Leia nudged her shoulder against his stomach, gently pushing him back. Then, pivoting on her heels, she placed a firm hand on his chest to keep distance between them.
"I don't want your mark," she said. "At least, not yet."
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why? Do you still see me as a terrible person?"
She shook her head. "No. That's not it. I'm just… confused about what I feel. It's not something I can decide overnight. It's complicated, Lucien. I need time."
He studied her intently, trying to read between her words, to see if she was simply building another wall between them. But in her eyes, he saw no defiance, only uncertainty, and a flicker of vulnerability that softened his expression.
"Fine," he said at last, his voice a low murmur. "I'll give you time, but don't expect it to stretch forever."
