Page 83 of Obsessing Over His Favorite

Lucas flinched.

Lucas’s hands dropped, and he shook his head slowly, a harsh breath escaping his lips. His shoulders sagged under the weight of his regret. “I didn’t know,” he murmured, voice cracking.

“I had only gone to drop Amelia home,” he said quickly. “Her place was just an hour away from the venue. I thought you were angry about it, that’s all. I didn’t know that—”

“Great. Good for you,” Emily cut him off with a cold, dismissive wave. She shoved him aside and stood, storming toward the bathroom.

“You can leave,” she said over her shoulder, voice icy. “Put your clothes on and get out.”

Lucas’s body tensed, but he moved quickly, following her with long strides.

“Let’s just sleep together tonight,” he said, voice low and rough, desperation flickering in his eyes. “It’s been so long—”

“No,” she whirled around. “You’renotsleeping with me. I told you—we’re done. I broke up with you.”

She walked into the bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

Lucas stood alone in the silence, chest rising and falling unevenly as he swallowed the ache inside. His hands curled into fists at his sides, nails biting into his palms, fighting back the flood of emotions threatening to spill.

Later that night, Lucas slipped on the pants he’d arrived in, his bare chest rigid with tension. He moved quietly, each step silent as he entered her bedroom.

Moonlight poured through the curtains, casting a soft, silvery glow across the room. Shadows stretched along the walls, still and cold.

Emily lay curled on her side, back turned to him—small, distant, fragile in a way that cut deeper than words.

Lucas paused at the doorway. His breath hitched. For a moment, he just watched her. Then, he moved closer.

Carefully, he slipped into bed behind her. The mattress dipped under his weight.

Slowly, he wrapped an arm around her waist, easing her back against his chest. His other hand rested on her arm, hesitant at first, before holding her a little tighter. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent like a man clinging to a memory.

He closed his eyes. Pretending, just for a few stolen hours, that nothing had changed.

***

Emily stirred awake, only to find herself tucked into a strong, bare chest. Her eyes flew open in shock. She jolted back instinctively, escaping his grip.

Feeling her pull away, Lucas sat up too, blinking down at her with sleep still clouding his eyes. “You’re awake,” he murmured.

She shot him a cold glare. “What are you doing in my bed? I told you to leave last night.”

Lucas smirked, slow and unbothered, stretching his arms behind his head like a man waking from a dream.

“Did you really think I’d listen to you,” he said, his voice low and cocky, “when it comes to us sleeping together?” His gaze held a teasing glint.

Her eyes widened in fury. “Are you out of your mind?!”

She threw the blanket off herself and tried to get up but he was faster. He tackled her back down to the bed, pinning her beneath him. His hand caught her wrists, holding them down on either side of her face as his body hovered over hers.

His face dipped close, breath warm against her skin.

“Well,” he whispered, his smirk deepening, “since you’re already mad at me… why not let me make you a little madder—in exchange for a good morning kiss?”

“Don’t be shameless,” she snapped, glaring up at him. “You’ve already trespassed into my house. My bedroom. Are you seriously going to keep doing this when I’ve told you I don’t wantanythingto do with you?”

Lucas looked at her, his expression softening. He lowered his face, brushing his lips against her cheek gently.

“You don’t dislike my kisses. You’ve just forgotten how much you love them.” His voice dropping to a low murmur. “Let me remind you.”