Lucas had just surprised Brooke and pulled her into a hallway to isolate their from prying ears and eyes.
LUCAS : We need to talk, Brooke.
BROOKE : Do you want to talk about tonight, or the next one?!
Lucas smiled at her but she could read the seriousness and even worry in his clear eyes.
BROOKE : Your mouth tells me it wants to kiss me but your gaze seems worried...
LUCAS : You're right. But let me tell you something before I explain what you see in my eyes... Would you listen to me, without interrupting me?
Brooke nodded, impatient to discover what he had to tell her while dreading it at the same time.
LUCAS : My mouth doesn't just want to kiss your soft lips Brooke, if you knew... If you knew how much it still wants to taste all the delicious parts of your body... It wants to explore you again and again as much as it wants to talk and laugh with you. My hands dream of never stopping caressing you and feeling the softness and warmth of your skin again... My ears want to get drunk on the sound of your voice, your sighs and your gasps when you breathe or you come... My eyes are worried but they are also fascinated by the curves of your smile, as much as by those of your body. They are tirelessly subjugated by your breathtaking beauty that I will never stop contemplating...
Lucas paused in his speech, Brooke caught her breath but his words still resonated throughout her being. With a confident and manly gesture, Lucas squeezed Brooke's cheeks between his fingers while staring into her eyes and he moved closer. While maintaining this intense eye contact, Brooke swallowed. The gentle force of his firm hand on her face troubled her. His grip was not violent but he was taking possession of the most identifying and personal part of her body ... Brooke suddenly felt both weakened but so excited to be immobilized like this ... It was strong. She pressed her thighs together, she wanted something to break this almost unbearable tension.
LUCAS : Shhh... The sound of your voice alone is enough to drive me crazy with desire for you... I want you in my arms, I want your breath on my neck, I want to breathe your body... I want you attached to my lips, I want to run my tongue and kiss you until your lips burn... I want to take off your clothes to caress your body and make every inch of your skin shiver... I want to feel the weight of your body against mine... Because more than anything, I want to be inside you. I want to give you everything I have, every second, as our bodies tangle, overlap and oppose each other... I want to make you scream as I kneel here in front of you to make you cum in my mouth... Do you understand? Tell me that you understand how much I want you, how indispensable you have become to me...
Lucas stopped talking and his head movement meant that he was finally giving Brooke permission to speak and answer him.
BROOKE : I understand that you are about to tell me that there is a "but"!
LUCAS : Yes, it's true. I am caught in your trap... Your irresistible trap. But I still have to tell you something.
Lucas gently released the pressure of his fingers on Brooke's jaw, he caressed her chin and her lips. His palms went down on each side of her arms until he took her hands in his.
LUCAS : This attraction that I feel towards you is so obvious that Father Luc suspects something...
BROOKE : If it is only that... We just have to be more discreet!
LUCAS : Brooke, I promise you that I'm ready to take this risk, for you, to live what we have to live... I've turned the situation around in every way, I can't, I don't want to run away from you, I don't want to resist... But you have to know that this will only last as long as you're here... I have nothing else to offer you.
Even though she knew it subconsciously, Brooke felt a knot tighten horribly in her throat.
LUCAS : You entered my monotonous life like a sun that instantly warmed my heart... And my body. I see only you... You touched my soul and I have no remorse, absolutely none. I am electrified by your presence and I want to enjoy all the time I have left to spend with you. Life has not given me a better gift in a long time, but I also know that life is cruel. If you are ready to take the risk, I will take it with you. The risk of being surprised of course... With all the consequences and stakes that this implies... But also the inevitable risk of seeing our feelings exhale for each other... Growing day by day. I won't pretend to imagine that this will be the case for you, but I know that it will indeed be my case... I managed to brush aside my guilt with the back of my hand but I won't be able to do the same with my feelings... I know that my heart will suffer but I will suffer even more by preventing myself from living this idyll that consumes me.
Lucas then exhaled a long sigh, as if it was already painful for him.
LUCAS : Then, you will disappear from my life and I will disappear from yours. That's how things must be.
BROOKE : You say that as if there were no other option ...
LUCAS : Because there are no others, Brooke!
BROOKE : And why not? I see several, me ...
