(Jenna's POV)

"Would you like another dance?" Nik rasps.

"S-sure," I stutter, not wanting this night to end.

He walks over and puts on another record before scooping me back into his arms.

The song starts, and again, it's Lionel Richie, but one I've never heard before.

https://youtu.be/noMuyvQfHTY

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I want you...to want me...

No problem there, Nik...

I'm goin' crazy knowin' he will be your lover tonight

And when he comes I'll let you go

I'll just pretend as you walk out the door

What?! There is no one else!

Oh, no

I can't sleep

Oh, no

I'm goin' crazy with love over you

Ah...there's that word again – love.

I need you to need me

I wanna hold you but you're holdin' someone else in your arms

When I close my eyes I see your face

I'm just not sure how much my heart can erase

No, Nik! You're the only one in my arms...heart...

Oh, no

I can't think, ooh

Oh, no

I'm goin' crazy with love over you

Oh, honey

Oh, sugar

Oh, no

I can't sleep anymore, baby

Oh, no

I can't think anymore, baby

Oh, no

I'm goin' crazy with love...over you

With each 'oh, no' that Lionel croons, Nik leans into me and slightly dips me back before pulling me into him again with his hands sensually upon my back.

It's becoming more than I can take...

As the song comes to an end, Nik bends down and kisses me tenderly, leaving me in a daze, still wanting to dip and sway back and forth.

It's such a romantic song, despite the fact that some of the lyrics didn't really apply to me...us. At least I hope that Nik knows there's no one else...

"It's only you," I whisper without a second thought, letting my emotions completely lead me before looking up into his eyes while seemingly hanging on to him for dear life...feeling as if I'm falling.

"As you are the only one for me," he replies earnestly, steadying me before placing his forehead to mine and tenderly rubbing his regal nose upon mine.

God...I hope he means it...

The song comes to an end and I'm feeling a bit tipsy from the combination of lust and wine.

What now?

Do I go back to his room with him tonight...when and if the time comes?

Can I?

That's the million dollar question...

I mean...I know what I'm feeling and that I've never felt anything like this before.

Sure, I've had my fair share of crushes, both celebrity and a few guys throughout school, but this is different.

Way, way different.

And that's what scares me.

Whatever attraction that I've felt for someone in the past pales in comparison to this...almost seems petty and insignificant.

Is this how people feel when they say they've met their soulmates?

I always thought that soulmates or the notion of it was something used by authors in order to sell romance novels.

Of course, what my parents had was certainly true love and I'd always admired it, but...were they soulmates? Because I surely never saw anything like this out of them...like what's between Nik and me.

Not even close.

It's intense enough that, though I barely know him, I am contemplating losing my virginity to him...tonight.

Is that normal?

Or am I just being hormonal and swept up in all of the romance this evening?

Or worse...being a slut?

"Earth to Jenna," Nik pulls me from my thoughts.

"Oh...uh...sorry," I blush while stumbling out.

"Is everything alright?" he asks concerned, lifting my chin with one of his long fingers before searching my eyes. "I've said your name several times now."

"Yes," I nod embarrassedly. "I'm just...feeling a bit overheated," I lie nervously.

"Ah...sorry," he replies in a soft, understanding tone. "Let us take our seats then."

Once we're seated again, he pours us some more wine, which I gulp down eagerly.

"Whoa," he says with an amused look on his face. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes," I answer once I catch my breath as I set the glass back onto the table before hiccupping...

Great.

"I think we should call it a night," he says sadly with his face marred in concern.

"No!" I hiccup again and then lean forward. "I was hoping that...we could go to my room or yours..." I trail off suggestively as my head begins to pound.

"Jenna..." he says softly before taking my hand in his. "I'm flattered, truly, but...I don't think that would be a wise decision this evening," he finishes as his eyes search mine.

"Don't you...feel the same way...want me too?" I ask in a small voice with uncertainty lacing my words.

"Oh God..." I breathe out in utter rejection when he doesn't answer and stumble to my feet, ready to run away.

"Jenna!" Nik exclaims as he stands before steadying me. "Look at me," he commands, making sure my attention is on him...his words.

"Of course I want you," he says firmly. "You're all I think about...all I see...all I hear...all I smell, even when you're not with me," he confesses in a gravelly voice. "To the point of madness."

