Chapter 53 You taste like honey
Then he paused to breathe as the screen kept flashing and buzzing with a distracting sound.
His facial expression changed as he saw the caller.
Alex noticed instantly. “Lucas?” he asked softly with a concerned voice. “Who is it?”
Lucas stood up too fast, the couch scraping faintly behind him. “I have to take this,” he said quickly, almost breathless without revealing who it was. “I’m sorry, I really need to…just give me a minute, okay?”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
He turned away, pacing a few steps, pressing the phone to his ear as if it were a lifeline and a threat all at once. His free hand raked through his hair, nails biting into his scalp as he tried to steady himself.
“What the heck is the matter with him? Did he want me to jump into the ocean before he would let me alone?”
Alex jerked at his words but remained seated. He kept watching him…watching the tension in Lucas’s shoulders, the way his voice dropped too low to hear. Then the way he kept glancing back like he was afraid Alex might disappear if he looked away too long.
For a moment, the truth was postponed. Not gone. Just… held back. Even the secret stayed locked behind Lucas’s clenched jaw, breathing hard, waiting.
And Alex sat there, torn between giving him space and wanting to follow up, knowing deep down that when this interruption passed… the question would still be there.
Lucas came back a minute later, but he wasn’t the same.
The color had drained from his face, leaving him pale, shaken, as the ground beneath him had shifted. His steps were unsteady as he crossed the room, and when his eyes finally lifted to Alex’s, they were wide with panic, raw and unguarded.
“It was Emily,” he said quickly, the words tripping over each other. “My sister.”
Alex straightened at once. “ You didn't seem okay. What happened?”
Lucas swallowed hard. His hands were trembling now; he didn’t bother hiding it. “She said Dad found out I’m working at Benson’s.” His voice dropped, low and trembling. “He’s furious. He’s already calling people, trying to get HR involved. He wants me sacked.”
The word hit like a blow. Alex was on his feet instantly. “What?” His jaw tightened. “He can’t just do that. This is my company.”
“Maybe he can,” Lucas whispered, fear flooding his eyes. He stepped closer, instinctively reaching for Alex’s arm, clutching it like a lifeline. “Please, Alex. I need this job. I can’t lose it. If he succeeds…” His breath hitched, the rest of the sentence falling apart before it could form.
He shook his head rapidly, panic spiraling. “Please,” he pleaded again, voice cracking now. “Don’t let them sack me. I’m begging you. I’ll do anything, I will work harder, take extra shifts, whatever you want. Just… Please don’t let him take this away from me too.”
Alex was surprised by his voice. He wondered what the heck was going on to make him tremble like this.
Gently, he cupped his face without thinking, grounding him. “Hey, Lucas,” he said sharply, forcing Lucas to meet his eyes. “Hey,” he said firmly again, but there was fire beneath the gentleness now and he seemed to be boiling.
“Listen to me. You're my Lucas and no one is sacking you. Not today, not ever, and certainly not even because of your father.
Lucas’s eyes shimmered. “You don’t understand,” he whispered. “He always finds a way to...”
“Not this time…even if he is the president of this country, he has no power to sack you from my company, okay.”
“But he…” Lucas started but he cut him short.
“No buts my dearest one. Just relax, okay.” Alex said as he leaned in and encircled his arms around Lucas in a protective hug.
“Don't worry a bit, if he tries anything to hurt you, then he’s about to meet someone who won’t let him free,” he said quietly. “I won’t let anyone touch your job because you're mine. I promise you.”
Lucas closed his eyes, a shaky breath escaping him as he clung to Alex, holding him tight. Fear, relief, and something dangerously close to hope are crashing together inside him.
Alex didn’t pull away right away.
Instead, he stayed close, hands still steady on Lucas as if anchoring him there.
After a little while, he pulled out a bit, just enough to see his face. His voice softened, dropping into something intimate, almost vulnerable. “Don't worry, you're covered.” He said, giving him a smile.
Lucas nodded with a smile, his expression bouncing back to hopefulness. “I trust you.” He said freely. “And concerning our earlier talk. Let's just drop it. I'm not…”
“Shh,” He pressed a finger on his lips, shutting him up.
“You know,” he said quietly, thumb moving to his jaw, brushing along Lucas’s stubble, “when I left Club Unite that night after your sister must have taken you home, I've never been myself.”
Lucas’s expression flickered with a mixture of emotions…fear and curiosity. “Oh, Alex, it was you who saved me that day. Thank you for everything.” He muttered gratefully.
“The friendship we shared that night even though you weren't yourself, the feeling it built in my being…it didn’t leave me. I’ve been craving it since. The way your lips felt against mine.”
Lucas’s breath caught as warmth flooded his face. He shyly gazed away but Alex lifted his face gently.
“My Lucas,” Alex whispered, searching his face, giving him time, giving him space. “I won’t cross a line you don’t want me to,” he murmured. “But I need you to know how I feel and your eyes are telling me something too. Don't you want to feel my lips on yours too? At least you're sober now. Let's feel it together, hmm.”
Lucas couldn’t find his voice. The curiosity was there, his secret still heavy…but right now, Alex was here, solid and warm and choosing him. His green eyes kept him enchanted, so why not?
Slowly, almost shyly, Lucas nodded. Just once, small but certain.
That was all Alex needed as his heart thudded happily. “Oh my Lucas.” He whispered, their eyes locked as he leaned in gently, unhurried, as if giving Lucas every chance to change his mind. Lucas' eyes fluttered closed. Then their lips met, softly at first, barely a kiss…testing and tentative.
Alex paused, pulled away to take a look at him. Lucas’s eyes were closed. He stroked his cheek and his eyes opened gradually.
Alex whispered, “It feels good, right?”
Lucas stared, drowning in his eyes, his heart pounding loudly in his hearing. Alex ran his thumb on his lips. Enjoying the tease. “You taste like honey. The sweetest lips I've ever kissed.”
He leaned in again and brushed his lips softly but as he paused, Lucas' eyes opened. His thoughts were like, "What are you waiting for? Instantly, he cupped his face, leaned in, and captured his lips to Alex’s surprise. Their kiss deepened as relief and longing melted together. It wasn’t rushed or demanding. It felt warm, intimate, and sweet.