Chapter 05

flashes blinded her whilst a dozen of cameras surrounded them. Both Lucas and Jessica were caught inside the crowd of journalists. The reporters kept asking questions and holding microphones. Jessica was on the verge of crying right now, she wanted to scream at them and tell them to leave , she opened her mouth to say something but Lucas  was faster to react.

"No comment!" he declared  sternly, in a blink he held Jessica closer to his chest, and hugged her tight, wrapping his hand around her head, Jessica closed her eyes and fell into his embrace. her small figure  quickly took refuge in his wide shielding arms.  Soon security guards came in and interfered , Jessica took grip in his vest while Lucas walked securing his hand around her  and went straight towards the elevator. A guard opened the door for them and they hopped inside without delay.

The elevator's doors closed behind them and Jessica stood inert  in Lucas' arms ,strangely  she grew self-conscious about the man he was, she could sense the heat emanating from him, his broad shoulders sort of shielded  her, his warm hand wrapped around her was comforting. Her cheek resting on his chest  she could hear his steady heartbeat and his almost intoxicating perfume engulfed her.  

Lucas looked down at the woman in his arms , Jessica seemed hidden like a little child between who's afraid of letting go , and he wasn't so eager to let go of her either.

"You okay ?" he worried, when Jessica didn't move at first but then reacted to his words    

"No !" she said pulling back from his embrace  and looked him in the eyes recollecting her thoughts

"I'm not okay ! you said they wouldn't take pictures and that..that.. I …" the tone of her voice grew a bit louder, only she noticed it when Lucas  granted her a frown  before he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss

That was a gesture Jessica didn't see coming  and so she stuttered on her last words

"I am sorry, let me make it up to you" he said softly looking in her eyes. She looked at him and pulled back her hand  folding her arms around her chest  and looking away nervously.

Lucas stepped closer , tilted her chin  gently to face him

"Please what can I do to make you feel better ? I'll do anything,  just tell me okay," he insisted waiting for her answer

Jessica was  taken aback by his words , not knowing  what to think or how to act anymore,  she stared at him for a while he was so close to her, again!  But it took all the will she had to concentrate on the matter instead of focusing on him. He was kind of intimidating in a good way, Jessica was not intimidated out of fear, she was out of empathy. He seemed genuinely sorry  for what happened earlier. His words were sincere .

After looking at him for a while she ended up saying.

"Fine, take me home then,"

"No!" his response was so cold that she wondered if the man wasn't bipolar

"What ? You said you'd do anything !" she argued

"I can't do that!"

"But why not ?' Jessica insisted

"It's not up for debate!"

The elevators' doors opened and Jessica  took a step back refusing to get out of the elevator.

Lucas then grabbed her arm firmly, even though  her attempt Jessica failed to resist when he dragged her out of the elevator against her will

She tried to free her hand uselessly as Lucas' grip fastened around her tiny arm,  obliging her to walk at his pace , Jessica didn't resist  any further  because if he squeezed her arm a little more she'd get bruised. He wasn't hurting her though but Jessica had very sensitive skin and Lucas' grip only tightened when she tried to resist. And so she was smart enough not to take it any further. Or at least for now, she thought.  Jessica walked silently following his pace until they arrived in front of  room 3203 .  Lucas unlocked the door for Jessica and pushed her inside and went in after her , closing the door  behind him and sliding the key card inside his pocket and took off his mask

Once inside Jessica aimed to take off hers as well, but it got stuck In her wig , she cursed under her breath and tried nervously to take it off but it wouldn't

Lucas stepped closer to her

" let me," he brought a hand to her head trying to untie the ribbon that got stuck in her wig. Lucas stepped so close that Jessica held her breath. She thought that he was so close , again.

And  the butterflies  in her belly started to jump. He was an inch away, she  could feel the warmth of his body next to her. Jessica got lost in a moment admiring his jaw line , his chin, and his lips … inhaling his  intoxicating perfume.

Lucas tried to untie the ribbon for a minute but no use, leaning above Jessica's tiny  figure he struggled to undo the bow he did earlier . the ribbon was knotted with the hair of her wig  , he tug at it and the hairpiece  got off place .then trying to help him, Jessica pulled it away  uncovering her real hair . The good thing was that she's been able  to take off the mask but it remained attached to the hairpiece. Which was now useless.

Lucas  gazed at Jessica for a while,  she thought that as if he was  studying every detail of her complexion. Or so it seemed to her softer than the one he gave her earlier  inside the elevator.  

"A beautiful lady  should not go out alone  at such late hour" he said quietly

 "I'm a big girl and it's New York City remember ?"  Jessica countered rolling her eyes and untying her hair nervously

" You are a remarkable woman I have to admit but I can't allow it that you get hurt,"

" I can take care of myself !" she argued rolling her eyes at him . She's secretly  hoped  the evening would end eventually  and that she wouldn't have to deal with Lucas anymore   but she just had all her hopes crushed , hadn't she ?

" It's out of the question , the paparazzi still out there, I can't let you go " he said running  a nervous hand over his dark hair and walked straight towards the mini bar , poured himself a neat whiskey and sat at the coffee table . Lucas took a sip from his drink then he resumed.

"You'll spend the night here , and  as for tomorrow , after breakfast I'll take you home myself"  

"But the agency, I wasn't supposed to stay overnight ?" Jessica worried

"I'll pay double for the inconvenience, I'm sure your boss won't mind "Lucas sat his glass on the table and got up.

"I'll be next to  3203, you can lock the door after I'm gone. There's a night robe for you in the dress room, and if you need anything, just speed dial the reception"

With these words Lucas walked his way  the door  and before he got out he added

"Oh, and don't try anything funny, there are  guards at your door," Then Lucas walked out , leaving Jessica alone with her thoughts.

 After thinking it through, Jessica realized that if she got out tonight she'd have a hard time getting past the security and there was no world in which she wager against facing the   paparazzi crowd alone again..

She secured the lock of the door and went straight  to the bedroom. The night's been action-packed and Jessica felt tired. Jessica unzipped her  gown and stepped out of her scandals. She took off the dress and looked for the night robe he mentioned earlier. When she couldn't find it on the bed or anywhere around she thought it was in the dressing room, considering the suite was the size of an apartment. Jessica then noticed the two identical doors opposite from the bed, she walked towards one of them and pushed it open thinking it was the dress room.

But her tired eyes landed on Lucas' naked back. It seemed he took off his shirt the second Jessica opened the door. Which was beyond doubt  the wrong door !