Chapter 33 Stay here tonight
“Who is she to Arthur? Why is he so possessive of her?” Josh asked Derick as they watched him pull Aurora away from the man.
“Well, you should know the answer by now.” Derick answered, his eyes scanning the room, looking for his man.
“He’s in love with her? That is impossible! It’s Arthur’s rule never to fall in love.” Josh uttered in awe.
“Rules are meant to be broken, Josh. I’d advise you to settle down, already. Even Arthur has found love. Enough of trying to have every woman in the whole world.” Derick responded, carefully placing his glass on the table as he left to get Carter.
Arthur kept holding Aurora’s hand until they were very far from the young man that kept making her laugh and chuckle.
“Do you know him?” Arthur asked, looking at Aurora.
“Who? That man?” She asked, as they both looked in his direction.
“No, I don’t. But he’s a very nice man. He knows so many things. Super intelligent and funny! You should get to know each other!” Aurora uttered in excitement, and Arthur scoffed.
“I can be very funny too, you know?” He answered, and Aurora curved up one of her eyebrows.
“You? Funny? I don’t think so. You hardly crack jokes. Sometimes, I’m always so scared of you.” Aurora responded, taking another sip from the glass of wine in her hand.
It was her fourth glass already, and she was beginning to act under its influence.
Arthur stared at her face and noticed she was tipsy. Her face was red and she could hardly open her eyes properly.
“You’re drunk, Aurora. Stop drinking, okay?” Arthur worriedly uttered, reaching for the glass, but she hastily moved away.
She gulped down the rest of the wine, chuckling playfully as she did. Some of it spilled on her dress, but she hardly noticed.
Arthur heaved a sigh and walked to the table. He grabbed a serviette and moved closer to her.
Collecting the glass from her before it fell from her hand, he began to clean her stained mouth and dress.
“I leave you for a little while and you’re drunk already.” He muttered, as he kept cleaning off the wine on her dress.
“It wasn’t a little while. You left me alone and kept talking with those men and women. You totally forgot I was here. I had to keep myself busy.” Aurora mumbled.
Arthur smiled softly as he looked at her. He couldn’t believe she was sulking at him.
“And now you’re acting like Ryan.” Arthur uttered, causing Aurora’s eyes to widen.
“You don’t have anything nice to say to me, do you? Fine, I’ll just go and get another glass.” She threatened, turning to leave, but Arthur grabbed her hand, making her stop.
“Fine. I’m sorry I left you all by yourself, okay?” He apologized, and a satisfied grin curved up her face.
Arthur heaved a deep sigh and while holding her, he looked at the table where his friends were, looking for Derick, but he saw Derick was gone.
He waved to Josh, telling him to move closer to where he was.
After he got closer, Arthur moved closer to his ear and said, “Can you and Derick please bring this party to an end? Aurora is drunk and I need to take care of her.”
“Hey! You didn’t introduce me to your friend. Hi, I’m Aurora.” She butted in, stretching her hand toward Josh.
Josh let out a smile as he shook her hand. “I’m Josh. It’s so nice to meet you.” Josh answered, admiring her beauty once again.
“Don’t even think about it. End the party, I’ve had enough. I have to head upstairs now.” Arthur answered, pulling Aurora closer to him.
“Fine.” Josh answered, letting go of her hand.
“Aurora. Let’s get you to your room, okay?” Arthur uttered as he began to walk her to the stairs. He tried to walk as slowly as possible so she wouldn’t trip on her heels.
“Why? The party is still on! I would love to dance.” She said with a drunk laugh, trying to get her off from Arthur’s.
Arthur shook his head in frustration, and suddenly, he placed his arm behind her feet and swept her off the floor, carrying her in a bridal manner.
“Mr. Arthur!” She called fearfully. Arthur ignored her ranting as he climbed the stairs and headed to her room. He also ignored the prying eyes of some of the people that were in the living room, watching their little drama.
“Is that his wife? How come we never heard of his wedding?”
“I don’t think they are married. I guess she’s the surrogate mother of his triplets.” They gossiped.
Getting into Aurora’s room, Arthur laid her on the bed, and let out a deep breath afterwards.
“The party…”
“The party has ended, Aurora. Don’t bother about it. You should rest now. You’re drunk.” Arthur answered as he reached for her legs and began to remove her heels.
Aurora chuckled as he did this, causing him to look at her.
“What’s so funny?” He asked, as he removed the second pair of heels.
“You… You are so funny.” She answered playfully, poking his back with her finger.
“And why is that?” He asked, leaning closer to her and staring into her eyes. His closeness made Aurora’s body go stiff for a moment, and she gulped hard.
“Why are you so nice to me?” She asked, and Arthur smiled faintly, raising his body to move away, but Aurora pulled him back, making him almost fall on her.
“We never talked about that day. The day we kissed. Why did you do it?” She asked, staring at his lips.
“Because I wanted to.” Arthur answered in almost a whisper, also looking at her plump lips.
“Why did you want to? Do you like me?” She asked, moving her hand to his face and cupping one side of his face.
“If you keep being nice to me, I’ll believe you want me.” She added, lifting her eyes to meet his.
“And what if I told you I do want you?” Arthur answered, rubbing his cheek against her palm.
“Do you? What are we, Mr. Arthur?” She inquired, her eyes subsequently moving from every feature on his face.
“We are nothing yet. But that can change.”
“What?” She asked, looking into his eyes.
“Isn’t that what we both want?” He asked, making her furrow her brows.
“What are you saying? I don’t understand.”
“I’m saying I want you, Aurora. I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“Really?” Her face lightened up.
“Really! But I wouldn’t ask you that question now. Not when you’re drunk. I will ask you when you’re yourself, okay? Now… go to bed. It’s really late.” He responded with a smirk.
Trying to move away, Aurora grabbed his hand and pulled him back once again.
“Stay here tonight.” She proposed, and Arthur chuckled.
“Are you sure?” He asked, and she nodded, moving to the other side of the bed. She tapped the bed, waiting for him to lay next to her.
“Okay.” He answered as he laid on the bed. She moved closer to him and without thinking twice, he cuddled her up.
“Goodnight, beautiful.”