AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE?! good thing you're beautiful | part 18 | BECAUSE YOURE ALWAYS KISSING ME

It was 12am by the time you all got back into your bedrooms. The guys were in the guest rooms, except for Lucian, who was in his room, and Shayna and Celeste and you were on your bed, watching MTV.


"Dray? Can you come in here please?" you heard Lucian ask over the intercom thing.


You flicked it to talk. "Yeah. I'll be over in a minute," you said.


"See you soon," you said to Shayna and Celeste who just smiled at you.


You went into Lucian's room and saw him laying out on his bed, also watching MTV.


"Lauren is an idiot!" he exclaimed. "Justin's an aszhole! She could be in Paris right now, proceeding to make a fortune, not like she needs it, and following her dreams, and instead she's with that idiot, and we all know they're going to break up soon. It's a matter or time. That was the most unsatisfying season end I've ever seen." He turned off the television and tossed the remote onto his nightstand, and then he laid back on the bed.


You had to admit he looked incredibly sexy sprawled out like that.


"His name is Jason. Not Justin," you smiled.


"Same damn thing," he growled. You laughed at his exasperation.


"Come here. It's been too long since I've kissed you," he said.


You put your hands on your hips. "You called me in here so you can kiss me?"


"Partly."


"Are you trying to seduce me?" You pursed your lips and raised an eyebrow.


"Depends. Is there any chance of it working?"


"None at all."


He sighed. "Well then no. Of course I'm not trying to seduce you," he feigned innocence. "But I do want you next to me," he said, giving you puppy dog eyes.


You laughed again, but then went over to the bed and after pushing him from the middle of the bed, you pulled back the blankets and crawled inside. He also got inside, and just to annoy you, he sprawled out on top of you.


"Thanks babe. I appreciate it," you rolled your eyes.


"I knew you would," he smiled.


He moved into a more comfortable position next to you, but still loomed over top of you. He idly played with your hair as he stared at your face.


"You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?" he asked softly.


You met his gaze to see if he was joking. When you saw that he wasnt, you blushed.


"Your opinion is biased," you told him.


"Hardly. I dont have to think you're beautiful, funny, kind, sexy, weird, friendly, or anything. I just have to marry you," he grinned.


"Herb," you laughed. You reached up to frame his face with your hands and pull him down to you so you could kiss him.


"You know, after my father first told me I was coming here and I finally had time to think about it, I tried to tell myself I didnt care and that the only thing I was worried about was if you were going to be abusive or anything. But when I saw you, and saw that you were absolutely beautiful," you smirked, "I really wanted you to like me. And I'm glad that you do. Although," you said, nudging your hip playfully at the evidence of his arousal, "I think you like me a bit too much."


He laughed loudly. "It's your fault. I normally have much more control."


"No. I just think your hormones are raging out of control. How long has it been? I heard that if a guy goes too long without any sexual stimulation, he can get aroused over the simplest things," you lied.


"First of all, you made that up Audrina. Second of all, I'm not getting aroused over anything simple. I'm getting aroused over my wife-to-be. I'd say thats nothing simple. Actually quite intense. Now. If you dont want to see where my arousal leads, you'll change the subject," he said, stretching fluidly, but then curling back up around you.


You snuggled into him. "Change the subject to what?"


"Oh I dont know. How about to what I said earlier?"


"About you calling me in here to kiss me?"


"Audrina," he stated simply


You sighed. "I know. I just I dont know what to say. I'm still deciding if I believe you."


"Why is that so hard to believe?" he asked as he still played with your hair.


"I dont know. It's me. I said before. I dont really inspire love. It's one of those 'it's not you, it's me' things." You forced a laugh that didnt fool Lucian for a moment.


"Why do you find yourself so unworthy? So undeserving? If anyone is undeserving, it's me." He rolled slightly so he was on top of you again. "You're as close to perfect as I could have ever dreamt of. You've had to make so many changes for me. You were the one who had to move across the country. You're the one who lost their mother. You're the one who is going to a new school and had to move in with an entirely different family, and you did it all without complaining, All I had to do was accept our marriage. You had to do that and more, and you did. Even when I was a jerk to you, you were still kind and you still smiled and you excepted my friends openly and you're excited about going to boarding school tomorrow and God Audrina! How could you think you dont deserve my love? I dont deserve you." He kissed you, trying to say without words all that he felt. "No one will ever deserve you."


