She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 242

When Loyce woke up, it was three in the morning. She stared out at the empty, dark streets, the sky still a deep, inky blue.

Her gaze was hazy for a moment before she instinctively turned and saw his handsome face, peaceful in sleep. The car was filled with the mingled scent of their breathing.

Loyce watched him for a while, her mind replaying the moment he had gambled his entire future to protect her. Lucian was certainly a man of courage and confidence. But to be so confident as to place his entire fate in her hands, allowing her to control his destiny… that was truly rare.

He didn't have a chip in his brain forcing his loyalty; his actions were entirely his own. Compared to the people she controlled with technology, who were incapable of betrayal, his trust felt exceptionally precious.

“Had your fill of looking?” Lucian’s voice, raspy with sleep, broke the silence, though his eyes remained closed.

Loyce didn’t even flinch. “Why didn’t you say you were awake?”

“I wanted to see if you’d do anything else,” he murmured, slowly opening his eyes with a hint of disappointment.

“Do what?” she countered. “It’s not like I was going to assassinate you.”

A low chuckle escaped him. He shifted, leaning in close until his face was just inches from hers. His gaze was like a physical touch, tracing the line of her eyebrows before settling on her lips. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “You’ve seen the movies, haven’t you? When a couple falls asleep in a car, one of them always sneaks a kiss.”

Loyce’s eyes drifted down to his thin lips. They were, admittedly, sexy.

But…

She raised a hand, pressing her palm flat against his chin and pushing him away. “You’re too old.”

A dead silence filled the car.

Lucian’s pupils constricted. Even in the dim light, the sudden darkness on his face was unmistakable.

“You think I’m too old?” He gripped her wrist, his thumb rubbing dangerously over her pulse. His voice dropped to a husky whisper. “So you won’t even play around with me?”

If she wasn’t mistaken, she heard a note of genuine hurt in that last question. He was truly offended that she wouldn't even *play* with him.

Loyce held his gaze for a long moment, then a slow smile spread across her face. “I never realized you were so insecure.”

She pulled her hand from his grasp, reached into her pocket, and retrieved a medicated candy, which she popped into his mouth. “I was just kidding.”

It was as close to an apology as she got. Lucian’s lips brushed against her fingertips as his tongue collected the candy, and the tension in his face finally eased. As he started the car, he added, “My health might be poor, and my life might be short, but in other areas, I’m not old.”

Loyce nodded, discreetly wiping her fingers on her pants. “Not old at all,” she said placatingly. “So where are we going now?”

“To get fondue.”

“No fondue places are open at this hour.”

“We’ll eat at home.”

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