Chapter 33
Visha
It’s kinda awkward walking around in nothing but a bathrobe but since it’s already late, there is basically no one in the souvenir shop.
The elderly woman at the counter smiles kindly when she addresses me, “Good evening, sir. How can I help you?”
“Good evening. My friend and I got caught in the rain on our way home and are in need of underwear and socks if you have any.”
She nods and motions me to a shelf with packaged underwear, but when I see what’s illustrated on the briefs, I cringe internally.
I heart NYC.
Yeah, Aoi will make fun of my ass if I come back with these.
“Unfortunately, these are the only underwear we have for men. They are a bit silly, though.” She hands me the packed briefs and two pairs of simple white socks.
Silly is an understatement.
I unlock my phone to pay as the cashier smiles oddly at me. “Do you and your friend perhaps need one of these?” she slides a pack of condoms over the counter, and I almost choke on my spit.
Good Lord, why the hell would she ask me that?
Heat flushes my cheeks. “That won’t be necessary, thank you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certain,” I stammer out, grabbing the briefs and socks as I pay for them. “Good night.”
“Good night,” she singsongs, wiggling her fingers at me.
I don’t turn back and simply rush up the stairs and through the hallway, stopping neatly in my tracks when my phone buzzes.
LIV
Wanna come over and watch a movie?
Me
I can’t. I’m with Aoi right now. I won’t be coming home tonight.
Liv
Hold up.
I pick up the incoming call and snort. “Are you seriously calling me the second I tell you I’m on a date?”
“You never told me you were going out with him!” she shoots back. “I can’t believe you, traitor. You better tell me how it all went in detail, or I’ll whoop your ass. Where are you anyway?”
“Pretty far,” I reply. “I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”
She scoffs. “You’re starting to keep secrets from me? Your own mother? You ungrateful son. I absolutely can’t believe you’d be like that.”
“I’m not keeping secrets, I’m holding up the suspense.”
“Fuck you, asshole.” She snickers. “Enjoy your night, you naughty boy.”
I snort and mock gasp. “Such vulgarity!”
“Yeah, yeah, shut up and go give your man all your attention.”
“I will,” I muse. “Good night, Liv.”
“Night, V.”
Okay, I got this.
The man of my dreams is behind that door, waiting for me in only a bathrobe.
Yeah, I’m gonna get hard just thinking about it.
Visha, calm down. We must stay focused on the objective.
The point isn’t to have sex with him. I could live out the rest of my life without that aspect, but I do want to feel his skin against mine as it heats up and seeps into my veins.
Honestly, I just want to lay my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat for the rest of my existence.
My hand hovers over the handle, hesitating as I take a deep breath and finally gather the courage to open the door.
Storming inside our room, I almost let the door slam behind me but catch it at the last minute and shut it softly. “Good news. They had socks and underwear. The bad news is the underwear is ridiculous.”
I step further into the room and find Aoi sprawled out on one of the beds, bathrobe having slid off his upper body and exposing patches of pale skin. Dropping the underwear and socks on the table, I walk up to him and crouch down next to his bed.
Fuck, he’s adorable.
“How can you fall asleep like that?”
His hair falls over his eyes as his chest rises with each breath. I can’t blame him for dozing off since today has been a long and eventful day, but I wanted us to talk more.
I can’t get enough of him.
I brush his hair away and place a soft kiss on his forehead before carefully picking him up and laying him under the covers. The cutest sound escapes his lips as he snuggles against the blanket, and I can’t help but smile.
Pressing my lips to his adorable nose, I whisper, “Sleep well, my Paradise. I love you.”