My eyes automatically flew to where Nicholai was sitting. He was looking at me intently while holding a glass of liquor. He was moving the glass while staring at me.
The annoyance was evident on his face. I raised an eyebrow at him and grinned. I saw how his eyes turned darker as he licked his lower lip.
"Here." My eyes drifted to Hazel as she placed something in my hand. It was salt and lemon.
"Birthday, boy! Come here," Hazel called to Nicholai. He immediately stood up and approached us.
"What?" he asked, annoyed.
"Seriously? It's your birthday, but your face looks like someone just died." I laughed at what Hazel said.
"You better ask that lady beside you why I am acting like this," he scoffed.
"Oh? What did I do?" My innocent answer. I really wanted to laugh. I did not know. I loved it when he got annoyed.
"Shut up and just greet me!" he said with gritted teeth.
I widened my eyes as if shocked by what he said. "Oh my God! Sorry! Did I not greet you? Happy birthday, Nicholai." I gave him a hug and then let go. I raised my hands, holding up a glass of tequila and salt and lemon on the other side. "Body shot," I said and then gave him a wink.
"You should be thankful I can't resist being mad at you."
"What did you say?" I asked while my forehead creased. He hissed and grabbed my arm. He pulled me into the middle. They actually put a beach lounge chair there.
"Hoooo! Body shot! Body shot!" All of his cousins cheered while looking at us.
This was not really new. We had always done this even before. And there was no malice—just a game.
"Where do you want?" I asked him. He smirked at me and then suddenly took off his shirt.
They shouted again. This man was really showing off. My eyes trailed from his broad chest down to his abs.
Damn those abs! You could make it as a viand.
I laughed mentally.
You naughty Denima! Did you forget that you already have a boyfriend?
I frowned. . I was just admiring the view. There was nothing wrong with that. Nicholai's body was really exceptional.
Nicholai lay down on the beach lounge and made his arm as his pillow.
"I want it here," he said and then pointed to his abdomen, on his abs specifically.
Shit! This man was such a brute. He was smirking as he lay in the lounge like a prince.
I felt like I wanted to call Hazel and ask for more tequila. One bottle would be worth it.
"Seriously? There?" I said while chuckling.
"Tss! As if you don't like it. If I know, you've been coveting my abs for a long time," he said, smirking. My eyes widened at what he said.
"Stupid! You wish!." He laughed at my remark.
"Go! Go! Body shot already!" Angel and Kayrah shouted to the side. They were also his cousins.
"Behave!" I glared at Nicholai before putting some salt on his abs. He kept on laughing just like a fool.
Just having fun, Nicholai? Tsk!
I sighed and drank the tequila from the shot glass that I was holding. I made a face when I tasted the bitterness of it as it ran down my throat.
They all cheered for me after. I clung to the side of Nicholai's bed and bent my one knee a little bit. I moved my head closer to his abdomen and glanced at him while I licked my lower lip.
He swallowed hard when our eyes met. His thick brows furrowed, and his jaw clenched.
They all shouted again.
"Denima! Denima!"
"Nicholai! Nicholai!"
I started licking the salt on his abdomen slowly without taking my eyes off him.
I saw how he closed his eyes and groaned. I licked all the salt and then stood up and ate the lemon. I grimaced when I tasted the sourness of it and then threw it on the sand. I shivered from the sourness of the lemon.
Nicholai immediately sat down and looked at me, annoyed.
"Oh? What's your problem?" I asked while my brows were furrowed.
He groaned and stood up. "You'll be the death of me," he said and then walked out. What's his problem? Tss!
I was smiling when I approached Hazel.
"That was hot!" she said while grinning.
"Tss! I can't feel anything," I said, laughing.
"Oh my God! Why did he suddenly walk out?" She laughed as she looked at Nicholai, who was walking away from us.
Max came over and smiled, looking at me. He was also Nicholai's cousin, who allegedly had a crush on me. I didn't believe it. For me, I'm not that pretty. I was petite with fair white skin. My hair was black and above the waist length. Pretty standard, I guess. Maybe Max was just really friendly.
"Are you and Nicholai together?" It was a question. My brows furrowed, and I chuckled as I looked at him.
"We're not," I said. "And I also have a boyfriend."
"Oh! I see. Poor, Nicholai," he said and then left us.
"I think he still has a crush on you, dosh," Hazel said, smiling.
"You're kidding, right? You're assuming dosh. Maybe he is just friendly."
"Jeez! That's my cousin, dosh. Did you forget?" She laughed at it.
I rolled my eyes at her and just took another shot of tequila. "Whatever, dosh. Let's just have another drink."
***
I didn't even know how many shots of tequila I drank. Shit! My vision was already doubled.
Almost all of them were also drunk. Others were also rolling in the sand. I was laughing the whole time while looking at them.
I was about to drink another shot of tequila when someone suddenly took it from my hand. I looked up and saw Nicholai. He took my drink and dropped the glass back on the table.
"It's mine," I said, pouting.
"Enough. Holyshit! You're already wasted!" he said, sounding pissed. "Let's go back to the house." He helped me stand up and walked back to the house.
I giggled as I almost tripped.
"Shit!" he cursed and carried me. I shrieked at what he did. I was squirming.
"Damn it! Stop moving!" I stopped because I felt even dizzier.
He walked towards the resthouse and got in. He put me down and made me stand on the kitchen floor. I close my eyes and cling to the table.
"Here. Drink this."
I opened my eyes and saw him holding a glass of water. He brought the glass to my mouth, and I drank it. When the water ran out, he put the glass down on the table.
He picked me up again and walked up the stairs. We entered a room at the end of the hallway. He lowered me and closed the door. I leaned my body against the wall near the door and closed my eyes.
I didn't know what's happening to me. I suddenly felt hot all over. My body became so sensitive. I groaned as I felt even hotter.
It was as if my body was burning when Nicholai's hand suddenly touched my arm. I opened my eyes and saw Nicholai looking at me intently.
"I-It's hot, Nicholai," I said hoarsely. My throat was so dry.
I shivered when I felt something weird when Nicholai started to caress my arm. I felt even hotter. It was as if the extreme heat was consuming my whole body.
"Relax. I got you." I didn't know why I found his voice so sensual. And it was not helping to what I was feeling right now. My body wanted something that I didn't know.
I didn't know what happened next. I just saw myself kissing Nicholai intensely as if I had never been kissed before.