Chapter 147

I went to see Luca. My lower back ached, and my feet felt like lead weights. My hands were clammy, my cheeks flushed. The internee had hummed here last night. Today, he was just an annoying jerk.

David tasted victory. Then, reality hit; I realized we were late. The elite eight suddenly seemed smaller than I remembered; the walls seemed to close in.

“Great. Can you all somehow get me out of here?”

“Sage advice,” Luca said sarcastically. “A little less fairy tale.”

I didn’t notice the dim light in the room. I am terribly claustrophobic. And acrophobic. Very acrophobic.

“Breathe,” he murmured. “It’s not going to eat you.”

“My did I think of that?” I gritted my teeth. “Look at my claustrophobia disappear!”

Luca denied this, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he confirmed my worst fear. “I don’t have my phone. But Edward knows I came here, so he should check on us soon.”

“You don’t have your phone?” I paled. “Why—why are you here anyway?”

“Woody is allowed in the archives room because the lock is broken.”

“Oh. And you stepped over the boundary. My fault you assumed what it meant.”

I paced; the unbearable, intolerable man followed me. I definitely liked him better last night. Or maybe I wouldn't have liked him last night either; it would have actually bothered me to have a…

No. I saw a hot stranger and jumped into his arms.

I paced the length of the room in five long steps. “No. No. I need to breathe.”

“Breathe, Aurora,” he said, his eyes wide. “It’s just going to be for a few minutes.”

I gagged, then turned to him. “Do something, please,” I croaked. “I can’t…”

His voice softened as he stepped closer. “Focus on me. Forget about everything else. Keep your eyes on me.”

I nodded feebly. Inhale. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.

Luca’s hands rested on my shoulders. “You’re okay. It’s just me and you here.”

My breath hitched.

“I’ve got you,” he added.

I nodded, feeling slightly better. Looking up, I realized how close he was. He’d been this close last night: on the dance floor, and when he’d pinned me against the wall, staring down at me like I was both his damnation and salvation.

I shouldn’t be thinking about that.

“Breathe,” Luca pulled me from my thoughts. “Breathe with me.”

I was startled when he took my hand and placed it on his chest. His heart beat beneath my palm; his chest rose and fell rhythmically under his crisp white shirt.

“Inhale,” he breathed, and I did the same.

“Good girl,” he commented, making my stomach flip as it had last night. “Exhale.”

He cautiously released my hand once my breathing stabilized. Twenty seconds later, my claustrophobia returned.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured. “This was wrong – for you.”

“You really have it bad, don’t you?” he muttered under his breath.

I choked back tears. There was no way I was going to admit I was stuck in close quarters with him because…

“Focus on me, Aurora,” he instructed, closing the distance between us until he was all I could see. “Do you know what ‘foretelling’ means?”

“It means ‘Nutcracker’,” he whispered teasingly.

“You called me that last night,” I mumbled.

“Yes,” he chuckled. “You looked like a little nutcracker in that dress, so pretty, so…crumble-able.”

“What?”

He chuckled. “You don’t want me to call you…fragile?”

“I’m not fragile,” I said, holding my head high. “I may have had a sheltered life, but I’m stronger…”

“Never said anything about a sheltered life,” he said, his breath on my face. “You’re fragile because you’re so tiny in front of…” He trailed off.

“I’m actually…”

“Let’s just agree to disagree.” He laughed, and my eyelashes fluttered.

Suddenly, my annoyance dissipated, leaving only what I’d seen in him last night: those captivating green eyes and charming smile.

Luca tucked a loose strand of my braided hair behind my ear. His knuckles brushed my cheek before his hand returned to its place.

My eyes glazed when his flickered to my lips, then a creak interrupted us.

Luca took a step back, untroubled. Warmth rushed to my cheeks.

“Everything okay here?” Edward’s head peeked in.

“Just a little mishap,” Luca answered. “Leave the door open on your way out.”

His assistant nodded, opened the door completely, propped it open, and left.

“Are you okay?” Luca asked.

Chapter 147

Embarrassed, I whispered, “Thank you.”

“You were about to have a panic attack. I did what I had to.”

My eyes narrowed, but he offered no explanation. He walked away, leaving me flustered.