Chapter 116

Serena's POV

I adjusted the strap of my leopard-print swimsuit, acutely aware of Lucas's gaze sliding over me. His lips curved into a subtle smirk.

"Admiring the view, Lucas?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The suit suits you," he replied with characteristic smoothness, his eyes twinkling. I felt heat rise to my cheeks and turned away, pretending to examine the pool.

"Did you have Walter pack my luggage?" I asked, aiming for casual but hearing the slight edge in my voice. The idea of someone going through my personal items didn't sit well with me.

Lucas's smile widened. "Walter doesn't have quite the eye for fashion. Your navy silk pajamas and cream robe are in the second drawer of your bedside table, by the way."

I blinked, caught off guard by his attention to detail. Something fluttered in my stomach, but I pushed the feeling aside. "You packed it yourself?"

"Someone had to make sure you had everything you needed." He walked to the pool's edge, his movements deliberate and graceful. "Care for a race?"

I studied him skeptically. "A race?"

"One lap." He gestured at the Olympic-sized pool. "I'll even give you a half-lap head start. Winner gets to make one request."

I bit back a smile, keeping my expression carefully neutral. "That's quite generous of you."

"I try to be fair," he said with mock solemnity.

"And no backing out of the request?" I asked, testing the water with my toe.

"You have my word." His gray eyes held mine, sending an unexpected shiver down my spine despite the humid air.

"Fine," I agreed, trying to sound reluctant. "But no cheating."

"Naturally."

I slipped into the water, savoring its cool embrace. Swimming had always been my sanctuary, though few people knew about my competitive background. I took my position, purposefully adopting a decent but unremarkable freestyle form.

"Ready?" Lucas called out.

I nodded, and he began counting down. I started swimming at a measured pace, hearing him enter the water behind me. I kept my strokes steady, listening to him gaining ground. Just as I sensed him about to pull ahead, I let my facade drop.

My arms cut through the water with practiced efficiency, my kick intensifying as years of training took over. I surged forward, leaving him in my wake. When I touched the wall, I turned to find him staring at me with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

"I probably should have mentioned," I said, unable to suppress my grin, "if Lawrence hadn't sent me to business school, I would have been swimming NCAA Division I."

Lucas swam closer, water dripping from his hair. "You played me."

"Brilliantly," I agreed, then squealed as he suddenly lunged forward, caging me against the pool's edge with his arms. His face was inches from mine, eyes dancing with amusement.

"And here I thought I was being gentlemanly with that head start."

"Your mistake," I said softly, hyperaware of how close he was, of the water droplets clinging to his eyelashes.

"Apparently." His voice had dropped lower, sending warmth spreading through my chest despite the cool water. "So what's your request, champion?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but movement at the pool entrance caught my eye. Servant was approaching with a breakfast cart, his expression professionally neutral despite the scene before him.

"Looks like the champion is hungry. Perhaps we should have breakfast first," Lucas suggested. "Then you can tell me what you've won."

I watched him pull himself out of the pool, water cascading down his shoulders. I pulled myself out of the pool and onto a chaise lounge at the edge of the water, eating breakfast as my mind wandered.

I hadn't actually thought about asking Lucas for anything. I was used to relying on myself for years.

"Don't lie to me," I suddenly said.

Lucas looked at me.

"That's all I want. Whatever happens, even if you stop liking me one day, just tell me directly. Never lie to me." I emphasized each word.

*If Ian had told me right away when he fell for Nina, things wouldn't have gotten so messy between us. I wouldn't have been hurt so deeply. And I refused to go through that again.*

"Alright," Lucas responded, his gaze tender, his tone resolute.

"Do we have any plans for today?" I asked.

"No," Lucas answered.

I frowned. So Lucas's idea of vacation was just switching locations to play on his phone and sleep?

"Be patient, Serena. Take another day to just hang out. I mean, I'm a little worried you might not be able to handle all the fun stuff I've got planned for the next couple of days," Lucas said with a cheeky smile.

