Chapter 16

As if by magic, Tristan's words came true. The world and the people inhabiting it faded into oblivion for Aurora, and after much hesitation, she decided to enjoy at least a little bit of the wonderful sensation of being kissed by him. It was a breathtaking kiss. Tristan sucked her tongue forcefully, as if he had long desired to feel it, and explored her body with his agile hands, while Aurora ran her hands over his broad shoulders.

It was all so good. The shared contact between them was addictive, but before the lack of air caught up to them, Aurora snapped out of her trance and pushed him forcefully, causing him to hit his back against the table, which moved with the impact, emitting a loud noise.

"Argh!" Tristan complained, in pain.

"I'm sorry..." she got off the countertop, feeling bad for hurting him, but quickly became annoyed. "I mean... serves you right! You can't just kiss me like that whenever you please."

"Then tell me when I can." Tristan approached again.

Before she could retort, they realized that the lights in the apartment were turning on, accompanied by a familiar voice.

"Adelaide?" the voice called, echoing through the rooms.

"Damn!" Aurora said, desperate. She looked around and fixed her gaze on the wooden cabinet. "Get inside this cabinet!"

"Only if you come in with me." Tristan smiled mischievously, about to kiss her again, but she pushed him into the cabinet, made a silent gesture, and closed the door.

"There you are." Adelaide entered the kitchen, yawning, wearing a nightgown. "What was that noise?"

"I... I came to get a glass of water, but I'm so sleepy that I dropped the glass and bumped into some things." Aurora smiled crookedly.

"Hmm." Adelaide cleared her throat, almost closing her eyes due to sleepiness. "I guess I must have been dreaming, because I could have sworn I heard a male voice."

"Well... I was watching a movie." Aurora quickly made up an excuse.

"What movie?" Adelaide asked curiously.

"It's about an ordinary girl and a perverted and masochistic businessman." Aurora heard Tristan's low laughter and kicked the cabinet to make him stop.

Adelaide rolled her eyes. She was so sleepy that she didn't even care about her sister's random act of kicking the cabinet.

"I never thought my sister would watch porn movies in the middle of the night," she thought out loud, turning her back to Aurora. "Clean up this mess and go to sleep. You have to wake up early tomorrow."

"Goodnight!" Aurora said, watching Adelaide walk away. She cautiously walked to the kitchen door and looked down the hallway, seeing Adelaide enter her room and close the door. "The coast is clear, Christian Grey."

Tristan laughed and carefully came out of his hiding spot, trying not to bump into anything else.

"Let's continue where we left off, Anastasia Steele," he played along, closing his eyes and puckering his lips to kiss her.

"None of that!" Aurora held his puckered lips with her hand, pushing him away. "You're leaving here before I lose what little patience I have left!"

"Are you really going to kick me out?"

"First, give me back the copy of my apartment key, then I'll kick you out of here!" She extended her hand, waiting for him to hand over the object.

"I'm not giving anything back. She's mine!" Tristan said, refusing to return the key.

"Give it back!" Aurora insisted, but he continued to deny. "You know what? Keep it. I can change the lock later."

She used all her strength to push him into the living room. As they approached the door, Tristan managed to hold her wrists and looked at her intensely.

"Think about my proposal," Tristan said.

"And what would that be?" Aurora asked.

"You and me, having sex all night long, and then we disappear from each other's lives."

"And what do I gain from that?"

"You'll lose your virginity to an experienced person; you'll have the chance to sleep with me, something not every woman can achieve; I'll never bother you again, and you can live out a cliché romance with that guy," he grimaced at the last part.

"I decline. I value myself, and I don't want to give myself to just anyone," Aurora affirmed.

"I'm not just anyone," Tristan bit his lower lip. "Will you think about the proposal?"

She sighed. She just wanted him to leave before Adelaide woke up again.

"Fine! I'll think about it," he smiled. "Now get out of my house!" She opened the door, pushed Tristan out, and quickly closed it without saying goodbye.

Was she really going to consider that proposal? No chance. She had only agreed to get him out of the apartment so she could sleep in peace. But as she lay in bed and closed her eyes, the memory of his lips on hers haunted her, returning like a nightmare. She had kissed other mouths before, but kissing his was different.

"What a son of a bitch!" Aurora cursed, lying on her back. She couldn't sleep anymore. "Why does he have to be so handsome and tempting?!"

***

With the photoshoot finished, Aurora sat on a small couch in the corner of the studio while the model looked at the photos on the computer with Seraphina, Luna, and her agent.

Aurora had finished her work for the day, but to her irritation, she had done it without being able to get Tristan out of her mind. She berated herself for it, tried to think about anything other than him, but within seconds, she found herself thinking about him again.

She felt indignant at how her body and mind reacted when Tristan approached like a dense fog, taking her breath away. It was as if her body wasn't even her own; she lost control. Her eyes, hands, feet, and so much more, everything was controlled by him.

"Aurora?" Luna snapped her out of her reverie, snapping her fingers as she called her.

"Sorry, Luna," she smiled sheepishly. "I was a bit distracted."

"Does this distraction have to do with the problems you've been having?" Luna sat beside her.

"Yes."

"Do you want to tell me what's stealing your attention?"

"Well..." she sighed. "There's this guy at my college, and... he's perfect. He's respectful, likes kids, wants a big family, and he's incredibly attractive."

"And what's the problem?"

"There's another guy," she grimaced. "He's the complete opposite. All he thinks about is sex, and he believes that every girl in the world is at his feet... but..."

"He attracts you in a unique way," Luna finished, as if reading her thoughts.

"Exactly!"

"My advice is that you should invest in the guy from college. I understand that you're attracted to the bad boy, but it's only temporary. You'll regret it if you spend a night with him and let go of a guy who could be by your side forever."

"You're right," Aurora smiled gratefully.

"I hope I've helped," Luna smiled and stood up. "Go home, you're done for today," she waved as she walked away.

Even with all those arguments from her boss and the knowledge that there would be no advantages with Tristan, she remained confused.

"My reason offers me only one answer, but my heart remains confused," she thought. "I'm going crazy."

"Argh!" Aurora crossed her arms in anger. "I hate you, Tristan Callahan!"