ELEVEN: Tension

FOR THE FIRST time, Lucien saw the flash of doubt in her eyes. He could see the insecurity of her age, and the lack of knowledge shining in her face. Something about how innocent she looked at that moment estranged the most primal part of himself. The thought that he was the first to pull her attraction in that way made him proud.

For someone like her, I can't possibly be her first crush. The logical part of himself said.

"And why is that, Ms. Cooper? Why do you find yourself interested to know me?" He asked her with a tilted head.

She nibbled on her lip, a nervous movement that only managed to make Lucien wonder how her lips would taste, and how she would react if it were his teeth nibbling on them.

"I..." Get frustration was clear to him, "I don't know. I don't know what's so special about you. I've never felt that way towards anyone."

Lucien took a step closer, it wasn't a conscious move, he didn't think he was aware of himself while doing it. But her smell was overwhelming him, and he stopped being aware of anything else but the sound of her beating heart, her eyes that seemed to hold his, and scent that engulfed his senses.

He looked down, only then noticing how close they were, and a struggle suddenly aroused inside his mind. It was like there were two different people in him, one wanted to ravish the living breath out of her and kiss her senseless, throwing her on his desk and do all those things he could imagine himself doing to get body.

However the other part, the more human one and sane one, told him not to do any of those things. It told him that she was merely a human, and he couldn't go there with her.

"You don't know what you're asking for." He whispered breathyly.

Like a deer caught in red light, Cornelia was frozen for only a second before saying, "Maybe I don't. But I can't help it."

Another step towards her, and they became only separated by a thin line, as thin as a thread. "You're a minor."

She swallowed, "Only until October. My eighteenth birthday is on the tenth of October."

"I'm a man with many flaws, you don't even know the half of it."

His warning sounded like they were more to himself than they were to her. She gathered the bravest bits of her heart, and nodded her head. "We all have flaws, that's what being human means."

But what if I'm not human. The thought was clear in his mind, but nothing really came out.

It was only then that the tension dispersed and he took a step away from her, breaking whatever the spell that was over them.

"It remains unwise." Lucien said and turned his back to her.

"Perhaps we shall approach the topic again in a month time." She said with a determined tone. "I ... I can't give up on this."

"You don't even know what this is." He retorted, equally determined.

He was glad the haze that had overcome his mind passed. He was glad that nothing happened which he would regret later.

"At least I'm brave enough to explore it." She took a few slow steps towards him, and he could hear her resolution in the soft click of her heels. She stood before him, her head held high, "At least now I know." She swallowed thickly, "At least now I know I'm not the only one feeling this, whatever this is."

Cornelia said the words then strode out of the study, her eyes fixed on the study. She tried to calm her her heart; the speed of its beating had her entire body shivering from the inside. She could feel her hands softly trembling next to her, and she clutched her purse tighter.

When she found Jerry, she decided to stick to him while ignoring Joshua's lingering looks. A younger man approached them, he introduced himself to her father and Laura. "My name is Luke Johnson, I dropped the invite at your place, Mr. Cooper."

Luke Johnson was not all that tall, but he looked fit enough, filling his tux nicely. His blonde hair and blue eyes somehow resembled Cornelia's in color. His face held a certain flush to it, and along with his wide grin, Luke looked really friendly.

"Of course I remember you, Mr. Johnson." Jerry replied.

"Just call me Luke, I'm not that old." His tone was light with a manly chuckle at the end. He then turned to her, "Is it okay to call you Cornelia."

"Lia is even better."

He nodded his head, then leaned closer towards her, "I think we can be great friends."

Cornelia noticed a certain sly look in his eyes, but she wasn't sure what to make of it. She decided to smile politely and say nothing more.

Her mind wondered back to Lucien, they weren't even on first name basis yet. she let out a sigh at the thought. A part of her was elated, if she could take what he said as anything, then it sounded like he was surely interested in her as well, even if just a little.

A small smile came over her face with that thought, and she bit the inside of her cheek to try and contain it. She saw him greeting some of the guests and without even wanting to her eyes followed him.