POV Akhyra

Hannah blinks several times as she looks at the key that Valentino is handing over to her.

"I don't understand," she mumbles, astonished before turning toward me. "I thought we came here to shoot content for your channel?"

Her confused stare moves back to her boyfriend, then circles the vast empty room where we're standing. This former retail store was taken off the market a couple of days ago when Valentino bought it.

"It's simple," he answers. "The place is yours. Consider it my investment in your future fashion boutique."

I'm standing a bit farther behind to let them have this precious time in private. I would have already left if I hadn't received strict orders, yes orders, from Valentino to record Hannah's reaction when she receives her unexpected gift.

"But... But I don't create anymore. I still design, but I haven't created in a while!" The obvious panic in her voice urges Valentino to place a comforting palm against her cheek.

"Only one thing matters now," he declares in a soft tone. "Do you want to create again?"

She nods fervently. "Yes, I do."

"Then there's nothing holding you back anymore," Tino asserts. "Even if you don't get on it right away. At least now you have a place for your dream to take shape and become a reality."

A delighted squeal echoes throughout the room as Hannah launches herself at Valentino's neck.

"Thank you so much, Sweet Bun!"

An adorable grin illuminates his features as he makes her twirl in his embrace.

"You'll thank me by designing some fabulous clothes here."

"We can launch your career by making you the official designer of Akhyra Morel," I add and when she looks back at me I swear I can see stars in her eyes.

"Can I give you a hug? I really want to hug you."

With a light chuckle, I open my arms. "Make it quick," I joke.

Hannah literally shrieks as she runs into me and engulfs me in a bear hug. For someone so petite, she has quite a strong hold.

When we break apart, her attention lands on Valentino who's already looking at her with the most smitten expression I've ever seen him wear.

"I can't believe you both conspired behind my back!"

"It was for a good cause." Valentino snakes a hand around her waist then leans down to kiss her in a way that has me looking in the other direction.

"How about you give me a tour?" Hannah asks a few seconds later, visibly flustered.

"With pleasure."

They both suddenly seem to be reminded of my presence and send me awkward glances. I can't help rolling my eyes.

"I'm supposed to meet Maëlla for shopping so I'll be on my way now. Enjoy making babies in the backroom."

"That's not what we're going to do!" Hannah squeaks as her cheeks take on a lovely shade of red.

I'm still smiling as I exit the place to go to my car.

***

The moment I arrive at my destination I realize too late that Maëlla set me up when Lucian's expression betrays his surprise as I walk up to them in the waiting area of the clothing boutique. This morning before she left to go visit her brother we had made plans to meet afterwards to buy her an outfit for the Gold Cup closing ceremony that will take place tomorrow after the match. 

I had made it clear to her that this shopping trip should be a girls only affair but I should've guessed that this little minx would try to meddle. Her face is the picture of mischief as she skedaddles toward me.

"Great! Now that you're here the fun can begin."

"I thought you needed help?" I ask as I pointedly look in her brother's direction.

"You know what they say," Maëlla answers. "The more the merrier."

I expect Lucian to avoid my stare but he meets it head on with a smoldering intensity that stirs up a hunger inside of me that I've been trying to ignore since our last encounter at the fundraising gala.

Is my mind playing tricks on me or does he look even more buff than the last time I saw him? As my eyes are compelled to trace the hard planes of his broad chest and bulging forearms, I quickly divert my attention back to Maëlla who's now perusing the aisles, gushing at the dresses that she likes before taking them off the racks.

Lucian and I fall in pace behind her following in an awkward silence that he finally breaks. 

"For the record I had no idea that she was going to do that."

"I figured."

"It's good to see you. You look great." I can feel the weight of his stare appraising me. 

It does make me feel better to notice that I'm not alone in salivating over the other's appearance. I better bring us back to safer grounds.

"I suppose you're ready for the final."

"I don't really feel like it to be honest."

"What do you mean?"

"It's kind of hard to enjoy being on the field when you won't be there to scream my name on the sidelines. 

My brain doesn't even get the chance to register his declaration because we're suddenly approached by two Black teenage girls who seem starstruck as they look at Lucian. 

"Are you Lucian Moreno?" The taller one asks

"You play for the Haitian football team right?" Her friend inquires.

When Lucian confirms his identity with a hint of shyness both girls let out a shriek and proceed to ask for some pictures as they praise his performance during the Gold Cup in a mixture of Creole and French. It's clear that they're both Haitians.

One of the girls briefly glances my way with curiosity and before she's able to realize who I am I walk further down and pretend to be absorbed in some dresses to let Lucian have his moment.

A few minutes later he appears next to me still spotting a brightened aura that melts my heart. 

