madnovel Chapter 889: The Little Mermaid’s Seduction [Part 1]
Chapter 889: The Little Mermaid’s Seduction [Part 1]
Lux laughed softly.And Ariel felt warmth bloom through her chest immediately.
Because every time he laughed around her, it never sounded mocking.
Just fond.
Like her nervousness wasn’t annoying.
Like it was cute.
That made everything worse.
Lux handed her a wineglass after pouring carefully.
Their fingers brushed briefly.
Ariel almost dropped the glass.
Calm down.
Please calm down.
You are an adult woman.
A very flustered adult woman.
But still.
She took a tiny sip of wine mostly to occupy her mouth before embarrassing herself further.
Then she glanced at him again.
And regretted it immediately.
Because wow.
He really looked good.
Not polished-good like usual.
Not terrifying infernal prince-good.
This was different.
Relaxed.
Loose hair.
Bare chest.
Comfortable posture.
Like she was seeing a version of Lux normal people never got access to.
And suddenly that felt...
Intimate.
Ariel lowered her gaze quickly.
"You look good in this."
Lux tilted his head.
"You’re not shocked?"
Ariel swallowed softly.
"Kinda already knew."
"Sira told you?"
"Maybe."
Lux laughed again under his breath.
Traitors. All of them.
The music shifted softly in the background. Slower beat now. Bass humming through the room while warm lighting reflected against the wineglasses and black marble floors.
Ariel’s heartbeat wouldn’t calm down.
Especially because Lux kept sitting too close.
Not touching.
Just close enough.
And somehow that was worse.
She could feel his warmth beside her.
Feel the quiet confidence rolling off him naturally. Not arrogant confidence. Not performative. Just...
Lux.
Like he belonged everywhere he stood.
Ariel looked down at her wine again.
Then, very carefully.
Her fingers shifted slightly against the couch.
Closer to him.
Tiny movement.
Barely noticeable.
Except Lux noticed immediately.
Incubus.
Predator.
Emotionally observant disaster of a man.
His gaze flicked downward once.
Then slowly back toward her face.
Ariel froze internally.
Oh no.
He noticed.
Lux leaned slightly closer.
Not enough to trap her.
Just enough to let tension build.
"It seems," he murmured softly, "this little mermaid is getting bold."
Ariel’s breath caught.
That voice.
That low teasing tone felt illegal.
"...Maybe," she whispered back.
Lux smiled slowly.
Dangerous.
Warm.
Interested.
Ariel’s tail would’ve absolutely betrayed her right now if she had it.
Instead, her fingers moved again.
Closer.
Until they brushed lightly against his wrist.
Tiny contact.
Nothing dramatic.
But Lux’s skin was warm.
Strong.
Real.
Ariel’s pulse jumped immediately.
And Lux didn’t pull away.
That somehow encouraged her more.
Which was terrifying.
Because Ariel was usually shy.
Careful.
Soft-spoken.
But tonight?
The wine.
The atmosphere.
The way Lux looked at her like he actually saw her instead of handling her gently like fragile glass.
It made something inside her loosen.
Lux turned his hand slightly beneath hers.
Their fingers brushed properly now.
Ariel inhaled sharply.
"There she is," Lux murmured.
Ariel blinked. "What?"
"The brave part."
Oh that hit directly in the chest.
Because he said it so naturally.
Like bravery wasn’t something impossible for her.
Like he expected it from her.
Ariel looked at him slowly.
She understood why all the girls around him looked the way they did.
Lux made people feel noticed.
Wanted.
Safe enough to become louder versions of themselves.
Dangerous talent.
Especially for someone like Ariel who spent most of her life shrinking herself smaller.
Lux’s thumb brushed lightly against the back of her fingers now.
Barely there.
But intentional.
And Ariel’s thoughts dissolved instantly.
"You’re thinking too hard again," Lux said softly.
"How do you know?"
"You go quiet."
Ariel looked down.
Caught again.
Lux shifted closer.
Just slightly.
Close enough that his voice turned lower.
More intimate.
"Do what you want to do now... This is your chance."
Ariel’s breath caught immediately.
Because he said it so calmly.
Not demanding.
Not mocking.
Just... open.
Like he trusted her with the choice.
And somehow that made her more nervous than if he’d simply seduced her outright.
The music hummed softly through the mansion now, bass low and smooth beneath distant laughter upstairs. Somewhere above them, Sira was probably corrupting Fiera’s wardrobe choices while Naomi encouraged financial irresponsibility through lingerie pricing.
Meanwhile, Ariel sat beside the son of Greed and Lust trying very hard not to combust.
Her fingers still rested lightly against his hand.
Warm.
Safe.
Dangerous.
And Lux?
Lux looked entirely too comfortable like this. Half-dressed, relaxed against the couch, eyes half-lidded while watching her with patient amusement. No pressure. No impatience. Just confidence.
Confidence that she’d come closer eventually.
That realization alone made heat spread through her chest.
"You’re too calm," she whispered before thinking.
Lux’s mouth curved slightly.
"I’m an incubus."
"That’s not an explanation."
"It explains most things."
Ariel laughed softly despite herself.
He really did make things feel easy.
Even now, with tension thick enough to drown in, with his bare chest inches away and those sinful pants continuing to psychologically assault her nervous system, he still somehow made the space around him feel... safe.
Which was probably the most dangerous thing about Lux Vaelthorn.
Not his body.
Not his power.
The safety.
Ariel looked down briefly.
Her fingers moved higher along his wrist.
Lux didn’t move.
Didn’t interrupt.
His gaze stayed on her face instead of where she touched him, and somehow that made her pulse race harder because it felt intentional. Respectful. Like he wanted her comfortable first.
Ariel swallowed softly.
"You said I could do what I want..."
"I did."
"...And you won’t tease me later?"
Lux looked genuinely thoughtful for a second.
"Only a little."
Ariel huffed a tiny laugh.
Then surprised herself.
Because instead of pulling back, she leaned closer.
Very slowly.
Enough that she could smell the wine on his breath now. Enough that her knee brushed lightly against his thigh.
Lux’s eyes darkened slightly.
There.
That reaction.
Tiny.
Controlled.
But real.
And Ariel suddenly realized something shocking.
She could affect him too.
Not overwhelm him, obviously. Lux carried himself like temptation with executive authority. But still...
He reacted.
That realization sent a thrill through her stomach.
Her hand lifted shakily.
Touched his chest.
Warm skin.
Firm muscle beneath her palm.
Ariel inhaled sharply.
Wow.
Okay.
That was real.
Lux watched her quietly.
Just that focused attention that made her feel like the only person in the room.
"You’re shaking," he murmured softly.
"I noticed."
"Want me to stop?"
Immediately.
"No."
Too fast.
Too honest.
Lux smiled slowly.