The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

Ethan gingerly touched his throbbing eye, wincing at the sharp pain that greeted his fingertips. "Damn, she really packs a punch," he muttered to himself.

"Who told you to catch me? Where did you think you were touching just now?" Lydia's voice rose, her chest heaving with anger.

The thought of being touched in places no one had dared to before, especially by a man, filled her with indignation and a sense of violation. The idea alone made her blood boil, her thoughts racing with visions of retribution.

Hearing her, Ethan's mind raced back to the moment of contact, the unique sensation making him suddenly sheepish. "It was all so chaotic, I... I wasn't really thinking..."

"Not the truth, huh?"

"Ow!" Another punch landed in Ethan's gut, eliciting a pained yelp from him.

Struggling to lift his gaze, he saw Lydia's fist raised again, this time aimed at his face. Panic set in, and Ethan braced for impact, shutting his eyes tight.

But instead of pain, the sound of a ringing phone halted Lydia's wrathful arm mid-air.

With a fierce glare, Lydia withdrew her fist and fished her phone from her pocket.

laced with

to see you. His friend's sick and he needs your help. Did he make it there?" Thalassa's voice came through the phone, concerned yet

eyes darting to Ethan still kneeling before her. "Was it you

it's me. Thalassa asked

up!" Lydia snapped at him, her

his earlier transgression was unforgivable to

with you?" Thalassa's voice

from here," Lydia replied curtly, ending

stare, she turned to Ethan, "So, how do you

up at her, noting the fierce determination in her

expression to his

just at

your lab experiment exploded,

you flying out. There was

avoiding it.

but ended up catching you in...