Beauty and her Beast (Nokto)

~Chapter 1, Part 5~

(Nnnn-) My head was pounding dully, and my eyelids were so heavy it was a fight to open the, even a crack. (Hang on-where am I?) The pillow I'd buried my face into looked wrong-not onlt was it not my pillow from home, it wasn't the one from my room at the palace, either. (Wait, and that's) It wasn't just the bed or the room that felt wrong... it was the scent in the air, the lingering scent of late-night tryst and forbidden sensuality. 

???: Mmm, are you finally awake? 

A familiar voice purred almost in my ear, and I froze in shock, suddenly very, very wide awake. 

Veronica: Nokto?! 

I wanted to bolt upright, maybe out of the bed and room altogether, but pain lanced through my head, and I winced, flopping back against the pillow. As I stared at Nokto's languid, sensual smile, a dim memory from the night before surfaced-a memory of me throwing my arms around his neck. With it came a memory of burying my face in his warm chest, and nuzzling up against him, and suddenly my cheeks were burning. 

Nokto: You know, you're adorable when you're drunk. And so touch-feely, too...

His voice was a suggestive purr, and his long fingers twined in my hair, curling and uncurling it playfully. (I didn't, did I? Please tell me I didn't. Oh god, what was I thinking? Why would I throw myself at a sleaze like you?) It was clear nothing more happened than cuddling, but I still didn't remember how I'd gone from fuming at him to cuddling him. (But my pounding head says there was alcohol involved. And I don't trust you nearly enough to feel comfortable drinking around you, which means...) I ignored my embarrassment and my flushed cheeks as I stared suspiciously at hi, and his grin widened a little. 

Nokto: Why are you glaring at me? If anything, you should be thanking me. 

(Thanking you?! Are you serious? Ugh, what even happened last night? Did you carry me here? But why?) I frowned, trying to push past the dull ache in my head and piece together my memories of the night before. (Okay, so we took a carriage to that social function, and then...) Nokto chuckled, his hair rustling softly against the pillow under him, and I tensed again, but he was only watching me. 

Nokto: Don't tell me you really don't remember anything? We had a delightful evening together... and it started like this.  

He lifted his hand again, his fingers curving gracefully as he offered it to me. 

Nokto: May I have the honor of escorting you, My Lady?