Fortified -Pau Cubarsí-

21 - tipsy trouble

The night is buzzing with celebration. The team is still riding the high of their victory, and the bar is filled with laughter, cheers, and the clink of glasses. But my attention isn't on the team. It's on him. Pau.

He's sitting right next to me, close enough that his scent mingles with the alcohol in the air, and every time he laughs, my heart skips a beat. I've had too much wine, but that doesn't stop me from leaning into him, letting the warmth of his body seep into me like a slow burn. There's something in the way he smiles at me tonight—something different. Maybe it's the alcohol or maybe it's the way we've always flirted around the edges of something more, but tonight feels electric.

I sip my wine, feeling it swirl in my stomach, and then look at him with a slow smile. "So," I draw out, my voice a little lower than usual, "What do you think of me tonight, hm?"

He glances over at me, eyes flicking up from his conversation with Hector, a small smile playing at his lips. "What do you mean?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, come on," I giggle, leaning in closer. I let my hand brush along his arm, letting my fingers linger just a second too long. "You're not going to pretend you don't notice me, are you?"

He chuckles, but I can see that something in his expression shifts—there's a softness there, but also an amusement. "I notice you all the time, Cesca," he says, his voice a little too serious for how playful he's trying to be.

I smile, liking the way he reacts to me. My fingers trace the edge of his sleeve, and I lean closer, making sure to keep my voice playful. "Good. Because I've noticed you too, Pau," I say, my words slower than usual, teasing. "I think you're looking especially... handsome tonight." I let my fingers dance along the side of his neck, feeling his pulse under the skin, and watch his eyes widen just a fraction.

He laughs softly, but there's something different about it now. It's like he's trying to keep his composure, but I'm definitely getting to him. "You're making this dangerous, you know that?"

"I like dangerous," I murmur, my lips hovering near his ear, my breath warm against his skin. I feel his body tense, and I smile to myself. "You're so easy to flirt with."

"I'm not sure if I should be flattered or worried," he says, his voice shaky with something I can't quite place. But I'm not letting up. I want him to feel this. I want him to see me.

"You should be both," I whisper, letting my lips graze the edge of his jaw. His breath hitches, and I know I've got him exactly where I want him.

Suddenly, the room spins a little too much, and I giggle, pulling away, only to realize I've leaned in too much. My legs don't quite obey me, and I tip sideways, falling right into Pau's lap. I can't help the burst of laughter that escapes my lips as I land with a soft thud against his chest.

"Whoops," I say, blinking up at him, trying to gather myself. "Guess I really am tipsy."

He catches me easily, his arms steady around my waist as I look up at him. His eyes are darker now, his lips parted slightly. He's trying not to laugh, but there's something else there—something more intense. I slide a hand up his chest, tracing the line of his collarbone, watching his breath catch at the contact.

"Cesca..." His voice is strained now, like he's barely holding on. "You've had a lot to drink. Maybe it's time to get you home."

But I'm not ready to go home yet. Not when I feel this charged, this alive.