Chapter 37

▫️Christian's POV...

Liam and I headed over to where Stella was perched, sipping wine and laughing at something Nick had said. She looked... carefree. Which was both great and terrifying.

I plopped down next to her, and her eyes immediately narrowed into slits, practically throwing daggers at me. Oh, great. She's mad. Again. "Stella, just so you know, my mom's here too. So, maybe keep our marriage in mind, yeah?"

She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where is she?"

"In the other room."

Stella nodded like she gave a damn, then suddenly announced, "I need to use the restroom."

Nick, the traitor, gave her directions, and off she went. Ten minutes later, she returned and parked herself next to Nick again, ignoring me like I was some stray dog begging for scraps. Then, without warning, she disappeared with Nick.

A few glasses of whiskey later, I wandered downstairs, only to find Stella wasted. I mean, absolutely gone. She was slumped over at a table, giggling and talking to some random idiot sitting way too close to her. My blood pressure hit the roof.

Where the f**k was Nick?

I stormed over, and as I got closer, I heard this idiot say, "I can make you mine."

Before I could rip his face off, Stella leaned back, smirked, and slurred, "You're no match for my husband. My husband. That's him, by the way." She pointed at me like I was some exhibit at a zoo.

The guy ignored me and dared to reach for her arm. Big mistake. Huge. I grabbed the table and slammed it straight into his head. He crumpled like a sack of potatoes. Stella, still completely out of it, laughed and said, "See? Told you he's dangerous."

She stumbled to her feet and tried to walk away, but there was no way I was letting her roam around in this state. I grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going? Let's go home."

She glared at me, swaying like a drunk pirate. "No. I'm finding a boyfriend. I need a boyfriend!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

I clapped a hand over her mouth. "No one here's worth your time except me."

She pulled my hand away and scoffed. "But you're someone else's boyfriend!"

What. The. F**k. "I'm not. I'll explain later. Now, come on."

She ignored me, her drunk radar locking onto two guys across the room. "Who's more handsome-the one in the blue shirt or the black shirt?"

I grabbed her hand and pointed her finger at me. "Me."

She wrinkled her nose. "You already lost your chance."

Then, as if the night couldn't get any worse, she screamed, "WHO WANTS TO BE MY BOYFRIEND?!"

A swarm of guys started approaching, and I felt my soul leave my body. What is wrong with her?! I wrapped her in my arms, glaring at the idiots. "Move back. Now."

Most of them got the hint, except one moron with a death wish.

"I want to talk to her," he said, puffing out his chest.

Nick finally showed up, and I motioned for him to hold Stella before I lost it completely. Then I pulled out my gun. "I'm her husband, talk to me."

The guy paled but still had the nerve to mutter, "Then why's she crying for a boyfriend like a slut?"

My finger twitched on the trigger. "She can say whatever the f**k she wants. She's my wife, and she has that privilege. But you? You don't."

Bang. I shot him for calling my princess slut.

He dropped like the trash he was. I turned to Nick. "I'm taking her home."

Stella, ever the stubborn queen, pointed a shaky finger at me. "I'm not going with someone else's boyfriend!"

I sighed. She's mine, all mine, but how do I even get that through her drunk skull? Without a word, I scooped her up and threw her over my shoulder.

"Put me down!" she yelled, kicking and flailing.

"Not happening."

I swear, leaving Stella alone at a party was my first mistake. My second mistake? Assuming she wouldn't create chaos.

I carried her out to the car, strapped her into the seatbelt, and started driving while she cursed me out the entire way. She even landed a few hits on my arm, but I let her. She could swing all she wanted-she wasn't going anywhere.

I should've known handling a drunk Stella would be pure chaos.

As soon as we reached home, I threw her over my shoulder and carried her to my room. She was still grumbling, but those tiny fists of hers were doing absolutely nothing.

When I put her down, she glanced around the room and said, "I'll go to my room now."

