The Things We Never Said

Lila’s POV I didn’t know what to expect when Blake brought me along that summer. Long days by the lake? Sure. Late nights, laughing and drinking? Of course. But Lucian Black? He was the surprise I didn’t see coming. He was just a name. A presence I’d heard about more than I’d seen. Blake’s best friend. Wild. A little dangerous. I always thought I knew what kind of guy Lucian was. But I was wrong. Gosh I was so wrong.. We were all sitting around the fire that night. Blake was telling some funny story and people were laughing. I don’t know why but my eyes started searching for Lucian. He was sitting across the fire. His long legs stretched out, his broad shoulders relaxed. He held a beer loosely in one hand. But it was his green eyes that stopped me cold. His gaze fixed on me. Steady. Intense. He wasn’t talking. In fact, he wasn’t saying anything at all. He was just sitting there. His expression unreadable - neither warm nor cold. He was watching me. Not just looking. Watching. His eyes were dark. He didn’t blink. He didn’t smile. He just stared. Right at me. My heart skipped a beat. What was that look? What it meant? Suddenly everything around me froze while heat poured through me… Setting my skin on fire. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. My legs crossed, trying to hide the sudden burn. Stop it, Lila. Don’t be stupid. But I couldn’t help it. Whatever this was, it was stronger than me. His lips were slightly parted. I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like against mine. What would it feel like if he touched me? The thoughts made my heart race faster. My skin felt too warm, too tight. I bit my lip, hoping no one noticed. But Lucian noticed. He didn’t look away. Not once. His gaze still fixed on me. Feeling like a pull I didn’t quite understand. And in that instant, I realized I didn’t know anything about him at all. Except one thing… I was falling. Hard… for someone I knew I shouldn’t even dream about… Just then someone spoke loudly and the moment was gone… Lucian looked away, his attention shifting back to the group, but I couldn’t shake the way I’d felt - like I was caught in something deeper than a casual look. I quickly turned back and tried to focus on the conversation, but my mind kept drifting back to him. The way his eyes lingered on me. My pulse went wild, caught between something I craved and something I knew I couldn’t have. What was wrong with me? I never felt this way before. I let out a shaky breath trying to pull myself together. I forced myself to smile but inside… I was freaking spinning. Because I knew. That look between us? It wasn’t harmless. Lucian Black had looked at me like he wanted to know every inch of me. And worse? At this moment I wanted him to… so badly… I wanted to know what lay beneath that calm exterior. I wanted to know everything about him. But I couldn’t. I shouldn’t. He was Blake’s best friend. A guy who didn’t do relationships. A guy who was too wild, too unpredictable, too wrong for me. I looked at him one last time. He was laughing, leaning back. But his eyes… his eyes were still heavy with something… Something I couldn’t name. He didn’t look at me again but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something between us. Something unsaid. Just hanging in the air. And it terrified the hell out of me. Because I knew I was falling for him. Fast. And I didn’t know how to stop it. I couldn’t stay there a second longer… “I’m heading to bed” I said quickly hoping my voice sounded steadier than it felt. “Good night” Blake called after me grinning. “Lil can you bring me another beer before you go?” I forced a smile “Sure” But before I could take a step, Lucian’s voice cut through the air. Low and smooth. “I’ll get it” I froze. When I turned, he was already standing. His eyes met mine, unreadable as ever and then he gave Blake a quick nod before walking toward the house - toward me. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. I headed to the house feeling his presence close behind me. Every step made the air between us feel heavier, thicker like something electric was building. I didn’t dare look back. But I could feel him there. And somehow I knew this night wasn’t over yet.