Daddy's Rival: 3. Shadows and Temptation

Alina couldn’t sleep.

Her mind raced with the memory of Lucian’s presence, the way he moved through the room like he owned every inch of it—and, terrifyingly, like he owned her too. The silk dress, the brush of his fingers, the dominance in his gaze—it haunted her every thought.

Her father’s words echoed in her head: “Alina, trust is everything. Family first.”

And yet, all she could remember was the heat behind Lucian’s dark eyes, the magnetic pull of his every command, and the thrill of a boundary crossed she didn’t know she wanted to.

A soft knock at her door made her jump.

“Alina,” Lucian’s voice. Low. Smooth. Dangerous. “I couldn’t wait until morning.”

Her stomach fluttered, even as she swallowed hard and tried to steady her breathing. “Julian—”

“No. Lucian,” he corrected, stepping into the room, the city lights outlining the hard lines of his face. “I’ve been thinking about last night… about you.”

She took a step back. “We shouldn