Chapter 821

Lucian moved silently behind Rosalind. "Lower your voice," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "These walls have ears. Wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea about us."

Rosalind felt heat rush to her cheeks. She'd assumed he'd finished dressing, but the man stood half-clothed before her.

To be precise, he wore tailored black trousers while his sculpted torso remained bare.

That fleeting glance had seared itself into her memory - golden skin stretched over broad shoulders, tapered waist leading to those hypnotic V-lines disappearing beneath his waistband. After three celibate years, the sight short-circuited her brain.

Now with his deep voice vibrating against her back, her knees threatened to buckle.

"My apologies," she stammered.

"Did you need something?" Lucian inquired.

Turning slowly, Rosalind kept her gaze lowered, unable to meet his eyes. "Your phone."

He accepted the device and answered. "Graves speaking."

"Mr. Graves, we have an urgent contract requiring your signature at headquarters..."

Rosalind recognized the female voice as his assistant reporting business matters.

She watched as Lucian transferred the phone from left to right hand - and froze.

Everett had possessed that identical habit of switching hands during calls. Why did Lucian mirror Everett's mannerisms so precisely?

Faces could be altered, but ingrained habits never lied.

A daring suspicion ignited in her mind.

Ending the call, Lucian caught her staring. One corner of his mouth lifted. "See something you like?"

"What happened to your face?" The question burst from her lips.

He stilled. "That's rather personal."

"Were your injuries severe? What did you look like before?"

Silence stretched between them before he replied, "That's private history. Your curiosity borders on inappropriate."

Rosalind knew she trespassed on painful memories, yet pressed on. "Why won't you tell me? What was your original appearance?" Her voice held desperate urgency.

Lucian chuckled darkly. "Why this sudden interest in my past? Hoping to audition as my girlfriend?"

Her breath hitched. "I-"

"Careful, darling. Some doors shouldn't be opened." He turned to leave.

Rosalind seized his wrist. When he glanced back, she met his gaze squarely.

"You remind me so strongly of someone."

"Who?" His eyes darkened. "You've mentioned this before yet refuse to name him."

"I need to know if you're him," she insisted, fingers tightening around his wrist.