Distilled

Chapter 11

When I woke up, Alice was still sleeping under my arms, but she had turned towards me. Her calm face was perfect, I forced myself to stop looking, but I couldn't. During sleep she smiled and I smiled along, imagining what was going on in that little head. After that, I came out of my trance and got out of bed, trying my best not to wake her up. But as soon as I moved, she opened her eyes. She looked at me and shifted in bed rubbing her eyes.

-Good morning, baby.

-Good Morning.

-You didn't even complain this time.

- I'm still sleeping to complain.

I released her body from my embrace and leaned against the bed.

-Are you going to work today? - She asked looking at me.

-Not today.

-Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday? - She said sitting on the bed.

-You wouldn't want to know. she said, brushing a strand of hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear. She wore the Pearl earrings I'd given her on her wedding day. "The only Pearl I like," she'd said with a laugh as I handed her the gift, joking about her insane aunt's name.

-Ah, but if it concerns my husband, I want to know. - She said with a smile on her face and I laughed.

- Well then, my lady wife. Well, I've had suspicions that Susana was cheating on me, so I put a detective on her tail on this last "trip" she took. Turns out she didn't go where she said she was going but to her lover's house. I was furious, when she arrived I showed her the pictures and the guy was still here in London. I broke up with her and met up with this guy Richard. He's the one who gave me that beautiful cut on my eyebrow. They've been dating for 8 months, Alice Claire. 8 months meeting behind my back. I couldn't go on with her.

-You did the right thing. It's unfair to you to lead a relationship like that. I always thought you can't love, really love, two people at the same time.

-And that's what happened, she was with the guy who sold me this house.

-How awful. I'm so sorry.

-Don't be. Maybe it was even better. I don't feel so devastated.

-Well, I'm going to take a shower and what you're going to do? - She said, clearly trying to make me leave the room politely. I decided to play with her.

-I'll take a bath too, if it's not too much trouble.

-Oh no, no problem. She got up from the bed and walked towards the door.

-What are you doing?

-I'll call your mother, so she can give you a fresh and delicious bath.

I got up from the bed and ran to the door, putting my hand over her mouth. She laughed and I signed for silence.

-Are you crazy, baby?

She shook her head from side to side, denying it. I took my hand from her mouth and she whispered softly "Davinaaa"

-Shh

"Okay," she said, whispering again.

I stared into his happy face like I'd never seen him before. I had never seen her smile like that. The next thing I knew, our lips were together. I stood still, I didn't remember what I had to do. I pulled away and stared at her. She laughed and kissed me back. This time she guided me. She invaded my mouth with her tongue and I tasted her. She would kiss me slowly and I would go crazy. I moaned into her mouth and grabbed her hair. Her tongue was agile and I wanted her closer.

After that she broke away from me and gave me a peck, a quick and chaste kiss.

-It is funny. - She said with a faraway look.

-What?

-Kiss. The last time I did this was with you. When we were kids.

-It's not possible. - I thought about all those guys, but I didn't have the courage to tell her that.

-I didn't do that with any of those men. You look the same as the last time we kissed. And that was a long time ago.

-Looks like it was yesterday.

-No, yesterday you arrived all cover in blood in the kitchen.

-Speaking of which, you made quite a bandage.

-I've trained a lot, I fixed my father when he came home injured.

-Thanks. For, you know, taking care of the dying here.

-It's ok. Now get out of here and I'm going to take a shower.

I left the room and couldn't get the kiss out of my head. I got into the tub and replayed the scene in my mind. The calm of her kissing me, the happiness I felt when our mouths came together. I had liked her since I was a child, but did I love her? I don't remember feeling what I'm feeling right now.

Does that mean I didn't love Susana? With each thought I got more confused.