Chapter 35: Chapter 35

"What was that?" Hannah asks as she walks with me down the hallway after class.

"What do you mean?" I furrow my brow and glance at her, not understanding what she's talking about.

"The new guy? Benjamin?" She furrows her brow.

"Benjamin? What about him?"

"You were so comfortable with him." She suddenly stops walking in the middle of the hallway, forcing me to stop too. "What's gotten into you?"

"What do you mean?" I continue with my brow furrowed and turn to her. "Hannah... I don't understand. Seriously."

"Alice, you have a boyfriend! And it looked like you two were flirting."

I narrow my eyes, deducing something based on her attitude.

"Is this all jealousy?" I arch my eyes and end up letting out a laugh in irony.

"No! It's just that... You already have a hot guy! You don't need another one!" She crosses her arms, indignant.

I roll my eyes and shake my head, unable to contain the desire to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"We just got excited to find out we're both Brazilian. We're not going to have anything beyond friendship. Relax." I start walking again and she follows me.

"Are you sure?"

"Hannah!" I stop walking again and turn sharply towards her. "What's gotten into you? Are you so desperate for someone that you're nagging me because I talked to that guy?" I furrow my brow. "You're starting to sound like that girl." I refer to Madelyn's sister.

Hannah takes a deep breath, making her expression look like that of a guilty person.

"I'm sorry." She almost whispers. "It's just that..." She squeezes her eyes shut, unable to justify her own actions.

"It's okay. Just don't become... Her. I don't need more of her in my life." And literally, it was more than one. "Now, I need to go to my next class."

I signal and head towards the art history classroom.

***

As I enter the classroom and look for a place to sit, since it was one of the classes with the most students, I end up finding a spot at the top of the room. The lights go out, leaving only the glow of the projector to brighten the room, which made it difficult to see distant points. I climb the steps. I sit down and hear a voice speak next to me.

"Are you following me?" The Portuguese ran through my ears.

I look to the side, seeing Benjamin. I observe him surprised. He carried a friendly smile on his lips. I didn't expect to find him here, and the low light in the environment made it difficult to recognize him at first.

"Benjamin! Hi! I didn't expect to see you here." I return his smile and take the opportunity to speak with him in our native language.

"Don't I look like someone who likes to meet our art descendants?" He asks, slyly.

"No, it's not that! I just thought you might like something more dynamic."

He shakes his head and lets out a nasal laugh.

"And your friend, isn't she coming?" He asks, referring to Hannah.

"No, she's interested in another class."

"I hope I didn't cause any problems between you two. She seemed bothered by me."

"It wasn't about you. It was about me."

"You? Why?"

"Well..." I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out how to explain the situation. "She assumed we were flirting."

"And... would that be a problem?" He arches his eyebrows, exhaling a sly smile. My mouth slightly opens at his boldness, eliciting a small laugh from me.

"I have a boyfriend."

"Oh!" He seemed to have a reality check. "So, I should cross you off the list of possible girls I could like." He says jokingly. "But... she thought you were being forward?"

"I didn't quite understand what she thought. But, for a moment, I saw in her... my boyfriend's crazy ex-girlfriend. Not his actual ex-girlfriend, but his evil twin sister."

Benjamin watches me confused. I take a deep breath, shrugging my shoulders.

"It's a complicated story." I conclude.

"I'm all ears." He rests his elbows on the table.

I sigh, wondering if I should tell Benjamin what was going on since I would have to dig into everything that was making me uneasy. But in the end, I decide to tell him.

I told Benjamin, superficially, what was happening, from Emeraude's threats to my fear that Joshua still had feelings for Madelyn.

"So... you're afraid that he still feels or will feel something for her?"

"Yes."

"And why don't you ask him?"

"I don't want to sound invasive."

"But you're his girlfriend, you have the right to know. Besides... It would be really stupid of him to hide something from you." I reflect on what he says. "If he said he likes you... That must mean a lot to him. I think you need to trust his words more and not be afraid to speak up about what's bothering you. I believe that doubt and distrust are things that ruin a relationship."

Benjamin was right. And despite losing half the class, I come to the conclusion that I needed to see Joshua after school.

***

After classes ended, I head to Joshua's apartment. I get out of the taxi and head into the building, taking the elevator to the top floor. I ring the doorbell and after a few brief moments, Joshua opens the door. He seemed surprised to see me there.

"Alice? Is everything okay?"

I nod my head.

"I just wanted to see you." I justify and give a shy smile.

Joshua nods his head and makes room for me to enter his apartment.

"Have you eaten already?" He asks and closes the door. "I'm cooking."

"You cooking?" I say surprised.