You stared into his eyes, wanting to see the truth in what he was saying.


"Lucian-"


"Shh Dray. Let's just sleep. You dont need to say anything. We have a big day tomorrow. I know you need time. Just close your eyes," he said, snuggling up to you and pulling the blanket farther over your bodies.


"Goodnight Love," he whispered.


"Goodnight," you whispered back.

RiR
"I hope you have a jacket to wear over that Audrina Rae."


"Lucian there is absolutely nothing wrong with this shirt!"


"But the cleavage! Well then maybe you shouldnt wear that bra."


"Yeah or maybe you should realize that I'm not wearing one!"


"Gasp! That's hot."


"You're disgusting."


"You like it," he said as he kissed you. "Come on. We're always the last ones ready."


You scoffed. "Yeah! Because you're always kissing me!"


"Once again, your fault."


You both made your way to the foyer, where your bags were all packed and your friends were waiting.


"Audrina," Pree called. "Colin wants to see you in his study."


"Okai."


"Babe, you do remember where that is right?" Lucian grinned.


"Nope. But I'll scream or something if I get lost," you grinned back.


You made your way into one of the hallways leading from the foyer.


"Dray! Wrong way!" Celeste called.


"Oh! Just kidding," you smiled shyly.


You walked into another hallway and you glanced back. When no one yelled at you for going the wrong way, you proceeded.


You knocked on a door, as it looked familiar, and you let out a sigh of relief when Mr. Alicea called for you to enter.


"Audrina. Please. Come have a seat."


You smiled and took the same seat you took the first time you arrived in the Alicea house.


"How are you Audrina?" he asked after a long sigh.


You looked at him curiously. "Fine? How are you?"


He burst out laughing. "I mean with this situation. How are you and Lucian? His friends? Alzie? Pree? Paulio? Me? By the way, I would feel much younger if you could refrain from calling me Mr. Alicea."


You couldnt help but smile. "Well when you arent around, I call you Alicea and Pop. And Papa Dukes," you said, grinning mischievously.


He laughed again. "Papa Dukes. I like it. Although in polite company Alicea is preferable."


"Aright. Well to answer your questions. I couldnt ask for a better Father-in law. Thank you for everything. Expect something nice come Fathers' Day. Paulio is amazing. I love him," you laughed. "Pree cant replace my mother. No one can. But she's not trying and I love her for that. She's absolutely beautiful and she's been all that I could have hoped for. And I was an only child so having Alzie around is great. She's brilliant and I already consider her my sister. I consider all of Lucian's friends my friends. It's great to have girl friends who I can trust and talk to and the guys are hilarious. I love them all and they've accepted me. That's all I can ask for." You took a deep breath.


"And for my son?" Alicea asked.


You sighed. "He's wonderful. I really care about him. Although he's incredibly annoying."


"He is recently, isnt he," Alicea agreed. "I thank you for that."


You looked at him with a raised eyebrow, wondering what he meant.


"You see, Lucian grew up before he should have had to. He was given so much responsibility. And from a very young age, he's surpassed most in his maturity, his insight, his intellect, his demeanor, but it took away from his childhood. He hasnt laughed in longer than I could remember. We rarely saw him smile. He was extremely aloof." Alicea took a deep breath. "You changed that. And I couldnt have asked for a more wonderful daughter-in-law. We consider you part of the family, my dear. It's been only a few days, and we've many more to go, but I want you to know that we love you. And if my son does anything stupid, which thanks to you, he is liable to do, let me know. I'll put him in his place. And I'll expect weekly letters, one from both of you, at school." He raised his eyebrow in the way that Lucian did. "At least."


You laughed, and moved to hug him. "One letter a week Papa Dukes. On my honour." He hugged you back and handed you a small box.


"You arent allowed to open this until Lucian tells you to."


You looked at him curiously, but just nodded and went back out into the foyer.


Lucia immediately enveloped you in his arms.


"Are you ready?" he asked quietly, looking into your eyes to discern the truth.


You could only smile at him. He was amazing. "I'm ready for anything," you smiled back sweetly as you kissed him softly. When you saw a grin spread over his face, you pinched him. "For anything but sex."


He laughed and then kissed you, harder than before, and then took your hand.


You would be at school in a few hours. You would begin your public life as Lucian's betrothed.


You took a deep breath and smiled.


Good thing he's beautiful.