Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Slowly, I pulled my lips a few inches away from Joshua's. A silly smile emerged on his face, prompting me to share the same. I leaned our foreheads together and couldn't contain the happiness that flowed through me. That moment had been magical.

"Um..." My mother clears her throat. "We're going ahead, okay? And... Just don't come home too late, okay? Let's go."

"That's the Joshua guy, right? He's so hot!" I hear my aunt say, and I end up chuckling.

"Let's go, let's go."

I hear my mother dragging our family out of the ballroom.

Joshua steals a kiss from me and presses his waist, spinning our bodies, reversing our positions. His eyes fix on mine. Slowly, his body moves to the rhythm of the romantic and calm music playing in the background, leading me to also move my body, starting a slow dance.

"I still can't believe you're really here."

"I said I would come, didn't I?"

"But I didn't imagine it would be today. And... here." I glance around, seeing the ballroom slowly emptying out.

"I found out from... an excellent informant," he opens a sly smile on his lips, "that there would be a prestigious art event, and that you would be a part of it. So, I couldn't miss it for anything."

"An excellent informant?" I ask curiously.

"I imagine you don't know that your sister keeps in touch with my brother."

My mouth opens, surprised.

"Alex and Joey?" Joshua nods his head and lets out a chuckle. "I had no idea."

"And apparently, they like each other. I think our families will come together a little more." The smile on his lips was exuberant.

Joshua spins our body once more, returning to the previous position we were in. His hand, which was previously on my back, rises to my cheek. I close my eyes, feeling his touch.

"You look so beautiful," he whispers, and I can't contain the smile.

"You look very charming too," I end up letting out a laugh. Joshua has fun.

"Do you want to go somewhere?"

"There's a bar nearby. We can spend some time together."

Joshua nods and slides his hand to mine. We walk to the exit of the ballroom, and then outside the building.

"Do you want to drive?" He raises the keys as soon as we stop in front of his car.

"Are you serious?" I almost jump.

"Why not? You can drive, can't you?"

"Well... When I was sixteen, I rode in my cousin's pickup truck on a farm. And... I ran over three chickens. But..."

What I say makes Joshua burst into laughter. I cross my arms, serious.

"Sorry, beautiful. Please continue."

"This happened because they got in front of the pickup truck!" I conclude, amazed.

"Okay, okay." It was noticeable that he was trying to hold back his laughter. "I trust you." He hands me the keys.

I hold onto them. And what harm would it do to drive a little? After all, the bar was just a block away from where we were. We got into the black Lamborghini Urus that Joshua had rented.

***

Joshua freezes in the car seat.

"What's wrong? It wasn't that bad!" I take the keys out of the ignition.

"No, it's okay. I just... Can't feel my legs."

I roll my eyes.

"I just drove a little over the speed limit. No big deal."

"And... Don't forget the five cars you almost hit."

"Nobody told them to drive like a turtle," I grumble.

I get out of the car and put my heels back on.

And after a short time trying to catch his breath, Joshua decides to get out of the car.

"What a scaredy-cat!" I tease him.

"I saw the light at the end of the tunnel coming for me several times," he says dramatically and lets out a hesitant laugh.

"Idiot," I say between laughs.

Joshua composes himself and wraps his arm around my waist. We walk inside the bar. We approach the counter and pull up a stool to sit on.

"Alice?"

I hear a familiar voice behind us. I turn my face to the side, seeing Benjamin.

"I didn't expect to see you here!" he commented. I could tell there was a change in his tone of voice, he was too "excited." Was he drunk?

"Benjamin? Are you drinking?" I asked, concerned. I remembered the times when Benjamin said he didn't drink because he wasn't himself when he was drunk.

"Maybe... a little," he chuckles. His gaze falls on Joshua. "And this must be Joshua, right? I heard he bought all of your works."

Joshua raises one eyebrow, confused with Benjamin, since he didn't understand what he was saying.

"Yes," I agree, but quickly change the subject. "And... why are you drinking, Benjamin? I thought you didn't like it because it didn't make you feel like yourself."

Benjamin shrugs and leans on the counter, next to me.

"Me and Nadine had a... small argument. So..." He sighs, not even understanding why he was at the bar. "I just didn't want to think."

