The Rise of the White Lotus

"But… I like you," Ethan Lu's heart beat faster and faster as he watched her take a step forward with her pursed lips. She then slightly tiptoed and made a light peck on his cheeks— it was light yet, it sent incredible tremors to every nerve on his body.

Lexi back away with a satisfied smile and a flicker of lovely emotion twinkled on her eyes. They were so beautiful that it left his mind in a distraught state and his eyes darkened. 

"Now, I want more…" By instinct, he took an enormous step forward and both his hand instantly cupped her cheeks— stilled her head to what was coming at her.

In a fraction of second, his lips landed on her soft, sweet ones. He could feel her grip on the back of his hand tightened before she eased— giving her silent consent— he snapped.

Ethan Lu slightly opened his eyes and witnessed how she slowly closed her pair of pretty eyes. 'Don't…' Part of him knew what he was doing was crazily insane, skipping his courtship to a more intimate stage. However, while arguing with himself, catching a glimpse of her compliance overpowered all his senses and made him resigned to his most inner desire— HER.

Moving his lips, he guided her lips to welcome his tongue that was slowly plunging inside her confectionary factory. It intertwined with her tongue that sent sparks within them— melting their hearts with their body heat temperature gradually rising.

'So… sweet,' The sweetness of her lips overwhelmed his racing heart and the scent of her heavy breathing wafted through his nostrils that undoubtedly aroused him.

His right hand from her left cheek tenderly brushed her back and halted around her small waist; while his left hand gently caressed her jawline down to her neck then to her nape. He stroked the strand of hair dangling from her slightly messy bun.

Pulling her closer, Ethan Lu shunned the world's existence as his only thought right now was Lexi— her tender lips following his lead, her feverish breath, her love.

Ethan Lu slightly bit her bottom lip that she always bites before gently licking them as if coaxing it.

"Mhmm…" The minor pain from the aggression of his lips made her produce a pleasant faint moan. He was gentle and rough at the same time yet, Lexi could only feel his intense feelings in their kiss.

Lexi knew they shouldn't be doing this, however, every lick… bites… every kiss he did tickle something inside her. It was as if Ethan Lu shooked a part of her that she never discovered before— an inner desire that remained peaceful in her 24 years of existence.

Her hand involuntary wrapped around his neck as she let go of the last rope of restraint she was holding on. Was this love? Or her newfound lust? A spur of the moment? Lexi was uncertain but, if it was him, she was willing to accommodate his kiss.

She was inexperienced but with his guidance, Lexi was able to keep up. The harmonious sounds of their moist lips touching, moving in sync together were music to his ears. Ethan Lu thought if this was one of his dreams, he didn't want to wake up just yet.

"Love…" Managing a single word under his breath, Ethan Lu parted from her lips as he nibbled on her jaw down to her slender, graceful neck, and then to her collarbones-- leaving traces of his love.

His sudden jumped of conquering his territory made her slightly flinched. His heated breath lolled on her skin that sent unknown shivers inside her. Lexi felt she was being bewitched all of a sudden by this particular activity as she subconsciously stretched her neck giving him easy access.

"Ethan… wai--" Her subconscious mind suddenly told her that they were still on the corridor and anytime, Richard Si might come. Hence, Lexi felt alarmed with that thought. However, even before she could finish her sentence, Ethan Lu's lips returned to her lips— making the rest of the sentence lost inside her mouth.

"Mhmm--!" Letting out a protesting moan, Lexi mildly tapped his shoulder to stop him. Alas, there wasn't a sign of him ceasing.

In between their short breaks to breathe, Lexi muttered along with her panting, "Mr. Si… he'll see--" Still, even though Lexi finally managed to convey her concern, Ethan Lu resumed on devouring her lips as if he could not hear anything nor could he bother even if the world was crumbling.

In retrospect, Lexi never saw him lose control this much that it slightly frightened her. The Ethan Lu that was adorable in his own way, the goofy guy that throws cheesy lines every time he has a chance has instantly turned into a man with cravings.

Although his kisses contained longing, gentleness, and warmth… Lexi was slightly surprised how could he look more… enchanting under this state.

Just as Lexi was in a trance, Ethan Lu suddenly lifted her waist like she weighs nothing and carried her back in the hot spring without breaking the kiss. Lexi didn't know what happened and the last thing she heard was the sliding door was shut closed.

This time, Lexi's heart beat faster and louder which sent red alarm signals inside her mind on what he was doing. Trying to push him a little, Lexi was surprised that she didn't need to exert effort as their lips parted. Yet, instead of completely being apart from her, Ethan Lu rested his forehead to hers.

"Ethan… what--" 

"I'm not sorry…" In between his heavy breathing, Ethan Lu whispered before he tightly bit his lower lip. "I also have my limits, love— don't push me again… I could barely stop myself from going further."

Lexi gulped a mouthful of saliva sensing the great restraint in his hoarse voice. Well, she wasn't really teasing him as she could never use her lips to taunt him. She just didn't expect that it would escalate it to this. After all, Ethan Lu had been well-behaved that she almost forgot that he was still a man-- a grown man who's used to have tons of women on his side. Yet, here he was… with her, trying to be a gentleman most of the time and ever since he confessed to her, she never heard such news again.

"I-- I'm not sorry either." Slowly nodding her head while her eyes looked down, Lexi mimicked his words as she didn't regret being kissed and kissing back. She's a grown woman who knew this simple decision making and she fully understood that being a little more intimate with him-- that's where their relationship stands.

"Mhmm, you shouldn't be... that would hurt." Faintly chuckling, Ethan Lu considerately pulled her by the shoulder and hugged her. At this point, despite the surging waves of emotion inside him, he could not be bothered anymore. All he wanted was to share the happiness within him that he could not express in words.

Knowing that she didn't regret or she approved of taking a step forward to their unlabeled relationship-- his concerned about it reduced because right now, he knew that she was his girl, his woman, the love of his life, and his future wife. Most importantly, coming this far to her heart-- their unexpected long kiss somehow reassured him that not having a label didn't matter; as long as she likes him and will eventually love him, hopefully.

"Lexi, I love you… let's get married when you're ready… okay?"

"Hmm…" Humming a tune, Lexi wrapped her arms around his waist as a subtle smile formed on the corners of her lips. Part of her, Lexi knew that she would eventually love this man wholeheartedly that she'd marry him in the end. The only question was: when? Regardless, as long as he would be patient, they would get there eventually.