Lucien’s thumbs smoothed over her exposed shoulders, eyes dropping to the pearl necklace around her throat. He swept her hair off her shoulders, tilting her jaw to the side. She felt his fingers on her ear, making her many piercings tinkle and sway. His breath ghosted over the shell of her ear as he spoke. "You look so beautiful in pearls and silk." He pulled away—but not before she felt him gently fit something firm behind her ear. "Before I forget."
"The comms. You—you have yours, don’t you?" Her voice was breathy.
"Yes," he said, thumbs catching in the dainty edges of her necklace, tugging. "I want nothing more right now than to lock the door, walk you backward to the bed, and take my time worshiping you in this gown." He tugged on the necklace a bit firmer, and she felt it cut into the side of her neck.
"On or off?"
"What?"
She steeled herself with a breath. "Would you keep the dress on or take it off me?"
Lucien made a tortured sound. "I would leave it on, have you make a mess of it, then I’d carefully get you out of it."
She knew they’d be late, but she wanted him—now.
Rin placed her hands flat on his chest, feeling the pressed material of his suit beneath her palms. "Kiss me."
"It is so hard to resist you," Lucien murmured, before he tipped her face up and pressed his lips to hers.
She moaned against him, wanting to break his control. He tried to keep the kiss light and chaste, but she wasn’t having it. He murmured something against her lips about not wanting to ruin her gloss, but she didn’t care. Her teeth dug harshly into his bottom lip. Her tongue slipped inside his mouth. She wanted to stake a claim on him, just as he had on her. A small, insecure part of her hated the fact that she couldn’t proclaim to the world they were together. He was going alone tonight, no date. Any other woman—one far more beautiful than her—could claim him, try to dance with him. She knew it was petty, knew she was being immature.
It only made her kiss him harder.
"You don’t know what you do to me, my V girl."
When they pulled away for breath, it was only out of necessity. She thought she needed him far more than air at this moment.
Rin raked her thumb over his lower lip, smearing away the red gloss that had gotten on his mouth. "There. Now everyone will know you’re mine," she whispered huskily to him.
Lucien made to say something, but the door opened, and it was too late for them to jump away from each other.
Xara entered, eyes and mouth wide in shock as she paused by the door. She stammered for a few seconds. Rin was too busy stepping away from Lucien, smoothing down her hair and the front of her gown, while she felt his presence shift slightly as he moved behind the counter. A hot, thick tension radiated from him that made her throat dry.
"Sorry! I just—I forgot something," said Xara. "I didn’t realize you two were… together like that. I’ll go."
Xara began to turn away, and Lucien’s eyes were filled with danger, green glimmers at his fingertips as Rin saw vines curling there.
Rin caught his wrist, stopping him with a firm shake of her head, then quickly walked to Xara, grabbing her by the shoulder.
"Wait, Xara. It’s not like that between Lucien and me. We were just—I was just—fuck," Rin cursed.
Xara swallowed, knuckles white where she held her clutch to her chest. "You don’t want your date to know?" she asked quietly.
It was an out that Rin grabbed desperately. "Yes. My… date—what I share with him is passionate. It’s forever. Lucien is"—my everything,Rin thought—"safe. And I’ve always felt curious about him. This wasn’t real." She didn’t let herself look back at Lucien as she lied.
"No problem. I won’t tell anyone or anything. Not even your secret date. I know what it’s like to feel a pull that you can’t explain."
At the words, Rin realized she’d been a shitty friend to Xara. The space beneath her eyes was dark, unable to be fully concealed by makeup. Her eyes—they were so sad.
Rin forced herself to step out of her comfort zone and grabbed Xara’s hands. "Thank you. You can tell me anything, too, you know?"
Xara smiled, but the edges wobbled as she nodded. "Keir’s waiting for me. We’ll see you there. Take your time." She pulled her hands away from Rin’s, the door shutting quietly behind her.
Rin realized Xara never got what she came back for.
A red carpetwas rolled out on the steps of the Academy.
In the shadows, lit by the white flash of drone cameras—no reporters were allowed past the gates—Lucien grabbed Rin by the arm and stopped her.
