Tuesday morning.
This time I didn't wait for my mom to wake me. I got up myself, did my usual chores, cooked breakfast, helped my little brother get ready for school, and after an hour his school bus arrived. When he left, I finally turned on my phone...Immediately, I saw a message from Declan:
> "Good morning mama."
I replied, then went offline.
I got ready quickly I wore an orange spaghetti-strap crop top, blue jeans, and a white lipstick jacket. I sat in the car waiting for Dad until he finished eating and dropped me off at school. I only had one lecture, so I attended and left straight to Jovi's place. When I got there, she was still sleeping. I woke her up, and she jumped up excitedly. We talked about how the day might go. Last night, Jovi had joked that when we arrived at the hotel she would abandon me immediately and run to Ronny.
I told Declan what she said and added a crying emoji.
He replied:
> "Then I'll be with you."
I told Jovi and she screamed, laughing.
While she showered, William called me. I lowered my voice a little so it would sound like I had been crying.
He asked what was wrong.
> "I'm on my period… and I'm having cramps."
He apologized immediately, asking if I had eaten. I said no.
> "Will you eat pizza?"
I said yes.
He told me to send my account number after the call. Minutes later, I got an alert ₦19,000. I showed Jovi and she begged me to send her ₦9,000. I did.
Ronny had already sent Jovi the hotel and room number. We got there, spoke with the receptionist, and took the elevator to the fourth floor. Ronny opened the door, but Declan wasn't there.
Jovi asked, "Where's Declan?"
> "He's in the other room," Ronny replied.
We exchanged suspicious looks why separate rooms?
Ronny led us to Declan's room. I sat on the bed, Jovi sat across from me, and we chatted. Then there was a knock a waitress carrying a tray with three shots of a dark drink.
Ronny handed one to me and one to Jovi.
We drank.
I became tipsy.
Ronny took Jovi back to his room. Declan and I stayed talking. He told me:
> "Your voice… it sounds so sexy when you're tipsy."
I was light-headed. He gently lifted me and laid me on the bed, placing my head on his chest. I rested my hand on him, feeling his heartbeat through his shirt.
After a few minutes, he asked softly:
> "How are you feeling?"
"Drunk… I guess."
He leaned in and kissed me.
I kissed him back slowly, deeply. His hand pulled me closer by my waist. The kiss became intense, like we had been waiting years to feel each other's lips. His hands slid over my sides, exploring carefully.
He moved to my neck and the moment his lips touched my skin, my breath caught.
Neck kisses were my weakness.
He whispered against my skin, "You're so beautiful."
The moment grew heated the kind where everything feels louder breaths, pulse, thoughts.
Then I whispered into the space between us:
> "I'm a virgin."
He froze.
He lifted his head and looked into my eyes.
> "Do you want to do this?"
I shook my head. "No."
He smiled. Not annoyed. Not frustrated. Just gentle.
> "Okay."
He kissed my forehead, pulled me into his arms, and hugged me like I was something precious.
He asked if I was hungry. I said yes indomie and egg. He stood up, ordered room service, then came back to the bed, still holding me.
I texted Jovi, but she didn't reply. Declan let me scroll through TikTok while he cuddled me like his favorite person.
Room service arrived.
I ate while he watched me with this soft, intense stare.
> "What?" I asked, shy.
He sat beside me, looked straight into my eyes and said:
> "Elaria… will you be my girlfriend?"
My heart stopped.
> "Are you serious?"
> "I'm serious. I love you."
I said yes.
We kissed again slower this time, full of meaning.
When I finished eating, I told him I wanted to go to Ronny's room to be with Jovi. He agreed and walked me to the door, opening it for me like a gentleman.
We knocked on Ronny's door no response. We knocked again, waited five minutes still nothing.
We looked at each other, laughed, and returned to our room.
Once inside, Declan lifted me playfully and kissed me again deeper, more urgent than before. The desire was mutual now it wasn't drunken impulse. It was want.
I ended up on top of him, kissing him slowly, teasingly letting my lips trail down his jaw and toward his ear. He let out a quiet, breathy sound. His hands held my waist like he was scared to let go.
He was already hard I could feel it.
I pulled back, smirked.
> "Let's go to Ronny's room."
He laughed a little breathlessly.
> "You go ahead. I'm coming."
I left the room, went back to Ronny's door, knocked finally he opened it, wearing a white singlet and black shorts.
Jovi appeared behind him.
> "I'll be with you soon," she said, smiling.
I nodded and went back to Declan's room.
After a few minutes, Ronny entered.
> TO BE CONTINUED…