Chapter 1490

They fell silent, Lucian shifting from her temples to her shoulders. His thumbs brushed against her neck, intentionally or accidentally, sending a jolt through her. She froze.

"How are you feeling? Am I pressing too hard?" he asked softly, resuming his massage.

Roxanne turned, meeting his gentle gaze, then quickly averted her eyes. "It's fine," she murmured.

Unbeknownst to her, Lucian had no intention of releasing her. "I don't know which acupuncture point helps with relaxation. How about you teach me?" he suggested, easing his grip.

The atmosphere shifted subtly.

Roxanne cleared her throat, feigning composure. "Why would you want to know? It's not like you can massage yourself."

"Well, I can help you destress if you ever get this tired again," Lucian replied naturally.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Besides," he added, "I don't think I'll be massaging myself. If we're both busy, one of us needs a break. Otherwise, who's going to look after the kids?"

He was suggesting she return the favor. His casual tone allowed Roxanne to envision them massaging each other, and a flicker of hope—that it wasn't too late for Lucian to care—surfaced.

Snapping back to reality, she instinctively shifted, yet hesitated, overwhelmed by exhaustion and appreciating the precise pressure of his massage.

After a moment, she remained still. "Some other day, perhaps? I'm too tired today."

He noticed her hesitation. As he wondered about her thoughts, his grip loosened slightly. Displeased, she held his wrist. "Harder," she said coyly.

His eyes darkened at the touch. He understood; it wasn't a complete rejection, merely fatigue. From behind, he saw only the back of her delicate neck, yet a lump formed in his throat.

He tightened his grip, holding her close. Roxanne frowned and turned, about to question him, when she felt his breath on her ear. The next moment, he kissed her neck.

She clenched her fists, her body tense, too afraid to move. "Lucian, what—" she began.

He kissed and nibbled her earlobe. Her body flushed, the exposed skin turning pink. He gently cupped her chin, turning her face for a kiss.