I stared down at the test on my desk and sighed. It was going to be easy if my first glance was anything to go by. I scribbled answers in the blank spots quickly with very little pause in between.

Sometimes it really paid to have a tutor. Mostly when I was being tutored it felt like a pain in the ass. Times like this though I supposed I was grateful for the opportunities my parents paid for. Sometimes the cost was beyond what I was willing to pay though.

I grabbed my crutches and hobbled up to the front with my test pages, laying them on the desk. The teacher looked up at me in surprise and I sighed as I bent down to grab my book bag off the floor from the pile of them at the front of the class.

"Are you sure you don't want to look over your answers one more time...?" She asked with a narrowed gaze. I smirked as I slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Naw I'm good thanks. Have a good afternoon, teach." I hobbled to the door and Sasha opened it from the outside to let me out of the classroom. I smiled at him and he raised a brow.

"You look like you are in a good mood." Sasha said to me.

"I am in a good mood. I just aced my test. I managed to get through an entire dinner with my parents without swearing or saying something bad to them. I have been very, very good." I looked at him with big eyes and a hopeful smile.

"I see. Yes, that does sound like you are on your best behaviour." He said in a dry voice. I turned my smile into a pout and glanced at him again.

"So... if I have been really good...." I hinted to him in a suggestive voice.

"No, you can't get out of your punishment." He raised a brow at my shocked face.

"What? I never said I wanted out of my punishment!" I argued with his look. He rolled his eyes.

"Well then, what are you trying to insinuate with those puppy dog eyes then?" He asked with an almost accusatory tone. I rolled my eyes this time, probably pushing my luck.

"Well I was kind of hoping you'd just add a reward or two...." I mumbled with a bit of a blush creeping up my neck. His mouth quirked a little at the side and he looked at me consideringly.

"Maybe if you ask me properly without mumbling." He conceded as he strode ahead of me down the hall. I had slowed a little at the words and watched his back with a complicated expression. I gulped. I looked around, but the halls were empty.

"Please sir? May I have a reward?" I asked with steady voice, even though my hands were trembling a little. He stopped and turned towards me in the hall, staring me down. I looked down after a minute, a full blush now covering my face. If I didn't need to hold onto my crutches, I would have covered my face with my hands, but I couldn't.

He approached me, and I stared wordlessly down at his polished leather dress shoes. I felt his finger at my chin and he tilted my head up to look at him. I had trouble lifting my eyes to his though. They were searching and so strong as they pierced through my defenses and gave me a restless feeling in my chest.

"Yes, Lukas. You may. Later." He told me softly. His hand dropped and I wanted to follow it. I wanted that warmth against my skin in the worst way. He turned and continued down the hall slowly, his shoes tapping against the tiles in a dark rhythm. I followed him, one step behind, with the faint remnants of the blush on my cheeks and a small smile on my lips.

*

"Lukas dearest, could you come into the sitting room for a minute please?" The question that spilled from my mother's lips sounded more like a forgone conclusion as she gestured imperiously at me. I looked into the room first before getting too close to make sure there was no one there to ambush me.

"Of course mother." I was getting much better at manoeuvering with my crutches, and it would seem as though I wouldn't have them for much longer anyways. That I suppose is usually the case though. I sat in one of the overpriced and uncomfortable chairs in the room and waited.

"I know you said you didn't want to date Jessica Thompson, and I respect your reasons for not wanting to, I really do, but I have to ask you to reconsider." She looked at me with this strange vacant look on her face. I was confused.

"Sorry, what?" I blurted out as I stared at her. She blinked and nodded.

"I am asking you to date Jessica Thompson. Just for a little while. Take her out to the movies, like she has been asking you to. Maybe go out to a fast food restaurant to introduce her as your girl, and hang out with your friends." She was talking to me like she spoke to people on the phone. Like I was her friend or something. But her face... it was just blank. Devoid of feeling. It made me feel nauseous.

"I don't...." I started to answer her but she interrupted me with a wave of her hand.

"Oh, you don't have to answer me now. I want you to think about it for a couple weeks. Wait until your cast comes off and then you can be seen in public together. Okay honey? Good talk." She got up abruptly and didn't wait for a word from me before she left the room. I sighed and stared at the spot she had just been sitting in. It was always like this with her. It didn't matter what I said, she heard what she wanted to hear.

"I don't think that is a good idea mother. I don't like Jessica, and it would be wrong to lead her on for any reason." I said as though she was still sitting there. I startled when I heard the click of the door behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to look. It was Sasha. He was looking at me with an unreadable expression.

