Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 354

Please Come Back, My Love

Chapter 354

Lucas’s POV

I carried Sophia into the elevator, her weight almost nothing against my chest, her breath hot and uneven against my neck.

The doors slid shut, and she stirred, mumbling something incoherent, her fingers clutching weakly at my collar.

“Lucas,” she slurred, her voice thick, drugged. “Where… where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe.” I kept my tone flat, controlled, even as something twisted in my gut at the way she trembled against me.

The elevator descended. Her head lolled against my shoulder, and I could feel the fever radiating off her skin, could hear the shallow, rapid breaths that told me the drug was still working its way through her system.

First floor. The doors opened.

And there she was.

Claire stood in the lobby, her expression shifting from surprise to something calculating the moment she saw us. She took a step forward, her voice rising.

“Lucas! Wait–don’t leave–we need to talk about this-”

I didn’t slow down. Didn’t even look at her. Just kept walking, my jaw set, my arms tightening around Sophia.

“Lucas, please–I can explain—”

I pushed through the revolving door and out onto the street, her voice fading behind me. Sophia stirred in my arms, her eyes half- opening, unfocused.

“Was that… Claire?” she mumbled, her words slurring together.

“Don’t worry about her.”

“She–she did this- Her hand pressed weakly against my chest. “She put something in… in the coffee-”

‘I know.”

“I hate her.” The words came out broken, almost a sob. “I hate you too. Both of you.”

I didn’t answer. Just scanned the street, spotted a small hotel half a block down, and headed for it. Sophia’s head fell back against my shoulder.

“But I-” She pressed her face against my neck, her breath hot and uneven. “God, Lucas, I can’t stop wanting you. Why can’t I stop?”

“It’s the drug, Sophia. You need to rest-”

“No.” She pulled back, her eyes glassy but fierce. “It’s not just the drug. It’s never just the drug.” Her hands slid up to cup my face, her touch trembling. “You’re so handsome. How is that fair? How is it fair that I still-”

She cut herself off with a broken sound, and then her mouth was on mine–desperate, messy, tasting of coffee and something bitter. I kissed her back before I could stop myself, and she whimpered against my lips.

“I’m scared,” she breathed between kisses. “Scared someone’s gonna take you. Scared I’m gonna lose you. Even though I should want to lose you.”

A memory slammed into me–three years ago, the first night we’d been together, when she’d had too much wine at her parents‘ anniversary party. She’d clung to me just like this, said almost the exact same words.

I’d loved it then. Loved the way she looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

Now, it just made my chest ache.

“Please,” she whispered, and I could hear the drug in her voice, the way it stripped away her control. “I need–Lucas, I need you. I know I shouldn’t. I know I’ll hate myself after. But right now I just-”

My hands moved on their own, pulling her blouse over her head. She lifted her arms to help, and I saw the tears still streaming down her face even as she arched into my touch.