Chloe came down the stairs a few minutes later, dressed in her robe, her hair damp from a quick wash. The scent of her vanilla body lotion drifted faintly through the air.

Lucius sat on her couch, one arm stretched lazily across the backrest, a glass of wine already in his hand like he'd always belonged there.

She crossed her arms. "You could've waited outside, you know."

He turned his head, eyes glimmering with that familiar teasing calm. "And miss your dramatic reaction? Never."

She rolled ...