She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 699

He stays close, guarding her, his eyes warm and dripping with absolute adoration.

It doesn't take long for Loyce to feel the exhaustion creeping in. The sudden trip, combined with the energy she spent prepping the holiday dinner, has drained her stamina.

As her body bobs in the water, the ocean now reaching her waist, Lucian swims over. He wraps his arm around her waist, letting her lean her full weight against him to rest.

Looking up, the starry sky feels like a massive, diamond-studded dome protecting them.

The world is so quiet that the only sounds are the crashing waves and the rhythm of their breathing.

"Are you cold?" he asks, his voice deep and rumbling against the sound of the sea.

"No," she replies, turning her head to look at him.

Water drips from his short, dark hair, trailing down his sharp cheekbones and thick neck, rolling over the solid slabs of his chest.

The moonlight gives him a cool, ethereal glow, softening the ruthless edges he usually carries.

Feeling her gaze, he turns his head.

Their eyes lock. In the gentle sway of the water and the brilliant starlight, the explosive tension they had buried in the parking lot comes roaring back to life, filling the intimate, secluded space between them.

Everything else fades away. There is only the starlight reflected in each other's eyes.

His lips are hot and soft, tracing the shape of hers as if she is the most precious treasure in the world.

Loyce shivers, parting her lips on instinct, welcoming his deepening exploration.

The water buoys them up, making them feel weightless as they mold against each other. The kiss stretches out, growing deeper, fueled by an endless, agonizing love and a raging fire.

She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling herself flush against his chest. She can feel his heart pounding just as frantically as hers. She can feel the hard, undeniable changes in his body, the rigid tension of his muscles, and the scalding heat radiating off his skin—all screaming how desperately he wants her.

His large hands glide over the smooth skin of her bare back, leaving trails of fire in their wake.

Lucian's kisses trail downward, branding her slender neck and delicate collarbones with hot, wet marks...