Chapter 3 He is an Idol !

TAMARA POV

"What is it?" He asked, a slightly concerned look on his face.

I quickly shook my head and dumped out the excess water, which was a surprising amount.

"No...Nothing." I set the measuring cup on the counter and turned the water off.

I tried to work up even a little bit of the courage I had the night before.

As I turned to face him, he started to let go of me but I gently grabbed his arms to stop him.

He smiled and now rested his clasped hands on the small of my back.

What was the harm in acting like this with him?

By this time tomorrow, he'll go back to being an idol and I'll be on a plane flying home.

My hands slid up his arms and rested on the back of his neck.

Royal gave a slight smirk as he started leaning down to kiss me again.

I didn't hesitate to meet him halfway.

This kiss was much like our first; soft and sweet.

However, before he, or I, could turn the kiss into anything remotely similar to the previous night's activities, I pulled away just enough that I could speak clearly.

"Royal... I should really finish working on breakfast..." I said, and he looked a little disappointed.

"Right... Do you need any help?"

I shook my head and gave his lips a quick peck.

"No, but thanks. I just need to get the rice and beef started." I smiled at him before moving out of his hold to pour the water in the rice cooker.

I started it and got out a skillet to cook the beef.

Royal sat at the table and watched me as I cooked.

It had been so long since I had cooked for anyone other than myself, and I was starting to feel nervous, wondering if he would even like it.

"Hey, Mara?" He asked and I looked over to see him picking at the side dishes I had made the night before.

"Did you make these?"

I nodded and turned back to the beef.

"Is it bad?" I asked, turning the meat in the skillet.

"No." He said around another bite and I smiled.

"Did you find a recipe online or did someone teach you?"

"Both? I found one online and then a friend from university helped me to perfect it." I explained, starting to get plates ready for us to use.

"Damn." He took a bite from a different side dish.

"I'm not even all that passionate about food, I just eat because I have to, but this is really good."

I blushed and leaned on the counter by the gas.

"Thank you..." I said, just as the rice cooker beeped.

I stood up and started to put our dishes in the sink when I saw the clock.

It was already almost eleven a.m..

"Royal, it is ten-fifty. Will you be in trouble when you get back?"

He leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"Probably." He said honestly before standing up.

"But, hey, the worst they will do is yell at me. It was worth it." Royal smiled, as did I.

"I am glad you feel that way..." I said and he chuckled before looking at the time again.

"I probably really should get going though..." He said, his smile fading like he was disappointed.

I nodded, honestly feeling a little disappointed myself.

"Right. I'll walk you out." I offered and he nodded.

Royal was silent until we reached the front door to my apartment.

"I am not really sure what to say to someone after a one night stand, but I do know that I want to thank you. Last night was one of the best nights of my life, in some ways it was the best night of my life." He smiled at me and my face turned tomato red.

Even if what he was saying was just flattery, it still made my heart pound in my chest.

"Thank you for letting me be myself for a night." He snaked his arms around my waist and pulled me closer for what I assumed would be our last kiss.

It wasn't soft and sweet like the last one, and it wasn't heated like the ones from the night before, but there was still some force behind it.

It felt like he was trying to commit this feeling to memory, and it felt so genuine.

The kiss completely took my breath away.

It truly was a magical goodbye.

I gasped for air when he pulled away, and he only smiled at me.

"Goodbye,Mara" He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

"By...Bye, Royal..." I choked out and watched him until he turned the corner and I couldn't see him anymore.

******

Royal POV

As I opened the front door to the house and walked in, I heard a stampede of feet running down the hall.

The other three members nearly tackled me as they searched me for any injuries.

"Hey bro, Where on earth were you? Tony told us you went home with someone! It took you over two hours to walk home? Why didn't you call someone to come get you?" Edwin asked me questions in such rapid succession that I didn't have any actual time to answer them.

"No, it only took me a half an hour to walk home." I said and received a mixed chorus of 'Seriously?' along with a surprisingly dangerous glare from Edwin.

"If it only took you half an hour, then where were you for the other hour and a half? I called you just a little after nine a.m.!" Tony chimed in.

I turned my attention to him and shrugged.

"I stayed for breakfast. So what? It is not like we had anything planned today."

Grey shook his head.

"That is not the point, the point is you just ran off last night and didn't answer any of our calls or texts. We thought something really bad happened to you and then we find out you slept with someone? That's not like you. We were worried. We are worried."

I looked at all of them and sighed.

"Sorry..." I grumbled.

"I will tell you the next time I just run off." I frowned and pushed through the three of them to get to my room.

"Does this mean Royal has a girlfriend now? He stayed over at her place and even stayed for breakfast? He really like her, right?" I heard Edwin ask Grey.

"Maybe it's a boyfriend. That could be why he's being so secretive." Grey speculated and I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Hey, I'm not gay, alright? She just...I just...Don't worry about it. It is not going to be a regular thing. She leaves for Italy tomorrow morning anyway." I stormed off toward my room again and leaned on the closed door once I entered.

If she wasn't leaving tomorrow, would that have changed anything?

Would I have tried to pursue something with her?

I wish I had the time to figure that out, but she will be on a plane in less than twenty-four hours, probably forgetting all about me.