New Year's Eve parties were never my thing. I assisted the three last years to a party Max's family threw. The place was spectacular, the rooftop of a very important hotel, with rich and famous people.

I never found myself comfortable in those kind of situations. Feeling more like a trophy beside Max, even though I'd never felt very confident about myself.

This year was completely different. Yes, I was going to a party, and yes, people on it were wealthier than me, but nothing scandalous. Also, I was not the single company of a guy, I was actually invited because of me.

Ace gave a party in his parents' house. It was huge, white, modern, it had a big pool and an enormous backyard conditioned with heaters, bars, tables with food and music to make it even more incredible.

His parents and little sisters went for a quick trip to Italy, to visit his mom's family. Ace said he never went, he didn't want to miss the New Year's Eve party, that seemed like a pretty big deal for the guys.

The place was crowded. For some reason, every guy that tried to talk to me was a future doctor.

I wasn't complaining on that, to be honest.

In this case, his name was Paul. Yes, like my ex colleague. They didn't look anything alike, though. This guy had really dark hair and green eyes. He wasn't that tall and he had an Australian accent.

I just hoped he didn't try to kiss me too.

For some reason, this guy didn't understand that I actually wanted to become a physiotherapist. He thought I was just doing it because I wasn't able to study for medical school or whatever.

Hello, Dr. Shepherd. Not everyone wants to be a doctor.

He was really getting onto my nerves with this, so I decided to change the topic.

I did that three times.

Paul then began to talk about his ex girlfriend. Not really sure if this was the best topic when you just met a person but hey, it was something we had in common.

"She was just... so possessive, you know." He ran a hand through his wavy hair. "Do you wanna know what she used to do?"

"What?" I stumbled a little and tried to mask it by leaning on the table behind me. That last drink he gave me was really messing up with my head.

"She would spray some of her cologne on my clothes so that when I got out with my friends, I'd smell like her."

"Like a dog marking its territory." I laughed.

"Exactly!" He laughed too. He had a nice smile. "And she was like my mom. She was always asking if I had eaten, asking where I was going... it was suffocating."

"That just shows that she's insecure." I said making a face. Wow, my philosophic self had just come into the picture. That's what happens when you're drunk.

"I know. It ended up making me being obsessive too. And I don't like that." He took a sip of his drink and glanced around before staring back at me. "Are you single, Riley?"

I frowned. Was I single?

I glanced around and saw Luca talking to a girl. Did he want to hook up with her? Had he thought about me just for a moment? We weren't a couple, that he made it really clear. Then why did I feel like I owed him something? Why did I feel guilty? Why did I want to be that girl?

I nodded, my head spinning. "Yeah."

He smiled. He did have an amazing smile. Did he use to have braces? I had a thing with guys that wore braces.

"Do you wanna dance?"

"Mhm?"

"I asked if you wanted to go dance." He nodded towards the group of people under the pergola where there was a DJ table booth.

"Okay."

Wait, Riley. You dance like a praying mantis.

My legs were still moving. I followed him to the dance floor. It felt warmer than where we were before.

I actually felt really hot. My long sleeve black dress suddenly feeling too much.

I moved my body to the rhythm, Paul placing his hands on my hips as he glued his front against my back.

Wow, buddy. What's that on my butt.

I turned and frowned deeply. The problem was the speed of the spin, that made me even dizzier than I already was.

"Whoa." Paul exclaimed grabbing my forearms when I stumbled. "Careful there."

"I-I'm not used to wearing heels."

"Well, it was worth it." He smirked. "Your legs look amazing."

I was about to reply when the DJ turned down the music a bit.

"Yo everyone! The year is about to end! Are you ready for your midnight kiss?!" He shouted raising the music once again.

What midnight kiss? I don't want one of those.

People started counting down, Paul looked at me with that smile of his. His hands on my arms came up to each side of my face.

Bro, what are you doing.

"Three! Two! One!"

His mouth pressed against mine quickly, my forces leaving my body. He was kissing me, he was kissing me and I couldn't do a thing. What the hell had I drunk?