I crossed my arms and shook my head. "Nope. You're sleeping here."

Her eyes filled with tears. Real tears. And suddenly, I panicked. "No, baby, don't cry!"

Through her tears, she mumbled, "How many more times do I have to tell you? I don't want to share a bed with someone else's boyfriend. You're not mine."

Her words hit me like a punch, but I couldn't let her believe this nonsense anymore. I bent down, kissed her tear-streaked cheek, and whispered, "Baby, there's no one else but you."

She looked at me with those suspicious, gorgeous eyes, and I scrambled to explain. "I got nervous the other day, and I said some dumb stuff. But I promise, I'm only yours. No one else. Just you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Then why did you tell Nick about a girl you like?"

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. "I did tell Nick about a girl... but that girl... it's you."

Her expression shifted into pure shock. "So you like me?"

"Yes," I admitted, finally letting it all out. "I like you. I only like you. Only you."

For the first time that night, she smiled-really smiled-and it was like someone flipped a switch inside me. Before I could think, I leaned in, my hand slipping to her waist, and kissed her.

And holy shit, it wasn't just a kiss. It was fireworks, a hurricane, a goddamn explosion all at once. I lifted her onto the table, and my hands moved to her waist, holding her like she might vanish if I didn't. Her lips were soft, warm, and they tasted faintly of wine. She didn't pull away, didn't stop me, and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming.

Then, slowly, she started kissing me back. Her fingers tangled in my hair, and it was like the rest of the world didn't exist. Her lips moved with mine, hesitant at first, then matching my intensity. Every little sound she made only made me kiss her harder, deeper.

I don't know how long we kissed, but when we finally broke apart, gasping for air, I couldn't help but smile. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked like the most beautiful disaster I'd ever seen.

I didn't stop there, though. My lips moved to her neck, leaving soft kisses and marking her with hickey.

Her breathing grew heavier, and she tilted her head back, giving me more access. My hands roamed up her back, pulling her even closer.

But then I stopped, my forehead resting against hers. She was drunk, and I couldn't let it go any further. "Stella," I whispered, my voice hoarse, "we need to stop."

She frowned, her lips swollen and her eyes glazed. "Why?"

"Because you're drunk," I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I don't want you to regret this."

"I won't," she muttered, pouting like a child.

I chuckled softly, kissing her forehead. "Let's get you to bed, okay?"

I helped her off the table and guided her to the wardrobe. I handed her PJs to wear, then stepped out to give her some privacy. After changing into something more comfortable, I prepared the bed.

When Stella walked out... oh, my God. She was wearing my shirt. Nothing but my shirt. It was oversized, hanging off one shoulder, and she looked so damn good I forgot how to breathe. Nothing can look better on my lady than my shirt.

She chuckled at my expression and rolled onto the bed like it was hers. I followed her, pulling her into my arms, and she hugged me back.

"I can't believe this is real," I whispered.

She smiled against my chest and said, "You like me, I like you. So we're boyfriend and girlfriend now. For real, not fake."

I nodded, my chest feeling lighter than it had in years. "Yeah, for real."

She grinned mischievously. "Then you'll listen to me, right?"

"Of course. Even your utter nonsense."

"Good. Then take off this shirt. I miss the view. You've got abs that look like something delicious."

I laughed, completely amused by her boldness. "You've been my real girlfriend for two minutes, and you're already having dark thoughts? But no, the shirt stays. You're drunk."

Her face scrunched up in mock annoyance. "Fine, then I'm going to my room. I'm drunk."

I groaned. "Alright, alright, I'll take it off."

She looked up at me with a victorious smile, and I knew she'd won this round. After all, I couldn't let her go anywhere.

She curled up closer to me, sliding her hand from my stomach up to my chest. And then-what the actual fuck-she pressed my chest.

Just bcoz you are flat doesn't mean you'll tease me like this stella.

I flinched, grabbing her hand and turning her face away from me. "Stella, what the hell are you doing? Sleep!"

