Sincerely, Marlena

83

Sincerely, Marlena.

The kiss felt like an explosion, a release of all the pent-up frustration and desire that had been simmering between us. When Lucien finally pulled away, both of us were breathless, our faces flushed with a mixture of passion and confusion.

"I needed that," Lucien said, his voice rough and raw. "I needed to know where we stood."

I shook my head, still reeling from the intensity of the kiss. "Lucien, the last time we did this, it didn't solve anything."

He looked at me with a mix of determination and something else—an intense need that mirrored my own confusion. "Maybe it didn't. But it could be different this time. We could... get it out of our system."

The suggestion hung in the air between us, and I struggled to wrap my mind around it. "Get it out of our system? How do you even do that?"

Lucien's gaze remained steady, his eyes locked onto mine as if he were searching for some unspoken understanding. "We could have a sort-of-relationship. Something physical to channel all this tension. We'd be upfront about it—no expectations, no strings attached."

My mind raced as I considered his words. "A sort-of-relationship? And you think that's going to fix everything? It sounds like it could end badly. Things are already unstable. My brothers finding out—"

"Exactly," he interjected, his voice firm. "We're both so wound up, so angry at each other, that maybe it's this physical outlet that will help us manage our emotions. It might clear the air between us."

I frowned, trying to digest his suggestion. "So, you think that having angry sex would solve all our problems? What if it only makes things worse?"

Lucien stepped closer, his hand still resting on my hip, and his expression softened slightly. "It might not solve everything, but it could be a way to release some built-up tension. If we're honest about what we want, if we make it clear that it's just physical, it might help us manage our feelings better."

I bit my lip, feeling the weight of his words and the gravity of the situation. "And what happens if it doesn't work? If it just makes everything more complicated?"

"We won't know until we try," he said, his voice filled with a blend of resolve and vulnerability. "We've been trying to fight this attraction, and it's only making things harder. Maybe if we address it head-on, we can at least get some clarity."

The idea was both tempting and terrifying. The prospect of a physical relationship with Lucien could be an outlet for our anger and desire, but it also carried risks—especially with everything else going on.

"I don't know," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "It feels like we're walking a tightrope. One wrong move, and everything could come crashing down."

I looked into his eyes, seeing the same mix of frustration and longing that I felt. The tension between us was undeniable, and the idea of using it to our advantage was both intriguing and frightening.

"Alright," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Let's think about it. But we have to be careful, and we need to make sure we don't let this complicate things even further."

Lucien nodded, a faint, cheeky smile tugging at his lips. "Agreed. We'll take it one step at a time."

We stayed outside for a while longer, the rising sun casting a warm glow around us as we navigated the complexities of our feelings. The air was still charged with the aftermath of the kiss, but now there was an added layer of uncertainty about where we were headed.

As we eventually made our way back inside, the weight of our conversation lingered. The idea of a sort-of-relationship hung between us.