MARIA

I snuggled closer to the warm body beside me, an arm around my waist, my face pressed into a chest.

When last night's events came back to me I realised I was cuddling with Lucian and I felt so safe in his embrace.

I didn't want to be away from him last night hence I made a stupid excuse and slept next to him and being such a cuddle lover, I must have cuddled him in my sleep. I used to do the same thing with Austin when we used to share a room as kids.

But then I remembered how Lucian called my parents as mom and dad respective and my mood soured. It's not that I don't want him to call them that... it's just...if he considers them as his parents then does he consider me as his sister?

Ever since I heard him call them that yesterday my mood had been off and he noticed that but I didn't tell him the real reason. I hope he doesn't consider me as his sister because then my heart will break further as I love him so much. More than I ever loved anyone, more than my heart can bear.

He was in a deep sleep and I didn't make any efforts to leave either, I was loving this but when there was a knock on the door and someone pushed it opened, I sprang up straight.

Lucian groaned, his eyes still closed and rolled on to his back and the door opened revealing dad.

Shit. Shit. Shit. I blushed hard when he paused on seeing us both on the same bed.

"D-dad...I-I..." I stuttered, not knowing what to tell him.

"I didn't see anything", he said nonchalantly and was quick to turn around and leave and I sighed in relief.

I was glad to have such a cool dad like him, he never questioned me relating to who I was hanging out with and if I was involved with a boy. To be honest, I was never in a relationship because for me Lucian was like an angel and I wanted him only but after he rejected me and I went to college...I did have a night stand and lost my virginity because I was very heart broken and wasn't thinking straight but that was a long ago.

"What's going on?" Lucian rubbed his eyes and his deep and hoarse voice sent butterflies to my stomach.

"N-nothing..."

With half closed eyes he stared at me and before I could change my mind, I leaned down and kissed his cheek lingeringly. "Goodmorning, Luci."

His lips twitched. "Goodmorning."

Before I could start blushing even more and embarass myself further, I ran away from there and went to my own room to freshen up.

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"The moment we show that video as an evidence against Hanniel King he is going to counterattack by bringing out that video of yours, he will try to get you in trouble." I spoke as we all sat around the dining table for breakfast.

Everyone listened to me attentively as Lucian sat opposite to me, I addressed him as I spoke further, "If that footage is from an angle that shows you being harassed then it will come in handy because in that case no charges will be pressed against you since you were clearly defending yourself. But we know he isn't that stupid, he is going to tamper with it and present it to the court in a way which will be troublesome for you."

Everyone nodded in agreement. "So, if we can get that original video, we will have an upper hand."

"I don't have it." Lucian said, his eyes fixed down on the table, jaw clenched. "I tried hacking into his system, I tried deleting it but couldn't."

Lucian owned a security company and he was extremely good at what he did, hacking and stuff and if he couldn't do it then I doubt anyone could.

"We don't need to delete it, we just need the video." Dad suggested.

"Exactly. We just need the video, Lucian. Can you get it?"

He lifted his head and his eyes met mine, there was a storm brewing inside them. Unlike this morning, he was not at all in a playful mood. After a moment, he nodded slowly.

And we all started to discuss our other strategies and once the breakfast was done and Lucian was about to leave for his house where he had all his equipments (computers and stuff) he needed for getting that video.

I met him outside the house as he was about to get inside his car. He paused on seeing me.

"Are you okay?" I asked him softly.

He sighed, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I'm not sure."

"I know all this is difficult and mentally draining..."

"Maria, it's not about that." Seeing the gloominess on his face made my heart ache for him. "I...I am just...ashamed, okay? I knew about that video and I aslo knew that the court won't press any charges against me cause it was self defence but...I was so ashamed of that video being brought out. I still am."

I grabbed both his hand firmly and I just wanted to take away all the guilt and hurt from him, I wanted him to be happy.

"You don't have to be ashamed, Lucian. You didn't do anything wrong, it was that woman's mistake, she should have been ashamed not you. You don't have to feel this way, we all are going to support you. You did nothing wrong." I tried assuring him and then bringing up his hands, I kissed them gently.

He exhaled shakily and pulled them back. "It's funny how you kiss the same hands that killed someone."

"And it's funny how safe I feel in these hands." I had to tell him, I had to make him believe in himself. He was not a murderer.

He scoffed. "You don't mean that."

"I do."

It seemed like he wanted to avoid that conversation as he leaned down and kissed my forehead. "I'll get that damn video."

He sat inside his car and drove away.

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TWO WEEKS LATER...

Everything went as we predicted. In the end, Lucian was proven innocent and Hanniel King received his punishment.

Calix was present there for the hearing but I still didn't see them talking except for that nod of acknowledgement. They needed to sort it quickly.

