His silvery eyes stayed on her.
Not by accident. He was staring; openly, shamelessly as though nothing else in the world deserved his attention in that moment.
Her breath hitched.
The color on her cheeks deepened, spreading like wildfire as her fingers curled around the steering wheel.
She tried to look away; she should have looked away, but something about the way his gaze held her, cool and gleaming yet impossibly warm, made her hesitate.
So she didn't fully turn.
Instead, she remained aware of him at the edge of her vision, stealing small, fleeting side glances while keeping her focus on the road.
It was safer that way… easier to keep control…in order to distract her mind in having dark thoughts!! even as her grip tightened just a little more than necessary.
It wasn't just a glance.
It felt like he was truly seeing her. Like all his gazes had always been—searching through her soul.
And that made her heart stutter, her pulse quicken, and the blush on her face impossible to hide
."You make me speechless," Celina found herself saying out loud.
"It's not my fault," he retorted, grinning.
Celina's lips tightened, trying to hide her smile.
Must she really say everything on her mind? She flicked her hair slightly, as if scolding herself.
His smile deepened—slow, deliberate, like he knew something she didn't. "At least I know I can get to you, every time I do that."
"Do what?" she asked, her voice softer now, betraying her. Her head turned toward him instinctively, their eyes meeting for the briefest second.
Her face burned instantly, her pulse stumbling as something unsteady curled low in her chest.
Mistake.
She tore her gaze away almost immediately, fingers tightening around the wheel.
Because she could still feel it—his gaze hadn't moved. It lingered, steady and intense, a touch she couldn't escape. Slow. Intent. As though he was savoring every reaction she failed to hide.
Stripping her composure… piece by piece.
A quiet heat settled between them, thick and unspoken.
A low, almost amused murmur slipped from him.
"That."
His eyes gleamed with quiet admiration. "It eases me, how your cheeks turn crimson. That subtle glow on your innocent face…"
He paused. "Knowing how much I want to.."
But he stopped himself.
Because what he wanted to say..what he wanted to do.. was far from innocent.
He swallowed it back.
He wouldn't push her. Not yet.
He couldn't tempt her or himself with his words. Much less scare her.
Her face deepened into that same crimson as she kept her eyes forward, refusing to meet his gaze again.
Her nervous little reactions only widened the smile on his lips.
"I do have an effect on you… don't I?" he drawled.
Celina's cheeks flared red-hot, "No… I… uh—".
She stuttered, biting her lips, trying not to focus on his closeness, his scent of sandalwood and something sweet like brownies drifting to her senses.
"Well…" Leon's voice dropped lower, softer, as he reached out, curling a strand of her hair around his finger.
"I could prove it to you..right now."
"Now?" Her eyes widened.
"Mm." He flexed his fingers slightly.
Celina coughed, words tumbling out incoherently."I—uh—I mean… here?" red rushed up her neck to her cheeks—unstoppable from the impact of his words, her thoughts spiraling.
Why the hell did he want to prove that he has an effect on her!! So he won't damm!!
Leon watched her, completely taken in. Every little challenge, every reaction she gave him drove him insane.
He wanted to prove it.
In more ways than one.
Suddenly, his mind drifted. What would she look like fully -hoodie gone from her face?
Her eyes… were they soft like a doe's? Or sharp like emeralds, glistening brightly at him?
Her pink lips—soft, plump. bitten on 'sweetly' too many times, in his opinion and his eyes had laid on.
Or was it her pointed nose, which he hadn't fully seen.
God! she was unreal. Truly the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on.
Her long, dark hair moving freely, curling at the ends, dancing around her shoulders when the air touched it.
For a fleeting second, he wondered how red her ears would turn when he teased her.
The only part he could see clearly was her cheeks already flushed under his gaze.
Her ear lobes he once licked on with his eyes closed and her neck he bit on as a love bite.
His thoughts stopped abruptly when her voice pulled him back.
"Can I ask…" she hesitated, "what are you thinking about?" her sweet voice filling her ears.
He licked his lips slowly.
"So you noticed I was thinking about something?"
"mm". His voice dipped slightly.
"How do you defend that you weren't observing me too?"
Celina's voice wavered. Her handsome stranger always caught her every single time and somehow she always fell into it.
She felt his gaze on her. How he was staring at her earlier, while lost in his thoughts a beautiful smile outlined his features.
As crazy as it was!! they understood each other without even speaking.
"I was thinking…" he said slowly, his gaze steady, "…about how deeply I'm enthralled by everything about you."
A pause.
"How much you drive me crazy."
Celina's mouth parted in shock, unable to close it immediately.
So, all this time, he hadn't looked away. Not even once.
The realization sent something warm and dangerous coursing through her.
Leon exhaled slowly. As much as he craved her heart, her body that much was clear.
But he didn't want to scare her with his words or actions.
From the way things were going, he was doing a terrible job of controlling himself.
"As much as I love every sound that comes from your lips…" He waited, holding himself again.
His control was slipping, no matter how hard he tried desperately, he found himself saying things he shouldn't.
He breathed heavily once more.