His tongue was fast to meet mine. I felt so hot I was sweating. He pulled away, giving me a one last peck on the lips and I slowly opened my eyes, at least as far as I could. They felt heavier than bricks.

I shook my head slowly, people shouting around me, music pounding in my ears. Everything was blurry, Paul was blurry, Luca was blurry.

"Luca?" He was looking at me as if he just freezed in time. His mouth was a little open, his body as if he stopped in place when he was walking towards my direction.

Escaping out of the trance, he shook his head and turned around.

What is happening?

"Luca, wait." I tried to shout but my voice wouldn't get out.

Paul grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. I glanced back at him, his smile permanent on his face. "What have you done to me?"

"Nothing." He replied.

"I need to go to the bathroom, I'm really hot." My tongue felt like it had dried out.

"I'll go with you."

"No." I shook my head. I wanted to say something else but I just began to walk and surprisingly, he let me go.

The dizziness I was feeling earlier, lead to an amazing state of delight. I felt so peaceful, so drunkenly happy.

I made my way to where all the people that weren't dancing, drank, talked and played games.

Moving my body dancing a little as I walked, I stopped at one of the tables full of food, totally forgetting about my purpose.

"Oooh, yes..." I muttered watching the feast that was in front of my eyes. I grabbed a little bit of everything and filled my mouth with it. Smoked salmon canapés, nachos with guacamole, different cheeses from the cheese platters, chocolates...

"Riley?" I turned around mid putting another deliciousness into my mouth and discovered Nathan, watching me amusedly. "Girl, you're a whole mood right now." He laughed.

"I'm hungry."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"Happy new year." I smiled, handing him a chocolate.

He glanced at it and shrugged, putting it into his mouth. "Happy new year. Are you alone?"

"No! Wait." I paused and furrowed my brow. "I was looking for someone."

"That guy I saw you kissing?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"No!" I shook my head eagerly. "I was- Luca! Yeah, Luca! Have you seen him?" I opened my eyes wide as I shook his shoulders.

"You're acting weird but it's hilarious." Nathan laughed. "He's over there, drinking like his life depends on it." He cocked his head and we both stared at Luca for a few moments.

"Okay, bye."

"Hey!" Nathan protested behind me. "Are you leaving me here alone?"

I waved at him and nodded. "Yeah!"

My purse was really annoying me tonight so I crossed the strap over my chest after a little fight with it. Why was everything and everyone trying to bully me tonight?

When I arrived where Luca was, I tapped on his shoulder repeatedly.

I had to say he looked like a Hollywood star tonight with that black suit and his hair combed back a little.

"Luca."

He turned around and sighed, as if he was already tired of me.

"Are you done?"

I frowned and cocked my head. "Eating? I think so, I'm pretty full." My eyes went behind his back, where there was a chocolate fondue with lots os fruits. "Actually-"

Before I could move my body, he grabbed my bicep and made me look at him. "I was looking for you earlier, but you were with that guy." He pursed his lips and lifted his chest a little, what only made him taller than me.

"Paul?" I asked. "He's an idiot, he thinks I'm a social waste because I don't wanna be a doctor." I said with a shrug. "Do you wanna dance?"

"Why don't you go dance with him?"

Encircling my arms around his waist, I sighed and squeezed my face against his chest, disturbing my voice. "Because I wanna dance with you, silly." I felt his back with my fingers and nodded approvingly. "You're so strong."

The warmth I was feeling before came back to meet me, this time in the form of a horny teenager.

Before I could lower my hands to his butt, he grabbed my arms gently and pulled us apart.

"Riley, I-"

I glanced back at the table again. I got distracted easily. "Can I grab a drink?"

The frown in his face and the confuse expression with which he was looking at me, told me not to.

"I think you've already drunk too much."

"Oh, that's definitely Paul's fault!" I pushed angrily a finger on Luca's chest. "He gave me a drink and I felt a little dizzy at the beginning, but now I feel sooo good."

