79 Tam YOURS 2
orgasm he gave me.
Then he stood.
1 backed into the bed, breathless, waiting.
Points
Lucian climbed on, pulling my legs over his shoulders, lifting my hips off the bed. Just how I liked it. Just like during my
heat.
And when he entered me-f**k. It was perfect.
I wished Tina could see this. What her petty little lie had led to. What we had built in spite of her. Because this wasn’t just
lust.
It was love. Passion. Power.
And Lucian was mine.
We’d been at it for a while, lost in each other, and when Lucian finally came, he collapsed beside me, breathless and
flushed.
“I wanted to do this by the lake,” I said between gulps of air.
He laughed. “You’re mean, Mara. You wanted Tina to see us.”
I smirked. “Maybe. But honestly, I just wanted to make love there-before I ran into her and she pissed me off.”
He got off the bed, still gloriously naked, and walked across the room. I watched him shamelessly-his toned body, the
strength in his back, the way his muscles moved. He was a living sculpture. He returned with his tablet in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.
He sat down next to me and handed me the tablet.
It was open to an email.
A picture of me hugging Darian at the lake.
Beneath it, Tina’s message:
“You’re wasting your time with a w***e. Couldn’t even stick around for the screwing part. I’d never do this to you,
Lucian.”
I laughed out loud. Lucian chuckled beside me.
“She’s getting sloppy,” I said.
“Desperate,” he agreed.
“Why didn’t you believe her?” I asked, even though I already knew.
He looked at me seriously. “Because I know you, Mara. And I know you love me.”
That… got me.
Deeply.
His voice, his certainty-it wrapped around my heart and squeezed until I could barely breathe.
“I was only sad for Darian,” he added. “He must have really cared about you. I just want him to move on. That’s why I want us to leave-give him space. If he doesn’t see you, maybe he’ll have a chance with Tiffany. Start over.”
I nodded slowly, heart heavy with what I hadn’t told him-Darian’s desperation, his pleas, his promises to wait for me no matter what. But I didn’t want to ruin this moment. Not now.
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10 am Yours 2
+ Points
You need to stop hugging him, Mara, Lucian said gently. “Being kind to him… it gives him hope. Please. I know it’s hard- he’s your friend-but it’s better for both of you.”
I sighed. He was right. Painfully right. And for Lucian, I would try.
Then, he reached into the bag and handed me a box of dark, luxurious chocolates-alcohol-infused and wrapped in gold
foil.
“Something sweet to eat,” he said with a smile as he opened it for me.
I smiled back, already softening.
Then he pulled out a small jewelry box and handed it to me.
“And something beautiful to keep.”
I opened it.
2
Inside was a golden locket, simple and elegant. Etched into it were the words:
Forever yours, Lucian
Tears hit my eyes before I could even speak.
“Do you love it?” he asked quietly.
I nodded, speechless, and handed it to him. I turned, lifted my hair.
He fastened it around my neck, and when I faced him again, I crashed my lips against his.
“I love you, Lucian,” I whispered against his mouth, “so much.”
“I love you too, Mara,” he said, his voice full. “You are my love. My life. My heart will beat for you until I die.”
I held him tightly, not wanting to let go.
“We’ll take some photos tomorrow,” he said gently. “You can keep them in your locket. And then… we’ll go see our ‘ holiday’ home.”
I giggled, the tears still fresh but fading.
I couldn’t wait to see the house.
To leave the Nighthorn mansion behind.
And finally… find some peace.
Cast (Lucian’s POV) Tina’s Schemes
+ Pants?
79 (Lucian’s POV) Tina’s Schemes
Lucian
I woke before dawn, my chest tight with anticipation. The house I’d rented for Mara wasn’t anything grand-just a modest, quiet place tucked away where the trees stood like sentinels. It reminded me of her parents’ home. Familiar. Safe. I knew she’d smile when she saw it, and that smile meant everything to me. She didn’t care for extravagance. She wanted something real. Something that felt like home.
I hadn’t told her yet, but if this place felt right to us-if the walls echoed with laughter and mornings felt like peace-I’d make it permanent. I’d buy it. I was ready to start our life. A family. A future. Just us.
But there was still a shadow hanging over me. Martha. As long as she was free and had access to power, I wasn’t safe. Mara wasn’t safe. Darian was the only other person with anything to gain from my death, but I knew my brother. He wasn’t a killer. He was impulsive, spoiled, sure-but his heart wasn’t cruel. He loved Mara, painfully so. And though he hated how things had turned out, he blamed our mother, not me. He wouldn’t hurt the woman he loved.
Still, it was strange how life twisted. I never saw Mara coming. Not like this. I remember the first time I visited her home- how I sat on that weathered bench, acting like a damn fool. I was cruel. I accused her of sleeping her way to power, called her a gold digger. She just stood there, calm, taking it all in without a word. I thought she’d break. She didn’t.
Later, I found out the truth-she was untouched, uninterested in wealth or power. And I realized how little I knew about anything. How small I must’ve seemed to her.
Yet somehow, the goddess smiled on me. Gave me a second chance. Gave me Mara.
She was everything Tina wasn’t.
With Tina, it was always shallow-material. With Mara, it was soul-deep. She didn’t need anything from me but me. She listened. She saw me. And still, she stayed.
My father had once promised me a reward for going through with the union, a political move-another one of Martha’s cruel orchestrations. I agreed, not for the reward, but to contain the damage she could do to my name. Strange how her schemes brought Mara into my life. Her wickedness was the road that led me to love.
Now, lying in bed beside me, Mara looked like a dream. Her bare skin glowing softly in the morning light, her curly brown hair spread across the pillow like a halo. She was all warmth and grace and quiet fire. I never thought I’d want a woman the way I wanted her. Not just desire-though there was plenty of that-but hunger for her presence. For the sound of her
breath. For the way she looked at me like I was worth saving.
I wanted her every night. And every morning, I woke wanting more.
“Come for breakfast.”
My father’s voice, sharp and sudden, cut through my thoughts like a blade. Even in my mind, he was intrusive. I sighed
and answered silently, I’ll be there.
But just for a moment longer, I watched her sleep, trying to memorize the way peace looked when it had a face.
I was about to step into the shower when Tina’s voice hit me-clear, desperate.
“Lucian, please come help me. I’m bleeding.”
Panic jolted through me. My instincts kicked in, but so did memory-the lies, the manipulation. I clenched my jaw, steadied my breath, and turned to wake Mara.
She stirred, still caught in the fog of sleep. “What’s wrong?” she mumbled.
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3.79 (Lucian’s POV) Tina’s Schemes
e Points
“Put on your robe, darling,” I said gently, brushing a hand down her arm. “Tina says she’s bleeding. I need you with me.” She blinked, confused, but didn’t ask questions. She wrapped herself in her silk robe, tied the belt, and followed me. By the time we reached Tina’s room, she was fully awake, and alert.
Tina sat slumped on the floor, hands slick with blood. The sight was jarring-real. Mara rushed to help, but Tina shoved her back with surprising force.
“I want the father of my child,” she snapped, glaring at Mara like she was filth.
I saw Mara’s eyes roll. Not anger. Disgust. Controlled and quiet. I linked Austin immediately.
land. hanking ou
