CHAPTER 49: SWIMMING RACE

Lucien’s eyes widened in surprise. He should’ve known Adrian’s demand would be about sex, after all, that was usually the only thing on his mind.

But in front of Ben and the whole staff?

If he were just an ordinary omega, untied to any mafia family, maybe that kind of challenge would’ve sounded hot as hell.

But for a Don like him, it was nothing short of humiliation.

Still, Lucien never backed down from a challenge.

"Bring it on," he said coolly. "Just don’t cry to me when you lose."

Adrian’s smile turned wicked and confident. "I won’t, I never cry."

He lifted his chin slightly. "But you will, Lucien. I might love you with all my heart, but I’ll never yield to anyone, not even you."

Lucien turned his head aside in defiance. "I don’t need your pity."

Adrian chuckled, voice low and amused. "That’s cute. Because you’ll be the one begging for it."

His eyes darkened with lust, already plotting how to make those words come true.

But Lucien wasn’t the kind of man to scare easily. He’d faced death more often than he’d taken a vacation and no alpha’s threat, no matter how tempting, could shake him.

The waves lapped at their waists, glittering under the sunlight. Adrian’s smirk hadn’t faded, and that smug confidence only made Lucien’s blood boil hotter.

"Ready?" Adrian asked, stretching lazily, as if he wasn’t the least bit threatened.

His muscles caught the light, each movement deliberate and taunting.

Lucien rolled his shoulders and adjusted his stance in the water. "Stop talking and swim."

"Impatient, aren’t we?" Adrian grinned. "Fine. First to that coral reef wins."

Lucien gave a sharp nod. "You better keep up, pretty boy."

Before Adrian could answer, Lucien dove beneath the surface, his body slicing through the water like a pro.

The salt stung his eyes, but he kept going, arms cutting clean, legs propelling him forward. For a moment, he thought he’d gained the lead, until a shadow flashed beside him.

Adrian.

The alpha’s speed was frightening. Even underwater, Lucien could feel that commanding presence chasing him down like a predator on the hunt.

’Fuck! He is just like a shark! Why do I feel scared all of a sudden?’

He kicked harder, but the pressure behind him grew stronger. Then he could feel something touching him.

Adrian’s fingers brushed against his ankle, gliding up to his thigh before pulling him back.

Lucien twisted in the water, catching a glimpse of those glimmering blue eyes. Adrian’s mouth curved into a grin even underwater, a wordless declaration of victory.

They broke the surface almost at the same time, Lucien gasping, Adrian laughing breathlessly.

They weren’t even halfway the coral reef.

"Looks like you’re slowing down," Adrian teased, voice dripping with satisfaction.

Lucien wiped the water from his face, panting lightly. "I slipped because you grabbed me, you cheating bastard."

Adrian just waded closer, that wolfish gleam never leaving his eyes. "All’s fair in love and war, sweetheart. You should’ve known I play rough."

Lucien glared at him, but the heat in his chest wasn’t just from anger. He hated how easily Adrian could turn every challenge into something that burned between them.

"Next round," Lucien said sharply. "And this time, no cheating."

Adrian chuckled, leaning in until their foreheads almost touched. "You really think you can win against me?"

Lucien’s smirk returned, slow and dangerous. "Watch me."

The waves rolled calm again, sun flickering over the water like molten glass.

"Ready?" Lucien called, treading water a few meters from Adrian.

His expression was smug but focused, the kind that said this time, ’I’m not losing.’

Adrian smirked, "Sure you don’t need a head start, sweetheart?"

Lucien rolled his eyes. "Start talking less and swim more."

"Alright," Adrian said, his grin widening. "On three."

They counted down together, voices blending with the wind and then dove.

This time, it wasn’t chaos. It was rhythm. Their strokes cut clean through the water, two bodies moving with pure purpose.

No grabs, no tricks, only raw speed. The world turned into a deep blue blur and the burn of breath.

Lucien could feel Adrian beside him, close enough that the water trembled between them.

Even when he tried not to look, he felt the alpha’s presence and his overwhelming scent like heat against his skin, taunting him, daring him to push harder.

’Is he doing this on purpose?’ he thought feeling irritated.

Halfway through, Adrian tilted his head, flashing that maddening grin underwater before surging ahead for a second.

’Damn it, he is! Now he got faster!

Lucien cursed silently and kicked faster. His lungs screamed, his arms burned, but pride kept him moving.

’Not this time, bastard.’

He caught up, inch by inch. The coral reef glowed ahead like the finish line to salvation.

Adrian reached out almost there but Lucien twisted his hips, cutting in front of him, his hand hitting the coral first.

He surfaced with a gasp, water spilling from his hair, chest heaving, but the grin on his face was pure triumph.

"Ha! Fair and square, I win."

Adrian surfaced a second later, laughter bubbling up from his throat. "You really did."

He dragged a hand through his hair, water dripping down his neck. "Guess I should’ve known you’d fight dirty in a clean game."

Lucien smirked. "Oh, I didn’t touch you. You just lost."

Adrian drifted closer, eyes gleaming beneath the sunlight. "You do, darling. I can’t stand that serious face of yours, working so hard just to beat me."

He flicked Lucien’s temple lightly. "It’s cute. Adorable, even and it’s a dirty trick!"

"Lie," Lucien countered smoothly. "You just aren’t as good as me, admit it."

"Oh, I will," Adrian said, arms crossing, lips curling into a challenge.

"If you give me a kiss. One kiss, and I’ll admit defeat. Hell, I’ll even take you to that town for a date."

Lucien blinked, and for a second, the absurdity hit him. He felt like he was on a date with a mischievous high schooler, not a grown man with abs and arrogance.

"Fine then," he said, gesturing him closer with a grin. "Come here. Lean in."

Adrian’s expression brightened with boyish excitement. He leaned forward eagerly only to be met with a sharp smack! across the cheek.

Lucien’s laughter rang across the waves. "As if! I already won, you bastard!"

He kicked away, water sparkling around him as he swam toward the beach. "Catch me if you can!"

For a moment, Adrian just held his red cheek in disbelief. Then that familiar wicked grin slid back into place.

"Ohh, so be it!" he called out, voice low and hungry. "I’ll catch you and drown you! Kiss you and we can make love together!"

He surged through the water after him, catching Lucien’s leg with a powerful stroke.

They tumbled beneath the surface together, all splashes and laughter and stolen breaths.

Adrian wrapped an arm around him, both of them sinking and surfacing in a chaotic blur of warmth and water.

Their laughter melted into a kiss, deep and sweet, until the sky burned orange above them.

And as promised, when the sun began to fade, Adrian brought him to the nearby town.