Finally, they reached his vehicle, her mouth parted in a wide 'O'.
Θεέ μου!(My God)" she breathed, astonished. The Jeep was parked in a grassy lane.
By its side, small pots in different shades, with intricate circular designs or patterns, held vibrant flowers—hibiscus, periwinkle, sunflowers; arranged beautifully, as if the garden itself whispered welcome.
His vehicle… Damn! Not just any other vehicle. A Tesla Cybertruck. Gleamed under the moonlight.
It's presence radiated wealth, power and style.
Ever since she'd set eyes on him, she knew he wasn't ordinary. From head to toe, he exuded a walk-in perfection, a living testament to sophistication, luxury, and charisma.
He carried authority the way other men carried confidence. It lived in his posture, his height looming effortlessly, even silence bending around him. His face was sharply structured—strong jaw, defined cheekbones, lips that carried both cruelty and promise.
But it was his eyes "those piercing silvery depths" that held true danger. They saw too much, felt too deeply, hid storms no one survived untouched.
Built like a man meant to rule; broad, towering, unyielding..every movement controlled, deliberate, devastatingly graceful. Even the firmness of his thighs and the veins on his arms and hands radiated power.
Celina shook with timidity under his stare, under the unyielding force of his warmth, under the heady mix of sensations his mere presence stirred within her.
With a cybertruck… She realized then. she'd landed with a billionaire tycoon.
"Are you surprised?" He noticed all her expressions. "I know… it's hard to take in, but I'll have to be ho—" He drew out the last syllable, locking eyes with her tenderly. "—nest with you!"
One of the special things about them was their ability to connect without words. A single deep look spoke volumes.
She smiled sweetly, breaking the intensity, blushing full crimson, while he bent his head slightly, smiling and trying not to laugh. She had understood perfectly their unspoken emotional connection.
He looked up, searching for her hooded face, though only her red cheeks and half of her pouty pink lips were visible.
When he finally saw where her eyes had landed, his heart thudded faster, beats rising in rapid succession. His breath grew heavier with each passing second. He already knew, deep in his heart, where her gaze had fixed, praying that his suspicion would be wrong.
His hand shook slightly, hot currents passing through his body, a shiver running down his spine. Coldness wrapped him briefly as he resisted looking fully, afraid of the memories that would surge; the endless, painful, and vivid images that haunted him.
Finally, he turned toward a beautiful glass door, part of a larger display over a glowing, golden grave adorned with emerald designs and surrounded by vibrant flowers—hibiscus, sunflowers, periwinkle.
His grandfather's grave.
The grave stood apart, immaculate, deliberate, unmistakably grand. Polished marble etched with gold-lined inscriptions caught the moonlight, emerald detailing traced the edges like a quiet crown.
Manicured grass surrounded it in perfect symmetry. Rare flowers bloomed in carefully placed pots, vibrant and alive. This wasn't merely a grave. It was a legacy.
She froze, mouth widening in awe, gasping, rooted to the spot.
Memories rushed in; his grandfather's laughter, whispers from the past, flashes of reporters, the old man's face smiling as he fondly tapped him on the back.
His hands gripped his head as a storm of fast-paced images flooded his mind; unheard murmurs, footsteps, blurred scenes, all piercing through his thoughts, draining the color from his face.
Leon screamed, voice deep and sharp, a raw embodiment of pain. His heart grew heavier with each pulse, each breath a struggle. A spark of unbearable pain ignited in his chest, sharp, unrelenting.
All he heard were footsteps approaching, distant cries and fading voices. His eyes fluttered, fighting drowsiness, trying to stay conscious.
Through the haze, the last thing Leon thought he saw was a pair of eyes; wide, luminous, trembling with fear. Soft as dawn, Shaded brown eyes that anchored him even as darkness claimed him.
He felt himself being carried, vision blurred, feeling a soft surface beneath his back, warmth all around, sounds of movement, of safety.
The more he struggled to stay awake, the more his body surrendered.
Finally, he could fight no longer.
He lost himself; torn apart between pain, memory, and drowsiness.
---------
A faint breeze brushed his face, cool and uneven, slipping through the half-open window, carrying the dry scent of dust, heated asphalt, and something softer.
Her.
His lungs expanded slowly, painfully, as consciousness crept in, the air rough like sand in his throat, pulling him back to awareness.
The low hum of the engine vibrated beneath him, steady and grounding. The leather seat was warm against his back, reminding him he wasn't on the cold ground anymore.
A dull ache pulsed in his chest. slow. Then sharp, spreading like fire as his body remembered the wound.
His fingers twitched. He inhaled again.
Pain followed. But so did awareness.
His tongue dragged over his dried lips.
His eyelids fluttered; once… twice.
Then, with a strained breath, he forced
them open, red-rimmed eyes adjusting to the dim blur of motion as the world slowly, painfully fell into place.
He noticed her legs were stained with dirt and dried blood.
