Selene’s P. O. V.
We reach our destination early in the morning, and the place is breathtaking. Mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, their peaks disappearing into the mist. I love it already.
As usual, Sky, Zoe’s boyfriend, starts clicking pictures of her. She’s obsessed with posing for his camera, and they make the perfect pair. Stella and her boyfriend, Alex, are missing as usual. They’re probably sneaking off into the jungle for some alone time, and the thought makes me chuckle.
Then my gaze shifts to Mr Luther. He’s standing a few feet away, his eyes fixed on me.
Will he just stop looking at me like that? He is driving me crazy in every possible way.
What he did to me last night… I can’t stop thinking about it. He made me feel so damn good, and I still can’t believe he made me come on the bus with so many students around. It was a thrilling experience. His fingers felt amazing inside me, and I can’t stop myself from wondering how satisfying his dick will feel.
Fuck! My cheeks warm up, and I quickly look away, trying to push the thoughts aside.
“It’s such a beautiful place, isn’t it?” I ask, hoping to distract myself from all the wild thoughts.
“Not as beautiful as you,” he replies casually.
I stare at him in surprise, unsure if I heard him correctly. Did he just really say that? So smoothly.
“What?” I ask, needing confirmation.
“Nothing.” He turns his gaze toward the mountains, but the small smirk spreading across his face tells me he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Before I can respond, the instructor announces that we’ll have to trek to reach the campsite. Our bags will be brought separately, leaving us free to enjoy the hike.
“Trekking! I’ve never done that before. I’m so excited.” I exclaim, turning to Zoe. We hug each other tightly, giggling like kids.
“Let’s take a few pictures together before we start.” Zoe holds me from behind before calling out for Sky. “We’re ready, Sky.”
“Okay, Trouble.” He captures our photos as we strike playful poses.
A few minutes later, Stella and Alex return, and their flushed faces tell me my suspicions were correct.
“Had fun in the jungle?” I tease Stella, and she blushes, swatting at me.
Then they start their couple photoshoots, giggling and having the time of their lives. I watch them with a small smile on my face, but a part of me feels a pang of envy. They’re so lucky to have found their true love. It’s not that I’m not happy for them-of course, I am-but I wish I had the freedom to fall in love too and marry the man of my dreams like them.
As the trek begins, at first, Zoe, Stella, and I stick together, chatting and laughing as we climb the rocky path.
But soon, Zoe gets tired and adorably begs Sky to carry her. He laughs and lifts her onto his back, and the two of them wave goodbye as they move ahead. Shortly after, Alex takes Stella’s hand, and they walk ahead together, lost in their own little world.
And just like that, I’m left alone with Mr Luther.
“If you want to rest, we can stop,” he suggests after a while, noticing how my pace has slowed.
“Yeah, I need a break,” I admit, sitting down on a nearby rock. He joins me, sitting closer than necessary.
For a moment, there’s only silence. The sound of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves fills the air. It’s such a calming atmosphere. I could stay here forever. Though, I’m not sure if it’s his company or this place that’s making me feel so at peace.
“You’re surprisingly quiet,” I initiate the conversation, trying to break the uncomfortable silence between us.
“I’m thinking,” he replies, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
“About what?”
He shifts his eyes towards me. “About how different my life could’ve been.”
My brows narrow at his words. “What do you mean?”
“I never really had a chance to enjoy my youth,” he admits, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “When my parents died, I had to grow up fast and take on responsibilities I wasn’t ready for. Your father… he was there for me when I needed someone, but life still hasn’t been easy.”
I place a hand on his arm, my heart aching for him. “I’m sorry, James. That must’ve been so hard.”
He nods with an almost imperceptible smile on his lips. “It was. But I survived.”
“Why didn’t you ever get married?” I ask cautiously.
I don’t know why I’m so interested in getting to know about him.
He chuckles. “Never found someone who made me want to settle down. And honestly, I never had the time.”
He is almost forty years old and never married. I can’t believe it. Hasn’t he ever felt like he was missing something? Like he needed someone to share his life with?
I stare at him with curiosity. “Don’t you ever feel lonely? I mean, don’t you wish you had someone to come home to, someone to share your life with?”
God! I don’t know why I’m so interested in getting to know him. I want to learn every detail about him-from his fears to his dreams, from the secrets he keeps hidden, to the thoughts that keep him awake at night. There’s something about James Luther that pulls me in, something deeper than the magnetic attraction I can’t seem to shake.
He nods, his eyes locked with mine. “Sometimes, but life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. You learn to make peace with what you have and stop chasing what you don’t. You know loneliness becomes easier to bear when you stop expecting anything else.”
His words hit me harder than I expected. I feel a pang in my chest. I’ve always thought of him as a strong man and someone who had everything under control. Hearing him speak with such vulnerability makes me see him in a different light. It’s as if I’ve peeled back a layer he’s never shown anyone.
“You’re so strong, Mr Luther,” I say, my hand still resting on his arm. “Not many people could go through what you have and come out the other side as… put together as you are.”
He smiles at that, a real, genuine smile that makes my heartbeat accelerate. “You think I’m put together?”
“Well,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re bossy, a little overbearing, and you have a habit of invading personal space. But yeah, I’d say you’ve got your life together.”
“Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment.” He laughs.
The soothing sound touches my heart. I can hear it forever.
I stare at him longer than I should, memorising the way his lips curl when he smiles, and the way his eyes lighten just a little. It’s unfair how attractive he is, especially when he lets his guard down like this. I really like to see him like this.
We sit there for a few more minutes, the silence between us no longer awkward but comfortable. The kind of silence where words aren’t necessary, where just being near someone feels enough.
“Haven’t you ever dated anyone?” Now he breaks the silence.
“Never.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to disappoint my father.”
His brows draw together in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”
I sigh, looking down at the dirt path beneath my boots. “I want to marry someone of his choice. That’s why I’ve always kept my guard up. I want to be the perfect daughter for him and don’t want to do anything that might upset him.”
He studies me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Selene, it isn’t necessary to please your parents to be perfect. True perfection lies in embracing your unique imperfections and in being true to yourself. You don’t have to sacrifice your happiness or what you truly want to be perfect in someone else’s eyes. You just have to be yourself.”
I feel a lump in my throat at his words because I don’t know who I am outside of my parents’ expectations. I’ve spent my entire life trying to be the perfect daughter, and I don’t even know what I want anymore.
“It’s not that easy. You wouldn’t understand.” I rise to my feet, brushing off my hands. “Come on. We should catch up with the others before they think we got lost.”
He watches me for a moment, as if he wants to say more, but then nods and stands up. Together, we continue the trek in silence, but his words keep ringing in my mind.