His heartbeat intensified when his eyes met hers, almost as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat. It really felt like his body, his heart, and the blood in his body were all telling him how important she was to him!

He could clearly hear his own heartbeat at the moment. He headed toward her one step at a time. It was all that he desired—to get closer and closer to her, to have a closer look at that pair of eyes, to see himself reflected in those clear and calm eyes of hers.

As he approached her, he reached out his hands and quickly pulled her into his arms.

Serenity was startled. She had never thought that Lucas would suddenly hug her like that in front of everyone. He was holding her so tightly now that she could not break free no matter how she struggled.

In a low voice, she commanded him, "Let go of me, Lucas Gomez!"

"No," he murmured, enveloping his arms even more tightly now around her body, almost as if he was trying to embed her into his own body, "I won't let