Chapter 11 Fleeting Moments

MAGDALENA couldn't sleep again. It's not about the bed, or the feeling of longingness. It was about the conversation she had with Viktor this morning. The way he implied that he owns her now. The way he wants to change everything about her. It was suffocating and painful.

The silence of the mansion as she walked down the stairs was even more suffocating. Everyone was probably asleep now. Lena wanted to get some fresh air, but she heard a loud horn, meant to wake every sleeping creature in the area.

Lena peaked through the window and saw Lucian parked the car like a thug. Her lips parted when she realized he's drunk after he almost tripped.

She thought he'd come inside, but he didn't. He went somewhere.

The security guard didn't follow Lucian, so Lena did. She followed him silently and watched him as he threw something on the sun lounger before he dove in the pool water.

What the...

Lena stared at him, frozen. He must be trying to sober himself up, but it was dangerous.

Minutes had passed.

No movements.

Lena's heart began racing like crazy.

"L-Lucian..." Lena's voice was trembling as she called the man. He's not moving. No response at all. He was floating in the water like a lifeless body.

Did he drown?

Lena's heart jumped in fear. She tried to call him again but nothing. Her blood ran cold, and the image of Lucian's lifeless body flashed in her head, haunting her painfully.

Without thinking twice, she jumped into the water. Ignoring the coldness of the pool water and the wind. She jumped in to save him. She jumped in to make sure that no one would die in her watch again.

She grabbed Lucian's clothes and pulled him. Lucian moved and faced her after what she did. He looked shocked as he looked at her, lips parted, calling her name. "Magdalena..."

It wasn't only her hands that were trembling. Her lips and body were also shaking from fear. She's scared of seeing someone die. She was traumatized by death.

"W-What are you doing?!" Lena's voice even broke. Her eyes were fixed on him like he would disappear if she blinked. She noticed a cut on his left eyebrow.

The water was sharp against her skin. They're both fully clothed, but the only thing that comes to Lena's mind was the fact that Lucian didn't drown and she's relieved.

"Jesus!" Lucian drunkenly held her by the waist. "What were you thinking jumping here like that?"

Lena's fists balled as she stared at him. He was smirking at her like he's thinking of something and he likes it so much.

"W-Why did you do that?" Lena asked, knees trembling underwater.

Lucian smirked even more. His drunk eyes watched her intently. "Why? You think I'd drown myself to death? Why would you care about me? Don't, Magdalena. I don't need your care. I don't need the saving-"

"You weren't moving!" Lena growled, tears rolling down her cheeks again. Her lips and hands were trembling. Not from the cold, but from pain and disappointment. "I thought you drowned, okay? You're drunk, and you suddenly jumped here, and then you're not moving-"

"Shhh!" Lucian cupped her cheeks and pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her trembling body while staring at her face. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Lena shut her eyes tightly as she gripped his damp clothes. Her breathing was rugged. Her body felt numb now because of the cold, but she endured it. She opened her eyes and looked at Lucian. The water seemed to reflect the emotions in his eyes. Deep, dangerous, and tempting. Their damp hairs dripped like melted ice, soaking their shoulders. Her chest was falling and rising rapidly like she was chased by a dangerous monster. A monster that wasn't there to hurt her, but to conquer her.

Lena inhaled sharply as she wiped the tears on her cheeks. "I-I thought you drowned."

Something crossed his eyes. Something meaningful but hard to decipher. "You cried because you thought I drowned."

Lena sniffed. "Who wouldn't?"

He gave her a gentle smile. "I'm sorry. I just...I just thought nobody cares."

"What made you say that? Of course, I care. I can't let someone die before my eyes, Lucian. You think I'd jump joyfully after you drowned? I'm not made of stone!" Lena hit his chest.

She felt like she could see through him now. He's not the cold and ruthless Lucian right now, but the soft and rebellious Lucian who wants attention, care, and love.

Lucian's eyes watched her intensely as his jaw ticked. "You jumped in for me, Magdalena. You didn't do that because you can't watch someone die. You jumped in for me because it's me. Because you don't want me to die. Am I right, Magdalena?"

The air shifted, and Lena knows what Lucian is trying to say. She averted her gaze from him, feeling the sudden rose of tension. She tried to push his chest and get away, but he didn't allow even an inch of distance between them.

Lucian held her tighter, searching for her eyes. "Tell me, Magdalena. Tell me that I was right. Tell me that I'm not the only one getting crazy here."

"L-Lucian..." Magdalena's voice was trembling.

Her chest was heaving. Her breath became entangled. The intensity of emotions in Lucian's eyes were drowning her to a beautiful fantasy. She felt it. Like a dream.

"No..." She moved her face away when he leaned down and closer. Her hands gripped the chest of his cloth.

Lucian swallowed hard and slowly slipped his hand to the back of her neck while watching her face, weighing her reactions.

"Push me away," he whispered. Like a temptation, trying to make her resist. "Tell me to stop, Magdalena."

She didn't answer. She wants to say no, but her heart and mind refuse to. She pressed her lips together, and she saw how Lucian swallowed hard when he glanced at her lips.

"I'm about to kiss you," he whispered again as the distance between their faces shortened. It was like he was giving her a warning not only to own her lips, but also her heart, her soul, her sanity. And she's giving in to the wildfire.

Inch by inch, the distance disappears. The invasion of intimate space. The rush of electricity. The coldness of the night breeze. And the sharpness of the pool water. Everything no longer matters. Magdalena's mind was now conquered by undeniable temptations.

Lena's lips parted in between a slow breath and anticipation. And then she felt it. His lips on hers. Wet. Warm. Real. It was like her greatest dream became a reality. It was magical. It was electrifying and consuming, and she wants these fleeting moments to last.

Magdalena was losing her rational thoughts and inhibitions as Lucian's kisses deepened. He pushed his tongue inside her mouth and explored inside. It sent a more intense feeling to Lena's body, consuming her whole.

The world disappeared. The pool faded. Everything was now about them. Their hunger, the temptations, the unspoken feelings.

Their tongues clashed endlessly. His fingers dug into her waist like letting her go is not an option. Like she would vanish if he didn't hold her tight, but she didn't disappear. She kissed back. She fought the temptation with the same intensity.

Harder. Deeper. Hungrier. They kissed like there's no tomorrow. Magdalena's eyes were shut tightly until guilt kicked in.

Magdalena pushed Lucian away and gasped. Her lips felt swollen from the rough kiss. Her eyes were drunk with desire, but guilt was trying to break in, and Lucian witnessed it when it won.

"T-This..." Magdalena was trembling again, not from cold, not from fear. Guilt. It was what's reigning in her heart now. "This is...wrong. This is wrong! We shouldn't..."

Lucian was just staring at her. His eyes mirrored his pain as he watched her slowly draw the distance between them. She swam away from him. Far like she's afraid to touch him.

Lena climbed off the water and immediately hugged herself. The thin fabric of her night dress hugged her body, showing her curves. Water cascading her body. Her heart pounds louder and sharper.

She looked over her shoulder to see him, but stopped midway. No! She shouldn't look back. She shouldn't give him another reason to make her want to sin.

The night wind blew, cold and as if full of mystery. Lena walked back toward the mansion hugging herself, leaving Lucian in the water. He was watching her intently. His eyes were drunk, tired, and wrecked.

Magdalena was like his salvation and ruin. She could break him, but she was also the one who could fix him.