The Neighbor (a mini fic)

Part 10

October 2021 - 4 months in Monaco
My head was pounding as I remembered the night before.

Flashback continues...
His lips were so soft against mine. My body felt an electricity coursing through it, hungry, wanting more. It felt like a lifetime since I had been kissed like this... but it wasn't right. It felt off. My brain fought through the alcohol induced haze and forced me to gently push him away.

"Pierre..." I tried to form my words with the little confidence I could muster to put a stop to this. "I can't. I'm sorry." I said, looking up into his beautiful eyes.

He sighed sadly and cradled my face in his hand. "No, I'm sorry. I should not have done that. We've been drinking... and I said I would wait for you to make the first move, but you just look so beautiful tonight. I couldn't resist," He closed his eyes and shook his head, clearly feeling ashamed of himself. "Please forgive me".

I was, as always, caught off guard by how gentlemanly he was. The music was so loud we were nearly shouting to hear each other, so I just nodded. He leaned in closer to my ear so I could hear him better.

"I just need to know, did you push me away because of Daniel or because it was bad?" He pulled back and had an amused look on his face, trying to lighten the mood.

"It was Daniel. I don't know what's going on, but I owe it to myself to find out I think". He nodded, understanding. He briefly kissed my cheek and wished me goodnight. After that, he disappeared into the crowd.

I thought for a moment if I should stay where I was or find my way back to the VIP booth where everyone else was. I started to feel so ashamed of myself for even letting Pierre kiss me, it was a moment of weakness. After that one date I had with Jack here, I hadn't tried dating again. It had been years since I'd had a boyfriend, since a man had kissed me with such desire. I never realized until this point just how much I missed it. I felt pathetic for it.

I decided to find my way back to the group. I was entirely too sober still or else I wouldn't be thinking so much about these things. So as I got back to the group, I grabbed one of the bottles of vodka and took a few slugs, to the cheers of our friends.

~~~~~~

I couldn't remember anything after that moment. I don't remember leaving the club. I don't remember anything. I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut, rubbing them slightly. Then I felt the person next to me move. He turned onto his back and sat up. He placed his hand on my lower back, comforting me in that way he always does. I felt his chin rest on my shoulder.

"You ok?" Daniel whispered groggily, clearly feeling hungover as well. He started to rub gentle circles on my back with his thumb. I sighed, it felt really nice.

I turned my head toward him slightly. "I don't remember what happened last night. I mean I do, but... not all of it". I said the last part quietly, feeling ashamed of myself. What 29 year old does this kind of stuff still?

He sighed. I couldn't tell if it was because he was annoyed or tired or frustrated or sad. He placed a gentle kiss onto my shoulder before getting out of the bed. He was only in his underwear. He walked over to the window and pulled the curtains closed, which we apparently forgot to do last night before passing out. He crawled back into the bed and pulled at my arm. "Come here".

I did as he asked and rested my head down on his bare chest. He wrapped his arm around my back. There was still this nagging feeling in my chest making me uneasy so I decided to just ask. "Dan... um... did we...?" I couldn't even finish the question. I couldn't look at him. I just took solace in him wanting to cuddle so that I could keep my head on his chest and not have to see the look on his face.