"Don't move." Lucas held her tightly. "Aveline, right now, I just want to hold you." Aveline rolled her eyes tically, but after hiking all the way up, she didn't have much energy left to struggle. Her face rested against his chest as she gazed at the scenery beyond the mountain, her breathing gradually calming.
She unintentionally becaware of his heartbeat, which was growing faster and louder, as if it might burst from his chest.
Aveline's lashes fluttered slightly. "Lucas, are you having a heart attack?" Lucas tightened his arms around her briefly, then suddenly released her. "Aveline, I want to kiss you." She instantly pushed him away. "Don't even think about it." Lucas' narrow eyes locked onto her lips, a clear intent in his gaze.
Aveline quickly covered her mouth, looking at him with a wary expression.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtA faint smile curved Lucas' lips. "Do you really think covering your mouth will stop me? If I want to, you won't be able to escape." Aveline rolled her eyes again and turned back to the scenery.
After that outburst, the dark clouds that had been hanging over her seemed to have lifted.
She took out her phone, capturing photos and videos to remember the moment.
When she turned around to ask when they would head back, she noticed Lucas holding his phone up, pointing it at her-who knows for how long.
Aveline frowned and asked, "Were you taking pictures of me?" Lucas replied, "I was capturing the scenery." She walked over to him. "But your phone was pointed right at me." Lucas put his phone away and casually said, "Well, you were standing in the scenery." Aveline paused, her breath catching. "Delete the photos." Lucas responded, "You can't tellwhat to do. It's my phone." Aveline was speechless.
That familiar sense of helplessness washed over her again.
Lucas glanced at her and suddenly said, "But if you givea kiss, I might consider deleting one." Aveline ignored him and walked over to a nearby drink stand, where she bought a bottle of water. Seeing this, Lucas asked, "Where's mine?" Aveline took a sip, her dry lips instantly becoming moist. "When did I ever say I'd buy you one?" Lucas, sitting right next to her, suddenly snatched the water bottle from her hand and took a big gulp. "You!" Aveline was left speechless.
Lucas handed the nearly empty bottle back to her. "I left you a little. No need to thank me." Aveline almost cursed out loud but instead stood up and moved to sit far away from him.
Lucas followed her, and since the space at the top of the mountain was limited, Aveline eventually ended up at the very edge of the bench, with no room left to scoot away. She turned and shot Lucas an angry glare.
He seemed completely unaffected, still leaning close to her as if nothing was wrong.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe mountain breeze picked up, adding a chill to the air.
Aveline stood up and headed toward the cable car. She paid for her ticket and boarded without a second thought. Lucas, knowing she wouldn't cover his fare, casually pulled out his phone to pay for himself.
"What a heartless woman," he thought.
As they descended the mountain, Aveline's mood was markedly om different from when they first arrived.
She looked out at the passing scenery, her expression more relaxed. Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen-it was a call from Russell.
She looked up at Lucas, thinking that if he knew Russell was calling, he'd probably throw her phone out of the cable car. X