Chapter 4 The Morning After

​"Did you enjoy it?"

​"Very much. But now... I'm so sleepy."

​After sending Elaina to the stars, Alister was left hanging. Still under the heavy influence of her Vodka Martini, Elaina ended their heated session as casually as if they had just finished a game of poker.

​She let her hands slide from Alister's face, curled into a ball on the sofa, and was soon snoring softly-completely naked. Alister let out a long breath of relief, watching the girl who was now dead to the world. His desire evaporated instantly, replaced by a strange sense of protectiveness. He carefully lifted her limp body and carried her to the bed, tucking her under the sheets before switching off the lights.

​Alister checked his watch and frowned; it was nearly midnight. He reached for his phone on the nightstand, noting a barrage of messages and missed calls. He ignored them all until the phone buzzed again. This time, he answered.

​"Yes."

​"The party is over, Sir."

​"Have they left?"

​"Yes. Only the drunken guests and the cleaning crew remain."

​"Fine. You're dismissed." Alister paused as something crossed his mind. "Wait. Can you help me find a gold-colored shoe?"

​"A shoe, Sir?"

​"Yes, the right one. Search around the altar; it might be there."

​"Understood, Sir."

​After hanging up, Alister headed to the bathroom. He turned on the shower, letting the cold spray hit his skin. An involuntary smirk played on his lips as he recalled their intimacy. For Alister, this wasn't normal. He wasn't a man who let women get close, let alone engaged in such raw passion with a stranger. But Elaina was different.

​Alister was known as a cold figure, a man who kept a fortress around his heart. He only opened the gates for those he truly desired. Elaina had bypassed his defenses from the moment they met. Now that they were intertwined, he had no intention of letting the opportunity slip away.

​He wanted her to realize their meeting wasn't an accident. He wanted her to understand that they were destined to be together. The conviction grew stronger with every heartbeat.

​Yet, a seed of worry lingered. He knew his true identity would likely shock her. His only hope was that she wouldn't run when she discovered who he really was. But he was determined to face that risk; for him, Elaina was the only woman worth the fight.

​After his shower, Alister ordered food from the apartment's restaurant. He glanced at Elaina, who was still lost in a deep sleep. Judging by her soft snores, she wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. He predicted a morning of confusion and hangovers, so he ordered a late dinner for himself and a hearty breakfast for two, including a specialized hangover soup. He couldn't help but wonder just how many martinis she had downed to sleep this soundly.

​In the living room, Alister's gaze fell on her yellow gown crumpled on the floor. He picked it up, noting the fabric. It wasn't a limited-edition designer piece, but it certainly wasn't cheap. He wondered if she had chosen it specifically for the wedding-a question that remained unanswered.

​He gathered her bra and panties from the floor and brought them into the bedroom. He knew that when she woke up and realized she was bare, these would be the first things she would look for.

​After finishing his meal, Alister moved to his study. He cleared several tasks until the clock ticked well past midnight. Exhaustion finally claimed him. He returned to the bedroom and reclined beside Elaina, watching her face partially obscured by the duvet. His fingers gently brushed her cheek and lips, a soft smile forming before he closed his eyes.

​"You shouldn't let alcohol take over and lower your guard like this, Elaina. Why so foolish? Did heartbreak make you lose your mind? Make sure this is the last time you drink yourself into a stupor over a broken heart. Hopefully, I'm the only one you'll ever be like this with."

​With his hand resting protectively near her head, he fell into a deep sleep.

​Elaina groaned, her body feeling like it had been through a meat grinder. She had no idea what she had done last night to cause this much ache. Maybe I just worked too long, she thought, still eyes closed. She pulled the blanket tighter, inhaling the scent of the linen, and finally opened her eyes.

​This wasn't her perfume.

​She stared at the ceiling, then the window, slowly realizing she wasn't in her own room.

​Then, she saw him. A man stood by the window, his bare back turned to her. He didn't seem to notice she was awake. Who is he? Why am I in his room?

​She tried to sit up, but a jagged pain shot through her skull and her stomach did a somersault. Memories of a bottle and several beers flickered through her mind like broken film. The last thing she clearly remembered was her burning rage toward Fidell, the man who had betrayed her.

​She covered her mouth, fighting back a wave of nausea. The martinis were still claiming their toll. As she shifted, she realized with a jolt of panic that she was completely naked. She scanned the room frantically, looking for her clothes.

​The man turned around, a smile gracing his face. "Good morning, Elaina. Did you sleep well?"

​Elaina swallowed hard, sitting up abruptly, and let out a shriek as the duvet slipped, exposing her chest. She scrambled to pull the fabric back up, though the realization that she was naked meant the damage was likely already done.

​"Wh-where is this? Who are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling with fear.

​"Tsk, tsk. How could you forget so easily, Elaina? Especially after we shared such a... passionate night."

​Alister suppressed a grin at her stunned expression. She was adorable, whether she was drunk or sober. He approached the bed, ignoring her recoil as he reached out to stroke her shoulder and chin.

​"Why? Are you afraid?"

​Elaina nodded, biting her lip hard. The shirtless man leaned in closer, his smile widening.

​"Don't be cruel, Elaina. Don't forget me after you've already had your way with my body."

​Elaina turned pale. "Wh-what?"

​"And here I thought we were quite wild together."

​"Liar!"

​Elaina's eyes bulged. She screamed, trying to deny the reality crashing down on her, but her stomach wouldn't wait. She shoved him aside and bolted for the bathroom, completely oblivious to her own nakedness. She collapsed over the toilet, retching until her throat burned with bile.

​When she finally stood, trembling, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her neck and shoulders were marked with faint red blushes. Her hand flew to her skin, and suddenly, fragments of the previous night flooded back. The kisses. The touches. The sofa.

​A muffled cry escaped her lips as the shame hit her. She remembered wanting him. She remembered asking a stranger to make her forget. No wonder she had woken up like this. This was far worse than she had imagined.

​Trying to steady herself, she stepped into the shower, desperately needing to wash the night away before facing him again. Once finished, she realized she had no clothes. She stood by the door, frozen, until she spotted a stack of towels. She wrapped one around herself-it barely covered her from chest to mid-thigh, but it was enough.

​Taking a deep breath, she cracked the door open. Alister was standing by the bed. As soon as she stepped out, he was there, a knowing smile on his face. Elaina stiffened, her heart hammering against her ribs.

​"Elaina, you look so refreshed after your shower."

​Before she could utter a single word of protest, Alister pulled her into his arms and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Elaina was stunned into silence, the world spinning all over again.