Chapter 18: A Drunken Visit

Cassian awoke from his dreamless sleep when he heard a loud thump on his front apartment door.
"Who the fuck...?" he snarled, straining to hear what was making the noise. He heard several thumps, this time rhythmically, drumming on the door loudly, as if mocking him.
He sighed, covering his ears with another pillow to block out the noise. It didn't work. In fact, the sounds became increasingly loud, which irritated him greatly. He forced his eyes open, taking a quick glance at the time. 2:35 a.m. 
"Heeey! Open up, *knight*! "From the other side of his door came a woman's slurred voice. He jumped from the bed in his boxes, without even bothering to put on a shirt.
He hurriedly swung his door open, ready to yell at whoever it was, but his heart sprang out of his chest. 
Vanya stood in front of him, her long, unkempt red hair framing her beautiful face. She was dressed in her nightgown, revealing her amazing curves beneath, with a couple of buttons undone to reveal her cleavage.
Cassian had been fantasizing about her, but he surely did not anticipate her knocking on his door at such an ungodly hour.
"You." His brain was still foggy from sleep. He closed his eyes tightly before opening them again, as if to make sure it wasn't a dream.
"Uh… what are you…? Can I help you?"
Vany giggled, a delightful laugh he'd never heard from her before. He had no idea she knew how to laugh like that. Her face was flushed, and she was staring at his naked chest.
Cassian took a deep breath and swallowed.
"Hello there!" She tripped a little after taking a step forward. "Why aren't you clothed? Were you expecting me?"
On his face dawned a sudden revelation. She was wasted. He had to wake up early that morning because his schedule was busy in preparation for Lord Alaric's departure, but he couldn't leave her outside. And she was his mate. While he was disappointed that she wasn't sober enough to have a proper conversation with him before leaving for the Capitol, he figured he might as well take care of her.
He pulled her inside and shut the door.
Vanya hiccuped slightly. "Wh-what are you doing?"
"I should've asked you the same thing," Cassian growled, motioning her to sit on the sofa. "Why are you drunk?"
"Hmmm," she tapped her finger on her lips, "Because I'm *pished*?" She frowned.
"*Pished*?"
"Yeah! *Pished*! *Haaangry*! Annoyed! Very *haaangry*! "
He sighed and settled down on the couch. He ruffled his hair after realizing that he had never actually taken care of an intoxicated person before. As a noble knight, he never had to.
"You're *angry*?" he asked quietly, taking in her beauty through the moonlight coming in through his open window.
Her eyes twinkled as she nodded. He couldn't help but smile.
"Yup! And I want you to comfort me," out of nowhere, she said. 
"You want me to do what?"
"Comfort me. Make this rage inside of me go away. Please..." She pouted.
Cassian ran his hand through his hair. His mind was suddenly flooded with ideas.
"Um, why are you angry?" he asked, perplexed. Vanya climbed onto his lap, and his body immediately stirred. "Whoah…Vanya…"
"I'm so angry..." Vanya whispered, her face so close to his. He was so absorbed in the sensation of her soft breath fanning his face that he didn't notice her small hands guiding his to her cheek.
"Vanya…."
"Cassian," she murmured, a sly smirk on her face. "Why do I feel so drawn to you?"
As she sat on his lap, he only looked at her, allowing his fingers to brush her face gently, thoroughly enjoying her reaction to his touch.
"Hmmm... I like that." A little whimper of pleasure escaped her lips.
Then he withdrew his hand from hers. "You haven't told me why you're angry," he muttered as he tried to get to his feet. He breathed a sigh of relief as she moved away from his lap.
"It’s none of your business."
"Okay. Fine ," he said softly. "Let me get you some water."
"Wait a minute," she started quietly. "I don't need water. I need your... " she mumbled. "Oh, fuck! Where is your bathroom?" She ran across the room without waiting for Cassian's response.
Cassian shouted, "Door to the right!"
She rushed into the bathroom, but she didn't make it to the toilet in time to pull her hair up. Her stomach burned, and vomit rushed up her throat. She coughed and threw up.
This was exactly why Vanya never drank.
She hadn't intended to get drunk with Selene, but she was so hurt and angry that she eventually drowned her misery with every shot of vodka. Unfortunately, the hunter was not nearly as strong a drinker as she thought she was, and she was fairly certain that the alcohol hit her ten times harder than it would have hit a natural shifter. Selene, too, was struggling to keep up with her and deserted her before she became wasted like her.
