Chapter 18

Alice, fueled by her own frustration, pursed her lips defiantly and rolled her eyes once more. Seeing her disregard his warning, Lucas's anger surged past its limits. Taking matters into his own hands, Lucas grabbed her face with both hands and forcefully pressed his lips against hers. Shocked, Alice's eyes widened, and her body stiffened in response. When reality struck, she attempted to push Lucas away, but he remained unmoved. Instead, he asserted his dominance by pinning her beneath him, ensnaring her small legs between his long ones, and trapping her against the sofa. Initially, Lucas's intention was to punish her for her defiance, but as their lips met, he lost control. It had been a long time since he had last touched her, and now he realized that his entire body, even his heart, craved her presence. Alice, overpowered by his intense kiss, grasped his coat with both hands. The kiss escalated from controlled to wild, exploring every corner of her mouth as if Lucas's life depended