Since She Met Lucian

"Nervous?" Lily walked over to Amelia, noticing the awkwardness that hovered around her. "You and Mr. Lucian are a couple. What are you nervous about?" she asked, her tone belying her confusion despite her friendly smile.

Amelia felt her cheeks warm with her words. Did Lily know? "Lily, you…" she stated nervously. "Even you know it?"

"You care about him. That much is clear to me. If I may be so bold to say this, I think that a little more honesty from the both of you would carry your feelings across to the other," Lily expressed her thoughts earnestly.

Amelia felt her shoulders relax. Lily was right, but it was one thing to know, and another to actually express it through actions. It would take her a lot of courage to take a step forward.

At this point, she remembered Jasper and the time they spent together. Five years was a long time. One would think that in this period, they would have already familiar to each other as breathing, like the way old couples finish each other's sentences. It should have been that way, but even with that length of time, it was as if there was hesitation in her that she could not place. The two of them had shared kisses, but it never seemed to go any further than that. Looking back now, she was not entirely sure she wanted that with him.

Half an hour later, Lucian came back home. Amelia thoughtfully took his bag and asked him if he had already eaten. If he hadn't yet, she would go straight to making dinner for him.

For a moment, Lucian was taken aback. Then, he replied, "There was a sudden meeting. It had been a hell of a day. I haven’t even realized that I haven't eaten yet until you asked. Dinner sounds nice, thank you."

Then, he went to the living room and sat down.

'So he was having a meeting...' Amelia thought. 'Thank god, he was not angry because of me.' She felt relieved now, glancing at his furrowed brows.

Just then, a thought occurred to her. Right. Dinner. She could try to at least relieve his stress with good food. With a newfound determination, she went to the kitchen and busied herself with cooking, all the while thinking of him.

Lucian had lied. He knew that Amelia had picked up on his sour mood. He had deliberately made up an excuse about a meeting so as not to make her feel guilty, but the truth was, he was brooding about something that was far from work.

The words that she said kept replaying themselves in his mind. 'We are not familiar with each other.' He threw a glance towards the direction of the kitchen where he heard the telltale sounds of cooking. The two of them had been living under the same roof for two months now, and they were a couple. Why did she say that they were not very familiar with each other?

Soon enough, dinner was ready and Amelia sat opposite Lucian as they ate together.

"You’re a wonderful cook," he praised. With a cheeky grin, she replied, "Why thank you, Mr. Lucian."

Meanwhile, Lily had quietly retreated to her own room to give the two of them their space. Their voices were the only sound that echoed in the spacious house.

When they had finished, Lucian offered to wash the dishes, but was quickly stopped by Amelia. She snatched the bowls from his hand and said, "We are rich, but I'd feel bad for the dishes if they break."

Lucian frowned. He knew what Amelia meant, and truthfully he knew that he had no comeback and that it was his loss this time. He didn't insist and leaned against the kitchen door instead, watching as she cleaned the plates and tableware.

Even with the knowledge that he was watching her, she was still doing things like no one else was there. Her attention was completely absorbed in her task. Lucian couldn't help but find her relaxed air somewhat charming.

Now he understood what people meant when they said that a woman was most attractive when she was serious. At this moment, Lucian strongly agreed. He could go on for hours just watching her like this.

"Mrs. Amelia, are we going to sleep in different rooms tonight?" Lucian asked when she was done. He was standing at the staircase, as if waiting for her to decide which direction he would go to next.

a moment at his question. Suddenly, she remembered that he had changed her clothes last night and her face was immediately on fire. In a

and her downcast eyes. She said

of me,' he thought to himself. He walked up to her and took her hands, waiting until she raised her eyes to meet his and said seriously, "Don't think too much about it. Feelings can be tended to so that they grow

went

Lucian's words. Then, she followed him

washing up. Her heart pounded in her chest as the image of them sleeping on the

was being strange. Why was she thinking of such

sight of Amelia. He had not expected her to come to his room. Gathering himself, he wiped his wet hair with a towel and

"Uh..."

was nearly ten o'clock. If this was any other night, Amelia would have been reading a magazine on her bed until she felt sleepy, but this was not one of those evenings. Instead, she was with Lucian in his bedroom, trying very hard not to look at the muscles that were teasingly revealed to her from the gap of his bathrobe.

up to her and

raised her head. As their eyes met, she felt

wanted to sleep in another room," she stuttered. "We are a couple now. If we sleep in different

away. She had run out of boldness for tonight. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she prayed

smiled softy and raised her chin to make their eyes meet once more. "Look, Amelia. It's not as complicated as you think. I will always respect your decision

in Amelia's mind that Lucian would never force her

as she blushed a shade deeper. "I'm going

eyes,

mirror for a long time after,

to be afraid that the air in the bathroom might make

out in a cartoon fur pajama with water

dressed and said in a deep voice, "You have to dry your hair properly

hair off. In the

handling her so delicately as his eyes watched

he pointed to the quilt on the bed and

were burning once again as she walked to the side of the bed and put the two quilts together. Then, she slipped into them as

the temperature if you want,"

bursting. 'Lucian! I've gone farther than I ever have tonight. Why are you so stupid? You're

pitch-black, but even the darkness was not enough to cover the awkward atmosphere in the room.

Amelia. He's going to lose his temper now, stupid.' She clutched the quilt nervously as she felt a dip in her side. There was the smell of

Lucian made no move at all.

that seemed to be magnified by the darkness. It was all it took for Amelia to

dream," she answered, moving closer to him

thought that she wanted him to hold her in his arms. He

Amelia was confused, but moved towards