Chapter 16

Ava burst into a weak laughter. Lucas’s face had a stunned look. She had seen him blank and emotionless; she had also seen him curious and even angry but she had never seen him stunned. His pristine blue eyes were lost in time as he fidgeted on his chair. She suspected it was because of her question.

“Relax Lucas,” she waved jokingly. “I was just teasing you; you don’t have to answer that.” It was a brooding lie. She was not just teasing him, she wanted to know if he felt something, something that made him think of her as much as she had been thinking of him for the past days. She was too cowardly to admit it though, even more cowardly to hear the truth. What if he said no? What if he was caring for her just out of duty? She would not risk the little dignity she had left to find out.

“Would you like a hot bath?” Lucas asked, he stood up and removed his shirt. “With me?”

Ava flushed. Was he trying to make her feel better or was he flirting with her? Either way, she