Alcohol, tobacco, and sex.
Three perfect words to encapsulate the night.
Alex lay peacefully asleep beside me, completely naked, and the lingering scent of alcohol and tobacco filled the room. We had truly enjoyed ourselves; I had never seen Alex this drunk before, and honestly, I hope to experience it many more times.
I got up to find Alex’s boxers and shirt to wear, as I wouldn’t opt for fresh underwear.
Once Alex woke up, I knew we’d head for a shower together.
I picked up my phone to call my mom, who was likely worried since I hadn’t contacted her since my departure. After a few rings, it went to voicemail. I sighed, tried again, and when that didn’t work, I decided to leave her a message saying I was having a great time with Emily and her family.
This was an advantage; my mother didn’t know Emily’s family yet due to their newfound acquaintance. I sighed again and glanced at Alex, who had stirred in bed, frowning as he began to move his arm as if searching for something before slowly opening his eyes.
“Why aren’t you in bed?” he asked in a groggy voice, deep and charming, which made my heart race.
“Because I’m dressed,” I whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed as he sat up and leaned towards me.
His head fell onto my legs, and I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.
“You don’t need clothes,” he said, confused, and I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t do that; it’s rude.”
He repeated this a thousand times since we met, and I raised my eyebrows at him. He stretched, then relaxed.
“We need to spoon a bit longer; come on,” he said, pulling me in for a hug, and I smiled at his warmth. “You’re just so cozy and small,” he whispered.
“It’s already noon,” I replied, laughing, to which he snorted. “Come on, Daddy; you promised to take me to the Eiffel Tower today,” I reminded.
“Alright,” he complained, standing up.
He walked naked toward the bathroom, glancing back as if waiting for me.
“Aren’t you going join me in the shower?” He asked, smiling, knowing he wasn’t hungover. “Aren’t you feeling it?” I queried as I walked toward him.
“Just a bit, but I can handle it,” I said with a laugh, just as he began to undress me.
I allowed him to lead the way to the bathroom, where our routine was quick. Occasionally, Alex would sneak a grab of my backside or steal a kiss.
Once we finished drying off, getting dressed, and I applied some light makeup, we hopped into his car.
“Who died?” I joked, looking at his all-black attire.
“We’re going for a fancy dinner tonight,” he replied, and I nodded in agreement.
“And no alcohol for you, young lady,” he added, which made me frown.
“But…”
“I’ve been patient with your drinking, Nina, but I won’t risk it,” he remarked as he began to drive, and I frowned.
“Risk what?”
“That something bad could happen to you,” he said simply, making me laugh sarcastically. “Besides, you’re only 17; starting too young isn’t good,” he added.
“But…”
“Nothing, Nina. There will be no more alcohol for you,” he concluded, and I snorted in defiance.
“I’m not dying to drink; I just think it’s appropriate for certain occasions.”
We stopped at a Starbucks drive-thru, where he ordered a plain Americano for himself and a caramel frappuccino and pastries for me.
Once we had our drinks, Alex paid and drove on.
“How do you enjoy that? It’s gross,” I said, grimacing at his casual coffee sipping.
“It’s an acquired taste, just like alcohol,” Alex claimed with a smirk, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Total junk,” I shot back, and he laughed.
The traffic was brutal, even worse than London. Alex groaned.
“Hey, chill,” I said, and he sighed. “Let’s play a game,” I suggested. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare,” he said, and I thought for a moment.
“I dare you to tell Niall you’re with me in Paris,” I giggled, and he raised his eyebrows.
“What’s the penalty if I don’t?” he asked, looking directly at me.
“You’ll face consequences,” I shrugged. He stared for a few seconds before picking up his phone, unlocking it, and dialing Niall’s number. “Put it on speaker,” I urged, and Alex groaned but obliged.
*Phone call*
“What’s up?” Niall answered. Alex shot me a glance and shook his head.
“Just checking on the company,” he mumbled.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I agree with about 90% of the contracts,” Niall replied, prompting me to smile.
“Thanks, man; Nina and I really appreciate it,” Alex said, and Niall didn’t respond.
“You took her to Paris,” Niall noted, and I felt a pang in my chest as Alex sighed.
“Alex, you’re making a huge mistake with her,” Niall warned, and Alex pulled the speaker away.
I blinked, swallowing. The last thing I heard was Alex saying goodbye to Niall, and I felt his hand on my thigh.
*End Phone Call*
“Hey, Niall doesn’t know anything…”
“My turn,” he said, shaking my head, and he looked at me curiously.
“Okay,” he sighed. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth,” I answered, sensing a smile growing on his face.
“What do you feel for me?” he asked without hesitation. I looked him in the eyes and shrugged.
“I love you so much,” I admitted, taking his hand and intertwining our fingers. “You have no idea how much…”
“I wish I could tell you I love you the way you love me, but I’ve never been in love before, so I’m not sure how it should feel,” I confided, kissing his knuckles. Alex smiled, clearly pleased. He reciprocated by kissing my knuckles gently.
“Okay, your turn-truth or dare?” I asked.
“Truth,” he replied, and I let out a doubtful “mmmh.”
“Tell me the whole truth about your time in school, because I only met you months after you started,” I said, raising my eyebrows as the car moved forward.
“What do you mean?”