Chapter 26: Chapter 26.

(Lucian)

"You son of a bitch," she cursed, her voice ringing through the room like a storm gathering.

I turned to face her, a small smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. "She's not a bitch," I replied, tilting my head to study her.

"Who?" Confusion stretched across her face, clearly unable to comprehend my deflection.

"Isn't it wrong to curse at someone's mother?" I posed, and for a fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of sadness in her eyes, an aching resonance beneath the surface that she quickly masked with a scoff.

"Is that what you should really be concerned about right now?" she shot back, her gaze sharp and unwavering.

I stood up and approached her, crouching at her level. "Enlighten me," I said, my voice a gentle challenge. "What is it that I should be concerned about?"

Her fiery eyes locked onto mine, but there was an undeniable storm brewing beneath that anger. A rage I didn’t fully comprehend yet, nor did I bother to dissect it—at least, that’s what I thought.

Finally, she looked away, her fingers curling into the sheets as if clutching for solace. "By the way," she said abruptly, jerking her head back to face me, "how did I get here...with you?"

"Are you trying to abduct me?" she accused, the hint of fear in her voice layered with defiance.

I straightened, sitting beside her on the bed, an amused smirk dancing across my lips. The moment she instinctively shifted away, creating space between us, only heightened my intrigue. "It's in my plan," I teased, and her widening eyes were filled with something resembling panic.

"But it won't happen now," I added, enjoying the momentary thrill I saw flash across her expression.

Furious, she raised her hand as if to hit me, but before she could make contact, I caught her wrist mid-air, holding it gently yet firmly, brushing my thumb over her skin. A playful kiss on her palm ignited a flicker of surprise in her eyes, but she quickly jerked her hand back and wiped the spot with her dress, as if trying to erase the touch.

I chuckled softly, a warmth blooming within me as I took in her reaction.

"With such a defiant attitude, I'm sure you can handle anything," I said, meeting her fiery gaze. "But you really shouldn’t sleep like that in the open. Anything could happen to you while you’re unconscious."

A wave of disbelief washed over her as she processed my words.

"That’s not an excuse to move me without my permission," she retorted, her voice sharp. "In law, what you did is called kidnapping, and I could arrest you for it," she asserted, her eyes blazing. Curiously, that fierce fire only sparked desire in me, not fear.

My gaze dropped to her lips, and I swallowed hard. "Are you sure..." I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. "...that you can arrest me?"

"Dare me," she challenged, her resolve unwavering.

I leaned in closer, my face just a breath away from hers. "You can’t," I whispered, my voice low and teasing.

That did it. Her hands slipped into her pockets, her expression shifting from surprise to disappointment, and finally to a hint of panic.

"My phone," she gasped, eyes widening.

I pulled it from my pocket, revealing it with a cocky grin. "Looking for this?"

Her eyes widened further as she lunged for it, but I deftly pulled it away, retreating just enough to keep it out of her reach.

"Give me back my phone!" she demanded, her defiance only fueling my amusement.

"Consider it a lesson on the dangers of napping in public spaces," I smirked, enjoying her flustered response.

"Son of a bitch," she cursed, attempting to reclaim her phone with renewed determination.

I feigned a pout. "Didn’t we just agree to not call my mom names?"

"Hold onto my phone one more second and I’ll curse at your entire ancestry!" she threatened.

She tried to make her efforts worthwhile, reaching for the phone, but I was enjoying the chase too much. It was entertaining to watch her struggle and launch creative threats.

Suddenly, she jumped, trying to snag it, but in her enthusiasm, she pushed me back onto the bed, and I pulled her down with me.

She landed right on top of me, her lips crashing on mine. She widened her eyes in shock, and before she could do anything, I did.

I leaned into the kiss, savoring the unexpected softness of her lips against mine. It was electric, an instant spark that sent shivers racing through my body and igniting a hunger I hadn’t anticipated.

For a moment, she was frozen in surprise, her eyes wide as if she were caught in a dream. There was a heartbeat where everything else fell away—the tension, our previous banter, and the reality of our situation. All that mattered was this kiss. And then, as if we were drawn together by an unseen force, she melted into it.

I felt her body tense for just a moment, hesitating, and then she relaxed, leaning into me, her hands finding my shoulders. The surprise morphed into a deep, unyielding need, and I angled my head, deepening the kiss, coaxing her to open up to me.

Her lips were warm, like a sweet whisper of temptation, and I couldn't help but lose myself in the taste of her. I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing over her cheekbones, my fingers tangling in her hair, drawing her closer as if I could absorb her very essence.

It was raw, unfiltered, and I couldn't control myself no matter how hard I tried to do it. I just couldn't.

She responded eagerly, her breaths quickening, and a soft, almost involuntary sound slipped from her lips that made my heart race even faster.

"Couple 10: Lucian and Rebecca, you have passed." Sia's voice rang out across the room, echoing with detached authority.

Rebecca pulled away from me as if stung, the cold air seeping into the space where our lips had just met.

"What was that?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and confusion.

"We passed the round," I replied, trying to infuse my words with reassurance. "We hooked up before dawn."

Her eyes widened, and then a shadow of horror crossed her face. "They can see us?!"

She coiled away from me, instinctively retreating until she settled a few meters away on the bed, her body language screaming alarm.

"You asked me earlier what I should be concerned about?" I began, holding her startled gaze, my heart pounding in my chest.

She stared at me, a myriad of emotions flitting across her features—fear, disbelief, a flicker of curiosity.

"I think I just discovered it now," I continued softly, closing the distance between us.

She raised an eyebrow, as if daring me to say something foolish.

"It's whether I can survive this night in the same space as you," I confessed, my voice low

and earnest. "You're driving me crazy, Rebecca, and I don’t think I can hold back any longer."