BROOKE : And Sawyer in all this?
Lucas initially just smiled at her, his hands came to delicately tuck her hair behind her ears.
LUCAS : Maybe you love her as much as I do, this little girl, don't you?
BROOKE : As much as you, I don't know... But I love her a lot, even enormously.
LUCAS : I like that about you... This ability to love others without expecting anything in return... Even if I have to say that Sawyer returns it to you particularly well. She loves you too, I know it, I feel it. I also know that it won't be easy... But I'm going to do everything to get her sole custody.
Lucas let go of Brooke's face to come and take, with flexibility, both of her hands in his.
LUCAS : I won't hide from you that I'm terrified at the idea of not seeing her every day anymore, because that's surely what will happen... I'm already sad to imagine that she might not have his kiss on the forehead every night before going to sleep... But I also know that she has neither need nor want an unhappy dad and a family that is tearing itself apart.
Her words echoed Brooke's past experience. That of a child of parents who had finally ended up divorcing. Sure, she wasn't that young but she knew what it was like... Parents who argued all the time. And once the shock and the formalities were over, she had seen each of her two parents slowly get their taste for life back.
LUCAS : I'm going to have to go through this... To get better. Knowing Peyton, it's going to be trying... And I want to keep you safe from all that... Protect you from her low blows and her excessive reactions.
BROOKE : What if I refuse to stay in the shadows? What if I want to help you?
LUCAS : I don't want to take this additional risk, for you, for me, for us... But especially for Sawyer, she's going to need you during this time... She trusts you..
He paused for a second, squeezing Brooke's hands in his.
LUCAS : Do you agree to be there for her?
Brooke saw him swallow as he tried to make his gaze on her as non-pleading as possible.
BROOKE : You don't even need to ask me that question, Lucas. Of course I'll be there for Sawyer! At least until the end of the summer...
Her answer seemed to satisfy him because he knew she was protecting herself by insisting on the temporary side of the situation. Because things might have gone wrong... And she would prefer to remain cautious. Either because they would be together or close to being officially, which he deeply hoped.
LUCAS : Can I ask you something else Brooke... If you don't mind?
Lucas' eyes shone with a subtle mischievous sparkle. Brooke considered his proposition for a few seconds...
LUCAS : It'll only take you or four minutes... Then I'll let you join Chris, if you want.
Brooke hadn't even thought about Chris anymore... Besides, she wasn't thinking about anything at all except him... All her thoughts and desires were now turned towards Lucas and she didn't know by what miracle, but she was still holding herself back from admitting it to him and giving in completely to her need for him.
BROOKE : I suppose I still have five minutes to give you...
LUCAS : Perfect! Thank you...
And while gently releasing his grip, he slipped a hand into his pocket to take out his cell phone.
LUCAS : Wait, it'll only take a second...
Brooke didn't understand what he was doing and watched him tap away on his touchscreen keyboard and turn up the volume on his phone.
LUCAS : Would you like to dance with me, Brooke?
Brooke understood that it was music he was about to play on his phone and her cheeks flushed.
BROOKE : A dance? Now, here? What if someone came in?
LUCAS : Let him come in... Let them all come in if they want because I don't care! I won't even notice them... For the simple reason that I'll only see you... I'll only see you as has already been the case since I saw you that night in that bar... And then, more concretely and not just in my imagination, when you showed up at my place at the beginning of the month.
Brooke's breathing was as labored as hers. The knot in the pit of her stomach tightened a little more. But it was a much more pleasant feeling... Like butterflies flapping their wings and fluttering.
LUCAS : And tonight, you definitely look more beautiful than ever... So... A ballroom, music, a polished floor, and a princess... A real princess...
BROOKE : But don't you say that all girls are princesses?
LUCAS : Yes, but I tell that my five-year-old daughter... But my adult heart and my male body only see one tonight. So, even if I'm certainly not Prince Charming... Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?
BROOKE : Let's dance...
Without waiting, Lucas turned on the music and put his phone on the floor. He came back to Brooke in position. The first notes of music rang out... Brooke immediately recognized the song. Her body pressed against his. She felt his chest, the warmth of his skin under her clothes and his smell... Irresistible. She let herself be carried away and carried away by the contemplative beginning of the song and the subtle notes of the piano. His pelvis was against hers and she couldn't ignore his enormous erection that was still growing against her. But she didn't back down, on the contrary... And she let herself be carried away by Joe Cocker's suave and deep voice. Lucas then placed his forehead against hers... Brooke's eyes locked on his. He whispered to her:
LUCAS : I knew I would like to dance with you ...
The string instruments invited themselves harmoniously to accompany the passionate ecstasies of the singer. Lucas's gaze became more and more penetrating and his face was as close as could be to hers. His hand went down to the level of Brooke's kidneys, sketching a caress brushing the entire surface of her back. Brooke could not help but react by letting her body undulate and letting out a very light sigh.
BROOKE : Mmh ... Lucas ... ?
LUCAS : Yes, pretty girl?
BROOKE : I have one last question ...
LUCAS : I'm listening ...
BROOKE : Last night, when you were talking to Nathan ... You told him that it would be easier if you ... Well ...
As she wanted to say the words, she was stuck.
LUCAS : When I said I loved you? Is this the part you're talking about?
The way she looked at him confirmed it and her smile became incredibly warm and spontaneous.
LUCAS : I don't know why I told her that...
Brooke's throat tightened suddenly and her eyes went wild... But Lucas held her back, feeling fear invade him.
LUCAS : I mean, I should have told you first, Brooke! Because you're the one I love! I love you like crazy, if you only knew!
Brooke's lips parted on their own to catch her breath... She wanted more...
LUCAS : I think I even fell in love with you the moment I saw you, you know... My heart races and beats wildly every time I see you... I want to have you near me at all times, Brooke.
Brooke couldn't hear Joe Cocker anymore, she couldn't hear her heart pounding in her chest anymore...
LUCAS : I love you like I've never loved anyone before and I want to love you for the rest of my life!
Brooke now let the tip of her tongue brush her lips and still held back from kissing him. Her body shivered at the thought of feeling his lips against hers soon... She had missed him so much. The attraction between them was almost suffocating... Obsessive, electric, but also tender and sensual...
LUCAS : I need you, Brooke... I need you in my life and I am yours... Unconditionally yours. I love you... I love you so much that it almost hurts...
Hearing his words spoken like that propelled Brooke into another dimension. She had to hold on to him. It all seemed very real but a kiss could only confirm it to her... She needed him to kiss her. Her eyelids closed and her face tilted to give him the signal... A signal that he quickly intercepted. Brooke felt his hot breath get closer and his lips that were still smiling rest against hers. So impatient for this contact, they moaned with pleasure simultaneously... The next moment Lucas' tongue slipped inside Brooke's mouth to caress, lick and suck hers. While savoring this kiss with a particularly intense taste, Lucas' grip tightened on Brooke's waist to stick her to him. His two arms naturally wrapped around her neck and shoulders, her ears buzzing. Brooke's fingers ran through Lucas' hair, hooked, even grabbed... She undid his tie to see his skin. But like a fire that had been rekindled, this desire, crazy and heady, took hold of their bodies and their souls. Brooke felt like her body was burning and her clothes were burning every inch of her skin. She let herself be devoured by his passionate and hungry mouth, it was almost unreal, it was so intense and indecent. Lucas' hands were everywhere on Brooke and his were not left out... He took her buttocks to squeeze them... He caressed her breasts and rubbed his erection against her. The assaults of his tongue were more and more wild.
LUCAS : Fuck, Brooke... I think I'm going to take you right here and right now!