popped up in the corner of my screen. I clicked it absently, still focused on the color gradients. Then my brain registered what I was seeing.

My hand froze on the mouse.

The webpage that had opened was definitely not work-related. Not even close. My eyes widened as I took in the extremely explicit content - clearly aimed at a female audience. I could feel my cheeks turning bright red.

Eleanor had borrowed my laptop last week to check her email while waiting for a meeting. Had she...? But that didn't seem like her style at all.

"Would you prefer this type?"

The low voice behind me nearly made my soul leave my body. My hand jerked on the mouse, clicking frantically but somehow missing the close button entirely. How had I not heard him approach?

"I-" The word stuck in my throat as Lucas reached past me, his presence warm against my back as he calmly closed the window. The silence that followed felt deafening in the study, broken only by the soft hum of my laptop.

I kept my head down, staring at my hands in my lap, my cheeks burning. The burgundy design on my screen seemed to mock me now, as vibrant as my embarrassment. This was worse than any fashion week disaster I'd ever faced. How could I explain that this wasn't...that I hadn't...

"Serena." His voice was gentle but firm. "Look at me."

I gripped the edge of my desk, gathering courage. I needed to explain about Eleanor using my laptop, about the strange feeling I had about this whole situation. But when I tried to lift my head, embarrassment kept it firmly down.

I felt rather than saw him move, coming around to lean against my desk. The subtle scent mixed with the lingering aroma of dinner.

"Serena." This time his voice held a note of concern that finally made me look up.

As I lifted my head, everything changed in an instant. Instead of meeting his eyes, I found myself meeting his lips. The contact was soft, accidental, and absolutely electrifying. We both startled, a small tremor running through our bodies at the unexpected intimacy.

Time seemed to slow, stretching this moment into an eternity. The gentle hum of my laptop faded away, replaced by the thundering of my heart. Through the glass walls, the city lights sparkled silently, casting us in a dreamlike glow.

I knew, with crystal clarity, that this was a crossroads. If I pulled away now, Lucas would step back, maintaining that careful distance we'd always kept. If I stayed... The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

My fingers twitched involuntarily against the desk, and I felt his sharp intake of breath. The slight movement had brought us impossibly closer. His hand moved to cup my face, the gesture achingly gentle, asking permission rather than demanding.

The choice crystallized in that touch. My eyes fluttered closed, surrendering to the moment, to the warmth of his presence, to the possibility of what could be...

SLAM!

The sharp sound of a door echoing through the apartment jerked us apart. My eyes flew open, heart racing for an entirely different reason now. Through the glass walls, I could see movement in the living room.

"Serena?" A familiar voice called out. "Are you home?"