Nina's eyes snapped wide open, her breath catching in her throat so hard she immediately burst into a fit of violent, desperate coughing.
"Oh! Good heavens!" Bianca gasped, her hands flying to her face.
Lucas didn't miss a beat. His large, warm palm flattened against Nina's back, rubbing steady, comforting circles between her shoulder blades while his thumb lightly stroked the nape of her neck. His face remained infuriatingly calm, a tiny, wicked smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he watched her turn three shades of red.
"Easy, wifey," Lucas murmured, his deep voice carrying a low, teasing vibration right against her side. "Don't choke on the excitement."
"Water! Get her some water!" Bianca insisted, rushing over to the sleek glass dispenser set on the marble side table in the corner of the lounge. She poured a tall glass and scurried back, handing it directly to Nina. "Here, drink this, dear! Are you alright?"
