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A responsible young adult, Sasha held life by the reins and took on every opportunity to have a thriving life full of wondrous adventures with a sprinkle of sexiness on the side.
A handful of times a month, her weekends included attending some bars with her friends. She’d drink, dance, and mingle with them for hours. The music would continuously pulse during those hours and the alcoholic flavors on her tongue mixed to the point her head buzzed delightfully. She had done it plenty of times for a few years now. It came to her like second nature whenever the opportunity presented itself. And on some rare, lucky nights, she’d find an attractive woman or guy and slip away for some sneaky fun.
But she didn’t expect one of those alluring sprinkles of sexiness to end up like this ;
Sasha didn’t mean to wake up in someone else's bed hours after a passionately filled night together. She wasn't supposed to spend the night period, yet here she was beneath comfortable sheets that didn’t belong to her. The brunette had accidentally made herself at home after multiple drinks, engaging conversations, and a lengthy sensual session together.
Jerking herself further away from sleep, Sasha grew more aware of her surroundings. She rubbed at an eye with a curled fist while her other hand pushed away from the borrowed pillow. A prickling coldness of anxiety and embarrassment embraced her partially naked frame as the blanket fell around her waist. Surrounded by objects that didn’t belong to her, Sasha’s sleepy gaze flickered curiously.
“Shit,” Sasha chided. She cursed beneath her breath, her voice hardly a whisper. Peeking to her side, the brunette exhaled in relief when she noticed nobody on the other side of the bed. Exposing herself further with a flick of her wrist, Sasha stood when she confirmed no one else occupied the bedroom. Dressing in front of a stranger felt more revealing than undressing in the night while drunk on booze and lust.
Rushing to gather her scattered clothes from the floor, Sasha’s erratic movements that should have continued didn’t. Her anxious muscles twitched to a halt. Even her brain short-circuited at the bizarre sight. The floor, clean of imperfections, allowed the brunette to notice her clothes had been folded and placed at the far end of the bed.
The man had folded her clothes.
He folded her clothes!
"Shit!" Sasha cursed again, the word slurring on her tongue. Ignoring the deep, agonizing pulse in her head that grew with her rising alertness, she distracted herself with wrinkle-free clothes that still smelled like the bar. Sasha discarded the borrowed shirt and embraced her familiar fabrics.
Buttoning her jeans into place, Sasha gave the air a few sniffs. The wafting scent of food grabbed her attention and she could easily list each one; Salty, crispy bacon. Warm, sweet pancakes. Earthy undertones of brewing coffee. Homemade syrup that hinted at cinnamon? Her mouth watered at the thought of filling her stomach, with the addition of painkillers of course.
Sasha could do that at home though. She needed to do that since she had already overstayed her welcome. The brunette would need to apologize for staying so late, thank the man for a wondrous night, and leave without a trace except for some gossiping memories.
Sucking in a slow breath, she exhaled it at the same pace. She repeated the action a few more times. Mentally preparing herself for an experience she had never come across before, she deemed she felt ready enough to conquer the world outside the bedroom.
Sasha had a plan in place; after escaping, she would need to reply to Connie and Jean’s badgering texts from her extreme absence (she noticed they had left plenty for her to read). Once their nerves eased, she’d return home and cook herself a decent meal with a few relieving pills. Finally, while daydreaming about her time together with the man, she’d hide her rendezvous from her parents (who were at work thankfully) by taking a long shower - one that would make it appear she hadn’t been savored and fucked silly.
Too many activities were ahead of her, but Sasha couldn’t start until she opened the bedroom door.
Just one step at a time.
“Here we go,” she whispered to herself. With a twist to the knob, the brunette took one brave step in front of the other. Sasha walked down the short hallway and entered the small yet cozy living room. Dividing the living room from the kitchen, an island full of food and offered drinks was laid on the makeshift dining room table.
Was the man expecting someone since he had such a delicious presentation?
Perhaps he cooked for the both of them?
For her ?
Before Sasha could ponder the stranger's activities, the man turned away from the stove to stack another pancake onto his growing pile. The blonde paused after tossing it down and he blinked in slight surprise to see Sasha staring right back. Awkwardly standing at the very end of the hallway with her eyes darting to the exit, the brunette couldn’t stop her tongue when he tried to open his mouth.
“I am so sorry I spent the night! I didn’t mean to! This week was exhausting and I guess with the addition of our activities and drinks, I was seriously knocked out cold! I hope I wasn’t too much of a bother snoozing away in your bed. And by the way, I enjoyed our night together. It was a lot of fun. Quite memorable! I’ll be out of your hair now - I just need my shoes!”
