MARIA

Exhausted from my work but glad that the weekend was here, I stepped inside the house.

Lucian and I have been dating for a week and honestly, it was the best one week of my life. Even though he still didn't say 'I love you' to me, in my heart I believed that he did.

When I talked about this to mom, she told me to give him some more time so I was still waiting for him. I wanted to tell him over and over again that how much I love him but I didn't want to make him uncomfortable so I kept my mouth shut.

Someone bumped into my legs and I glanced down to see Alora giggling in her walker. Chuckling, I picked her up in my arms and kissed her cheeks. "Is everyone here only?" I asked her even though she can't obviously speak.

She said something incoherent in response and I heard the sound of laughter coming from the dining room. That answered my question.

With her in my arms, I walked towards the dining room as Althea came out from there trying to look for Alora.

She sighed on seeing Alora in my arms and took her from my arms. "I am never putting them in their walkers again."

I chuckled. "Yeah, they are quite fast. I don't know what will happen when they start walking."

She shuddered. "I don't even want to think about it."

Laughing, we walked back together inside where everyone was seated around the table eating a chocolate cake which looked home baked while Austin played with Nevan.

Lucian was there too and my heart skipped a beat as our eyes collided and I gave him a smile.

I loved how relaxed he looked and dad got up from his seat and gestured me sit down next to Lucian with Calix sitting on his other side.

His fingers intertwined with mine under the table as he rested our hand on top of his thighs and gave it a squeeze.

Calix, surprisingly said nothing, he actually wasn't saying anything ever since dad had a talk with him.

Dad served me a piece of the cake too and an extra piece to Lucian whose eyes lit up on seeing it and he dig in immediately.

I took a few bites of my piece while Lucian finished his within seconds so cutting a piece of my cake, I held the fork to his mouth.

He paused for a second probably because he wasn't much into PDA but since it was a chocolate cake, he ate it without any questions making me smile and I couldn't help but kissing his cheek in return which caused a flush to settle on his cheeks and he lowered his head and kept eating his cake.

My eyes went over to Calix whose mouth was hanging open watching us, as if he couldn't believe Lucian was being so sweet and shy.

I gave him a sheepish grin and he kept staring untill Althea smacked him on his shoulder and glared at him saying that he should be minding his own business.

He rolled his eyes at her and kissed her forehead before engaging in a conversation with mom, dad and Austin.

"Who made the cake?" I asked focusing my attention to everyone.

"I did." Austin chriped in, with Nevan in his arms.

"No wonder it's so bad." I teased him, keeping my tone serious.

Calix burst out laughing while Austin's gaze turned murderous. "I am clearly a better baker than you."

"Oh really? You want to have a competition?"

"Geez." Calix groaned. "Why are you two so hell bent on having a competition?"

"It would be interesting though." Lucian's gaze slid to mine and he smiled softly as if he already he knew I will win.

"No, Lucian. Don't give them any ideas." Mom spoke up. "There will be no competition, you two will only end up destroying my kitchen."

Austin and I had a staring competition that went on until Lucian caressed my wrist with his thumb making my heart flutter and I removed my gaze from Austin and glanced at Lucian instead who was listening to whatever Calix was saying to him.

Once everyone was done eating we all got up and scattered around the house doing our various work as Calix pulled me in a corner.

"You better not be about to give me a lecture against Lucian." I folded my arms across my chest.

"No." He sighed. "There is no point in lecturing you, you won't listen to me plus dad will beat me up this time if I raise any objections."

"Good. So, what do you want?"

"Are you happy with him, Maria? I just don't want you to get hurt, okay? I don't care who you date...I just want you to be okay." He gently stroked my hair and in that moment, he felt more like my father than a brother.

I smiled. "I have never been more happy, Calix. This is all I ever wanted. Lucian is not going to hurt me, he does care about me."

He cut a glance towards the living room where Austin was speaking animatedly with Lucian. "I can see that. He's changed."

I smiled smugly knowing I was the reason for that change in him. "I love him, Calix. A lot. I am so happy to have him as my boyfriend." When I glanced at Lucian, his eyes met mine and I smiled at him.

Calix nodded and said a bit loudly, "But if he ever hurts you, tell me. I'll beat the hell out of him."

"I heard that!" Lucian shouted from there making me chuckle.

Calix fixed him with a glare. "Good, you were supposed to just so you know I will beat the hell out of you if you ever hurt her."

A small smile touched Lucian's lips and he fixed his gaze on me. "You don't have to worry about that."

Calix rolled his eyes and said to me in a softer tone, "Don't tell him I said this but...the same goes for you, Maria. He has been through a lot, keep him happy and care for him a lot."

My heart warmed knowing how much Calix loved him and I nodded. "Of course, Calix. I will always."

He patted my cheek. "Good. Now go to him before he comes to get you himself. I hate to say this but I can feel the tension between you two." He rolled his eyes once again and went away to find his kids who had once again ran away in their walkers and Althea was searching for them.

Seeing me approaching Lucian, Austin got up and left to give us some privacy and I sat down on the couch next to Lucian.

"Hey..." I whispered not knowing what else to say.

