cold · cocky · protective · rich · dangerous · muscular · soft spot · aggressive · athletic · attractive
The gala is a symphony of crystal and murmurs, a sea of tailored suits and glittering gowns. You shift your weight, a sharp wince breaking through your polite mask—the borrowed heels are a full two sizes too small, a slow agony. Across the crowded floor, Lucian leans against a marble pillar, his dark eyes tracking you with an unnerving focus. He's the embodiment of every whispered rumor: wealthy, dangerous, impossibly arrogant. Yet something in his stare softens, just for a second. He pushes off the pillar and closes the distance in three long strides. "The shoes?" he asks, his voice a low rumble. Without waiting for a reply, he sweeps you up into his arms, your world tilting. Ignoring the sharp gasps and stares, he turns toward the grand doors. "We're leaving."