Alex stepped into the mansion, his jaw dropping slightly. "Wow, Lucas," he breathed, genuinely impressed. "You have a beautiful house." He sank onto the plush couch as Lucas handed him a steaming mug of tea, settling down beside him.
They fell into conversation easily, discovering a shared passion for gaming that bridged the initial awkwardness. Hours seemed to melt away as they discussed strategies, favorite characters, and upcoming tournaments. As Alex animatedly described a particularly daring in-game maneuver, he noticed Lucas's gaze fixed on him, a soft intensity in his dark eyes.
Suddenly, Lucas reached out, gently turning Alex's face towards him. "I will make you mine," he stated, his voice a low murmur that sent a shiver down Alex's spine.
Confusion clouded Alex's features. "What? What do you mean?" Then, the events of the previous night flickered through his memory. "Oh," he said softly, a blush creeping up his neck. "You mean… taking responsibility?"
Lucas nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Exactly. And I have a proposition for you. My mother has been… rather insistent about me finding a partner. It would bring her a great deal of peace. So, will you help me out?"
Alex frowned. "Help you out how?"
"Marry me," Lucas said simply. "Just for a year. A temporary arrangement."
Alex stared at him, dumbfounded. "$1,500,000?" he blurted out, recalling the hefty sum Lucas had mentioned earlier, though the context was unclear.
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Lucas's face. "That… is a separate matter. For this arrangement, there would be… compensation. But the primary reason is my mother." He looked at Alex, his eyes holding a strange mix of vulnerability and determination. Alex could sense a hidden intensity beneath Lucas's cool exterior, a subtle warning that pushing back too hard might not be wise.
Swallowing hard, Alex considered the bizarre request. A year of marriage? It sounded insane. But Lucas's earnestness, coupled with the lingering guilt from the previous night, made him hesitate. "What are the… rules?" he asked cautiously.
"The rules are simple," Lucas replied, his voice firm. "Since you took advantage of me, your consequence is to be mine for one year. Publicly, we are a couple. But at work noone knows .But for my mother's sake, we must appear committed."
Alex stared at Lucas, trying to decipher his motives. There was something undeniably odd about this whole situation. Yet, a strange sense of curiosity, and perhaps a touch of misplaced responsibility, nudged him forward. "Fine," he said slowly. "I'll accept. Marry you… for one year."
A subtle smile touched Lucas's lips. He produced two documents from a nearby drawer. "Excellent. Then let's make it official." They both signed the contracts.
The next day, they found themselves standing in a registry office, exchanging vows. Alex stared at the marriage certificate in his hand, a surreal feeling washing over him. He was married. To a guy he'd known for barely a week.
Lucas gently took the certificate from his grasp. "I'll keep this safe," he said, his voice surprisingly soft.
The next week at work...