"I'm sorry…" he said quietly. "I don't want to scare you." Then softer, almost embarrassed, "I just can't control my thoughts about you."
His eyes softened when her pouty lips parted slightly, her tongue brushing over them unconsciously.
And just like that—his mind drifted again
He wanted to see her. All of her without
anything hiding her face.
He exhaled sharply, warning himself as a reminder. There will be time for it.
He thought wistfully of the thrill of seeing her without any form of closure. Much time for it later.
Her driving pace slowed. it was hard to believe she was the reason he was losing control.
Everything about him was powerful. Controlled no shred of hesitation.
Yet, somehow she was the one breaking that control.
It was truly hard to believe but her heart craved for the way he treats her. Talk to her and it just crazy it happens to someone like her..who!!
It didn't make sense.
But it felt real. Too real.
Celina pushed down the negative thoughts trying to diminish her.
Swiftly, slowed down her driving pace in the sloppy lane and turned slightly. You're staring at me like…" she started, voice uneven, "like I'm the only one in your… "
"Eyes." His voice lowered, sensual.
Her heart rate hammered in her body.
"And that…" his gaze darkened, still locked on her, "…is the truth."
Her eyes still darting on the road, lit up. lips teased up in a smile "You don't even know if I'm beauti—"
She stopped herself, smiling shyly. His eyes gleamed in delight at her musings.
"I already know you are".
Her cheeks warmed again delightful red.
Until—
Headlights shone through the windscreen, blurring their vision. Neither had noticed the truck until the light hit them.
The truck was already in close distance when Celina stopped in shock. As it came closer, the car jerked, trying to come to life.
Leon screamed at the top of his voice. "Drive!"
His arms ached uncontrollably, fear had activated the wound in his chest again.
Once again, he was screaming not for his life, but because he couldn't imagine blood on his pretty damsel.
The truck was rearing close to their car, the headlights still burning brightly. The car refused to start, but Leon took over the wheel before she could process anything.
She regained her voice in a swift motion as she screamed in fear,"God! God please! God !!". muttering pleadings in heaven.
The truck came closer. too close.
Goosebumps rose along his neck, unbearable pain tearing through his chest as Celina used her palms to cover the blood seeping through the open wound. More blood.
He lunged at her.
"Get out of here!!"
His eyes grew impatient and terrifying. "Fast! Now!! Please, fast!!". He half-yelled, the force of it reverberating through his veins.
Celina shook her head vigorously in refusal.
"No… n-no, please, I cannot. I can't leave!"
She yelled back at him.
"Please, I can't— I just can't—".
Her words broke into sobs as she still held his chest.
He used all his willpower to concentrate with his other hand, about to pull the door open and push her out of the car—
When the truck made physical contact with his Tesla.
A hard budge; almost ripping away the strong sheid of force, he had on the steering wheel.
He held onto it, trying to divert—fast—but it was late.
Too late.
The truck retracted briefly and then crashed into the side of the Cybertruck. Hard. Fast. Swift.
Leonardo lost control of the wheel.
Loud screams mixed with his cries, their mouths open in fear and shock.
For a moment, he thought he saw waves of silky hair and "two shadowed coloured eyes."
His vision blurred, seeing double both the hoodie covering her face and a mass of dark silky hair stained with blood.
It could have been real.
Or just his mind.
With the last remnants of his fading focus, seeing double, he dragged Celina to his body and turned them; her on her back, his body over hers covering her fully.
His back taking the side where the truck struck the Tesla.
She lost consciousness trying to pull him off her, to protect him. In the end, she held him tightly.
Then the truck drove deeper into the Cybertruck with a powerful, forceful impact.
His vision blurred tremendously. Blood spread across their clothes, everywhere.
The truck flipped. Again and Again. Glass shattered before exploding on the spot.
His eyes grew heavy.
Blood splattered everywhere; on the glass, the seats, the wheel, the car, their clothes as though bathed with it.
Thick black smoke engulfed their faces, their bodies, evenloped inside the Tesla vehicle.
The Cybertruck tumbled again and again.
finally It stopped.
The only thing visible was bloodied hands, joined together tightly.
Silence.
Stillness.
Everything froze for the longest seconds… as though life itself had passed on.
After a few long moments; then came the shift—slow, uneasy, like reality remembering it was still supposed to exist.
The sound of distant alarms rang out.
Ambulance sirens pierced the air. Loud. Shrill.
Footsteps approached. Different sounds gathering around.
Whispers. Voices. Chaos. Screams of people beholding the sight; some weeping, some wailing, some stood frozen; others shaking their heads in shock and sadness.
Police sirens followed, horns blaring as they arrived at the scene.
More people gathered around another vehicle that had been flung far off, while others surrounded the burning truck as fire crews were brought out to contain the flames.
Ambulance teams rushed toward the Tesla Cybertruck, now filled with smoke, the heavy scent of blood thick in the air.
They forced open the damaged doors, metal creaking beyond repair, coughing through the smoke, masks on as they searched desperately for any survivors.
Was there really anyone alive… or was it already too late?!