The billionaire's sweet editor
Chapter 72: Iris: Event 2

Chapter 72: Iris: Event 2

CONFIDENT, CHARISMATIC, and charming, Lucas is reminiscent of classic Hollywood heartthrobs—and he’s all mine tonight.

I’d been staring at him driving a while ago, turning away every time he would turn to glance at me. It was a ride like no other. Passionate but without words, steamy so to speak. I could feel his gaze on me, on my body.

He kept rubbing his nicely shaven chin, his hair cut covering his forehead and his eyes every time he lowered his head just enough. The curtain thing was the treat I got through it all. I love the mysterious look his eyes get when they’re showered by bits of his loose hair.

It’s intoxicating, to say the least.

Parking the car in the reserved section, Lucas lets out a low husky breath, turning to look at me. "Did I tell you you look divine? I’m struggling to sit still right now as I speak."

Goosebumps erupt all over my body at the compliment, my insides easing and burning up at the same time. I don’t know how to react, but my body does before I can even piece things together.

My hand lands on his shoulder—thank god because I’m pretty sure it was aiming for the chest—and I give him a smile that I only hope is seductive in all the right ways, about to speak when he slaps his forehead in forefeet.

"Even your smile looks heavenly tonight."

A giggle escapes from me as he opens his door to round the car and I clasp my mouth, cringing at myself. I can’t believe I’m turning into the delusional girls from movies that I hate so much, giggling over such a simple compliment.

I’m above this!

"Take my hand, princess."

Okay, maybe I’ll make Lucas an exception. Placing my hand in his whilst beaming, he assists me with exiting the car, his free hand going under my legs, rubbing my thighs as he carries me out. Another wave of goosebumps and an exciting chill run down my spine.

I might have to keep tabs on my composure instead of Lucas tonight. Once we’re both outside and ready to go, I finally get a glimpse of my surroundings. Adder looks...elegant.

The soapstone walkway has little yellow lanterns around it, lighting the road that curves out into the lawn toward the tent. They must have placed the lights next to the flowers on purpose. It’s making them pop out more, colorful as they come, a guide down the road.

Lucas gently rubs on my hand and pulls. I follow him down the adorned road, beaming when I spot a faux butterfly by the walls. This place feels unreal. It’s almost like we’re getting married in a magical fairyland and the fairies are hiding somewhere waiting to surprise us.

We reach the intersection that bridges to the lawn and Lucas takes the first step towards it but pauses almost immediately.

"The grass is wet," he crouches, running his hand on it and turning his neck to face me. "How about I carry you." I don’t see any water droplets on his hand but who cares?

A chance to seduce!

Jeez, I’m so desperate.

Nodding as heat creeps up my cheeks, he stands, placing his hands on my back and under my legs. In one swift move, he carries me princess-style, scooping the remnants of my dress in his hand as he begins to move.

I wrap my hands around his neck, catching a whiff of his soothing ocean-scented cologne and almost drawing my nose to his neck so I can inhale him more. Lucas adjusts me in his grasp, kissing my forehead for a start and smiling before he starts moving.

A gentle breeze brushes past us, making my dress swerve around us as if to wrap us together. Lucas glances at me when he notices the small gesture, smiling.

"Carry me like that too," I hear a familiar voice from behind. Lucas turns at the same time I take a peek and I see Mary and Phineas behind us.

She’s dressed in a glistening mini-red blazer dress, with her hair tied into a ponytail. Draped on her shoulders is a matching coat that also compliments the stilettos she’s wearing. I’m in awe at her, smiling when I notice Phineas carrying her in his arms and strutting down the walkway with us.

The necklace on her neck drapes to the side, shimmering in the lantern light and reminding me to touch my neck to feel mine, only to be met with a bare chest.

Making a mental note to put it on once we’re inside, I focus on the man carrying me once again, inhaling his scent as the urge to lay my head on his shoulder suddenly overtakes me.

"Are you comfortable or should I adjust my walking?"

My body feels light every time he says something so considerate. I gently shake my head, doing my best not to ruin this moment with a sudden confession attack.

"I’m good, but are you? I think I’m a bit heavy," I blurt out, blushing when he snaps his head to face me.

"You’re not that heavy. I can carry you anywhere you like and still not get tired," Lucas looks me in the face. "The stairs back at my house are evidence enough, aren’t they? Or do you need a regular demonstration to finally acknowledge that?"

Woah.

