The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 50 : The Relationship

They sat at the table in the state room of the yacht, eating silently, looking out through the large windows at the side. It was a comfortable silence of two people at ease with each other.

Sometimes it was not necessary to say anything...

The yacht had gone further into the sea, as the AI took it along the pre-set path Luke had set for it. From the window, Dusk could not see any land, only the water of the ocean. The light of the moon shimmered in a sort of wide stream across the water...

She had never seen such a sight.

Then she saw further away, a huge battleship of the Bravdian Armed Forces sitting like a silent guard protecting the eastern coast of the nation. She also marvelled at the sight of small aircrafts taking off from the ship and going elsewhere. She had heard of such ships that carried its own fleet of planes, but she had not been able to understand the concept till she saw it with her own eyes.

She left the table and went to stand with her hand against the window looking in wonder. Unknown to her, they had reached the outer limit of the route and the yacht looped around the massive battleship and turned back. Dusk got a view of the battleship from all angles, both from far and then from very close.

She found Luke had come to stand beside her. She turned and smiled at him.

"It's a majestic sight, isn't it? I have seen it many times, been on board such ships countless times. But still, it fills me with a sense of pride." He commented.

Dusk's eyes widened. She always thought that he had only served in the land forces. But he had been on the ships also. Luke, on the other hand, was mentally kicking himself as he had slipped up again and was closer to disclosing his identity to her. He so desperately wanted to end the charade, force her to accept who he was, and take her home to Regis...He was powerful, after all, and could protect her! Who would dare to oppose him or say something denigrating his choice of a mate?

But he brought himself down to earth. He could not force her to accept who he was. There was no guarantee she wanted his life. And she was truly not ready yet. She had a lot to achieve before she was imprisoned in the restricted life in Regis... One which even he could not tolerate for long and had run away from without approval, at least for one night.

With a sigh, he put his hand in hers and brought her back to the table.

The server had reheated the food and replaced some of the dishes. But Dusk had eaten enough and had drunk also more than she wanted. Somehow whenever she was with Luke, she ended up drinking more...

Luke called for deserts. It was an amazing dish made of 4 types of ice-cream and 6 types of nuts. After eating all that, Dusk was wondering if she would be able to walk from the table to the sofa.

"Luke, tell me who you really are." She tried again.

"You still do not believe me?"

"Actually, no. This ship costs a lot of money. If it belongs to you, then you are far richer than you keep telling me. If it is not yours, then what is the relationship you have with the person who owns it...I do not want to sound petty, but tonight has costed someone a lot of money."

"... So, you think I own it and I have money to pay for all of this 'expensive' thing? Or you believe that I am poor so I should not be able to give my date a good time?"

"Stop trying to trap me, Luke. I am not a fool. Let's assume for a few minutes that this belongs to a friend. You have a friend who is willing to spend a few thousand dollars so that 'your date' can have a good time? Who is that good friend? Or ..." and here her voice hardened, "Does this belong to one of your girlfriends? In which case, what does she expect to get from you in exchange of letting you spend her money like that?