Chapter 26
Vivienne's heart leaped into her throat, her face blanching as fear gripped her. She squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively clung to the potted plant in her arms, as though it were a lifeline.
In a heartbeat, a firm, unyielding arm encircled her waist, pulling her into a secure, almost possessive embrace. Everything unraveled so quickly that Vivienne barely had time to process what was happening. But the dreaded pain never came.
Hesitantly, she opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Derek, his face so close she could feel the warmth radiating from him. His sharply sculpted jawline looked impossibly smooth, his Adam's apple subtly enticing as it moved. Beneath it, the crisp, buttoned collar of his shirt exuded an effortless sophistication, a quiet magnetism she couldn't ignore.
The closeness between them was almost suffocating, their bodies pressed together with no room for escape. Derek's cool, intoxicating scent surrounded her, leaving her feeling utterly cornered. Their eyes met without warning, and Vivienne caught a glimpse of herself reflected in his dark pupils.
Her heart stuttered, as if caught in a vice, and began to race wildly. A delicate blush crept across her cheeks, betraying her composure.
"Do you always throw caution to the wind like this?" Derek's deep, velvety voice murmured near her ear, the timbre sending shivers down her spine. His warm breath caressed the strands of hair near her temple, an electric current jolting her senses and making her body tense instinctively.
It was only when Derek loosened his grip slightly that Vivienne seized the opportunity to step out of his arms. She straightened, her voice soft but tinged with defiance. "It wasn't recklessness. The cobblestones are just too slippery."
Derek's lips curled into a teasing smile as he noticed the lingering flush on her cheeks. His voice carried a playful lilt. "Ah, so you're suggesting we pave the entire path instead?"
Vivienne pursed her lips and opted for silence, crouching to retrieve the plant from the shattered pot. Her fingers delicately brushed the soil from its roots, and a faint, unguarded smile softened her face. "Thankfully, the roots are unharmed."
Derek crouched beside her, his gaze steady and unusually tender, a quiet warmth flickering in his eyes—one he rarely allowed anyone to see. But his expression darkened when his eyes fell on Vivienne's hands. Without warning, he grabbed her wrist, his brows knitting together in concern.
Vivienne blinked in surprise and followed his gaze to find a thin, barely noticeable scratch on her wrist—a mark she hadn't even realized was there.
"It's nothing," she said dismissively, rubbing the cut on her sleeve as though that would erase it.
Derek, however, remained silent. His jaw tightened slightly before he swiftly swept her into his arms, standing with an ease that left Vivienne breathless.
"The plant!" she gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. Her forehead brushed against his lips in the movement, the brief contact freezing him in place for a fraction of a second.
Derek's body stiffened, but he continued walking, his stride resolute and unyielding. Once inside the living room, he gently set Vivienne down on the sofa and disappeared momentarily, returning with a first-aid kit in hand.
"I can handle it," Vivienne said, glancing at the kit as if it were unnecessary. She hadn't paid the scratch much mind—if anything, she would have ignored it entirely had Derek not noticed.
But Derek's focus was unwavering, his movements meticulous as he opened the kit. The tenderness in his actions tugged at something deep within Vivienne, softening her resistance.
"This might sting a little," Derek murmured, kneeling on one knee in front of her. His strong yet careful hands worked efficiently, holding a pair of tweezers as though tending to something infinitely precious.
At that moment, Lillian burst into the room, followed closely by Milo. Milo observed Derek kneeling before Vivienne, crystallizing her uniqueness in Derek's world. Never before had he witnessed Derek kneel for anyone.