Chris was taken aback. "You're of legal drinking age, right?" he asked Lena.
She nodded.
"In other countries, 21 is the legal drinking age. Are you already 21?" Chris inquired.
Lena didn't understand why he brought this up. Her thoughts were a blur, but she nodded in agreement. "Yes, I
am."
"Then why can't you drink?" Chris wondered.
Something sent a jolt through her heart as she gazed at him. His eyes were clear, filled with love and passion
meant only for her.
"You silly goose," he said softly, caressing her cheeks. "Why can't you drink?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"I..." She hesitated, uncertain of what to say. "Don't you think a good girl shouldn't drink?"
She believed that all men disliked their girlfriends drinking at bars. She assumed all men were possessive and
controlling.
She expected him to question, scold, or give her the cold shoulder if he smelled alcohol on her.
But all he said was, "Why can't you drink?"
She looked at him with innocent eyes, her mind blank.
"Let me explain," Chris said as he hugged her gently. "You're of legal drinking age, and alcohol is just a beverage. It
doesn't make you good or bad. If whether a girl drinks or not is the measure of her character, it's unjustifiable and
ridiculous.
"Of course, I'd like to know why you drank. I want to be there for you if you're in trouble or feeling stuck. But it's up
to you whether you want to share it with me. I will not force you and will always be by your side."
"Chris..."
Lena couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She longed to tell him about her troubled past, about the person who
had almost ruined her life, and show him her scars.
But when the words were at her lips, she lost her courage.
She gazed at the man before her in a daze. Fueled by alcohol, she tiptoed and kissed his lips...
Chris was astonished.
He held her waist in fear she might pull away and kissed her passionately, giving in to his desire. Rationality lost its
grip on him.
They moved to the bedroom, and he gently placed her on the soft, spacious bed.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmTheir eyes locked, desire burning in their gaze...
His hand slowly slipped under her clothing.
But at that very moment, Lena's body tensed as if shocked. Her eyes widened, her face paled, and her breath
quickened.
After a moment of silence, she screamed and pushed him away.
"Lena?"
"No... Stay away from me!" She curled into a ball on the bed, arms wrapped tightly around her head.
"What's wrong, Lena?"
Chris inched closer, attempting to comfort her, but she suddenly slapped him hard. "Go away, don't touch me!"
He was at a loss.
Meanwhile, the stinging pain in her palm brought her back to reality. She looked at her hand and then at him,
inhaling sharply.