Friday - Tokyo

Kongpob's POV

Arthit didn't really give me a chance to finish my drink. He pretty much just yanked me out of there. I barely had enough time to drop a couple of bills on the table before leaving.

We stood in front of the elevator for the longest time. Minutes felt like years. Neither of us said anything. I'm not even sure what is going on.

Ding

Thank God the elevator has finally arrived. I stepped in after him.

"What floor Kongpob? Your room or mine?" Arthit asked as his finger hovered over the elevator panel.

"We are staying in the penthouse."

Arthit pressed the penthouse button after flashing the key card.

"But I thought Aki said 'rooms', meaning I have my own room." Arthit turned around to ask me.

"Well, the penthouse has multiple rooms. It's really like an apartment, just no kitchen. You can have your own room if you want."

"No! Eh, I mean I don't need my own."

"Okay, it's up to you."

We fell back into silence. The odd tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It didn't help that Arthit kept tapping his fingers on his pants with one hand, while the other one held mine in a death grip.

Ding

Arthit pulled me out of the elevator, and stopped momentarily just to see which room was ours. There's only two penthouse rooms, and ours was on the right. It's the one I usually stay because it has a better view.

"To the right." I told him.

Arthit opened the room door, and quickly pulled me inside. My mouth was covered with his before I even heard the door slam shut. I was caught completely off guard. The guy that was shy and too embarrassed all day was suddenly attacking me like he was a wolf. He held me with his left arm over my shoulder, and his right hand holding the back of my head. His fingers gripped on to my hair, and pulled my head to position me the way he wanted.

It took me a good ten seconds to start to respond back as he pried my lips open, and devoured me. I naturally held him by his waist. His soft lips were moving fast and hungry against mine. Our tongues collided, and dived deep into each other's inviting mouth. The taste of lingering whiskey still evident on his tongue.

Soft moans like music surrounded us. We stumbled further inside without stopping. At some point we kicked off our shoes.

After stumbling a few more steps into the room, Arthit finally pulled away panting. We were both out of breath, and a bit disoriented.

"Where's the damn bed?" Arthit looked around confused.

"Uh, in the rooms." I pointed to either side.

We were standing in the living room of the penthouse. There are two master bedrooms on either side of where we were standing.

"Well, that's annoying." Arthit frowns.

I couldn't help it. He looked so annoyed and cute at the same time with his brows knit together.

"Stop laughing at me Kongpob."

"I'm sorry, but you look cute when you're annoyed."

"I'm not cute!" Arthit smacked me on the chest.

Arthit spun around looking at the room. "Wow, this place is twice the size of my last apartment."

"Yeah, it's pretty nice. Come here. Let me show you something. This is the reason why I always book this room." I offered my hand, and he took it following me.

I led him closer by the window, and I picked up the tablet from the coffee table to open the shades. Behind the shades was the best view of Tokyo.

"Whoa, this view is amazing. We can see the Tokyo Tower and the Skytree from here."

We stood in front of the window for a little while. Then suddenly Arthit turned around and hugged me by the waist, and leaned his chin on my shoulder. Frankly, I'm shocked by his complete 180 degree change in behavior.

"Kongpob, I'm sorry I acted the way I did today. I didn't mean to disappoint you. Can you give me another chance?"

I wrapped my arms around him.

"Arthit, maybe we should talk." I said to him.

He nodded against my shoulder, and then he let me go. I pulled him to sit down on the sofa. I turned on the fireplace with the tablet.

"Wait just a minute."

Arthit nodded.

I walked over to the bar, and grabbed a nice bottle of red wine, and two glasses. I brought it over, and poured each of us a glass.

"To first dates." I raised my glass to his for a toast.

"But I screwed up today." He held the glass without drinking.

"I had fun today. And you said you had a good time too. So, no one screwed up, okay?"

I put my arm around him, and pulled him in so that his back was leaning against my chest.

"Kongpob, you can have any girl you want. Why me? And I'm a guy?"

"Arthit, I don't know the answer to that question. My heart chose for me. You are too concerned about this men and women thing. Isn't it enough that I like you?"

"Kongpob, why do you like even like me? I'm not worth the trouble."

"Arthit, I'm just following my heart. And you are worth everything and more. You need to believe in yourself because I believe in you."

"Are you always so confident? You walk around like you own the world."

I chuckled.

"No, of course not. I'm afraid of failing and rejections just like everyone else."

"That's hard to believe." Arthit mumbled while he takes a sip of his wine.

"Kongpob, did you find that bartender attractive?"

"Yes."

"What about that blond girl, was it Katherine? Did you find her attractive?"

"Yes."

I'm curious to where he is going with this.

"Then...uhm...do you find me attractive? Because if you don't, then we should stop this right now."

I laughed out loud.

"Arthit, do you think I can just make out with someone I'm not attracted to? Would I be sitting here if I weren't?"

"It's just that it doesn't make sense to me. You can have anyone."

"But I only want you. You can have anyone you want too, but you're too blind to see it. That's okay with me though, because I only want you to want me."

I put down my glass of wine, and removed his from his hand too. I kissed the back of his hand, and just held it in mine. I hope he can feel my sincerity.

"You have so many women in your life, and you attract them like a moth to a light. Hell, you attract everybody. I don't know if I can stay sane if I'm with you."

I thought for a moment, and took a deep breath before speaking my mind on this topic.

"Arthit, I know that trust is something that needs to be earned. I will show you through time. If it makes you feel any better, I haven't had a relationship for over ten years. You are the only person I've ever run after."

"What about Davika? You and her seem to be perfect together."

"Davika is just a friend, and that she will always be. Please don't ask me to stop being friends with her, because I can't do that. But there is nothing going on between us. I can promise you that."

"How about all those models?"

"Arthit, we all have a past, and there's nothing we can do to change it. But to answer your question, no, I've not slept with any of them. I'm not as easy as you think."

"Really? You flirt with everybody."

"Including you now."

Arthit hits my chest a couple of times.

"What about Nina? You two seem very close."

"Nina? She is my aunt."

"What? How?" Arthit turned to me looking surprised.

"She is my birth mother's baby sister. She is only four years older than me. Also, she doesn't like my stepmother."

"Why?" Arthit raised himself to look at me.

"You will find out soon enough. It's pretty late now, let's get some rest. I want to get out of these clothes, and get in bed."

I got up, and extended my hand to him.

I can see Arthit working his brain in front me. His eyes darted between the two rooms. He looked nervous. I guess he is not feeling so bold anymore.

"Arthit, let's share a bed, and just cuddle." Did I just say 'cuddle'? This man is making me use words I've never used before.

Arthit gave me his beautiful smile, showing his dimples that I've come to adore. I guess he likes to 'cuddle'.