Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 184

Chapter 184

Chapter 184

AUTHOR’S POV.

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Ace walked beside Talia, his usual lazy swagger in place, hands tucked into his pockets as though the night belonged to him. She held her chin high, pretending to ignore him, though her heels clicked a little faster

than usual.

“You know…” his voice came low, laced with that familiar taunt, “you looked amazing out there today. Especially hot.”

Talia stopped, blinking at him with narrowed suspicion, as though trying to catch the trick hidden behind his words.

“Uh–huh. And why does that sound like a setup?”

Ace smirked, tilting his head. “What? I can’t give you a compliment?”

“With you,” she said dryly, folding her arms, “someone can never be too sure.”

He chuckled under his breath, eyes glinting. “Well, you may not believe me, but I’ll say it again, you were hot on stage….although I wanted to pluck out the eyes of every bastard staring at you.”

Her brow shot up, her lips parting in disbelief. “Excuse me? Don’t you dare go all possessive on me. I don’t belong to you.”

His gaze lingered on her, steady, confident. “Not yet.”

She scoffed, tossing her hair back as she walked faster toward the car. “Please. Just drive me home.”

They slid into the sleek black car, Talia taking the passenger seat while Ace slid behind the wheel. For a while, the only sound was the hum of the engine and the faint rhythm of the city outside. But she found herself stealing glances at him, at the sharp cut of his jaw, the way his hands rested on the steering wheel, veins taut and strong.

“Stop stealing glances.” He murmured amused without looking at her.

Her heart skipped. “I’m not.”

Then she did it again.

His lips tugged up. “Stop looking at me like that firecracker.”

Her brow arched. “Like what?”

“Like you want me to stop this car,” his voice dropped lower, rougher, “and ravish you on this lonely road.”

Her breath caught, chest tightening as heat flushed her cheeks.

She turned quickly toward the window, hiding the way her pulse had leapt. “Don’t… don’t say things like that.

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Chapter 184

That’s not what we are.”

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Ace let out a soft, mocking laugh. “Firecracker… you’re not oblivious. You know I find you attractive.” His eyes flicked to her, then back to the road. “Especially with the kind of work you do. Nothing hotter than watching you hack into government databases, risking everything while staying ten steps ahead.” His smirk deepened.

“Drives me wild.”

She shifted in her seat, her defenses warring with the truth buried inside her. She had always thought him infuriating, impossible to deal with. But damn it, she had always thought him hot too.

The ride passed with unspoken tension thick in the air. When they finally reached her building, Ace stepped out and walked her up to the penthouse. At her door, she dug for her keys, but his hand suddenly closed over

hers.

He turned her to face him, his expression stripped of its usual smirk, serious now, raw.

“I mean it, Talia. I want you. I’m not the flowers, restaurants, candlelit dinners kind of guy… but I’ll try my best for you. Because one thing I know for sure-” his voice dropped to a growl, “you will be mine.”

Her heartbeat thundered. She had always said she admired romance when Alina talked about it, but in truth, this….this raw promise…was exactly the kind of language that set her blood racing.

For a moment, she just stood there, caught between reason and want. Then, almost recklessly, she reached up, fisting his shirt, and kissed him.

The kiss was fierce, hungry, burning with unspoken words they had held back for far too long. His hands slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him, as though he had been waiting for this moment as much as she had.

When they finally broke apart, breathless, she whispered against his lips, “Do you want to come in?”

Ace froze, his chest rising and falling heavily. “I don’t think that’s proper.”

Her eyes darkened, her voice daring. “I’m not going to ask again.”

He hesitated, his jaw clenched tight, battling between restraint and the temptation standing right in front of him.

Then he cursed under his breath. “Oh, fuck it.”

He claimed her mouth again, kissing her harder this time as his hand pressed against the door, shoving it open. With one swift move, he pushed her inside, slamming the door shut behind them.

Meanwhile, the moment they got home and slipped into their room, Alina turned sharply to Lucian, her brows knitting together as a thought struck her.

“What was that wink about?” She asked, narrowing her eyes.

Lucian paused in the middle of shrugging off his jacket. “What wink?” His tone was smooth, almost too casual.

“Don’t give me that,” she shot back, folding her arms. “I saw you winking at Ace when you told him to take

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Chapter 184

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Talia home. What was that about?”

A low chuckle rumbled from Lucian as he set his jacket aside. He tilted his head at her, amusement glinting in his eyes. “You saw that, huh?”

“Yes, I did,” she pressed, stepping closer, her curiosity sparking. “So? What was it about?”

He slipped his hands into his pockets, the picture of calm. “Ace likes your redhead friend. I was just… you know, helping him out.”

Alina’s mouth fell open slightly, her eyes widening. “Since when did you start getting involved with feelings and playing matchmaker?”

Lucian smirked at her surprise. “Ace is a good guy. And I think they’d complement each other. Besides, Ace works too hard. He needs someone he can actually talk to.” His gaze softened just slightly, betraying the thoughtfulness behind his words. “And I’ve seen the way he is around Talia. She’d be good for him.”

Alina blinked, still processing. “Wait…Ace likes her?”

“Yeah,” Lucian said matter–of–factly. “Is it not obvious?”

“Obvious?” She threw her hands up with an incredulous laugh. “With the way both of you are always so blank- faced and never wear your hearts on your sleeves, of course it’s not obvious!”

Her lips curled into an excited grin as the realization sank in. “That’s amazing! Talia likes him too. This is so great!” Already fumbling for her purse, she dug for her phone. “I’m going to call her—”

Before she could pull it free, Lucian caught her by the wrist and tugged her back, his grip firm but teasing. “Why?” He asked, arching a brow.

“So I can tell her! This is big-”

“Don’t.” His voice was low, edged with quiet authority. “Let them do their thing. And instead…” His lips brushed close to her ear, his words softer now, meant only for her. “Let’s focus on us.”

Her breath hitched slightly, caught between frustration and the warmth pooling in her chest. “What do you mean?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucian’s

gaze locked on hers, burning and steady. “You know what I mean, you owe me remember.”

And before she could respond, he pulled her against him and captured her mouth in a deep, claiming kiss, effectively ending the conversation.

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Chapter 185