He blinked once, twice, before his shoulders dropped when he processed her rambling speech. The blonde's cheeks almost puffed and his lips twitched into a small smile - one that desperately tried to hide a laugh or even a small giggle from Sasha’s outburst.
Not allowing the silence to drag between them, he shook his head to dismiss her apologetic hands. The blonde then wiggled his spatula at the door to dismiss her from trying to grab her shoes.
He had a lovely evening with her and quiet the exciting night - he wanted just another hour to express his gratitude. And to get to know Sasha even more. Unlike the brunette, he wasn’t the type to go out and seek out new friends or “ friends ” - when it did happen, however rare, none had ever compared to how Sasha made him feel.
The man wasn’t sappy or clingy. He certainly wasn’t a creep either who conjured emotions quickly from a brief interaction.
There was something there.
An unfamiliar, exciting emotion that he wanted to further explore as friends if she would accept.
“Okay, well, good morning to you as well. Second, you’re not a bother at all! I didn’t mind you spending the night. I have today off, so there's no rush to leave so soon.” Stepping off to the side, he waved his spatula down at the food surplus. “Would you like some breakfast before you go? I don’t mind having your company a while longer.”
“I’ve already overstayed my welcome!” Sasha protested politely.
The man shook his head with a widening smile. “Nonsense. If I didn’t want you here, I would have already told you so. Be my guest just a bit longer? I made plenty for both of us. Our memorable night gave me quite the appetite. I’m sure you’re starving too.”
Sasha finally began to blush. Teasing her fingers together, she cocked her head to the side. She internally fought with herself. Food and painkillers sounded appetizing. Company such as his would be nice compared to Connie or Jean’s (for the time being while her head painfully throbbed). Sasha slowly cocked her head to the other side and she dragged a defeated hum.
“Well, if you insist,” she slowly replied. Not wanting to look too eager, Sasha steadily walked into the small kitchen. She washed her hands with manners while peering at the man. He was grabbing glasses for the both of them, his body not expressing hesitance or awkwardness. His faintly pink-colored cheeks gave away that the situation wasn’t the norm, but other than that, an adapting natural.
Oh, how Sasha envied him.
“What would you like to drink?” He wondered. Catching Sasha’s uneasy gaze, his brows raised in silent encouragement.
“Um, coffee, please. With creamer.” Settling herself on a stool, Sasha teased her fingers together again. Toying with her fingers was a soothing technique the brunette preferred in a pinch. She flashed a thankful smile when her cup of coffee and a pill bottle were placed near her plate. “It’s Niccolo, right?”
“Yes it is,” Niccolo responded. He sat next to the brunette and ensured a comfortable distance between them. Not sounding full of himself, but simply admitting in a shy voice, his cheeks dusted a pale red. “You established that quite well last night.”
Sasha nearly snorted in the back of her throat. Her face burned and she concealed it with a hand. Distracting herself with pills and a mouthful of hot coffee, she soon stuttered after a swallow, “I was just making sure. We talked so much last night that all our topics are running around my brain. Names are drowning somewhere in there.”
“It sounds like you’re in a similar position. I’ve never drunk that much before. I’m trying to organize everything we talked about,” he chuckled. Filling his plate with food once Sasha began to dig in, Niccolo, in turn, took the bottle of pills for a relieving dose.
“Yeah? I take it you don’t go out much?” She wondered.
The blonde gave a crooked shrug and he clicked his tongue thoughtfully. “I mean, I do go out, but most of the time it doesn’t involve heavy drinking. My outings are usually bland.”
“That doesn’t sound bad at all! Casual outings are nice,” Sasha said.
It was Niccolo’s turn to pull out new details. Buttering his pancakes and adding his preferred toppings, he eventually picked up his silverware. “Oh? Is that coming from someone who’s regretting last night’s actions or seeks the same boring thrills?”
“I’m not regretting last night except for the last few drinks. I can handle my alcohol, but that was a new level for me!” She huffed amusingly. Before she could inhale a mouthful of drowned pancake, Sasha gave him a sideways glance. “And I like seeking adventures. It keeps life entertaining.”
“I’m starting to notice that.”
“Yeah?” She breathed. Plopping the forkful of syrupy pancakes in her mouth, Sasha’s eyes widened. She cupped the side of her face when her jaw tingled and saliva pooled in her mouth. Humming from the bursting flavors of food, Sasha wiggled in her seat. “Oh. My. Gosh! This is so good! Is this your recipe?”
Covering his mouth with the back of his hand, Niccolo stifled a giggle from her reaction. He had never had someone react to his food so genuinely. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. And partially; It’s a recipe I slightly tweaked from my grandma.”
“Well, compliments to the chef and his grandma!”