What happened?!! He winced, tried to remember.
When his eyes caught her torn gown, lying in shreds and much shorter now, his heart twitched.
Then the memories came rushing, getting to the car, leaving the cliff, the pool surface, his interactions with her, how she treated his wound. The moment she stood frozen at her grandpa's grave, everything syncing painfully into his head.
His heart wailed at what he had caused her. Wrecked. Hurt. It broke, his body shaking violently as his eyes moved to her long, dark, silky hair, only to notice the hoodie covering part of her face, exposing just a portion of her nose.
Then it dawned on him; the hoodie was torn in shreds too, barely covering her face.
His heart rate spiked, pain burning deep within him at what he had made her go through.
All because of his damn injury!!
How the hell did he ruin her gown just because she wanted to stop the bleeding and ease his pain? He remembered the way her hands trembled from the friction as she squeezed the leaves.
Not just a little, a lot of leaves.
Just to save him.
The worst part; he had fallen unconscious. And how the hell did she carry him?
That thought alone overwhelmed him. Even his imagination ran wild, trying to picture how she managed it, even if he hadn't been too far from the car.
Still… carrying a man like him wasn't easy.
He bitterly wished he hadn't stressed her so much.
A tear slid down his face.
He reached toward her, his fingers curling around a few strands of her rumpled dark hair.
At that impact, she almost crashed into another car, but stopped with a sharp, screeching halt.
Suddenly, her emotions were laid bare as she stared at him. Shock. Fear. Happiness. Her eyes shone brightly with care and affection.
Before he could process anything, she launched herself at him, hugging him tightly; her body pulling back slightly at first to search his face, then clinging to him again and again, as if reminding herself he was truly alive.
"Oh my God! Oh my goodness!" (Θεέ μου! Ω Θεέ μου!) "I'm so happy—I'm so happy you're awake!".
Her body wrapped tightly around his, holding him in her embrace until they were both breathing heavily.
Disentangling herself from him, her hands remained on his back, accentuating their closeness. Their gazes locked, deep, filled with relief and something unspoken. His expression softened even more.
Then, remembering what caused his unconsciousness, his hand moved to her waist, held her. Strong and firm against his lap. His palms steadied there, gently easing her closer to him.
"I'm so sorry, I… um… I shouldn't have looked. I—ugh—it was your privacy. I ha…ve no right."
She clamped her mouth shut when his eyes closed briefly.
Celina, too disoriented and nervous to stop, continued stammering, unable to control her words. "I didn't know… he's someone, you know… that's dead!"
His grip on her waist tightened slightly, and she went quiet instantly.
Her heart raced hotly in her veins.
"I'm so…rry. I just say things as they come when I'm nervous," she said, breathing deeply. "I didn't mean to bombard you with so many questions."
She hugged him tightly again. His hold softened once more.
As she tried to shift back to her seat, he pulled her hands toward him, and her body fell against his again.
Their faces were close; just a breath apart. Her body pressed against his hard, muscled thighs.
And for a fleeting moment, something ignited, heat rushing through their spines, spreading through their veins.
Their gazes locked, deep and searing.
A low, velvety sound escaped his throat.
His white teeth glistened.
His smile despite the blood stains and his tousled hair was breathtaking like a carefree knight with a hint of dark humor.
He looked dangerously alluring, stealing her breath away.
"Breathe, love. hush." He placed a finger gently against her lips, his eyes clouded with emotion. "I owe you… more than you understand, love. The way you protect me: I don't even know how to process it".
His hands moved to her hair, fingers threading through it tenderly, his heart heavy with awe and gratitude.
"As much as it burdens me deep in my heart, knowing I'm the reason your clothes are ripped and stained with blood, I'll forever be indebted to you."
He wanted to hold her hands tightly, to make her understand how much she had done for him!! how much she meant.
But instead, she pressed both her arms against his chest, trying to hold him down.
Ironically, it did nothing—just a mere light weight against him. Yet he loved this side of her, touching him unconsciously, because she was too nervous to do this willingly—to be near him.
"No… no," She said quickly, shaking her head. Her mind replaying all the past occurrences. "It's me!"
Her voice trembled.
"It's me who should be forever indebted to you…" She stopped mid-sentence, lips parting slightly, but nothing came out.
Regaining composure swiftly, "You protected me, saved me, in the midst of troubles and dangerous circumstances that could risk your life."
She couldn't hold back the tears that formed in her eyes. "And still... you cared for me. You protected me at your own expense. You risked your life—not once… not even thrice!! I'm forever—".
Indebted! The word hung on the air.
Her voice broke. She clamped her mouth shut unable to continue.
Tears streamed down her face in torrents, her thoughts tangled with gratitude and awe.
If he hadn't been there.
Just if…
There would be no her anymore—wiped out of existence.
Gone.
He patted her back gently, his callused palms soothing her. When her tears finally eased, he drew her closer into a very tight embrace, his hand stroking her hair lovingly.