"Then why-" I begin in a hurt, petulant tone, but he cuts me off, obviously knowing what I'm asking.

"Because I respect you...love you far too much to ever want to put my needs first or take advantage of you," he answers as he takes my face into his hands and caresses my cheeks with his thumbs. "As much as I want to be a complete scoundrel and say yes...have my wicked way with you, I could never live with myself," he grins sadly. "You're not ready."

"But I am," I argue, stomping my right foot a bit.

"You're not," he replies firmly. "I'm afraid you've had too much wine tonight to think this through clearly and I don't want you to regret anything."

Just as I am about to argue some more, tell him that he has no right to tell me how I feel or how much I've drank, vomit bubbles up from my throat and onto the cobblestone floor, coating Nik's fancy shoes.

As Lionel said many times tonight, oh no...

Nik quickly grabs one of the linen napkins and begins to wipe my mouth before I resume my embarrassing vomiting session.

He patiently allows me to defile his wine cellar's floors before sweeping me up in his arms and carrying me through the dark and winding maze of halls and stairs.

I burst out in tears as everything finally catches up to me – my forward and drunken behavior, his rejection, my puking...

"Shhh...it's alright," Nik soothes while caressing my back as he carries me.

"I'm s-so s-s-sorry," I cry out in ugly sobs with hiccups in between.

"Hey...there's nothing to be sorry for, Jenna," he smiles down at me assuringly, but...how can it be?

"I r-ruined every-thing," I whine.

"No you didn't," he chuckles as we reach my room.

He carries me into my room and lays me on the chaise before heading towards the bathroom.

I just stare up at the ceiling as tears continue to flow from my eyes in self-pity, but the room begins to spin just as Nik returns.

Please don't get sick again...I think to myself as I clench my eyes shut.

"Jenna..." Nik calls, getting my attention. "I've drawn you a bath. Do you think you can get undressed on your own?" he asks as his Adam's apple bobs nervously.

"Sure," I sort of slur before I nearly roll off the chaise lounge and onto the floor.

Thank God Nik catches me.

"I think that answered my question," he comments more to himself before carrying me into the bathroom.

He sets me on the toilet and looks at me apprehensively. "I'm going to have to undress you now, unless you want me to call for Ursula..." he offers.

"Can Urs-ula make the chandelier stop moving?" I ask in all seriousness, just wanting the room to stop spinning.

Nik sighs tiredly. "I should've never served wine..."

"It was so gooood," I retort drunkenly.

"A bit too good, eh?" Nik shakes his head and chuckles as he begins to undress me.

I should care more, but I feel like crap...not to mention that I was planning on him seeing me naked tonight anyway.

Just not like this...

What if he doesn't like what he sees, and I've blown my chance with him after this?

Uggghhh...I can't think of that now. I feel as if I might puke again.

Once undressed, Nik lifts me into his arms again and places me into a nice, warm bath that seems to relax me.

He sits beside the tub and gently takes a washcloth to my face.

"Mmm..." I hum, enjoying his attention.

"Ursula will be up in a moment with some acetilsalicilic acid and some ginger ale to help settle your stomach," Nik tells me as he gingerly allows the warm water to run over my tense shoulders.

"Ass...acid...?" I angle my head to stare at him in fear. I certainly don't need an acid trip on top of my overindulgence of wine tonight.

"Sorry," Nik grins sheepishly. "That is what we call aspirin here."

"Ohhh..." I nod exaggeratedly, wishing I hadn't. "Ugghh..."

"Just relax," Nik soothes and I close my eyes, trying to enjoy his ministrations in my current state.

"I wish I could just bite her..." Nik says under his breath, or at least that's what I think he said.

No...surely not.

God...I'm drunk.

I just wanna cry again, but I know it will only make things worse.

I had such big plans tonight, but that's life I guess...things never seem to go the way you want them to.

But hopefully, there will be more date nights to come where I swear I will never drink that demon wine again.

A/N : I'm baaaccckkk!!! Did ya miss me?! Lol

Poor Jenna...losing her virginity didn't go as planned. Does it ever, really? Lol

I hope this chapter finds everyone safe and well. Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. ❤️🙏🏻

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