"Did you really forget everything from last night?" I inquired as I gently held her chin and made her look at me.
She didn’t answer and acted all cool. But I could see the way her throat moved as she swallowed hard, and the way her fingers clutched the edge of the quilt tightly, which made it clear that she was nervous and just pretending in front of me.
"Are you playing me now?" I asked, my voice was quiet but had an edge of sharpness in it that made her glance at me again. "Or do you really not remember saying you’d claim me as yours... forever?"
Her breath hitched as a hiccup escaped her trembling lips.
I knew she remembered. I saw it in the way her cheeks flared with color and her lips parted like she was about to speak, but stopped herself.
"How... How could anyone remember something that," she whispered, barely audible.
I chuckled under my breath at her cuteness. "Too late. You made a deal, Sera. And I’m not the kind of man who lets go once something’s been promised to him."
She looked like she was about to melt into the mattress from the shame.
"Lo... Look," she stammered as she shut her eyes tight, like that would make her evade me. "I... I was drunk, and... as a... a businessman, you should know that trusting a drunk person is not ethical!"
I couldn’t help as a smile appeared on my face.
"Really?" I raised a brow, leaning back on one elbow as I looked at her. "That’s your logic? Because for your information, I’ve sealed most of my best deals while drinking... so I don’t think it’s unethical at all."
She scowled and huffed. She must not have been expecting me to respond like that.
"Move," she muttered, flustered as she shoved the blanket aside and tried to get off the bed. "I have to study."
"Fine," I said with a soft chuckle, finally letting her go.
I watched her back as she walked to the other side of the room, tying her hair up in a messy ponytail like nothing had happened.
She acted as if she hadn’t just confessed her desire to claim me for herself only when she was drunk.
I loved teasing her and seeing that shade of red on her cheeks. But no matter how much I enjoyed doing that... I wouldn’t cross the line.
I leaned back against the headboard, letting out a long breath.
"I hope next time you say something, you’d be sober and mean it literally."
I ran out of the room like my feet were on fire as I was desperate to escape the clutches of Lucien’s teasing. That man... he was just too much! How could he look so calm after everything? And how dare he remember every damn word I said while I was drunk?
I stormed into the guest bathroom and locked the door behind me. The cold tile pressed against my back as I slid down, covering my face with both hands.
And then the memories of last night hit me like a wave.
I was hugging him, clinging to him, and saying all kinds of nonsense, such as yelling at him not to hug other women, and telling him that I claimed him.
"Oh my God," I muttered, my eyes bulging out of my sockets with disbelief. "What the hell did I say?!"
My heart was racing so fast, it felt like my heart would jump out of my lungs at any moment, and my whole face felt like it was on fire.
"I told him not to smell like other women? I said I’d mark him with my scent?" I groaned louder and buried my face deeper in my hands. "Who even says stuff like that?!"
I was mortified as I rocked back and forth on the floor,
"I need to run. I can’t face him. I’ll just... I’ll go back to the dorms, or the library, or even the moon would be fine as long as he’s not there!"
But no matter where I’d go... He had already heard whatever nonsense I had said to him, and it was unlikely for him to forget, as he was quite enjoying making fun of me.
Now what the hell was I supposed to do? Could I just hide in this bathroom for the rest of my life?
Because honestly... that didn’t sound like such a bad idea.
I was still in my thoughts when someone knocked on the bathroom door.
"Seraphina," Lucien’s deep voice came through the door. He sounded calm and steady, like nothing had happened just now.
I stayed frozen, holding my breath as I didn’t want to reply.
"I know you’re in there," he said, voice lower this time. "Are you seriously hiding in the bathroom?"
"Yes!" I barked before I could stop myself. "Because you are such a shameless guy!"
There was a silence for some time, and then I heard him chuckle.
"You didn’t feel like the same girl when you said you’d lock me up and drown me in your scent."
"Oh my God!" I groaned and slammed my forehead against my knees. "Why are you ?! Why are you talking about it?"
"I just wanted to check if you were still breathing," he said. "Also... I made a cup of coffee for you... since... I have been claimed as your kept man!"
"Lucien!" I shrieked.
"I’m just kidding," he added with a smirk I could hear through the door. "If you ever want to keep your promises... I’m always available."
I was so annoyed at him that I grabbed the nearest soap bottle and flung it at the door.
"Get lost!" I shouted. "I don’t want to talk to you!"
"Now that’s not what you promised!" He said and knocked on the door. "Alright, come out... You have to study, remember?"
I sighed. He was right! All I needed to do was just ignore him!