Care to Command

57 Power

"Even pooping?"

What's wrong with us?

"This is what I mean." His voice softens. "I'm giving a pathetic speech about wanting you back and you talk about pooping." He smiles a little. "You make everything better... you make me better. And I know it's selfish of me to ask for another chance, but I'll do anything."

"Anything?" I raise my eyebrow. "Aren't you terrified of saying that?"

"No. I don't care. I mean it. I'll do anything."

"What if I asked you to take a naked picture and put it on a billboard?"

"I don't think you would—"

"What if I asked you to clap your butt cheeks on a hedgehog?"

He doesn't make an expression or a move.

"What if I asked you to dress like the Queen of England and walk around with a tea cart and wear white gloves with a pearl necklace?"

"I don't think the Queen serves tea. So that wouldn't make any sense."

"What if the Queen got deported to LA and now she needs to make ends meet so she strolls on Hollywood boulevard and whores around with a cup of fancy tea?"

"Can we go back to a more serious topic?"

"See, this is what I mean! One minute I'm walking out of here and next I'm talking about pooping and tea! You call me a cow and I laugh like an idiot. You put your hands on me and I can't breathe. You have too much power over me!"

"You think you don't have power over me?" He narrows his eyes. "I've never been to a Halloween party. I'm allergic to bees. I swore I'd never cook again. And I hate anime!"

"Big deal! I let you come all over my face!"

"I went to twelve chick stores and asked every female employee to wear the hair accessories so I could find the right one for you!"

"You were flirting with other women?"

"No! Why would I flirt with them!"

"You're telling me that flower piece touched other women's hair?"

"No! The woman at the last store was blonde so I tried it on myself..." His voice lowers at the end and he looks down.

"You modeled a flowery hair clip in public?" I smile.

"Yes." He grumbles and kicks the ground.

"Didn't people stare?"

"They took pictures."

"I love that you did that."

"Well, I love you."

What?

"What'd you just say?" My voice comes out high pitched and Lucas freezes.

"Nothing, I said I love that accessory too."

"You said that you love me." I gasp.

He stares at the ground and rubs his neck, then chuckles to himself.

"You've... you've lost it." I say and he actually starts to laugh.

His whole body loosens up like something just lifted off of him and he can finally breathe.

Then he looks at me, eyes sparkling with energy and power I've never seen before.

"I love you." He nods, voice deeper.

"Stop."

"I love you."

"You're freaking me out." I step back.

"I want you back." He says confidently. "From the beginning."

"Beginning?"

He takes a step forward and I stumble back. "I'll win you back. I'll do everything better. I'll show you who I really am."

"A psychopath?" My back finds the door and I get trapped in front of him.

"Give me two weeks." He pins me with an unwavering gaze. "If I don't earn your trust then I'll know we're not meant to be."

"Sounds like another game." I cross my arms and he puts his hands on either side of me.

"It's not." He murmurs. His inviting heat and smell surround me. "But if it is, then you make all the rules. You'll be in charge."

"Oh?"

"And I'll follow." A smile tugs on his lips.

"Liar."

"I'll never lie again."

My heart thumps and his smile fades.

"I promise you Layla, I'll never lie to you again."

"Never is a big word."

"The only time I'll lie is if I want to surprise you with a gift or something romantic."

"Again, saying words..."

"Then I'll show it." He puts his hands on my lower back, trailing them up my spine. "I'm better at showing anyway."

"Two weeks?" I breathe shakily.

"Two weeks." He leans in, brushing his nose with mine, eyes on my parted lips.

"I make the rules?" I gasp when he wraps his around the back of my neck.

"And I follow." He says ruggedly, hovering his mouth over my mine.

"Then..." I flatten my hand on his chest. "We start now."

I push until he steps back with a curious look.

"Rule number one, you never lie to me again." I repeat. "Unless it's for a happy surprise."

"Okay." He nods softly.

"Rule number two, we start from scratch. We haven't kissed or done anything."

He smiles a little. "Okay."

"Rule number three." I raise my eyebrow. "You don't make a single move until I tell you so."

He stops smiling.

"You think you can handle that?" I ask mockingly.

"I can't touch you? At all?"

"Nope."

"For how long?" He's about to step forward but stops, furrowing his brows. "For how long?"

"Until I say so." I say, reaching for the handle.

"Do you have to leave now?"

"I have plans with my girls."

He looks over his shoulder at the table we were sitting at. "You didn't even finish your food..."

"Do you love me?" I ask, ignoring the violent beating of my heart. I can't believe he said that.

The only answer he gives is the sparkle in his eyes, telling me whatever unleashed inside of him is meant for me and won't be stopped.

No one has ever stared at me like that.

"Then you'll make it again." I smile before I open and walk out.

~ A/N ~
I have a very fun chapter coming soon, hehe.