I froze on the spot, barely saying a word.
I could feel his breath on my cheeks and I quickly bit my lips in tension.
"You're not saying anything, kiddo." he asked, straightening himself to look at me. "Cat got your tongue?"
I trembled, my palms shaking beside me as I raised my head to his height.
Gawd, I hate this. I freaking hate this.
He chuckled lightly and moved backwards, turning on his heels and walking out of the door. I immediately released the breath I didn't realize I was holding.
I stood there for a full five seconds after he left.
Five very long seconds.
My heart was pounding like I had just run a marathon and my lungs felt tight, like the air in the kitchen had suddenly become too thick to breathe.
"What the hell was that?" I whispered to myself.
Lucian Banks had just leaned close enough for me to feel his breath against my ear and then walked away like nothing happened. Like he hadn't just short-circuited my brain.
I dragged a shaky hand through my hair.
This man was insane, dangerous, irritating and annoyingly attractive-which was the worst part.
I groaned and downed the rest of my water before abandoning the kitchen.
The gala was still buzzing with laughter and clinking glasses somewhere in the main hall, but I had already had enough social interaction for the night.
The only thing I wanted was my bed and maybe a brain reset, because if I thought about that moment with Lucian for even a split second, I might actually combust.
....
Morning came too quickly.
The sunlight creeping through the curtains felt like punishment for staying up half the night replaying Lucian's stupid whisper in my head.
"You can't escape now, stubborn."
God.
I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow.
"Kill me," I groaned.
Unfortunately, death didn't arrive. Instead, Jeanne knocked on my door, her high-pitched voice piercing into my ears.
"Ezran! Breakfast!"
I pretended to be asleep.
She knocked again. "Ezran, I know you're awake. Come down for breakfast. Everyone's waiting for you so don't keep everybody waiting for too long!"
Damn it.
I dragged myself out of bed, sauntered into the bathroom and had one of the quickest showers ever, threw on a hoodie and sweatpants, and shuffled downstairs like a man walking to his execution.
The dining hall looked exactly like it had yesterday.
Long polished table with too many chairs, too much wealth and unfortunately, too much Lucian.
He was already sitting there.
"Of course he was." I scoffed under my breath.
Perfect posture, dark suit and coffee in hand. Looking like a billionaire villain straight out of a novel.
His eyes flicked toward me the moment I stepped inside. I immediately looked away. Nope, I was not doing that again. Not after last night.
"Good morning," Robert said calmly.
"Morning," I muttered.
I dropped into a chair and grabbed a croissant, hoping if I ate fast enough I could escape before Lucian opened his mouth.
That hope died quickly.
"We need to establish a few things," Lucian said calmly.
I froze mid-bite.
Oh hell! Here we go.
Everyone looked at him. Jeanne sighed like she already knew what was coming. Charlyn leaned back in her chair, obviously amused.
Lucian placed his coffee cup down with careful precision.
"Since Ezran now lives here permanently," he continued, voice cool and controlled, "it would be beneficial if we set some house expectations."
I blinked slowly. "House expectations?"
Robert nodded approvingly. "Yes. Structure is important."
Of course he would agree.
Lucian looked directly at me now.
"First," he said, "curfew is ten on weekdays, nine on weekends. You have to be home on time to join the necessary meetings we usually hold on weekends."
I laughed. Actually laughed. "You're kidding."
"I rarely joke."
"I'm twenty-one, not twelve." I said flatly.
"And living under my father's roof."
Oh, this man.
I leaned forward slightly. "So what you're saying is that you plan on babysitting me?"
Jeanne kicked my leg hard under the table. I swallowed the wince.
Lucian ignored the comment completely.
"Second," he continued calmly, "if you leave campus or the city, you inform someone in the house."
I stared at him like he had just grown horns. "You want my schedule too?"
"No."
He took another sip of coffee. "Just basic responsibility."
My jaw clenched. He was talking like I was a child.
"Anything else?" I asked sarcastically.
"Yes."
His gray eyes met mine again.
"Reply to messages when you see them and keep your sharing on."
My chest tightened slightly.
Was he being serious?
No. He couldn't be. But the corner of his mouth twitched like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
"You sound very confident for someone who just met me a week ago," I muttered.
Lucian leaned back in his chair.
"I don't need a week to understand someone."
"And what exactly have you understood about me, Mr Banks?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied me like I was a puzzle he was slowly solving.
Then he said quietly, "You're impulsive."
My eyebrow twitched.
"You resist authority."
Fair. I know I do.
"You speak before thinking."
Rude.
"And you enjoy provoking me."
I blinked. Wait. "What?"
Jeanne coughed to hide a laugh. Lucian continued like nothing happened.
"Which is unfortunate," he said calmly, "because I don't enjoy being provoked."
My pride flared. "Oh really? The great Mr Banks can't bear to see his ego bruised by someone he calls kiddo?"
A flash or so I thought, passed through his eyes. He ignored my question and leaned slightly forward now.
"And yet," he said quietly. "you keep trying harder to do just that"
For a moment neither of us spoke. The tension between us stretched tight like a wire.
Robert cleared his throat.
"Well," he said, standing up, "I think that was productive."
Productive? I almost choked.
Lucian rose from his chair as well, adjusting his cufflinks. Then he paused beside me.
I didn't look up. I refused, but I could feel him standing there.
His voice dropped slightly.
"Also," he added quietly, "don't skip breakfast again."
I looked up instantly.
"You're monitoring my eating habits now?"
He gave me a slow look.
"No." Then he added calmly, "Just your bad habits."
And with that, he walked away like he hadn't just ruined my entire morning.
I stared after him, eyes blazing.
Jeanne leaned toward me, a broad smile stretching from one end of her cheek to the other.
"Wow," she whispered.
"What?"
"You lasted five minutes before fighting with him."
I groaned and slammed my forehead against the table.
"This family is going to kill me."
