Angela held Nina's face between her hands and squeezed until her friend's lips puckered. They were at the VVIP's bathroom which was exclusive to the patrons in the VVIP lounge and located right next to it. Even the bathroom was luxurious and glitzy.

"Ninz. That's Gio…"

​​

"And?"

Angela stared at her best friend without responding, sighed, and then lowered her hands. It had been over an hour since Nina smoked that blunt and had a couple of drinks after that. The two had been so flirty with each other. Nina was very touchy whenever she was high.

Nina beamed at her. "Oh, don't worry, Anj. We're just flirting. It's harmless. What are you so concerned about?"

"He's a De Luca, and you can deny it, but there's part of you that's a Morelli. Also, he's…" She bit her bottom lip.

"What? A manwhore?" Nina arched her brow and chuckled as she faced the giant mirror above the sink. She fixed her lipstick as she said, "Trust me, Anj. Whatever happens tonight stays in New York."

Giovanni was a man, and Nina was a very attractive woman. Angela saw the way he looked at Nina's legs. It wasn't how Gael looked at Angela, but it was the kind of gaze any man would give Nina when she walked into a room.

Angela didn't sense that Giovanni was after Nina—at least not more than physical attraction. And she knew her best friend could handle herself with also just physical attraction. It's not her first rodeo. But still, Angela couldn't help but worry, given both their family background.

'It's not like you're any better either,' she told herself, giving herself a mental slap.

Exhaling, she nodded and went to a cubicle to relieve herself, then washed her hands. Angela knew Nina better than her parents knew their daughter, and her best friend didn't do serious. Her relationships could last for months if she didn't get bored of them easily, but they didn't get to a point where they got serious. That's one thing the two best friends had in common—at least before Gael came along.

Angela was worried about this pairing, but if Nina said not to worry, then she'll just have to trust her friend.

The night was absolutely fun. The four of them drank, danced, drank some more, and danced again. Even Gael, who claimed he didn't really dance, grinded with Angela on the dance floor. Oh, and grind, they did.

It was hot and dirty. They practically dry-humped each other and kissed, giving zero fucks to the party-goers around them—not that anyone dared to complain. The patrons were also busy bumping and thumping to the music and getting drunk to care about others while they got smashed.

Gael and Angela had their clothes on, but they were more handsy. His masterful hands teased her the entire time, touching her in places that were so near yet so far. Down her thighs, her back, the sides of her breasts, between her thighs—but never really at the place where she wanted his hand. She was perched on the edge of the familiar thrill and was desperate for a release, nearly begging him to make her come—but she didn't. It was such a long foreplay. One that the two of them enjoyed.

She could blame it on the alcohol, but she didn't. Alcohol or not, she wanted Gael, and he indulged her all day and night. Even though he didn't say it, she knew why he was doing it.

***

Angela couldn't exactly remember how they all got back home to Gael's apartment. Though she was certain that he only had a drink and nothing more—as if wanting to stay somewhat sober. She also vaguely remembered that he carried her at one point that night—no, he threw her over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes. She was so drunk. After that bottle of wine over dinner and some cocktails by their private bartender at the club, Angela let go.

She thought Gael would stop her from tossing drinks after drinks—or maybe he would have if she didn't stop herself. But it seemed as though he just allowed her to enjoy that night, and he stayed next to her to make sure she was okay. For the first time in a while, Angela forgot about her worries and relied on him.

Somewhere between Gael carrying her like a firefighter and laying her down on the bed, she fell asleep. The room spun even though her eyes were closed and something hammered in her head. Her eyes lazily fluttered open, landing on the clock on the nightstand that said it was twenty minutes past four in the morning. She must have slept for only a couple of hours.

Laying on her stomach with hair covering her face, she groaned as she searched for him on the bed. Bile rose up to her throat, and she barely made it to the bathroom before hurling into the bowl. The room spun, and she cursed all the alcohol in the world.

A soft chuckle came from behind her, and Gael sauntered inside the bathroom, handing her a bottle of water. "I told you the last one would make you nauseated."

He did. She didn't even remember what that was. It tasted good and fruity. But now, all she could taste was acid in her mouth. She groaned, and he helped her to the sink where she rinsed with mouthwash and brushed her teeth, and then quickly removed all the makeup on her face by double-cleansing.

When she was done, he handed her a face towel. Looking at Gael through the reflection, she raked her gaze over his broad shoulders and hard chest that she knew so well under his white t-shirt. He looked casual and clean and hot. She sucked on her bottom lip as she dragged her eyes to her own reflection. That's when she realized that she was wearing his t-shirt—a plain one just like his—with nothing underneath. "Did you change me?"

He narrowed his eyes on her. "Who else would it be?"

"Then why did you forget my underwear?" Angela slid her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.

He smirked. Obviously, he didn't forget it. She basked in the warmth of his body as he wrapped his strong arms around her frame in a tight hug, just how she liked it.

She took a deep inhale and moaned. "You smell so delicious."

"Yeah? What do I smell like?"

A smile lifted on her lips as she took another deep breath and kissed his chest. "Like heaven and hell. Sexy and dangerous and home."

Gael let out a deep-throated chuckle that vibrated on his chest. "Come on, let's go to bed." He bent down to lift her up bridal style and put her back in bed before he removed all his clothes except his boxer briefs and slid next to her.

Angela immediately curled into his side, savoring the warmness of his skin. There were nights when this was all she wanted. No sex, just unlimited cuddles. Probably some touching here and there, but just him being with her in bed was all she needed. God, she became so clingy—it was so unlike her.

The room was quiet. The only sound they could hear was each other's breathing. She closed her eyes, and the past few days invaded her head like a flashback. Then before she could stop herself, she told him, "Andy wants to meet with me."

Gael stiffened for a beat, waiting for her to explain, but she didn't. Slowly, he pulled back and met her hooded gaze. "You two talked? When?"

"Last Wednesday. He called, but I didn't answer. Then he texted, inviting me out for a coffee."

There was a slight crease between his brows as he stared into her eyes, trying to get a read on her, but she was still intoxicated, making it hard to do so. "What did you say?"

She shook her head, a lock of hair falling to her face. "Nothing. I haven't responded."

Gael let out a small sigh, pushing the lock behind her ear. Angela also tried to read him, but his expression didn't give away anything. "You want to meet him."

Her heart slowly picked up the pace. He didn't ask. He said it like a statement. "No… I don't know. I don't have anything to say to him."

"But it looks like he has a lot to say to you."

"I don't care. We broke up a long time ago."

"How did you break up exactly?"

"I…" Angela averted her eyes, her mouth opening and closing a few times.

"Never mind. I don't want to know." Gael placed her head on his chest and began to gently stroke his fingers on her scalp, causing her eyes to shut close. "Go to sleep, baby. I'll wake you up later before Nina leaves for the airport." Their arms tightened around each other in a sweet embrace.

She mumbled an incoherent sound as drowsiness whisked her away.

But she was still conscious enough to hear his low voice muttering above her, "If you really want to meet him… You can go. Just let me know, and I'll drive you."