LUCAS : Because my life is here, my brothers are my family and the abbey is my refuge. This is the choice I made. And your life is only just beginning, you have the opportunity to make a new start, to build what makes you dream ... You have a life to build, adventures to live, a family to found, a meaning and a vocation to find.
BROOKE : I think that's a pretty clever way to backing out!
LUCAS : Me, I'm backing out? About what? About the fact that things are the way they are? About the fact that you've turned me on until I give in to temptation? Or about the fact that I've spent my last few days banging my head against the wall because I desperately want you?! And even more so since last night! How could I back out of a relationship that can't even exist?! You and I, it's a passion, certainly all-consuming but fleeting, a parenthesis, nothing more. I can't risk losing everything. I don't want to destroy my life, or yours in the process. I'm making amends with my conscience for the sins I've committed and will commit again if you want me too... But I'll never forgive myself for hurting you or taking you with me into a disastrous relationship...
Lucas' words were disarmingly honest... but they were also very painful to hear.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : You're already hurting me...
BROOKE : So that's who I am to you!? A parenthesis? Fine, very fine! And, besides, as you so rightly pointed out... It's all my fault!
LUCAS : That's not what I said... Yes, in any case, that's not what I meant...
BROOKE : Don't worry, I won't be the one to deprive you of your faith, your job, your community. I'm no one to push you to such a sacrifice.
LUCAS : Listen, I knew this discussion wouldn't be easy... That you'd see it as reproach or worse, rejection. But that's not the case. I simply came to tell you that I wanted to surrender to you, with you... But only for as long as it lasts, and only if this formula suits you too. If it doesn't, I will accept your decision whatever it is and respect it even if I die of lack.
More sad than furious, Brooke couldn't reason because she was emotionally taken by his words that were hurting her.
LUCAS : Talk to me, tell me something...
BROOKE : I... I have nothing to tell you right now, Lucas.
LUCAS : I understand, we'll talk about it again if you...
He had barely started his sentence when Brooke turned on her heels and left the room as quickly as possible. She hurried forward while holding back the tears that were accumulating under her lower eyelids. Her steps were loud and fast until she could take refuge in her room, and open the floodgates of tears.
After several minutes lying on her bed, Brooke knew what would do her the most good... And even if the energy wasn't there yet, she motivated herself as best she could because she knew that afterwards she would see things more clearly. As she headed to her wardrobe to put on a sports outfit, a ringtone announced the arrival of a message on her cell phone.
MESSAGE FROM OWEN : I'm testing the big bed in the chalet... I dream of spending the night there with you.
Brooke understood that Owen had arrived and that he had already entered the chalet ... She understood that he was waiting for her. Certainly impatient, she also dreaded this reunion especially since she was still affected by Lucas' words. She remained convinced that a good cardio session would put her in the best mood ... But she had only one desire, that of snuggling in familiar, comforting and relieving arms ... Lucas being the cause of his sorrow, Owen's arms were the only ones she could envisage ... She had missed them. She went to splash some water on her puffy face, fixed her hair and decided to get going as quickly as possible.
After a cautious walk through the estate, Brooke finally approached the chalet. No sign of life. She took care to look behind and around her one last time then went to the door and knocked. She saw the window curtain move and a few seconds later... The door opened.
BROOKE : Tim!?
TIM : Quieter! Hurry up and get in, Brooke!
Tim, Owen's best friend and their former roommate had just closed the chalet door behind Brooke.
BROOKE : What are you doing here?!
TIM : What am I doing here!? You probably know that I've been on the run with Owen since our arrest... By the way, thank you for finding us this hideout, it's perfect! It almost feels like we're on vacation!
BROOKE : Uh... Owen is here?
TIM : He won't be long, he went to explore the surroundings to make sure we were safe... Not that he doesn't trust you, but you know... He always needs to check for himself. What's in your bag? Tell me you brought something to eat... I'm really hungry!
Without reacting to what he was telling her and with a blank look, Brooke handed him the plastic bag.
BROOKE : I didn't know there were two of you... I hope I took enough...
TIM : Don't worry, we've learned not to be too demanding... And then, you can do some shopping for us!
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : So that's it... I'll be their little personal delivery girl!? And I was hoping to spend some time alone with Owen... Why didn't he tell me that Tim was with him? They're always in the worst situations together.
As Brooke's anger rose, she turned around to go back to her room... Someone had just entered.
OWEN : Here you are finally, my princess! Come over here...