Vanya knew she shouldn't allow her emotions to get the best of her, yet here she was, hanging over Cassian's toilet, puking out every last trace of alcohol in her body..
She groaned and rested her head on her arm, which was wrapped around the toilet seat, as if she found relief in its cold touch. Her eyes stayed closed, but her mind continued to race around her.
Never again.
She was sobbing from the intensity of the alcohol pouring up from her stomach. For a brief moment, she stayed still, until she felt a warm touch on her shoulder and her hair was pulled back as she quickly launched forward into the toilet once more. Her insides clenched and throbbed.
"Shit," she groaned as another awful surge of vomit rose up from the depths of her being.
She felt another hand massaging her neck. Her hair was still held back from her face.
Her hands clung to the edge. She couldn't raise her head.
"Come on, *mate*," Cassian said, and she felt him sit down beside her on the floor.
Vanya closed her eyes and leaned in closer to him, her arms suddenly too tired to support her. A warm, gentle hand on her stomach drew her up seconds later. He brought her near the sink and gently washed her face, mouth, and neck with water before carrying her up. She could feel the heat of his body pressing up against her back. 
Cassian delicately placed her on the bed, and her hands immediately gripped her stomach. She curled into a fetal position on the cushions, sighing softly.
"Let me go get you something to make you feel better." Cassian left and returned seconds later with a small, white container bottle. He poured a white liquid from the bottle into a cup. "Drink this."
Vanya accepted it without saying anything, chugging it all down despite the disgusting taste. Cassian reached for the empty cup and placed it on his bedside table.
"Still feeling angry?" he asked playfully as Vanya lay there with sweat drenching her forehead.
"Just hurting," she complained.
"What hurts?"
"*Everything*…"
"Don’t worry, you’re going to feel better after a few hours of sleep."
Vanya grunted. "Drink your pain, they said."
"Why are you in pain? Really," Cassian found himself asking curiously.
She paused for a second, then murmured something incoherently. "Did you just... call me?"
"What was it?"
"Am I really your... mate?" she asked, her cheeks blazing. Her warm emerald eyes met his amber ones, filled with curiosity, slight confusion, and embarrassment. She shifted her gaze to the opposite side, as if realizing what she had just asked. 
"What if you are?"
She let his response sink into her buzzing head, prompting his lips to lift into a smirk. "Well, I need you to do something for me," she said after a brief pause. "Shit. I can't believe I'm actually doing this. "I barely know you," she muttered to herself, no longer bothered by his presence beside her.
Cassian laughed and gently turned her to face him. "What do you want from me?"
"I need to go to the Capitol and speak with the head of the Royal Council," she replied, avoiding his gaze. "As a knight of the council, you should be able to help me."
"Hmmm... I guess you're pretty drunk, Vanya." Her name slid off his tongue with ease. "I think we should talk when you're already sober. Now you should rest."
"Please... I need to speak to the council. I’ll pay you."
"With what, Vanya?"
"Whatever you want."
He moved over to sit next to her on the bed, a taunting smirk on his face. "Whatever I desire?" Slowly, he stroked her jaw with his fingers.
Vanya's breathing hitched as she said, "Yes."
He leaned in, his lips brushing up against hers, and she parted her lips gently for him. He smiled at her invitation. "You have no clue how badly I want to kiss you right now and spread your legs for me."
"So, why don't you? "
Suddenly, images of Vanya pleasuring herself quickly filled Cassian's mind.
"Yeah. Why don't I?" He tugged a lock of her hair behind her ear and proceeded to cover her neck with open mouth, hot kisses. He took his time, reveling in the moans that escaped her mouth with each gentle lick of her sensitive flesh. His hands reached beneath her nightdress and soon his fingers were all over her body, leaving a trail of heat as his fingertips delicately caressed her hot flesh.
When he pulled away from her, their breathing became as heavy as the surge of desire that washed over them. "I can't..." he whispered, his voice low and yearning for her.
"What?" Vanya moaned.
"You’re drunk, Vanya."
Cassian moved up in the bed until his back was against the headboard, then lifted her head onto his lap. His fingers glided back and forth across her collarbones, his other hand gently caressing her neck.
She rested there with her head on his warm thighs, her eyes closed, a faint smile teasing the edges of her lips. "Don't leave me," she murmured softly as his touch sent shivers up and down her spine.
"I won't," he said quietly.
Moments later, Vanya was asleep.