Chapter 4 ..

Lucia’s POV

Next day

Following Freya’s advice, I decided to try something different. Instead of waiting for that lightning strike of inspiration to hit before I get back to my usual erotic style, I’ll paint something entirely new. Something I’m not used to… but that I can still do.

An exotic bird.

It sounds random, I know. But it’s colorful, elegant. It has nothing to do with sex at least, that’s what I keep telling myself. Yet, even as I imagine it, my brain tries to turn the curve of its feathers into something sensual. Ridiculous. How does someone even accidentally sexualize a bird?

Still, today I must paint. No more blank canvases mocking me from across the room. No more waiting.

I refuse to let another day become a repeat of yesterday.

So I throw on something simple, tie my hair up, and head out to the mall to grab some new paint and brushes. I already have tons at home, plenty more at the gallery. But going out feels like a reset. Like breathing fresh air for the first time in months.

It’s silly, but I feel good. Hopeful. Maybe today will finally be a good day.

I carry my bags filled with painting supplies back to my car, about to unlock it when a figure suddenly appears beside me and makes me jump.

“Oh my God!” I gasp, clutching my chest. “You scared the shit out of me, Lorry.”

His mouth curls into a slow, unsettling smile. “I’m sorry, dear. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

His eyes drift down my body, lingering far too long, and then…ugh…he bites his bottom lip like he’s in some romance movie. “You’re such a gorgeous woman,” he murmurs.

My stomach twists. Of all the shit that could happen today, this creep showing up had to be one of them.

What the hell is he doing here?

Lorry is a freak. A walking red flag. I’ve had a weird feeling about him since the first time he showed up at one of my exhibits, asking way too many personal questions. But I never gave him my address, never told him where I lived. So how the hell did he find the estate I moved to?

Oh. Right. He’s been stalking me.

I drop my bags and take a step back, eyes narrowing. “What do you want? Have you been stalking me or what?”

Lorry’s face twists into something pitiful. “I… I’m sorry, it’s not like that. I just… I can’t get you out of my mind.” He chuckles nervously, then looks me dead in the eye. “I want to hold you, like your characters hold each other in those erotic paintings. I want to feel you. Let me be the one you use to bring your work to life.”

My skin crawls. I blink twice, stunned. “What the actual fuck? Are you kidding me?”

He steps forward suddenly, grabbing my shoulders with sweaty hands. “I’m serious, Lucia. I want to be your man. I can treat you right.”

I jerk away from him, heart pounding. “Let me go!”

But he grabs me again, tighter this time, holding me as if he owns me. “I swear, I’ll call security!” I cry, trying to yank myself free.

“Lucia, come on,” he breathes, face inches from mine. “Let’s go to my place. You need a man. You paint about it all the time. Let me make those dreams real.”

“Shut up! Let me go!” I scream, pushing at his chest.

His fingers dig into my arms. “Stop struggling, Lucia. Aren’t you tired of being alone?”

“Help!” I yell, raw tears blurring my vision. “Somebody help me!” I can’t believe how strong he is. Is he trying to kidnap me? Assault me?

“Keep it cool, Lucia,” he hisses, pressing his body against mine, holding me like some twisted romance.

Suddenly, a deep voice cuts through the chaos. “Hey!”

Lorry freezes. His hands drop away instantly. We both turn and there he is: Mr. Next Door.

His face is stone hard, eyes blazing with rage. Without a word, he storms over, swinging his fist and slamming it into Lorry’s jaw. Lorry stumbles backward with a grunt, but before he can recover, Mr. Next Door punches him again this time, a blow to the gut. Lorry folds over, wheezing.

Mr. Next Door grabs his collar, yanking him upright, eyes piercing. “What the fuck were you trying to do?” he growls. “Grabbing a woman like that?”

“L…I didn’t mean to,” Lorry stammers, voice trembling. His lips quiver, tears slipping down his face. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

“Scram!” Mr. Next Door shoves him hard in the chest, making him stumble again. “If I ever catch you near her again, I’ll fucking kill you!”

God, he’s so hot when he’s furious.

“I’m sorry, sir!” Lorry whines, practically tripping over himself as he scampers away.

“I said, scream!” Mr. Next Door booms.

Lorry flees, tears streaming, and in his panic, slams his head against the wall. He whimpers and keeps running.

Mr. Next Door turns to me once Lorry disappears into the distance. “Are you okay?”

“I didn’t ask for your help,” I snapped, frowning. “I had it under control. I didn’t need you.”

“Is that so?” he grunts, stepping closer. “So I should’ve just let that creep drag you away?”

“Yeah, I mean I was trying to fight him off.”

“You were calling for help.”

“I was trying to scare him,” I roll my eyes, folding my arms.

His mouth curls into a slow, dangerous smile as he grabs my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies nearly touch. His scent is rich spice and danger flooding my senses.

Fuck.

And the way his eyes bore into mine, like he’s trying to see through me, makes my stomach churn. It’s terrifying, yet I can’t look away. I hate him. I hate how attractive he is even when he’s infuriating. But even more, I hate that I don’t want to break the stare.

“Why are you so stubborn, huh?” he murmurs, his voice thick like honey. “Always pretending you don’t care about me?”

His grip tightens on my waist. I hate how much I want to melt into him.

“Let me go,” I whisper, weakly pushing at his chest, even though I don’t mean it.

He doesn’t budge. Didn’t you say you can save yourself? Then save yourself from me now.

He leans in closer, his voice a dark whisper against my ear. “Lucia… if I wanted to, I’d bend you over right here, right now. But I don’t have to force you. You’d give yourself to me willingly crawl into that stubborn little head of yours, and I’d make you dream about me. Crave me. Beg me to erase that bratty attitude.”

My breath catches. Why am I wet? Why is my mind begging me to beg him?

Snap out of it.

“Ohhh,” I blurt, blinking away the heat clouding my head. “So you want to see the color of my panties? Is that it? Mr. Next Door? Want a taste?”

“You’re the one who wants a taste of me, Lucia,” he says, pressing his body harder against mine. My clit throbs with the contact. “I saw how you looked at me at the gym yesterday. Say it. Say you want me. But I won’t make it easy. You’ll beg me to ruin you.”

“I don’t want you!” I shove him back, chest rising. “Fuck you!” I flipped him off. “I’d never want a grump like you. You’re a fucking asshole!”

I bend to grab my bags, but he snatches them before I can.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Whatever you think,” he says over his shoulder.

My jaw drops. “What?!”

Before I can cuss him out, he storms off with my

bags. Like an idiot, I trail behind him, stunned, fuming and strangely turned on.

Who the fuck does this man think he is?