“No.” She shook her head at him, annoyed. “Don’t use that patient tone with me like I’m a child, Lucien.”
The man had the audacity to smirk at her. “Stop acting like one.”
She fixed him with one of her finest glowers. “I am not.”
“Are too.” He grinned.
She felt her stomach twist at his smile. Dammit, did he have to be so hot and so... so. Caia sighed, trying not to smile back at him. The only way to not fall for his charm was to keep at him about the secrets. “For instance,” she placed her hands on her hips, straightening to her full height, not that it did any good standing next to a live action He-Man, “Why don’t you want me asking about the war? I mean really, not the phony answer you gave me when I first asked? Why does no one speak about the war?”
Lucien groaned, running his hand through his hair. “Caia, this is a party, why can’t you just enjoy it?”
“Because I’m asking you a question, oh chosen one.”
“Caia,” he said softly and started towards her. Taken aback, she stepped away from him and tripped on her heel, falling against the wall of the house. “Caia, there is no big secret,” he said as he reached out to steady her. His gaze moved from her face to sweep the backyard and the woods. “The war is such a part of our daily existence that we just don’t talk about it. It’s like breathing. You do it. It’s there. But you don’t talk about it.”
“Unless you’re an asthmatic,” she countered.
He turned back to her with a comically baffled look on his face. “What?”
“If you’re an asthmatic you talk about breathing because it doesn’t come so easy. Well I’m an asthmatic.”
“No you’re not.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s a metaphor, Lucien. I’m asthmatic because I’ve been a part of the war. I was a target and may still be. Which means the pack could still get targeted. I’m just saying, maybe it’s something we should talk about.”
He nodded at her, understanding. “I get it. I really do. But the Daylight Coven do all they can to find out the targets of the Midnights. We have an extra close relationship with them through Marion so … I think we’re good.”
“If you say so.”
Irritation flickered across his face. He took another step towards her, close enough that she had to crane her neck again to look up at him.
“Caia,” his tone was a warning.
She shrugged, pretending to be un-intimidated. “I guess it’s just easier to worry about the war when you were once the target of it.”
He looked incredibly uncomfortable as he swallowed and shook his head, his eyes darting away from her. “You weren’t a target of the war.”
“No. But I was the target of a war. Makes you nervous.”
“Caia,” Lucien growled softly, “I will protect you. You have nothing to fear. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Caia stilled, trying not to make more out of his promise. He was the Pack Leader; it was his duty, nothing more. They were silent together a moment, and then she raised her eyes to look into his. They were filled with sincerity and determination. He really meant what he was telling her. The silence seemed to stretch thin between them, and suddenly the air around them changed. It became electric, crackling and sparking. After a long moment, embarrassed and awkward, she moved to go. She hadn’t taken more than two steps when she was abruptly crushed against him, his warm lips pressing against her own. Shocked at first, her mind taking its time to catch up on the fact that he, Lucien, was kissing her, she stood immobilized. Having never been kissed before, she didn’t know what to do with her lips, and she strained a little as if to pull away. Lucien held tight and kissed her harder, and all thoughts of pulling away just dribbled out of her brain. Her legs began to tremble as if her nerves had snapped, leaving every part of her body shaking. Lucien made a soothing noise in the back of his throat, and left her lips to brush soft kisses across her cheek. He then moved his lips to her ear, his warm breath sending shivers running throughout her as he whispered for her to open her mouth. Her final thought was obliterated and she obediently complied. At the feel of his tongue against hers, another wave of rippling shivers cascaded over her. She stood dazed until instinct took over, and she was kissing him back, in love with the feel of his mouth fused against hers. Lucien’s strong arms tightened in response as she slid her hands up over his arms and entwined her own around his neck. Forever, they seemed to be locked in that kiss, each moment building something new in Caia. It was like a spring tightening, all these feelings she didn’t know what to do with. Her skin grew hotter and hotter, her body losing her usual tight control one burning step at a time.
“Lucien!”
They pulled apart at the sound of Ella calling his name, Caia gasping, trying to catch her breath. She felt caught in his surprised gaze. And then he smiled softly, brushing his thumb across her lips. Her heart thudded. Had that really happened? Did all first kisses turn out that good?
“Lucien!”
He pulled back cursing under his breath, but his eyes never broke contact with hers.
“There you are,” Ella called, striding towards them. “Lucien, the pipes have all burst!”
That got their attention.
“What?” He turned to her.
She heaved a huge sigh throwing her hands up in bewilderment. “A few seconds ago I heard Alexa squeal in the kitchen, and the pipes have burst. Water, everywhere! Then Julia comes running from the downstairs bathroom, Morgan from one of the upstairs, and they’re the same. Magnus is checking Caia’s bathroom while Isaac and Draven take care of the plumbing. But there’s water, everywhere,” she ended on a whine.