Choking on my spit, I tap his shoulder so he can let me down. We’ve reached the end of the walkway and are facing the tent. A few ushers are looking at us—the two most dramatic couples at the eve—

"Come on, just one kiss. I’m nervous babe..."

Ugh. There he goes whining to his woman again.

Kayla pulls Jerald’s tie, tugging him until his face is close to hers and she gives him a peck.

"There. Are your nerves gone now?"

I swear there’s a slight pink blush on Jeralds’ cheeks when she gives in to him. His eyes twinkle when he smirks at her, hugging her waist as he stands up straight.

"Yes, they’re all gone now."

Scratch what I said about us being the most dramatic couple. And then there are the ushers I thought were looking at us. They’re gushing at the cute couple next to us. Lucas clears his throat which gains the attention of Jerald and Kayla.

No one roasts them, pretty much because all of us have done that at some point and we’re embarrassed to bring the topic up.

"Welcome. Can I have your invites please?" One of the ushers says. Everyone takes out their phone to let her scan the invites, but before I can open my purse, Lucas grabs my hand and intertwines his fingers with mine, a smirk playing on his lips.

Turning to the others he waves. "We’ll meet you on the other side, you guys." Then he winks at me as the usher opens the tent for us.

Sometimes I’m too much in my head to remember just how important this guy is. I always forget he’s the heir to a billion-dollar company, maybe because he doesn’t try to show off a lot that’s why it’s so transparent.

Pulling me closer to him when we enter, Lucas takes me to a lonely secluded corner where even the voices of the people inside are muffled before I can even appreciate the beauty inside the tent.

I brush my hair out of my face, raising my eyes to meet his face which is turned away from me as he peeks behind us.

Is he searching for Bella?

"What is wrong?" I ask even though I’m pretty sure I don’t want to hear the answer.

Turning back to face me, Lucas rummages the inside of his breast pocket. It takes a few seconds, but he produces a small black box with a gold ’P’ written on it.

"This," he opens it to reveal the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen in my life. I can tell the gold on it is real when he pulls it out, and my heart stops when I see the heart-shaped pendant with a gem on it.

"I-is that...diamond?" The last line comes out whispered.

"Yes, it is. How does it look?"

I widen my eyes. "It’s pretty. Too pretty."

"It’s a gift?" Lucas mumbles, raising it to my face and swinging it sideways.

"Woah. Who are you going to give it to?" I question, heart, clenching at the prospect that he might have been looking for Bella a while ago. The necklace looks like he put much effort into it and he wants to give it to someone special. If what Lynn said was true, then he might confess to Bella today.

"Take a guess," Lucas taunts me.

Clenching my purse and teeth, I try to force the one thing I don’t want to acknowledge in my head out. "It’s for B—"

"You. It’s for you dummy," Lucas chuckles, running his hands from my shoulders down to my fingers and intertwining them with his. "May I have the honor and put it on for you?"

The pain in my heart eases in an instant, and I stare at him in disbelief, shocked he made such a gift for me. Mary was right. Maybe he likes me after all. Maybe I’m too intimidated by Bella to actually see what Lucas likes and dislikes.

His eyes bore into mine and I feel the goosebumps erupt for the millionth time today. "Yes."

I turn around and tip my chin up to let him do the deed. Lucas takes his time without putting the necklace on, and right when I’m about to turn and ask him what’s going on, I feel him plastering his body behind me, his scent immediately masking mine even though it’s just as powerful.

"You look exceptionally cute and sexy tonight," he whispers in my ear, sending an electric shiver all over my body as I fight to stand still and close my eyes. His hands finally appear before me, the necklace shimmering in dim light when he finally wraps it around me.

Then I feel the cold touch of the gold on my skin. Once I feel it hanging on my neck without any movement from Lucas’ hands, I open my eyes just as he wraps his arms around my waist, his breath on my neck a serving reminder of what he is capable of doing every time we’re alone at night.

"Keep this necklace on you all night. I have something I want to tell you before you go home okay?"

The heart-racing begins once again, this time, powerful and faster than ever before. I can hear it in my ears.

Plucking up faux courage and grabbing onto the heart-shaped pendant, I let out a low breath. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep it on me at all times, because I too have something I want to tell you."

Immediately after I reply, Lucas flips me around, grabbing my chin and tipping it. Then in one swift motion that passes like the wind, his lips are crashing on mine.

★★★★★