He sends me an inquisitive stare that lasts long enough to make me squirm then he lets out a surprised, "You're smiling."

I realize too late that my lips did in fact betray me so I decide to downplay it, to not appear caught off-guard. 

"You were in your element back there that was pleasant to witness."

He seems baffled by the sincerity in my voice and shifts from one foot to the other.

"Thank you. That's very nice of you to say."

"You do know that even if we're not together, I will still be rooting for your success right?"

Lucian glances at me with a disarming hope in his eyes that fractures my heart. He makes a gesture to move toward me but restrains himself from doing it. 

"Come tomorrow. Please."

There's a moment between us during which our breath seemingly halt in unison as we wait for the next words that are about to be spoken.

I know that he would understand if I explained to him that Madame Laroche is expecting me to be in Paris by tomorrow so we could meet with the cast after our six hours of rest to shake off the jet lag. But the truth is, I'm aware that for a big event such as this one he'd want me there as emotional support just like I would need him also if the roles were reversed.

"You're a great football player Lucian. Whether I'm here or not you're going to win this match."

"But I'd rather win it while you're in the stadium."

This time when his body moves toward me he doesn't even seem to be aware that he's getting closer. Before I can decide if I'm really going to let this happen Maëlla pops out of nowhere.

"I've got everything I need!" she exclaims. Then her enthusiasm dies quickly when she takes note of the lingering tension between her brother and I. 

"You're ready to go try them on?" I ask, hoping that the emotions battling inside of me aren't showing on my face.

"I can go by myself," she suggests. "You guys keep doing whatever you were doing. I'm sorry I interrupted."

"You did not interrupt," I retort but Lucian disagrees. 

"She actually did."

Now that the awkward atmosphere has settled there's no dissipating it so we follow Maëlla to the changing cabins. As we wait for her to get changed the sizzling chemistry from earlier still hangs heavy between Lucian and I. It really doesn't help that there are no customers in this section. I'm too aware of his proximity. Too sensitive to the tortuous caress of his eyes all over me.

This is not the same clothing boutique but I can't help thinking about that one time we went shopping together and we...

"Brings back memories doesn't it?"

Lucian's voice snaps me back to reality. The knowing smirk on his lips awakens an all too familiar ache in between my thighs. My fingernails dig into my palms as I fight to keep myself from doing anything rash. 

"I don't know what you mean." As soon as the words leave my mouth I regret it because we both know I'm obviously lying.

"Maybe you just need a little help to remember."

I don't know who moves first but in the fraction of a second that it takes me to look up from his tempting mouth, I abruptly find myself on Lucian's lap, our lips clashing together in a tempestuous kiss burning with need and desperation. 

His hands find their place home on my backside molding me further into his firm body. Every cell of my being thrums in pure bliss when his teeth pull at my bottom lip, stealing a soft moan from me.

"These noises you make haunt me in my sleep," Lucian whispers.

"We should probably stop before your sister comes out and gets traumatized."

"Yeah, that would be wise."

But neither of us moves, clinging onto each other like a lifeline. His mouth grazes my cheek, my neck, nose resting against the frantic rhythm of my pulse as he inhales deeply.

"I almost went mad these past few days at the idea of losing you forever." He raises his head to meet me with uncertain eyes. "I can't go through life without you, Akhyra. Let's try again, hmm?"

I cup his face with both of my hands and bring our foreheads together. "Let's try again," I agree. Then I lean forward to murmur what he already knows against his lips. "I love you."

The grin that illuminates his face then is as bright as the one he shows me the next day while the stadium roars in victory, celebrating the Haitian team winning the Gold Cup for the first time in the history of the competition. The Mexicans didn't do us any favors on the field, and we fought to keep our score 4-3 until the very last second of the game. Lucian was on fire tonight, scoring three times in a row after Hector opened with the first goal of the match.

We're surrounded by a sea of people: media, coaching staff, players, and family members. Confetti is falling all over us in raindrops of rainbows, and even though we're being pressed from all sides by the crowd, I feel safe in his arms. Lucian beams at me like I'm even more precious to him than the trophy he just won and speaks loudly for me to hear over the chaos.

"Was it electric?" he asks.

I almost choke in disbelief that he's literally throwing at me the question that Travis Kelce asked Taylor Swift right after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl for the fourth time.

Lucian's knowing smile tells me all I need to know. This is calculated. I've told him about this moment so many times before that it must be engraved in his mind. He's trying to give me my own Taylor Swift moment.

Just like she did back then, I smile proudly at my super tall and muscular footballer boyfriend as I answer his question in the same words that she used. 

"It was unbelievable."