The Alpha King's Fated Mate

Chapter 6

Lucian’s jaw clenched, and he nodded. "Yes. Anytime. But there are no strings attached, Isla. No feelings, no complications. It’s physical, that’s it. We keep it simple, or we don’t do it at all."

Isla felt the weight of his words settle over her like a heavy blanket. She didn’t know what she had expected, maybe some grand declaration, something that would hint at more, but she should have known better. Lucian wasn’t the kind of man who opened up easily. He guarded himself, his emotions buried deep beneath layers of control. But even so, hearing him confirm that this was strictly physical left a hollow ache in her chest.

She bit her lip, her thoughts drifting back to the mess of her recent breakup. Her heart still stung from finding her ex-boyfriend in bed with someone else, the betrayal cutting deeper than she had let on. She wasn’t ready for love, not yet, and perhaps Lucian’s offer, while unconventional, was exactly what she needed right now. A way to heal without the pressure of something more. A distraction. She couldn’t deny that she wanted him, and maybe this arrangement, flawed as it was, would give her the space to figure things out.

"I’m not ready to be in love either," Isla finally said, her voice quiet but steady. "Not after everything with my ex." She shifted slightly, wrapping the sheet tighter around herself as if for protection. "So… friends with benefits, then?"

Lucian watched her closely, his gaze intense, but he nodded. "If that’s what you want," he replied. "It won’t change anything between us. You’re still the same Isla to me." His voice softened as he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. The touch was gentle, almost tender, and Isla felt a strange mix of warmth and apprehension.

"Are you sure it won’t change anything?" she asked, her voice wavering just slightly as she searched his face for reassurance.

Lucian’s hand cupped her cheek, and for a moment, the guarded mask he usually wore seemed to slip. His eyes softened, and he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her lips, a kiss that was slow, deliberate, and filled with a promise she wasn’t sure she fully understood. When he pulled back, his breath was warm against her skin.

"Never," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "You’re still Isla. And I’m still me. This doesn’t have to change that."

Isla felt her heart stutter in her chest. She nodded, unsure if she fully believed him but willing to try. The idea of being with Lucian like this, on her terms, without the weight of emotional attachment, was tempting. It offered a kind of freedom she hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe this could work. Maybe they could have this without ruining the friendship they’d built.

She swallowed, her fingers brushing against his bare chest as she leaned into his touch. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But just… promise me it won’t get messy."

Lucian chuckled softly, his thumb grazing her cheek as he pulled her closer. "It won’t," he said.

“I should leave,” Isla said, her voice a little shaky as she pulled the sheet tighter around her body. She glanced toward the door. “Before anyone sees me here.”

Lucian let out a low, rumbling laugh. “Why? It’s not like people aren’t already talking,” he said, propping himself up on one elbow, the sheet sliding down to reveal his muscled chest. “They’ve been gossiping about us for months. You think anyone is going to be surprised?”

Isla shot him a look, her brow furrowing. “Rumors are one thing,” she muttered, standing and quickly reaching for her discarded clothes. “But seeing me come out of your house at this time of the morning? That’s more than just gossip. That’s confirmation.”

Lucian leaned back against the pillows, his eyes trailing over her as she bent down to grab her shirt. His gaze was unabashed, the desire from last night still evident in the way he looked at her. “Well,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “the rumors are true now, aren’t they?”

“That doesn’t make it easier,” she muttered, pulling her shirt over her head. She dressed quickly, her movements hurried as if getting out of there would somehow make the situation less real. Lucian remained in bed, his eyes never leaving her, the smirk on his lips growing as he watched her scramble to leave.

“You’re in a rush, huh?” Lucian said, his voice calm, as though none of this was a big deal to him. He was entirely too comfortable with the situation. “Will I see you tonight?”

Isla froze for a moment, her back to him as she pulled on her jeans. She glanced over her shoulder, her mind racing. Would she see him tonight? Part of her wanted to say yes, to agree to this arrangement and embrace the freedom it offered. But another part of her, the part that was still raw from her breakup, the part that craved more than just physical connection, was hesitant.

“Maybe,” she said, flashing him a quick smile as she finished getting dressed. She wasn’t ready to give him a definite answer, not yet.

Lucian chuckled softly, leaning back into the pillows, utterly unbothered. He stretched his arms behind his head, watching her with a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, his voice dripping with confidence.

Isla rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. She walked over to the bed, leaning down and pressing a soft peck to his cheek. The moment was tender, almost intimate, and for a second, Isla’s chest tightened with an emotion she wasn’t ready to confront.

“Later,” she whispered, pulling back before things could feel too serious.

Lucian’s eyes followed her every movement as she straightened up and walked toward the door, her heart thudding in her chest. She knew that once she left, reality would come crashing back down on her. Their arrangement might have been simple in theory, but as she glanced back at him one last time, lounging in bed with that knowing smile on his face, she realized this was anything but simple.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Isla let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She quickly made her way down the hall, her footsteps quiet against the wooden floor.