Mara somehow made it home even before midnight with the help of Alex, who drove her to her house. She could barely move her body out of the car, even if she was somewhat drunk.
They managed to enter her home without a key thanks to his help, who used a hairpin he found from Mara's hair.
She was laid on the sofa by Alex so she could go back to sleep, but she was immediately awakened and recognized the attractive man.
"Hey." As soon as she regained consciousness, Alex casually released her. "I was trying my best not to wake you up because you seem too drunk."
Once she realized she was inside her house, she turned to face him yet again.
"Oh and by the way…" Alex gave her the hairpin he had used to open the door. "Here. I used that to help us get in because it seems like your house key is missing."
"What do you mean missing?"
"There's only one key in your purse and I used that to drive your car all the way here," Alex explained.
"What?"
Mara quickly sprung to her feet from the sofa and looked for her purse, which was close to her. When she looked inside the purse, she discovered exactly what Alex was referring to.
"Shit," she remarked in German.
"Is there something wrong?" Alex asked her.
She cast a quick glance his way while contemplating the possibility that Eva may have obtained her house key rather than the car key.
If that was the case, given that Mara hadn't received any texts from Eva yet, where could she possibly be now?
However, the realization that Alex was inside her house quickly replaced the focus of her concern for her friend. Mara just needs to make a move on one of Eva's attractive best friends who is in her territory.
Mara held up her head and feigned to chuckle before saying, "It's nothing."
Alex nodded at her with innocence. "Since there are no problems, I should be heading home now."
He was on his way to the door when Mara stood up and grabbed his arms, stopping him in his tracks and turned to look at her.
"Thank you for driving me home," she said.
"Don't mention it. I mean, you're a woman and you can be vulnerable to attacks," Alex said.
"I'm sorry for drinking too much. Nightfall is just so… good."
After softly closing and opening his eyes, Alex smiled at her and nodded. "You don't have to say sorry for drinking, mostly to a bartender."
Mara chuckled in response to his remark and lowered her head shyly while still holding into Alex's arms. When she turned to face him once more, he was also staring at her.
Due to the slightly intense situation between them as well as the effects of the alcohol she drank, Mara couldn't resist the impulse to lean in and kiss Alex on the lips.
He was left still and confused in his place. While she had her eyes closed, he had both of them open and only focused on her face that was full of lust.
The sensation of Alex's body suddenly leaning against her and his arms encircling her felt almost completely illegal, mostly when he pulled her closer, parted his lips, and claimed her mouth aggressively just how she liked.
Mara's entire body tingled. Her knees eventually weakened which made it easier for Alex to carry her up while her legs crossed around his waist.
They continued kissing as Alex walked to take a seat on the sofa, leaving her to sit on his lap with her toes curling, her senses fully awakened by the taste of him. His skin was soft and radiating heat when she realized her fingers had already slid under his shirt.
Their eyes matched as Mara took a breath, and she noticed an unamused response in his eyes. She felt desperate at that time for the fact that he refused to give in despite her efforts. She had never been turned down before, so Alex shouldn't be any different.
Mara quietly rose from his lap and stood directly in front of him. Alex was no longer surprised when she began to remove her clothes and brazenly strip in front of him because he had anticipated this kind of situation occurring.
Although he had the choice of giving in to the temptation right in front of him, he chose to keep staring into her eyes instead.
"Look at me," Mara whispered, but loud enough for him to hear.
"I am—"
"No, not into my eyes."
Alex continued to stare into her eyes despite being told not to, which annoyed Mara. So, she tried to climb on his lap once again in an effort to seduce him further.
He, however, gently caught her arms as soon as she touched his thighs in an effort to prevent her from doing what she had intended.
"Let's stop this." He speaks calmly, just above a whisper.
He encouraged Mara to stand on her feet which left her confused and continued to stare at him. Alex then stooped down to pick up from the floor the clothing she removed off herself.
"What are you doing?" Mara asked him.
"I think I should be the one to ask you that," Alex responded as he smoothed the rumpled clothing.
She scoffed before grabbing the clothes out of his hands, then turned her back on him and went to her bedroom.
After a brief period of silence in the living room, Mara emerged with her body completely covered in a black bathrobe.
"How did you come to the decision to send me home, Alex?"
Alex glanced at her and answered, "I tried to be a gentleman to my best friend's… friend."
She made her way to the kitchen, grabbed something from the refrigerator, and returned to the living room with a bottle of whiskey, which she consumed straight.
"So, it's true?"
"What is?"
"It's not only Edward who Eva is best friends with," Mara answered, "and that she lied to me about it."
"Lied is a strong word to describe what she—"
"It fits what she's done. She fuckin' lied to me."
"She might simply not trust you with deeper secrets," Mara was taken speechless by Alex's cruel response.
She sighed in frustration and set the bottle on top of one of the wide accent tables.
"I'm not the kind of woman to keep her mouth shut about her feelings for someone she's attracted to," Mara confronted him. "I like you, Alex. And I want you."