She giggled like the menace she was. "Just checking. Don't mind me."

"Mind you? You're out of control. HORNY."

I held her hands down to stop her from doing anything else bold. After a few minutes of squirming, she finally fell asleep, her head resting on my chest.

Drunk stella is really BOLD.

I watched her sleep, her peaceful face making me forget all the madness of the night. This chaotic, crazy girl was my everything-my sunshine, my baby, my treasure, my heartbeat, my sweetheart. And I couldn't wait for a lifetime of her chaos.

With this I slept embracing the love of my life in my arms.

8 AM...

I woke up from the best sleep of my life. For once, no nightmares, no chaos-just peace. When I opened my eyes, I saw my sunshine, Stella, still asleep in my arms. She looked so damn perfect. Her soft hair was messy, and her lips slightly parted as she breathed.

I couldn't resist. I tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her lips softly. She stirred, her lashes fluttering open.

"Good morning, sunshine," I said, smiling.

She blinked a few times, then said groggily, "Good morning." But as her brain started waking up, her expression shifted from calm to confused. Her hand shot up to her head.

"Are you having a headache?" I asked, propping myself up on one elbow.

She nodded, and I leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Wait here," I said, sitting up to call the maid for water and aspirin.

But before I could grab my phone, Stella suddenly screamed like someone was trying to kill her. She shoved me so hard I fell off the damn bed.

"What the fuck, Stella?!" I said, staring up at her in confusion.

She didn't answer. Instead, she stood on the bed, glaring down at me like I'd committed some heinous crime. My eyes widened. "For god's sake, Stella, sit down! You're wearing just my shirt! I can see your white-" I stopped mid-sentence, realizing I probably shouldn't have said that out loud.

Her face turned red, but her anger stayed strong. "You lunatic pervert! Why are you shirtless?!"

I blinked at her, completely dumbfounded. "Because you told me to take it off last night!"

She pointed a finger at me, her eyes blazing. "Why the hell would I say that?!"

"Because you said you missed the view!" I shot back, still sprawled on the floor.

Her confusion deepened. She glanced at herself, finally noticing she wasn't in her dress anymore. Her cheeks turned even redder as she clutched the hem of my shirt. Then, as if realizing how exposed she was, she yanked the quilt off the bed and wrapped herself in it.

"Who changed my clothes?!" she demanded, her voice shaky.

Time to have a little fun. "I did," I said with a smirk.

Her jaw dropped. "What? You shameless bastard!" she shrieked, throwing a pillow at my face. "How could you?! What kind of sicko are you?!"

"But you were drunk!" I argued, dodging another flying pillow.

"That doesn't mean you get to take advantage of me!" she yelled, her face red with fury.

"I didn't take advantage of you! You kissed me, remember?" I shot back, trying not to laugh.

That was the wrong thing to say. Her eyes widened in horror. "I what?"

"You kissed me," I said, trying to stay serious. "Very passionately, I might add."

"You bastard!" she yelled, jumping off the bed with the quilt still wrapped around her like a cape. She bolted for the door, but not before trying to kick me on her way out. I dodged, barely.

"Stella, wait! Let me explain!" I called after her, but she was already gone, running to her room like the house was on fire.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. How the hell am I going to fix this? I thought I'd already explained everything to her last night, but clearly, this was just the beginning.

Did she really forgot everything? FUCK YOU CHRISTIAN!

Grabbing my phone, I dialed Nick. He answered on the second ring.

"Where the hell are you?" I asked, my tone sharp.

"At Venom. We figured we'd give you some privacy," he said casually.

"Well, get your ass back here. I'm drowning," I said.

Nick chuckled. "What happened?"

"I don't have time to explain. Just come fast."

"Alright, alright. We're on our way," he said, still laughing.

As I hung up, I stared at the empty doorway Stella had just run through. This girl was going to drive me insane, but damn if I didn't love every chaotic second of it.