Blaise's room, neglected and relegated to a storage space, had become completely full of accumulated clutter. The once charming wallpaper, adorned with delicate floral patterns, now appeared faded and obscured by layers of dust. The sunlight that dared to filter through the half-closed curtains only served to illuminate the mess that had taken hold. The floor was covered in boxes of forgotten belongings, and even bed was buried under an assortment of objects - an old sewing machine, bolts of fabric, a well used old rocking horse
Lucien knew it would take quite a long time to get it cleaned up and ready for use. He glanced at Blaise, whose nostrils flared at the state of his room. He said nothing but it was clear he wasn't happy, and probably didn't want to be cleaning all day.
Lucien shrugged and set to work, with Blaise reluctantly following. They carefully moved aside boxes and discarded any broken items. As they went, they revealed dusty surfaces yearning for attention. Blaise kept sneezing, so Lucien opened the window.
About halfway through the cleanup, Blaise, looking very tired, furrowed his brows in annoyance. "I can't believe my mother would turn my room into a storage space. It's disrespectful."
Lucien, his hands gripping a cloth as he wiped away layers of dust, nodded sympathetically. "I guess she must have thought you were never going to return to her. But let's make it right again. We'll turn it into a lovely bedroom."
As they worked, Lucien's gaze drifted towards the open window,m. The curtains were still half closed, and as it was a very fine day outside, sunshine eagerly sought entry. Blaise's room could use some sun to freshen it up, Lucien thought. He made a move to open the curtains all the way. However, Blaise's voice interrupted his intentions.
"I prefer it to be cool and dark," Blaise said. "The sun can be a bit much sometimes."
Lucien shrugged, and allowed the curtains to remain drawn. He did take a stick and beat the dust out of the curtains, though.
Together, they persevered, dusting, arranging, and rearranging the space until it was orderly and peaceful. As they finished up the last steps of the cleanup, Lucien took a step back to admire their efforts. The room, once filled with clutter and neglect, had undergone a remarkable transformation.
The wallpaper, now properly dusted and wiped, revealed its true beauty with floral designs that made the room like its own little garden. Soft hues green and white breathed life into the room, creating a serene atmosphere. The freshly polished floor seemed to glow from within. The bed was now adorned with freshly laundered blankets and plumped pillows.
They'd worked quicker than Lucien thought, and it was still the afternoon. But Blaise was wilting in exhaustion. He sank onto the freshly cleaned bed, and closed his eyes with a sigh. "Thanks for your help, Lucien. But honestly, right now, all I want to do is go back to sleep."
Lucien wondered if Blaise got enough sleep last night. Or, maybe he just didn't have that much physical stamina. He tended to look pale and delicate. Lucien himself was tired, it was a lot of work, but he was nowhere near as tired as Blaise.
Lucien leaned against a nearby wall, wanting to say one last thing to Blaise. "Blaise, this is your chance to prove yourself, to rebuild bridges with Troy and your family. Don't let it slip away. Show them who you truly are."
Blaise shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze drifting towards the window. "I've shown them who I am, they don't like it. Not every broken thing can be fixed. All I want now, is to sleep."
Lucien let out a weary sigh. "I could really use a break," he admitted, casting a longing glance at the bed. The idea of sinking into its soft embrace, even just for a few moments, was incredibly appealing.
A spark danced in Blaise's eyes as he caught Lucien's gaze. His smile held a hint of mischief as he patted the bed seductively. "Come, Lucien," he purred. "Take a load off and let's have a little chat before I sleep. I promise, no hidden agendas."
Lucien hesitated for a moment, unsure of Blaise's intentions. Did he really just want to talk to him?
Lucien made his way to the bed, his tall frame sinking onto the mattress beside his enigmatic stepbrother. "Alright, Blaise," Lucien acquiesced, a small smile gracing his lips. "Just a conversation, then."
As Lucien settled down, he couldn't help but notice that Blaise was watching his every movement. There was a mysterious intensity to it that sent a shiver of excitement down Lucien's spine. He found his heart was pounding hard in his chest, and his palms were sweating.
Before Lucien could gather his thoughts, Blaise's slender fingers moved with graceful purpose towards the buttons of his waistcoat. Lucien's breath caught in his throat. He opened his mouth to protest, to question Blaise's actions, but found himself momentarily speechless.
"Lucien, I can tell you want me," Blaise whispered, leaning close enough that Lucien could feel his warm breath on his neck. "Let me thank you for all you've done today. No one has to know." Leaning closer, so that his lips grazed Lucien's earlobe, he whispered, "I know you can't resist me... no one can."
Lucien took a deep breath, his heart pounding hard with conflicting emotions. He gently grabbed Blaise's hand, stopping him from unbuttoning any further. "Blaise," he whispered, "We can't do this. Your family will surely get mad at me, and at you. Troy has been kind enough to let you stay here, and we can't betray his trust."
Blaise's eyes burned with intensity, his voice low and persuasive. "Lucien, Troy will never find out. We can keep this between us, a secret shared only for the two of us."
Lucien's resolve wavered for a moment as he gazed into Blaise's captivating eyes. This forbidden desire whispered in his ear, tempting him to surrender. But he knew if he gave in, it would cause all kinds of problems. And he barely knew Blaise!
"No, Blaise," Lucien finally mustered the strength to say, his voice sounding weak and indecisive to his own ears. "We can't. We must respect Troy's generosity and keep our relationship as stepbrothers, without crossing boundaries we shouldn't."
Blaise narrowed those violet eyes at Lucien, thinking. He seemed intent on breaking down Lucien's resistance, on unraveling Lucien's self-control. And Lucien was quickly realizing that it was working. He couldn't stay here; he'd have to take steps to avoid temptation around this beautiful creature.
Reluctantly, Lucien rose from the bed, his heart heavy with unfulfilled desires. "I need to get going now," he murmured, straightening out his clothes. "Take this time to rest, Blaise. Maybe a good nap will help clear our minds."
Blaise's gaze followed Lucien as he made his way toward the bedroom door. Blaise raised an eyebrow at Lucien."Fine, suit yourself. Don't think I can't tell what your heart's true desire is though. And, Lucien - you only live one time. You shouldn't hold back."
Lucien didn't know how to respond, so he just gave Blaise a quick nod. Then, he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the doorframe, taking a moment to collect himself, to steady the racing beat of his heart.