[|]

My lunch with Jared had gone smoothly. Jared was a funny person as he shared his childhood stories with me. During our lunch, he had not done or said anything that hinted that he wanted me or liked me in that manner. I had been expecting he would try to woo me or do something after that night, especially seeing me in such a state. It was almost as if that night never happened and I was glad because I didn't want things to be awkward between the both of us.

Since he was living in the apartment across ours, Jared and I walked home together, talking more about high school. As we reached the apartment building, Jared went his way and I stayed back when my phone rang. I took it out of my bag and saw it was a call from Andrea, making me clench my fist. I was not in the mood to speak to her about anything.

I accepted the call and placed the phone against my ear. I stayed silent and waited for her to speak only to hear another voice.

"...where do you want to go?" It was Lucas' voice and I got confused.

"Please, babe. I want you to take me out to the cinema. There's this new movie that came out," Andrea said and I heard the familiar sounds of kisses.

My heart stung as I realized how Lucas suddenly got serious with Andrea. I swallowed when Andrea giggled and the sound of rustling followed.

"Okay. We'll go wherever you want," Lucas said to her and I heard a door closing.

"...he's so romantic," Andrea said and some seconds of silence followed. "Oh, shit! Who's on the line? Jackie? Oh, my goodness. I am so sorry, I must've accidentally called your number because I was on my phone's dial app... I am so sorry for calling you."

"It's alright... I'll end the call now," I said, my throat tightening.

"Hold on... Uh, since you must've heard our conversation. Can I ask a question?"

I shut my eyes tight. I wasn't ready to speak to Andrea, especially when she might be dating Lucas now.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Awesome... Since you kinda claim that you know Lucas from high school. Do you by chance know what he likes or his favorite thing to do?"

I rolled my eyes. This girl was trying to get me to say something nasty to her. I did not also like the way she was trying to get me involved in whatever they were doing.

"No, Andrea."

"Are you sure?"

It was then I noticed she was acting too suspicious for my liking. It wasn't as if I was lying, I didn't know anything about Lucas and lord knows what she meant with that tone of hers.

"I am a hundred percent sure."

"Okay. I was only asking because Lucas' twentieth birthday is coming up next month."

"Oh... Well, I still don't know."

Andrea sighed. "Fine... I'll call you in case I need an opinion on the gifts I thought of."

I ended the call before she could speak again and thought about what she had said. Lucas' birthday was next month and I was now stuck between getting him a gift for helping me or pretending like I didn't know because I somehow don't want to get attached to him.

[|]

I was home alone for the rest of the day until Jared came over and we watched a movie together. We laughed at me funny scenes in the movie and I felt relieved around him that I was leaning into his arms when Lucas walked in.

"What is going on here?" Lucas asked in an angry tone that made us move away from each other.

Jared scoffed and I shifted to the other side of the couch. Lucas was glaring at Jared whose eyes were fixed on the television. I looked at both of them and shyly looked away when Lucas looked at me.

"Leave, Jared," he ordered.

Jared smiled at me and kissed the back of my hand before standing up. He went over to where Lucas stood for some seconds before leaving the house. I immediately felt the room become small and stared at the television, hoping Lucas would walk away.

"Did I not specifically tell you not to bring Jared into this house if you're going to go out with him?"

Lucas was angry and I could tell from the fury in his eyes. But I was not going to condone it from him. I stood up and turned off the television. As I dropped the remote, I looked at him.

"We didn't do anything," I said and he took two steps closer.

"How am I sure of that?"

"What is your problem?!" I demanded at the top of my voice and marched to the kitchen.

"You haven't answered my question!" He asked as I heard him follow me into the kitchen.

I turned around and crossed my arms, a scowl on my face.

"What I do with Jared isn't your business!"

"Well, not under my roof!" He stepped closer and I stepped backward.

"Yes! I know but stop telling me what to do!" I said, pointing at him. "Jared is your neighbor and friend so why shouldn't I be with him or something?! He's a nice person from how our lunch date went! If I choose to kiss him in this house, I can! It's not like kissing is sex!"

Lucas came closer until there was a small space between us. I stepped back only to feel my back touch the cold front of the fridge. I looked at my sides, there was no place for me to change position to.

"I don't even want you going out with him," Lucas said in a low voice.

I hissed. "You are such a hypocrite! How can you be angry at me for hanging out with a guy while you've been out all day with Andrea? I can't even have fun because I live with you?!"

"Not with him!" He barked and placed his hands on the fridge, caging me between his tall body and the tall fridge.

I gulped and made eye contact with him. He was staring down at my face with hardness in his eyes. His arched eyebrows were furrowed, his lips were pressed into a thin line and his nostrils flared.

"I don't want you going out with him," Lucas whispered and I gasped when he held the back of my head and leaned close to my face.

"You can't tell me what to do," I whispered back and he smirked, giving me a peek of his teeth between his lips.

My body became heated up especially between my legs when his darkened eyes traced my face and below my face before meeting my eyes. He ran his tongue around the corner of his lips and clutched my hair a bit tighter before moving his hand toward my face where he cupped my cheek and rubbed his thumb against my cheekbone.

I felt flustered and arched my back when his thumb came closer to my lips. He stepped close and I felt his body press up against mine. I felt the hardness of his muscular body and his warmth on my body. I felt my body tingle and goosebumps on my skin when his thumb pressed my bottom lip when I bit it. He parted his lips and softly rubbed my lip while staring down at what he was doing.

When he looked into my eyes, I saw how dilated his were and found myself pressing my body closer to his. I licked my lips and in doing that, my tongue touched his thumb and I heard a sharp intake of air from him.

Lucas leaned closer to my face, making me feel his warm breath on my face. I leaned my head upward with my lips parted then halfway closed my eyes. I felt his lips brush against my cheek before they moved to my ear where he pressed his lips against the shell of it.

"I've said it once and I won't say it again," he whispered and I shuddered.

"No," I whispered and he chuckled devilishly in my ear. My core throbbed at the feeling and my heart sped up.

"Don't tempt me, baby," he said and kissed my ear before moving back.

I fell back against the fridge and watched through heavy eyelids as he walked up the stairs leading to the room. I touched my chest, where my heart was beating so fast. My legs felt weak and between them was a moist feeling I was familiar with.

Lucas was the devil and I hated that I was getting attached to his charms.