Exchanging glances and silly laughs, the pair grew silent once their hunger won. Bite after bite, hot sip after hot sip, they filled their stomachs. The painkillers began to take effect and both silently thanked the beginning relief in their pounding heads. Niccolo turned on the TV for background noise and the pair gave it glances whenever something interesting popped up; the news flashed today’s weather, and a reporter described the late morning traffic and the usual stories that either captivated the audience or filled the time before the next scheduled show entertained the pair.
“Do you cook like this all the time?” Sasha asked. Breaking the silence on her second round of food, this time with waffles and new sides, she pampered her plate until it was ready for consumption. Even amidst a terrible hangover, her appetite never wavered.
“I do. I’m usually the one who cooks here. My roommate doesn’t care for edible meals,” Niccolo replied casually. With minuscule movements, he shook his head at the reminder of countless frozen meals stacked in the freezer.
Her eyes widened from the confession. Glancing down at the empty hallway, she covered her mouth. Sasha lowered her voice in fear she had been disrupting Niccolo’s roommate. “You’re just now telling me you have a roommate? I hope I’m not intruding on their routine or something!”
“Not in the slightest.” Niccolo’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile from the relief washing over her face. Pressing the rim of his cup against his cheek, he couldn’t help but tease. “If you’re worried that he heard us last night, he didn’t. He left the other day for a business trip.”
“That’s good, but we should still worry about your neighbors!” Sasha exhaled. Straightening her arms, she leaned back and her head slumped forward. Sasha bit her lip to suppress a mischievous smile.
Niccolo nearly coughed his coffee back into the cup. His cheeks darkened and he internally cursed at the heat that traveled to his ears. Sasha’s giggles filled the air and he couldn’t stop to flash her a playful glare. Despite the uncomfortable sensation in his head, engaging with the brunette in a friendly manner made it all worthwhile.
“Are you always like this?”
“Yup!” She said with a pop to the last letter. Sasha perked up during her answer. Chewing away thoughtfully, Sasha held out her hand and uncurled two fingers individually. “When I’m sober and drunk, I’m pretty cheeky.”
Mimicking her hand, Niccolo replied, “Well, when I’m drunk, I’m brave and chatty. When I’m sober, I’m much more… self-aware, you could say? I’m pretty introverted.”
“I can tell. You’re not showing off your dance moves,” Sasha murmured.
He rolled his eyes, an internal reproach to himself. “Of course I’m not showing off; if I shake my head anymore, breakfast will end up in the toilet.”
“And that would be such a waste! It’s so good! They’re the best pancakes and waffles I’ve ever had! And the sides? You’re going to make me miss more than just you,” she chirped. Sasha bit her inner cheek when she realized what she had just said. Her cheeks warmed with a pale blush and Sasha avoided his surprised expression.
“She’s going to miss me? Did Sasha mean that or was she joking?”
Changing the subject before he could speak, the brunette released the softest of gasps. Holding her hand out, she waited for Niccolo’s cautiously offered one. Her fingers rubbed over his neatly trimmed nails. “Your nails are so pretty!”
“Oh, thank you.” He briefly paused. Allowing Sasha to admire them for a few seconds in peaceful silence, he eventually said, “You already complimented them.”
“I did? When?”
“Last night,” Niccolo replied plainly.
Sasha furrowed her brows from the bland confession. “Really? I don’t remember that. When did I compliment your nails?”
She watched the way Niccolo internally fought with himself; a fight that involved suppressing giggles or an outright laughing fit. His lips twitched and even his brows raised in bubbling amusement. Sasha knew he wasn’t making fun of her, not with how his cheeks dusted a pale red in a fluster.
“Right around the time you wanted them inside you.”
Sasha just dug herself a hole.
“Niccolo!” Sasha squeaked. She couldn’t help but laugh in embarrassment. “You can’t be so blunt! Oh my gosh!”
“You asked!” He laughed. Niccolo covered his mouth with his free hand - a failed attempt to control his silly sounds.
“I know!”
Immediately, they both held their heads with annoyed sighs. Heartily laughing and having a wondrous conversation about their night's activities did not go hand-in-hand with a hangover. Exchanging knowing looks, they knew their time together was drawing to a close. Any more sentences that involved spoken topics or new questions would result in more laughter. That enjoyment could be brought up on a later, painless day.
“Thank you for everything,” Sasha started. Packing the last mouthful into her cheek, the brunette gathered her dirty dishes. She walked around the small island and placed them near the sink. A fluttering sensation began to stir in the pit of the stomach. “You know, letting me shower, the borrowed shirt, breakfast, last night, and everything else. It’s sweet and all. I enjoyed my time with you.”
Niccolo watched after her. Once Sasha’s hands were freed, that familiar habit of toying with her fingers caused him to stand. Picking up on her rare bashfulness and always genuine thankfulness, something warm squeezed at his chest. Niccolo smiled with equal gratefulness and he moved to place his dishes in the sink. This sort of exchange was out of the norm for a one-night stand, but he embraced it without hesitance.