I hardly got any time to spend with Lucian, those two weeks were hectic.

Once Lucian was proven innocent, I could see him holding back tears and I wanted to hug him so badly but couldn't.

He was once again the CEO of his company and his company started to flourish again.

I applied for a job in couple of firms and even got employed in one of the firms I wanted. I had to start from next week.

But I needed to see Lucian before that. He had gone back to his house and I didn't see him after the whole drama, I needed to make sure he was okay.

I drove to his mansion, in the afternoon, which was near Calix's house, they both bought their houses making sure they were close to each other.

I rang the bell and waited patiently for him to open which he did a few seconds later. He was in the middle of pulling a t shirt over his head and I caught a sight of his abdomen before he covered it with his t shirt.

"Maria." He acknowledged, his eyes roaming my face, definitely not expecting me to visit him.

"Are you busy?"

He shook his head and opened the door wider for me to enter and I entered realising it was my first time in his house here which was extremely elegant not very dark like I expected.

"So..." He drawled. "...how much do I have to pay my lawyer?" He had a playful expression on his face as he leaned against the door which was so unlike him but I loved it.

"Hmm...let me think...a million dollars?" I teased him.

"Not expensive at all."

"Or you can take me out for dinner." I blurted and bit the inside of my cheeks realising my mistake.

Surprise flickered across his face before he masked it. "Dinner, huh? That's it?"

There was this voice nagging at the back of mind which was still afraid that what if he sees me as his sister.

"Yeah... family dinner..." I said bitterly before I could stop myself.

The arch of his brow made me want to hide in embarrassment. What the fuck am I even saying? Maybe I should just leave.

"Family?" He questioned slowly.

I shrugged. "Yeah...you call my parents mom and dad, I am not complaining against that though, and I am sure then I must be your sister..." It was too late to take back my words.

"So, what am I now? Your brother?" Except for the bitterness in his tone when he said 'brother', he seemed unusually calm. "Do you see me as a brother, Maria?" He was till standing there against the door watching me curiously.

"No." I denied it immediately. "Do you think I see you as a brother after whatever happened on my eighteenth birthday?"

"That was four years ago, it's a long time."

"Maybe...I thought my feelings would change especially after you left a year back but then I saw you in Seattle and I look at your stupid face and stare into your eyes and my heart is like yeah, no shit we are not over this guy." I ended up telling him almost everything and I waited for his reaction.

He sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze darkening. "Come here, love."

The contrast between softness and possessiveness in his tone made my blood run hot.

Swallowing hard, I made my way to him untill I was standing close enough for his spicy yet calming cologne to engulf me.

"Closer", he whispered, his eyes dropping to my mouth.

I took a step forward and our chests brushed together, his fingers cradled my face and when he leaned closer, I closed my eyes.

The first brush of his lips against mine made me feel dizzy, it was gentle and soft and for a moment I wondered if I even felt that or it was my imagination.

His hot breath fanned my lips before he brushed our lips together again and it was not enough but oh god, I wasn't complaining either.

I had waited for it for years, for so long that a single brush of his lips was enough to make my heartbeat skyrocket.

Then he pressed his lips firmly to mine just for a second and pulled back. I stood there with my hands at my sides, not knowing what to do or how to react.

When he pressed them again and pulled back, I murmured desperately, "Lucian..."

I heard him growl lowly before his lips claimed mine fully stealing away my breath, his fingers tangling in my hair.

I locked my arms around his neck, tugging at the hair at his nape, kissing him back.

Our tongues clashed and not for a single second did he let me take control as he devoured my mouth rendering me breathless.

His fingers left my face and moved down to grip my waist before he spun us around and pinned me to the door, his lips still attached to mine.

"You are not my fucking sister." He growled in between and kissed me harder.

My hands trailed down his neck and ran them over his back feeling his muscles flex and in that moment I wanted him so badly.

He moaned softly into the kiss and I was about to slip my hands inside his shirt but someone rang the bell.

We pulled apart instantly, panting, my cheeks burning and he rested his forehead on mine for a moment before stepping back.

I moved away from the door and he pulled it opened we both froze seeing Calix standing on the other side with a box in his hand.

His eyes traveled in between us and I was sure my hair was messy and my smudged lipstick would have definitely made him realise what we were doing.

His jaw ticked. "I'll come back later." And he turned around and left.

"Fuck." Lucian cursed underneath his breath as he watched Calix get in his car and leave.

I was too embarrassed to face him, the kiss had taken away my ability to form any coherent thought so I mumbled, "I...I... should leave." And without waiting for his reply, I left too.

Chapter completion on: 11/10/22
Published on: 19/10/22

And yes, I didn't want to stretch this story unnecessarily so it only has twenty three chapters and an Epilogue.