His lips twitched. "Hello, love." He tucked a strand of stray hair behind my ear. "Is Calix done threatening me?"

"Yes, he is okay now."

Leaning down, he pecked my lips lingeringly. "Good."

"You--"

Whatever I was about to say was cut off when Lucian said, "Move in with me, Maria."

"What?"

"Move in with me." He repeated, cradling my face in his palm. "I can't live without you, love. My house feels empty without you. You make it feel like a home."

"Lucian..."

He had that pleading look in his eyes and he cocked his head slightly. "Please?"

A chuckle escaped my mouth. "You are so cute, Luci. Oh God. You should look at your face."

His puppy face soon morphed into a scowl. "What did I say about calling me cute?"

I grinned. "Well, you are cute for an old man."

"Are you calling me old?" His eyes widened.

"Yeah...you are thirty years old...eight years older than me. So, yeah. To me you are old." I was just teasing him and his reactions were so funny.

Grabbing my chin in between his fingers he pulled my face closer to his and he growled lowly, "Call me old once again and you won't like the consequences."

I swallow hard hearing the threat in his tone and I knew he wasn't joking so I kissed him softly instead.

His fingers left my chin only to wrap around my throat as he kissed me hungrily, thrusting his tongue inside my mouth.

When we pulled back a few seconds later, raw desire was etched over his face and grabbing my hand he pulled me to my feet. "We are leaving."

"But--"

"Leaving." He started firmly leaving no room for argument and dragged me away from there to his house.

.
.
.

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed, Lucian wasn't there with me. He must be downstairs, so, I got freshened up and when I got out of the bathroom, I found an envelope lying on the nightstand.

It was plain white envelope on which it was written: To my girlfriend, Maria.

I smiled recognising Lucian's handwriting and opened it, eager to read what was inside.

Maria,
You used to say that I was like an angel to you but it was the opposite. You are my angel, Maria. You saved my life. You gave a new meaning to it, a meaning I didn't know exist.
I have been wanting to tell you this for over a week but couldn't, I suck at expressing my emotions, I really do. The only way I can express them is through writing them down.
I only want to tell you one thing, that I LOVE YOU. I really do. I think I have loved you ever since you confessed your feelings for me on your eighteenth birthday. I was just too afraid to accept it. But now that I have accepted them, embraced them, I want to tell you this every day that how much I love you. But I know I might not be able to say it but I want you to know that I do love you. And I will love you, forever and ever.
I know you want to hear me say it, believe me I am trying, just give me some more time. I hope my insecurities don't end up hurting you.
I Love You.

~Luci

Something between a chuckle and a sob escaped my mouth and I covered my mouth with my palm as a tear rolled down my cheeks.

He loves me.

Oh God. He loves me! He does love me!

I almost jumped up in happiness, reading that letter over and over again. This is what I was waiting for!

My head turned to the door as Lucian entered inside in just a pair of sweatpants. "Breakfast--"

He paused when he saw the letter in my hand and all of a sudden, he looked anxious. "Oh...you...got that..."

Chuckling, I ran to him and hugged him firmly wrapping my hands around his waist. "I love you! I love you! I love you so much, Lucian!"

His one hand went around my waist and the other cradled my head and he dropped a kiss to my hair before hugging me back tightly and lifting me off my feet.

I buried my face in his neck, savouring the moment and wrapped my legs around his waist.

I placed a kiss on his neck. "You have no idea how fucking romantic you are, Lucian! That letter was so romantic and emotional, I love you."

"Maria." He whispered so softly, "Don't ever leave me, please. I won't survive without you."

I lifted my head. "Lucian, I could never leave you. I promise." And I crushed our lips together.

He kissed me back fiercely carrying me back to the bed and placing me down, climbed over me, not removing his lips for a second.

I moaned into his mouth as our tongues intertwined together and slid against each other sensually.

I whimpered softly when his teeth tenderly sinked into my lower lip and he sucked it, soothing it before pulling back and resting his forehead on mine.

"More, please..." I murmured, my voice sounding breathless.

He chuckled and pecked my lips. "First have some breakfast."

I hummed and cupped his cheek, caressing it with my thumb, smiling at him. "Lucian...you love me." I still couldn't believe it.

"I do." He stated after a pause and brushed his lips to my forehead and both my eyes.

"I love you too."

He dropped a kiss to the tip of my nose. "I know and I am so fucking grateful that you exist. My angel."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Do you plan on making me cry?"

His lips twisted up into a smirk. "Only when you are choking on my--"

"Oh God!" Horrified, I placed my palm over his mouth, shutting him up. "You can't say things like that." I blushed hard.

"Really? You don't seem that shy when I--"

"Lucian!" I warned, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and that made him laugh.

When he was done laughing, he picked me up in my arms and carried me downstairs and fed me the pancakes that he made.

And then he made love to me.

By the time we were done and tangled up together in the bed, I was happily sedated.

Lucian brushed away the hair from my face and kissed my forehead. "Maria?"

"Hmm?" I watched him with half closed eyes.

I loved the way his lips curled up in a small smile and I loved it when he finally managed to say, "I love you."

Chapter completion on: 18/10/22
Published on: 20/10/22