Chapter 11 - [11] The next morning

Last night was a complete blur. The wine, the conversations, the laughter—everything felt like it had melted together into a hazy, dreamlike state. When I finally woke up, my head was pounding, the remnants of the night still fogging my brain. I groaned softly, blinking against the early morning light streaming through the wide windows.It took a second for me to realize where I was—Vanessa's house, her luxurious living room. I shifted slightly, the soft leather of her couch against my bare skin making my heart race. I was naked. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt my face flush instantly as I turned my head.Vanessa lay next to me, also naked, but covered by the throw blanket we'd pulled over ourselves at some point during the night. Her long black hair cascaded over the pillow, and she looked at me with that familiar, amused smile, like she was in complete control of everything, even now."Good morning," she said softly, her voice smooth as silk.My face burned red, and I scrambled to cover myself more with the blanket. "Uh, good morning," I stammered, my voice shaky and uncertain. I could barely meet her gaze, my mind still reeling from the fact that I had woken up naked next to Vanessa Reed.She chuckled softly, noticing my discomfort. "Oh, don't be shy, Tristan," she said, her voice teasing but with that same undercurrent of authority. "After all, we're a couple now, aren't we?"Her words sent my heart racing even faster. A couple. That wasn't a dream? Last night, amidst the blur of wine and closeness, we had crossed a line I hadn't expected. I swallowed hard, trying to process everything."Yeah... I guess we are," I mumbled, feeling my face heat up even more.Vanessa's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "No need to blush," she said, moving slightly closer to me on the couch. "It's natural. Besides, after last night, I think we're well past being shy with each other, don't you think?"I could feel my throat tighten as I struggled to find something to say. Everything about this felt overwhelming—being naked next to her, the weight of her gaze, the casual way she spoke, like this was all perfectly normal.She stretched her arms lazily, her body moving with a kind of effortless grace. "You're too cute when you're flustered," she said, her tone soft but teasing.I tried to smile, but it came out awkward. "I just... I didn't expect to wake up like this."Vanessa smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Did you expect to wake up somewhere else after what we did?"My blush deepened, and I could barely look at her. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I felt completely out of my depth. Vanessa, as always, seemed perfectly at ease, her confidence making everything she said feel both playful and dangerous.She shifted slightly, leaning closer to me on the couch, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "Tell me, Tristan," she said softly, her eyes locking onto mine. "Am I better than those college girls you've been with? In bed, I mean."My stomach dropped at her words, and I could feel my face flush even deeper. What? My throat went dry, and I stammered, unable to form a coherent response. "I-I..."Vanessa's smile widened, her eyes glinting with satisfaction at my discomfort. "Come on," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. "You can tell me. I won't be offended."I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest. "I-I mean... I... yes," I finally stammered, feeling the words fall out of my mouth before I could even think about them.Vanessa's smile turned smug, and she leaned even closer, her breath warm against my neck. "Good boy," she whispered, her lips brushing against my skin before she kissed me softly on the forehead. "I knew you'd say that."I felt like I could barely breathe, my body tense and my mind spinning. This whole situation felt surreal, like I had been pulled into some kind of fantasy I wasn't sure I was ready for.Vanessa pulled back slightly, her smile still in place, though there was something almost predatory in her gaze. She ran her fingers gently through my hair, her touch soft but commanding. "You don't need to worry so much, Tristan," she said, her voice soothing. "We're together now. No need to be so nervous."I nodded quickly, though I wasn't sure if I believed it. Everything about this—about her—felt overwhelming, but I couldn't bring myself to pull away.Vanessa stretched again, her body moving fluidly under the blanket, and then she glanced at the clock on the wall. "Let's get dressed," she said casually, pushing herself up into a sitting position. "I'll have my chef prepare breakfast for us."I blinked, still feeling dazed as I tried to process the shift in her tone. She acted like this was all so normal, like it was just another morning after another night."I... okay," I mumbled, pulling the blanket tighter around me as I started to stand.Vanessa chuckled softly as she watched me fumble to cover myself. "Relax," she said with a smirk. "It's not like I haven't seen everything already."Her words made my face burn again, and I quickly grabbed my clothes, pulling them on as fast as I could. Vanessa, meanwhile, moved with her usual grace, casually dressing without any hint of embarrassment.Once I was dressed, I glanced over at her, still feeling that awkward tension hanging between us. Vanessa, however, seemed completely unfazed. She gave me one last teasing smile as she adjusted her blouse, then walked over to me, placing a hand on my chest."Breakfast will be ready soon," she said softly. "Let's enjoy the morning together."I nodded, still feeling out of place in her world, but unable to resist the pull she had over me. There was something intoxicating about her—something that made it impossible to say no, even when every part of me felt like I was in way over my head.As she led me to the kitchen, I couldn't help but wonder what the rest of this relationship would be like. With Vanessa, everything felt like a whirlwind, and I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to keep up. But for now, I followed her, the weight of last night still hanging between us like an unspoken promise.Q: Is this moving too fast for you?