Chapter 55. Mischief

After Lucien was done with his ice cream, he and Zayn lay down on the bed to sleep. The lights were dim, the air-conditioning hummed softly, and the quiet of the night wrapped around them like a blanket.

But deep inside Lucien, he didn’t really want to sleep. His eyes might have been closed, but his mind was still buzzing. He still had the urge to finish the anime he was watching before Vera barged into the room earlier and hit him. That interruption had been annoying, and now the cliffhanger from the last episode was haunting him.

SOME HOURS LATER

Lucien slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head just a little. He glanced at Zayn’s sleeping face.

Zayn was lying close, his arm draped over Lucien’s waist, holding him in a warm cuddle. His other hand was resting lightly against Lucien’s side, as if making sure he wouldn’t slip away. Their legs were tangled under the blanket, and Zayn’s steady breathing brushed softly against Lucien’s hair.

Lucien’s heart