"Betty taught me one day, remember? So, I'm trying to improve my skills. I'm a bit rusty."

I follow him to the kitchen and enjoy his failed attempts, given that the kitchen was a mess.

"Do you want help?" I suggest, knowing that despite Joshua claiming to have cooking skills, it didn't seem to be the case.

He grimaces and nods his head. "I'm a bit lost."

"Why didn't you order food?" I approach the counter.

"Because... I thought it was a good idea to cook. So... don't criticize me, Miss Collins." He accentuates his grimace and lets out a chuckle.

"Hmm..." I approach him. "I must confess that makes you sexier than usual." I let a sly smile take over my lips.

"Sexier?" Joshua seems to like my compliment, as a wicked smile spreads across his mouth. His hand meets my waist, pulling me against his body, but leaving me with no escape, pressed against the counter.

Joshua leans his body towards mine, causing me to lean back, almost lying on the counter. I gaze at him helplessly.

"And you know... You saying that makes me want to finish what you started this afternoon," he whispers. I bite my lower lip. His face approached mine and indiscreetly, I lower my gaze from his eyes to his lips. A small silence imposed itself between us and I was already lost in my thoughts, desperately craving to feel the heat of his body against mine. I still wanted him. I place my phone on the counter and let Joshua run his hands up to my hips. Just when I thought our lips would meet, Joshua pulls back.

"But should I?" he whispers, and opens a sly smile as if he wanted to tease me. He knew I wanted him.

"Quiet," I say between smiles and wrap my arms around his neck, finally joining our lips together.

With the existence of insanity, our lips moved non-stop. The momentary heat only emphasized the need and desire to take that kiss much further, our tongues had various encounters.

I slowly stroked his neck while he was already preparing to lift me up.

Sitting me on the counter, his body positioned itself to be between my legs. Given small distances between our lips to catch our breaths, Joshua took the opportunity to start removing my clothes. Unnoticed, my blouse was already off my body, and his hands were about to unbutton my bra.

Not lagging behind, I urged him to take off his shirt, and soon his chest was bare. I lowered my hands from his neck to his chest, exploring him.

His wet kiss moved from my mouth to the skin of my neck, causing inevitable shivers. Continuing with his kisses, he went down to my collarbone until he returned to my lips. His hands were quick enough to descend to the waistband of my pants. I tilted my hips up a bit, making it easier to remove my jeans along with my panties. I felt the skin of my thighs and butt against the cold stone of the counter.

Joshua lowered his hands to my thighs, opening my legs a little wider. I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes as I felt his touch against the thin skin of my groin. Holding my hand, he guided it to the waistband of his sweatpants, and thus, I could briefly feel his erection under the comfortable fabric.

"Open," his whisper - deliciously tempting - caused a wave of intense desires as I already imagined him in me.

Doing as he asked, I slid down the waistband of his pants, revealing his boxer briefs. Without needing my help now, Joshua finishes taking off his underwear and finally releasing his member.

Allowing my hand to remain in the same position, I bring it closer to his genitals, starting a small stimulation. Touching him...

I noticed your eyes close and your mouth partly open. Your hand, which was on my thigh, squeezed my flesh tightly.

I removed my hand from your member and placed it back on the counter. Joshua moved his hip, which was at the same level as mine, and raised his hands to my waist, pulling me closer. I put my hands around his neck and buried my face in his shoulder as I felt the slight shock of the head of his member make contact with the entrance of my sex.

I gasped against his skin as I felt his movements back and forth inside me. His hot breath against my neck and the groping he gave to my butt, deliriously competed against his penetrations. And all together, it formed a pleasant complex.

"You're so good..." he whispered between a moan in my ear.

His voice in a low, calm tone while seeming to be on fire, provoked the acceleration of the vibration that ran inside me. I was getting there. And the malicious whispers Joshua said in my ear, along with his thrusts now, only contributed to the increase in my moans in this almost delirious moment.

His face dripped onto my neck and his movements were slowing down.

Our breathing was labored. I hugged Joshua's neck even more, closing my eyes and trying to rest a little. He hugged my waist and kissed my shoulder. We stood still, in silence, trying to recover the spent strength, while we continued to feel the warmth of both bodies.

A burning smell spreads through the kitchen. Joshua forgot that he had put something in the oven.

"Damn it!"

He quickly backs away from me and pulls up his pants along with his boxers, rushing to the oven. I end up letting out a giggle, amused by the situation.

A phone vibrates on the counter. Thinking it was mine, I pick it up, but soon realize it wasn't my phone, but a message catches my attention.

Thank you for the flowers. You've been very good to me at this time.

It was a message from Madelyn to Joshua. Flowers?