"Look, I understand that you may be upset now, but... drinking won't fix what happened between you and her."

Benjamin looked at me, the same way he had looked at me on the night he kissed me, a year ago.

"She was jealous of you. And I told her to leave it alone, but... She insisted so much that... I ended up telling her that we already kissed."

I sigh.

"That was a long time ago. And, I'm with Joshua now."

"I know. And he's a lucky guy," he glances briefly at Joshua but then focuses back on me. "I think it's better if I go. Goodnight, Ali."

"Be careful," I reply. Benjamin gives a weak smile and walks away from us. I turn my attention back to Joshua, who is looking at me with confusion and curiosity.

"That was a friend," I shrug, dismissing the encounter.

"A friend?" he furrows his brow. "What friend looks at his friend like he wants her?"

"What?"

"Come on, Alice. I saw the way he looked at you. I don't think he just sees himself as a friend."

I look away from Joshua, sighing and wetting my lips. I didn't want to tell him that Benjamin liked me, and maybe still does. And I certainly didn't want to mention that we had kissed.

"Alice, what's going on?"

My body trembles. I knew I couldn't hide it for much longer.

"He kissed me," I look back at Joshua and he freezes. "But that was a year ago. I didn't want to make anything of it," I justify.

"A year ago?" he wrinkles his forehead. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would it have made a difference if I did? I mean... you and I were pretty distant."

Joshua laughs ironically.

"If it would have made a difference?" he arches his eyebrows. "I just wish you had been honest when it happened."

"You didn't tell me about buying my artwork either," I retort.

"That's completely different, Alice!"

"If you're talking about honesty, I think it's only fair that you should have told me you were going to buy them!"

"I didn't tell you because I wanted to surprise you! And your work was the most sought after at that event. The investors there didn't hold a candle to the ones I know in London. So, I bought them."

I remain static, unable to find a good argument to make, especially since I was extraordinarily lucky that Joshua had done that for me.

"So, do you still think what I did is comparable to the fact that you hid from me that some guy kissed you?" he says indignantly.

I sigh, feeling refuted.

"I knew you would be upset if you found out, so I didn't want to ruin our moment after we reconnected."

"You're the most amazing girl I've ever liked in my entire life, Alice. Did you really think I wouldn't be upset if another guy kissed my girl?" he says, still arching his eyebrows.

M-my girl?

"But I just wanted you to be honest with me."

His gaze shifts away from mine and he looks at the drinks shelf on the other side of the counter, conveying his frustration.

"I'm sorry. Really. I was afraid of losing you," I whisper.

"And what made you think that what some idiot did would make you lose me?" he responds in a grumbling tone and looks back at me. "I may be a little upset now, but it doesn't mean I love you any less."

And suddenly, seeing him speak and look at me seriously had awakened a certain excitement between my legs. Alice?! Get a hold of yourself! But I wanted him so much... And it had been a while since I felt his body. His skin against mine.

Slowly, I leaned towards him. I rested one of my hands on his thigh, over the fabric of his dress pants. I looked temptingly at his lips and then at his eyes, which were watching me curiously. Seductively, I bit my lower lip. Joshua opened his mouth slightly, letting out a small sigh.

"What are you doing?" he whispered.

"I missed you. Missed all of you, if you know what I mean," I whispered back, and opened a mischievous smile.

Joshua moistened his lips, giving in to me.

***

Joshua's hands slid over my thighs, while mine went to his neck and chest. Our lips moved intensely, without pause. Our tongues met several times. And the bathroom that was once cold became hot.

Joshua moved his body closer to mine, completely between my legs. I leaned forward, letting my butt stick out over the bathroom sink, and soon, Joshua did not hesitate to squeeze it. I gasped against his lips. Almost breathless. Intense looks. Pleasurable. And the desire to go deeper ran through our entire being. But we couldn't. The place wasn't discreet, and at any moment, we could get caught. A grunt was released by both.

"We'll continue later," whispered Joshua, and then gave a little bite to my lower lip, pulling it slightly at the end.

I moaned softly and got off the sink. We looked at each other pleasurably for the last time before we left the bathroom.