I looked at him skeptically. By the third day, I understood exactly what he meant.

On the second morning, I was barely awake when Lucas practically carried me onto his yacht. The gentle swaying of the boat and the salty breeze finally roused me from my drowsy state. As my eyes adjusted to the dazzling morning sunlight, I found myself on the deck of a luxury yacht, surrounded by endless ocean.

"What... where are we?" I blinked, still disoriented. The last thing I remembered was Lucas showing up at my door, insisting I come with him for an "urgent matter."

He didn't answer, just guided me to a cushioned lounge chair. Before I could protest, he pressed something cool into my hand. Sunscreen.

"Put this on," he said in that commanding tone that left no room for argument. "You'll burn otherwise."

"I don't need-" I started to object, but he was already squeezing some onto his palm.

"Turn around," he instructed, his voice low and firm.

My heart skipped a beat. "I can do it myself!"

"Can you reach your back properly?" His gray eyes held a glint of amusement. "Consider this a professional courtesy."

Before I could form a coherent response, his hands were on my shoulders, spreading the cool lotion with precise, deliberate movements. My skin tingled everywhere he touched. I tried to focus on the horizon, on the rhythmic sound of waves, on anything except how intimate this felt.

"Your turn," he said after what felt like an eternity. When I didn't move, he added with a hint of challenge in his voice, "Fair's fair, Serena."

My hands trembled slightly as I applied sunscreen to his broad back. His skin was warm under my fingers, muscles firm and defined. I tried to maintain a clinical detachment, but my racing pulse betrayed me.

"How's the technique?" he asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Fine," I managed, hoping he couldn't feel how my hands had started to linger.

"Yours too," he murmured, and something in his tone made my cheeks flush even more than the morning sun.

"Have you ever ridden a jet ski before?" Lucas asked as we made our way down to the beach. The morning sun glinted off the waves, making the water look like scattered diamonds.

"No. Actually, this is my first time doing anything like this." In light of yesterday's swim meet, my response was especially honest.

He studied me for a moment, and I braced myself for judgment or mockery. Instead, his expression softened. "Then we'll take it slow. I'll teach you everything you need to know."

The jet ski waited at the shoreline, bobbing gently with the waves. It looked a lot more intimidating up close. Lucas must have noticed my apprehension because he squeezed my shoulder reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I'll be right beside you the whole time."

His patient instruction and steady presence helped calm my nerves as we got started. The initial fear of the powerful machine beneath me gradually gave way to exhilaration as we skimmed across the water. Wind whipped through my hair, and salt spray kissed my face.

"Having fun?" Lucas called out, keeping pace beside me on his own jet ski.

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound carried away by the wind. For the first time in years, I wasn't thinking about StarRiver Group, or Nina's schemes, or any of the thousand responsibilities weighing on my shoulders. I was just... living.

Back on the beach, Lucas wasn't done with his surprises. "Want to try surfing next? Or we could do some diving-"

"No!" The refusal came automatically, my old defenses kicking in.

"We don't have to if you're not comfortable," he said, his voice gentle. "Want to-"

"No!" I cut him off again, then felt guilty about my sharp tone.

His lips twitched. "-have some water?"

My cheeks burned as he handed me a bottle, clearly amused by my jumpiness. I accepted it with a mumbled thanks, feeling foolish for assuming he was going to suggest another adventure.

"But tomorrow," he continued casually, "I thought we could try something different. How do you feel about helicopters?"

I lowered the water bottle slowly. "Helicopters?"

"And skydiving."

My guilt over my earlier reactions evaporated instantly. "Are you insane?"

He smirked, "Don't worry. I'll be right there with you, remember?"

The strange thing was, despite my outward protests, I was starting to believe him. Starting to trust that when Lucas said he'd be there, he meant it.

I took another sip of water, using the moment to steady myself.

"Fine," I heard myself say. "But if I die jumping out of your helicopter, I'm coming back to haunt you."

His laugh echoed across the beach, rich and genuine. "I look forward to it, Serena."