She was rubbing her eye with a cotton pad, taking her makeup off. ''Mads, what are you doing here?'' she asked confusedly. ''Are you okay?'' she took a step aside to let him in.
''Yes. I...'' he started. He had no idea what to say. Why was he there? ''I'm not tired, so I decided to bother you. I know it's very, very late'' he looked at her, and seeing her beautiful face he realized that he actually knew why he was there, but couldn't do anything about it. ''I'm so sorry for bothering. I'll leave'' he felt ridiculous, so he turned around to leave, but Amelie grabbed his hand and pulled him back to where he stood before.
''You're not bothering at all. Feel welcome to come here whenever you feel like it'' she smiled, alcohol in the air. ''Come in, make yourself at home. I'll just go wash my face and change into something comfortable''. Mads nodded as he took a seat on Amelie's comfortable blue velvet sofa.
He looked around to see a beautifully decorated apartment, gold details here and there. Amelie seemed to be a plant person because there were at least two plants on every window sill he could see, and she had many windows. In the middle of the sofa table was a clear vase holding white carnations and next to the TV was a small, blue vase with three roses in it. Everything in her apartment represented Amelie so well; it was sophisticated, delicate, welcoming. It did feel like home. She felt like home.
''Do you want some wine? Tea? Coffee at 3 in the morning?'' she giggled. She was a bit drunk, but it only made her happier and more courageous.
''Wine? I don't think we should have more alcohol tonight. How about tea or water?'' he smiled.
''I'll make tea'' she said as she looked at him and stumbled over a pillow on the floor. ''Oops'' she giggled again.
After making tea, she sat down next to Mads, handing him his cup. "What do you want to do?".
"Whatever you want" he smiled as he took a short sip.
"Let's play Strip Poker" she said excitedly as she grabbed a pack of cards from a drawer.
"Woah, Amelie" he took the cards from her hand and put them on the table in front of him. "You're tipsy. I refuse to play Strip Poker with you, no matter how conscious you are" he smiled softly at her. He was an absolute gentleman, a real man.
"Sorry" Amelie looked down in embarrassment.
"Tell me something about you instead" he said, genuinely curious to know more about the young girl.
"Let's see...I am half American half Swedish" she started. She told him about her parents, how they met and about all the languages she could speak. She told him about why she moved to Toronto, although he had heard it before, and she told him about the time she embarrassed herself in high school.
He listened to her so carefully, so attentively; hearing her talk was calming. He looked her in the eyes the whole time, laughed with her, asked and answered questions. Sitting on her couch at 3 am in the morning, drinking tea and talking about life felt so comfortable, so good.
"Is it me or is it cold here?" Amelie rubbed her own arms.
"It's not that cold. Come here, I'm warm'' he opened his arms for Amelie to come over. She did so, and as soon as his arms wrapped around her body she felt safe. In that moment of Mads holding her close she felt awake, sober, alive. His embrace was warm, his mesmerizing scent tickling Amelie's nose. His strong arms were protective and if she could, she would stay like that for the rest of her life. She was in love, so in love.
"Are you tired? Do you want to go to sleep? I can go, just let me know".
"No!" she looked at him with frowned eyebrows. "I...Please don't go. Spend the night here" she looked him in the eyes before looking at his lips. Mads sat in silence and admired the beauty in front of him; her eyes sparkled, her plump lips were parted, breaths coming out heavily.
"Amelie" he whispered before looking somewhere else. Looking at her lips was too dangerous.
"Will you stay? You can take my bed and I'll take the sofa" she said.
"There is no way you're not sleeping in your own bed. I'll take the couch, don't even try to argue" he poked her arm.
''Are you sure?''.
''Yes'' he nodded.
*
Mads woke up to the smell of coffee. He sat up and looked towards the kitchen, where Amelie seemed to be preparing breakfast. She still had her silk pajamas on, covered by a tiny silk robe; the girl looked so delicate and soft, her skin glowing.
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''Good morning'' she looked happy to see him awake. ''Did I wake you? I can't be quiet in any situation''. She took a quick glance at his uncovered upper body and sighed, wondering how it felt to have his naked body on hers.
''No, no at all. It smells really good'' he got up, put his shirt on and headed towards the kitchen.
''I would pour you some coffee if my hands weren't so dirty'' she laughed.
''I'll do it myself, I'm a big boy'' he joked. ''What time is it?''.
''It's 1 pm''.
''Really? At least it's Sunday. When did you wake up?'' he asked.
''About half an hour ago'' she smiled. ''Hey Mads'' she stopped cutting the bacon to look at him. ''I am sorry for anything stupid I said last night'' she wasn't that drunk and she remembered everything they did and talked about, but she still felt the need to apologize.
''Don't worry about it, please'' he smiled at her. ''This coffee is really good''.
''God, I love coffee'' she said as she continued to cut the bacon. ''Hungry?''.
''Oh yes. Let me help'' he grabbed the plates that were on the kitchen counter and placed them on the kitchen island together with two glasses, forks and knives.
''Fuck. Fuck!'' Amelie yelled as she dropped the knife and held her finger.
''What's wrong? Did you cut yourself?'' Mads asked, looking worried.
''Yes. How fucking stupid. Fuck, why is it bleeding so much?''.
''Here'' he grabbed her hand softly and put her finger under cold, running water. ''It's deep but it's not very bad'' he smiled at her to make her feel better. Their faces were very close to each other, making Amelie forget about her hurt finger. Looking Mads in the eyes made pain go away and she wondered if he was aware how handsome and pleasing he was. She wondered if he knew that he could do wonders with his eyes.
''I...I'm so silly'' she finally spoke, trying hard to do something else other than stare at his perfect Danish face. ''I hate cuts''.
''It's ok, look'' he held up her hand. ''It's not bleeding anymore. Do you have any band aids?''.
''Right here in this drawer'' she pointed at a drawer which Mads opened. Gently, he wrapped the band aid around her finger, making sure it didn't hurt. He was so gentle, so sweet, so...perfect.
''Thank you'' she looked up at him wanting to hug him.