"Is that how you feel about it?" He asked me. I gulped and turned my head to look at the empty couch. I nodded. I heard the muffled tapping of his footsteps across the carpeted floor. He came into my view and the sexy, broad shouldered man in a clean cut suit turned to look at me.

"I don't want to date her. What they are asking me to do is wrong." I said to him firmly. He nodded once. His gaze grew a little distant and he put a hand into his pocket casually.

"Then say no." He replied after a moment. I stared at him. His gaze sharpened and he looked at me. "I give you permission to refuse."

"Thank you sir." I answered with a happy smile.

"Remember Lukas, I will always be on your side. What you want is important to me too. Almost as important as what you need. Do you understand?" He took a few steps closer to me and my heart stuttered a beat. It thundered in my ears as he stared at me with those dark, serious eyes. I gulped again.

"I understand." I whispered, looking up at him now. He closed the distance and looked down at me with narrowed eyes. His hand reached out to cup my face, and I didn't flinch or shy away from its warmth. I closed my eyes and pressed my cheek into his palm more firmly. I felt the gentle stroke of his thumb as it caressed my skin faintly.

I heard the shuffle of cloth beside me. The press of his lips against my forehead was like the kiss of a butterfly's wings. His forehead pressed against mine and I opened my eyes to see him so close to me I could turn my head and kiss him. His eyes bore into mine like hot molten lava and I shuddered.

"Good." His breath washed over my face and the deep timbre of his voice soothed me. He moved to pull away and I caught onto his sleeve with a hint of desperation. I wanted to hold onto that moment a little longer. I wanted his heat near me a second further. I needed him to hold me a little closer for another minute, hour, or weeks without end. "What is it?"

"I...." I stalled, unsure of what to say. I couldn't tell him what I was thinking. There was no way to express what I wanted with how we were now. Any second someone could come in that door and he would be in trouble. "Could you help me upstairs? I'm tired."

It wasn't a lie. I was tired. Bone deep exhausted both mentally and physically from my day. What I wanted wasn't a lie either. If he helped me, then I could keep holding onto his warmth. He hesitated a split second, and I wondered if I took it too far. His sigh as he stroked my face one more time though was gentle.

"Of course Lukas. Shall I carry you?" His gentle gaze made me feel a little guilty, but not guilty enough to refuse.

"Yes please." I replied. He scooped me up in his arms and my air rushed out in a whoosh at the physical contact. He was so strong. It was ridiculously impressive how he could carry me like this. I helped to hold on with my arm around his shoulder, supporting myself and keeping steady.

This time I looked at his face while he carried me. His eyes were trained ahead to focus on where he was going. There were minute wrinkles around his eyes and a freckle or two on his cheekbones. His lashes were surprisingly thick as they blinked occasionally. I licked my lips and looked away when his focus glanced my way.

I was placed down on the bed gently, and sat looking at the floor for a minute. His feet didn't move. I looked up at the impressive man towering over me with a nervous smile.

"Thank you Sir." I said sheepishly. I glanced over at the closed door to my room and then my gaze flitted away. I felt and heard him lean down over me before I looked back up to try and meet his gaze.

"Why are you so nervous?" He asked quietly. I bit my lips and shrugged, not meeting his gaze more than a second. He grasped my chin and held my face steady. I felt his eyes looking me over. His nearness had my pulse fluttering and I wondered if he could hear my heart racing. "You don't have to be nervous around me, Lukas."

"I can't help it." I blurted out with a nervous laugh. I tried to pull away, but his grip would not let go. I gulped. He stroked my hair and held me still as he watched me.

"That's okay, Lukas. You can show me all your emotions. You don't have to hide anything from me. All that you are is beautiful and wanted." He whispered to me in a low voice. I closed my eyes as tears welled in them.

I was uncomfortable with my emotions though. I didn't want them. They made my chest tight and uncomfortable. They made my eyes burn. It was like that lava was pouring down inside me now and destroying me. I sobbed and wanted to pull away. He didn't let me. He watched me fall apart.

I opened my eyes and the ones that looked back at me were not harsh or demanding. They were kind. Dare I say loving? I shook my head a little and he smiled at me.

"It's okay Lukas. Give them to me. All your feelings. You can give them to me. I want them. I will take them and cherish them. They belong to me. You belong to me." His soothing words washed over me. I leaned into his hand again.

"I...." My words choked in my mouth. They were too overwhelming to speak out loud. I want you. I need you. I....

"I know. I love you too." The words were barely whispered as he leaned forward and kissed my forehead again. I wanted it to be my lips. My eyes closed as my tears leaked down my face. I know why he didn't kiss me, but it didn't hurt any less for it.

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