This is L.o.v.e. like it should be

XXXII. Unfamiliar surroundings

Ava woke up to the buzzing of a phone beside her. Still woozy, she stretched her arm to get the phone and take the call.

"Where are you? Did he rape you?", someone screamed right the away on the other side of the line.

"What?", Ava fell from the couch to the floor.

"Geez! What was that? Are you okay?"

"Phoebe?", Ava was trying to sit down, which was proving to be a challenge with her eyes still closed.

"Ava? Talk to me honey, are you okay?"

"I guess", Ava sighed, her whole body was feeling weird. And her head was about to explode.

"Where are you? I'm gonna go get you right now. Or an uber will. I’m still kind of drunk. Why am I still drunk?"

"Phoebe, I’m fine, really, my head is killing me though so I’m gonna go, you get some rest."

Ava hung up the call and let her body fall on the floor, like it was her own bed.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone looking at her, smiling.

"Uh?", Ava cleaned her face.

"Morning, sunshine", he said, behind a counter. They were in what appeared to be a modern apartment, with a large living room that led to a counter separating it from the kitchen. "Was the couch so hard you’d rather sleep on the floor?"

"The couch?", Ava raised her head, trying to get the person talking into focus. "Oh, you...", she said still confused and mildly disappointed.

"Breakfast?"

"Breakfast...", when she heard that word, it came to her mind she usually had to go downstairs and make own breakfast, but then... it dawned on her: "I'm not home!"

He smiled again, now amused.

"What happened?", she opened her eyes wide and sat on her legs, suddenly noticing she was wearing a white shirt that wasn't hers.

He kept smiling, now approaching her with a mug.

"Here, drink this, it'll help you with your headache."

"Did we...?", she hesitated picking up the mug.

"Yes?", he asked bemused, trying to force her to say exactly what was on her mind.

"Where is my dress?"

"Right where you left it."

He placed the mug on the center table.

"What do you mean?", Ava looked around, he placed his hands on her waist to help her stand.

"In my bedroom...", he paused for a brief instant to watch her face before uttering the last word: "... closet."

She swallowed hard, glancing at his neck. His smell was so intense, his words almost went unnoticed.

"Your bedroom closet?", she was looking at the couch now, feeling increasingly anxious. "Did we...?"

"You mean... Did I have my way with your body while you were passed out drunk and then just dropped you onto the couch?"

She was speechless and blushing.

The look in his eyes was so intense, almost as intense as his words. And his hands on her waist were getting her even more confused. For a moment, she wished he would say yes.

"Oh gosh", she thought.

His smell was awakening something in her, she wondered to herself: how would he taste?

"Your coffee is getting cold," he said, helping her sit on the couch gently.

"You still didn't give me an answer."

"And you still didn't drink your coffee," he smiled, amused as always. "I'm going to take a shower. Feel free to turn on the TV, use the fridge... whatever you want, make yourself at home."

"Why are you being so nice?"

"Would you rather have me being rude?"

Ava smiled, as her headache spiked up. "Thank you for the coffee."

"My pleasure...", he answered, turning to the bedroom door, where he had a private bathroom.

"I'll need my dress back," she shouted, before he passed the door.

"Planning on leaving already?"

"After I finish the coffee..."

"Alright then, I’ll be done in a minute.", he said keeping his charming tone.

After a little, he showed up wearing just a towel around his waist and had her dress draped on his arm. His athletic, well defined body did not escape Ava’s eyes.

Ava sat up from the couch and faced him, immediately looking back at the floor.

"Thank you", she said, taking the dress from his arm carefully, avoiding touching or even looking at his naked torso.

"Have you called a taxi?"

"No", she answered, still trying to avoid looking at him.

"Do you want me to take care of it? I mean, I can call you one while you get dressed."

Ava looked at him now, almost terrified. "Does he want me to change here?"

"You can use my bedroom, while I make the call."

Ava contained a shy smile and nodded, relieved but at the same time not.

"Thank you", she said and practically ran to the bedroom.

After a while, she was back, now wearing her dress.

"The taxi is already at the front door of the building. I would accompany you, but I think you would prefer if I stay here." He had a mischievous grin.

"Yes, thank you."

Ava made her way out the door, still avoiding looking at him, gosh, his smell was still so intense. He was still wearing just a towel and Ava suspected it was on purpose, meant to provoke her. These games he seemed to enjoy playing annoyed her, but she was also starting to feel desire swelling inside of her chest. It felt so wrong... "I still love Julien", she thought to herself, trying to banish those feelings rising, the image of his naked body, his smell..

"I knew the dress would fit you.", he smiled, closing the door, as she stopped and looked back.

"He gave me the dress..."