“I feel the same way. I really enjoyed my time with you too.”
Her lips tugged upward in giddy delight. Returning to her original plan, Sasha approached the front door. She bent down, slipped her shoes on, and took hold of her purse. Sasha didn’t bother investigating the contents of her bag - Niccolo proved himself to be a gentleman through and through. Pettiness such as stealing a few dollars or slipping his number was unfathomable.
“Do you need a ride back home or to the bar?” Niccolo offered. Making his way to the entrance, he paused a few feet away. Niccolo slipped his hands in his pockets and one squeezed his phone. Silently, gathering enough courage, he hoped he could ask to exchange phone numbers. The thought of never crossing paths again made him feel disappointed their time had come to an end.
Sasha shook her head. “No. I’m good. My extremely insufferable friend is picking me up.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t the best at keeping my best friends informed about last night,” she sighed. Sasha looked nearly sheepish as she flashed a smile up at Niccolo. “I’ve never taken off and spent the night at someone's place before, so they’re pretty upset about it. They know I can take care of myself, but knowing Jean, he’ll harmlessly slap me on the wrist before dropping me off at home. Thank goodness my parents are at work…”
“I take it they don’t know your little escapades?” Niccolo mused.
“I don’t gossip with them about my nights, but I’m sure they know. I’m not in the mood for typical parent prodding right now - especially after Jean. I need some peace for a few hours to get over this hangover.”
“That’s what I’ll be embracing for a few hours too. My roommate is supposed to be returning sometime today or tomorrow. It depends on the weather in their area.”
Were they stalling? Neither one was sure, but they didn’t mind. Sasha’s friend was on the way, so having her stand outside and wait felt wrong. Niccolo had nothing else to do but a few chores, so he could continue and “waste” the rest of the morning away. Continuing to embrace the atmosphere they had created together encouraged a particular individual to speak up.
“Sasha?” Niccolo started. He briefly closed his eyes from the awkward crack in his voice.
Yes?” She hummed.
“Um, could I give you my number?” He shyly murmured. Bringing his phone out, Niccolo toyed with it between his hands. He glanced off to the side with a thick swallow. “Or can I have yours? We could go out for coffee or to Olive Garden whenever you want. We can steal as many breadsticks as possible, and quickly run away to conjure dinner with them at home.”
Sasha burst out laughing. Covering her mouth, her head tilting back, she shook it in shock. “You would dare to steal just the breadsticks? What about the cheese grater?”
“I accidentally stole one months ago, so I have that covered,” he admitted with a slight smile. Relief washed over him from her reaction. No signs of rejection at all from his offer.
Her jaw dropped at his confession. “No way? How the hell do you accidentally steal one? The waiters always have them on hand!”
“They walked away to get out drinks and left it at the table. My roommate shoved it in his bag and we successfully brought it home. No questions asked,” he smugly replied.
“Well, damn! You succeeded something I’ve been trying to do for years !” Sasha giggled. Sucking in a slow breath, she released it just as slowly to calm her giddy heart. Not helping herself to act cutely, Sasha tilted her head while she held out her hand. “I’ll give you my number, so text me anytime. You know, texts that involve more than just stealing from Olive Garden and gossiping at coffee shops. We can go see a movie, hang out at a park, or go to a theme park! I’m up for anything.”
His eyes widened at her extended offers.“G-great! That’s great.”
Sasha’s smile sweetened from his beaming expression. With a couple of quick taps, she returned Niccolo’s phone. Sasha felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she knew their time had drawn to a close. She took a step back and tossed a pointed thumb over her shoulder.
“My ride is here. Thanks, again, for everything. I’ve… I’ve never been treated this well before,” Sasha admitted. Flashing a smirk, she quirked a brow up at him. “You’ve spoiled me rotten, so it’s all on me next time!”
“Spoiling me? I can’t wait,” Niccolo chuckled. Reaching out, he politely opened the door. Exchanging soft farewells and awkward waves, Niccolo eventually closed the door once Sasha was out of sight. He brushed a hand over his cheek and huffed an amused breath from the radiating warmth.
Niccolo couldn’t wait to spend time together again.
Sasha didn’t mean to wake up in someone else's bed hours after a passionately filled night together. She wasn't supposed to spend the night period, yet here she was practically skipping to Jean’s car. The brunette had made herself comfortable in a stranger's home which included engaging conversations, a lengthy sensual session, and a fulfilling breakfast. Sasha was comically rewarded with a new friend she couldn’t wait to spend more time with; a friend she hoped would develop into a deeper relationship given the time.