Chapter 110

Lucas's POV

The door of the ocean-view suite clicked shut behind us. Serena had fallen asleep during our drive after the airport, her breathing soft and even against my shoulder.

I carried her to the bedroom, careful not to wake her. The six-hour flight and subsequent drive had clearly taken their toll. Her head rested naturally against my chest, blond hair cascading over my arm.

Setting her down gently on the king-sized bed, I took a moment to study her features. The usual sharp intelligence that animated her face had softened in sleep, replaced by a rare vulnerability that stirred something protective in my chest. Without thinking, I reached out to brush a strand of hair from her cheek.

The ocean breeze rustled the gauzy curtains, carrying with it the rhythmic sound of waves. I adjusted the air conditioning to a comfortable temperature and pulled a light blanket over her sleeping form.

Just as I was heading toward the bathroom for a shower, a phone buzzed quietly. I moved swiftly to silence it before it could disturb Serena. Eleanor's name flashed across the screen.

"Yes?" I kept my voice low, moving away from the bed.

"Lucas? Is Serena okay?" Eleanor's voice carried a distinct note of concern.

"She's sleeping."

"Oh." A pause. "Listen, you better not-"

"She's safe with me." My tone was firm but not unkind. I understood Eleanor's protective instincts toward Serena.

"But you can't just-" Eleanor's voice rose slightly. "I mean, you're both alone and-"

"Manage your own affairs, Eleanor. I'm going to bed." I ended the call before she could protest further, setting the phone on silent.

Serena's POV

Consciousness returned slowly, like waves lapping at the shore of my mind. The first thing I noticed was unfamiliar softness beneath me - different from my own bed. My thoughts felt foggy, disconnected. Where was I?

I forced my heavy eyelids open. Dim evening light filtered through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating an unknown room. Luxurious and intelligent, the sound of the sea filling the air, and an endless blue horizon. The salty tang of the air was refreshing as I looked out at the vast ocean. The last clear memory I had was being in the car with Lucas, heading to... Sandals Royal Bahamian? Everything after that was a blur.

Alarm shot through me as full awareness hit. My clothes felt different against my skin. I sat up abruptly, heart pounding as I looked down at myself. Instead of my original gown, I was wearing a silk pajama I'd never seen before.

With trembling fingers, I checked underneath. My underwear was gone.

"How could I have been so careless?" I muttered, angry at myself for letting my guard down around Lucas. Just because he'd shown a gentler side lately didn't mean...

"Are you writing a screenplay in your head, Serena?"

The low voice made me jump. Lucas stood in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the hall light. How long had he been watching me?

"When did you get here?" I demanded, pulling the blanket higher despite being fully dressed.

"Long enough." His lips curved in that infuriating half-smile. "I've seen everything there is to see, anyway."

Heat rushed to my face - both from embarrassment at being caught checking myself and fury at his deliberately ambiguous response. "What exactly does that mean?"

Instead of answering, he gestured toward a door. "Your luggage is in the walk-in closet. Everything's been unpacked. There are people preparing for dinner, so you might want to put on some underwear before joining us."

I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at the doorway, but he'd already stepped back, closing the door with a soft click. His quiet chuckle drifted through the wood, a slight smile plays on my lips.