The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1206

The scorching breath tickled the edges of Thalassa's ear, carrying an invasive scent of peril.

Her body tensed, frozen in place, her pupils dilated, eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Lysander's words were eerily familiar. Weren't they the same ones she'd uttered to him not too long ago?

Back then, when little Elowen had offered Lysander some homemade cookies, Thalassa, worried that he'd refuse and hurt the child's feelings, had advised him, “Don’t reject the kindness of a child; it might break their heart.”

Now, Lysander had turned her words back on her. How could she possibly refuse?

But sitting on his lap, this way—when a child does it, it’s the sweetness of a father-daughter bond.

And her? Sitting on Lysander’s lap, it could only seem awkward, the sort of thing to set tongues wagging and minds wandering.

Thalassa squirmed uncomfortably, her body rigid, her cheeks burning, she reminded him, “Your leg is still injured. Shouldn’t you be more careful?”

His leg, after all, was still recovering from that nasty burn.

“It’s fine,” Lysander murmured in his deep, resonant voice, his hand circling her waist to pull her closer, adjusting her seating.

Just as he would with Elowen, cradling her small frame, he enveloped Thalassa, creating the image of her nestled safely in his arms.

Although Thalassa was an adult, next to Lysander, her petite form seemed childlike in his strong, broad embrace.

Feeling the masculine scent of him, being held like a child, her face turned a deeper shade of red and her breathing grew labored. But Lysander's words left her unable to struggle or protest, and she didn’t dare to.

Thalassa mentally groaned. Elowen, your expectations are a bit high, aren’t they? Getting your stoic, ice-cold dad to smile might be harder than climbing Mount Everest.

With trepidation, Thalassa glanced at Lysander and, to her surprise, saw the corners of his lips curve upward. His smile transformed the world around him, as if everything existed solely to witness his allure.

He was so stunning that a single glance could intoxicate the soul.

“Mommy, Daddy’s smiling. Now look at the camera,” Elowen’s sweet voice pulled Thalassa back from her trance.

Startled, Thalassa quickly averted her gaze to Elowen, her heart racing like a startled deer. Just one look at Lysander’s smile had thrown her own heartbeat into disarray.

With a flustered smile, she posed for the photograph.