"You just had one drink?" He asked, concern in his voice.

"Yep." I smirked at him and raised an eyebrow, wrapping my arms around him again. "I have a better idea, why don't we go dancing to a more private place?"

He tried not to laugh and nodded. "Sure, let's go."

"Yay." I exclaimed excitedly. "We're going to have sex."

Luca snorted and shook his head right after.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," he began, a little smile permanent on his face, "keep walking."

We got inside, the house even prettier than the outside. There was a big white foyer, with arcs at each side leading to different rooms, I took a glimpse at some of them and I saw a kitchen and a white piano in one of them.

Hello? My apartment is as big as that piano.

We arrived to the wide staircase in the middle and I puffed. "Do we really need to go upstairs?"

Luca chuckled. "I have a room here where I always stay and yes, it is upstairs."

I pouted and turned to him. "Can you pick me up?"

He rolled his eyes amusedly and approached me, picking me up bridal style.

Listening to his heart beats against his chest and relaxing with his calm breathing, I almost fell asleep.

"Do you think Paul's mad at me?" I asked.

"Why?" He opened a door pushing it with his back.

"Because I left to go look for you." I whispered.

"I think he's fine."

Letting me on the bed, he got down on his knees to delicately take out my heels.

I watched him put on some socks on my feet, the bed too high for me, my legs hanging over the side.

"I'm tired." I said with a yawn. "I don't wanna have sex, we'll do it tomorrow, okay?" I brought my arm forward, caressing his face.

"Okay." He chuckled, standing up. He took off his jacket and placed it on a chair. "Take off your clothes and put this on." He demanded, giving me a hoodie. "I'll go bring you some water."

Clumsily, I took off my dress and bra, putting on the hoodie afterwards. Even if we were in Ace's house, I could tell it was Luca's since it smelled like him.

Luca came back and handed me a glass of water, which I drank delightedly, my tongue still feeling dry.

When he was taking his clothes off, I watched him from the bed, sliding under the covers.

"Luca, about Paul-"

"It's okay, Riley. You can kiss whoever you want."

I shook my head and lay my head on the pillow. "But that's the thing, Luca. I didn't wanna kiss him. He just grabbed my face and-"

"No need to explain." He chuckled humorlessly. "I saw it."

We stayed quiet and I waited for him to join me on the bed. "It's early." I murmured when he slipped under the covers with me.

"I know."

"Then why don't you go downstairs?"

"Because you need me." He whispered.

"Yeah, I'm not feeling well."

"I know." He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I slid one of my legs between his as I buried my face on his chest, feeling cold all of a sudden.

"He put something into my drink, right?"

He sighed, running a hand along his face. "I'm guessing so, yeah."

"Why don't we go to the hospital?"

Luca stroked the back of my hair, running his fingers through my hair.

"Because by the time we arrive there, the results would be negative. It's what they call short-lived substances."

"But-"

"I told Ace to fix it. He's talking to that guy." He kissed the top of my head. "You're fine, you're with me."

Metal note: never trust Pauls ever again.

"Okay." I nodded, feeling small and vulnerable after thinking about it all.

What was that guy trying to get from me? Was it really that easy for them to do things like that?

"I'm starting to have zero hopes for the male species."

"Hey." He protested, tapping my butt.

I smiled. "You're different. Sometimes you don't think just with your dick."

"Sometimes?" He gasped.

Chuckling, I placed a light kiss under his chin. "Yes. Now shut up, I want to sleep."

"You're fucking lovely." He murmured rubbing his stubbled cheek against mine, making me squirm as I laughed.

"Stop!"

He broke out laughing, rolling us on the bed. After we sobered up, we stayed looking at each other in silence, our chests raising up and down as our breathing calmed down, both of us lying onto our sides.

"I'm glad we start the new year on the right foot."

I chuckled. "Me too."

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Hey guys! I was actually gonna update tomorrow, but I thought, why not?

So here it is!

Thoughts about it??

Thank you so much for reading! Don't forget to vote and let me know what you think in the comments ❤️