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I can't help but compare this to my experiences with Mark. Where Mark would have dismissed my ideas or tried to take credit for them, Lucas builds on them, challenging me to think in new ways.
As we continue working, I find myself leaning in closer, drawn to Lucas like a magnet. The scent of his cologne – a subtle mix of pine and something uniquely him – fills my senses, making it hard to concentrate.
When he reaches across the table to point out a passage in my notes, his forearm brushes against my hand. A jolt of electricity races up my arm, and I have to suppress a shiver.
"Are you cold?" Lucas asks, his brow furrowing with concern.
"No, I'm fine," I manage, my voice a bit breathier than usual.
He nods, but I notice his eyes linger on me a moment longer before returning to the work at hand. As he explains a complex concept, I find my gaze drawn to his lips, watching the way they form each word. I catch myself wondering what they would feel like against my skin.
Suddenly aware of my wandering thoughts, I force my attention back to my notes. But my eyes betray me, sneaking glances at the way his shirt stretches across his broad shoulders as he leans over the table.
When our eyes meet, the intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch. Heat blooms in my cheeks, spreading down my neck. I shift in my chair, crossing and uncrossing my legs, trying to quell the warmth building low in my belly.
Voices drift in from the hallway, reminding me of the thin barrier between us and the rest of the campus. Anyone could walk by, could see us through the small window in the door. The thought doesn't alarm me; rather, it heightens every sensation, making me hyperaware of Lucas's presence.
I lean in closer, ostensibly to point out something in my notes. Lucas's cologne envelops me, and I have to fight the urge to close my eyes and breathe him in. His proximity, combined with the illicit nature of my thoughts, makes my heart race.
"Sarah?" Lucas's voice, low and husky, sends a shiver down my spine. "Did you hear what I said?"
I flush, realizing I've been staring at his lips again. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
Lucas pauses, his eyes searching my face. Then he glances at his watch, a small furrow appearing between his brows. "Actually, I think this might be a good time to stop for today. We've been at this for hours."
I blink, surprised to find the room bathed in the warm glow of early evening light. Where did the time go?
"You're right," I say, trying to ignore the disappointment creeping in at the thought of ending our session. "I didn't realize it had gotten so late."
Lucas nods, but there's a hesitation in his movement, as if he's wrestling with something. He takes a deep breath, his gaze intense as it locks with mine. "Before we wrap up, there'ssomething I need to talk to you about, Sarah. Something important."
My heart races. "What is it?"
He leans forward, his elbows on the table, hands clasped together. The serious set of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders – it all hints at the weight of what he's about to say. "It's about... us."
My breath catches in my throat. Us? The word hangs in the air between us, loaded with possibility. What could he mean?
He takes a deep breath, his gaze locked on mine. "I can't ignore this anymore. There's something between us, something powerful."
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "Dr. Morgan... Lucas... I..."
"Please, let me finish," he says, his voice low and intense. "What I'm about to tell you might sound impossible, but I need you to listen with an open mind."
I nod, unable to look away from him.
"In the shifter world, there's a concept called fated mates," he begins. "It's a bond so strong, so undeniable, that it transcends everything else. From the moment I saw you, I felt that pull. Sarah, you're my fated mate."
For a moment, I sit frozen, the weight of Lucas's words settling over me. Fated mates. The concept should terrify me, should send me running for the door. After Mark, after everything I've been through, I should be scared of such an intense claim.
But I'm not.
Instead, a warmth blooms in my chest, spreading through my body like wildfire. Suddenly, everything clicks into place - the inexplicable pull I've felt towards Lucas since day one, the electricity that sparks between us with every touch, the way I feel safe and understood in his presence.
"I..." I start, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've felt it too. This connection between us. I thought I was imagining it, or that I was just..."
"Attracted?" Lucas finishes, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
I nod, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. "Yes. But it's more than that, isn't it?"
