Chapter 89

Esme grabbed Alice, shooting daggers at David, and hissed, "Why's he glued to you? Are you a toddler or something?"

Alice just smirked, "Maybe it's the magic of love."

Esme was left speechless.

Alice gave Esme a light pat on the shoulder, turned around, and headed towards David, hopping into the car.

David quietly rolled up Alice's window, started the engine, and drove off at a relaxed pace. "What were you two whispering about?" he asked.

Alice shrugged, chuckling. "She wondered why you were so uptight about me, and I said it was love." She couldn't help but feel curious about why David was so attentive as well.

She turned to look at David's profile. "Why do you keep staring at me? Scared I'll vanish or something?"

At a red light, with traffic crawling, David drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, smiled, and glanced at her. "What do you think?"

Alice pouted, clearly annoyed. "If you don't want to say, then don't!" She turned her gaze out the window, trying to hide her curiosity. "Where are we headed?"

David's eyes sparkled with joy, unable to hide his happiness. "To grab a bite."

They arrived at a fancy restaurant on the second floor. A waiter led them to their reserved table, offering a stunning view of twinkling lights, bustling pedestrians, a starry sky, and dancing fountains.

The table was draped in a bright red cloth, with a clear vase holding a fresh rose in the center.

David pulled out a chair, his gaze soft. "Have a seat."

Alice, feeling a bit nervous, clutched her bag strap tightly and sat down, a bit on edge.

A waiter rolled over a cart, serving dish after dish of delicious food. "Enjoy your meal," the waiter said.

Alice glanced at the spread, then at David. She pursed her lips. "David, do you have something to say? Spill it first, then I'll decide if I wanna eat." She was worried David might have bad news, and she wanted to be prepared.

David chuckled, flicking her forehead lightly. "What are you thinking? Bringing you to dinner means I have bad news? Maybe it's good news."

"Like what?" Alice asked, intrigued.

"Like," David paused, "let's eat first, and I'll tell you later."

They had the entire second floor to themselves, with even the waiters keeping a respectful distance.

Alice dug in, enjoying the food, while David occasionally looked up at her, cutting a piece of steak and offering it to her. "Try this, it's different."

Alice tasted it and found it indeed more tender and juicy.

Midway through the meal, David suddenly put down his utensils, picked up a napkin, and gently wiped his mouth. Alice looked at him, puzzled.

"Aren't you curious why I brought you here?" David asked.

Alice put down her knife and fork, looking serious. "Yeah, spill it."

The night outside deepened, streetlights flickered on, and their reflections mingled in the glass.

"Would you..." David cleared his throat, his heart pounding, "consider dating me with marriage in mind?"

Alice was stunned. Did David just say marriage? Dating?

She stared at him, cheeks heating up and turning red. She quickly covered her mouth, eyes wide in disbelief, looking at David, wondering if she was dreaming. Her heart raced, and her breathing quickened, feeling like she might suffocate.

David licked his lips and moved closer. Before Alice could react, he had his hands on the back of her chair, trapping her, their foreheads almost touching.

His voice was rough, eyes locked on her flushed cheeks. "What's your answer? I need it now. Yes or no?"

"I..." Alice blinked, at a loss for words. She had always hoped David liked her, but never thought this day would actually come. Now that it had, it felt unreal.

She had dreamed of David confessing to her, of him getting close, but now that it was happening, it felt like a fantasy. Was this just her wishful thinking?

Feeling overwhelmed, Alice's eyes started to water, making David's heart ache. He sighed deeply, cupping her face, and leaned in slowly. Just before their lips met, he whispered, "If you don't say no, I'll take it as a yes, and there's no going back."

Then he kissed her. David gently lifted her chin, deepening the kiss, while his other hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her up from the chair.

Their breathing grew heavy, the air between them heating up. Alice tried to pull away, but David held her close. With nowhere to go, she had to give in, clutching David's shirt, wrinkling it.

This kiss was a declaration, no more hiding their feelings.

After the kiss, David held her close, gently patting her back, whispering in her ear, kissing her flushed earlobe, "How about we go to a hotel?"

Alice shivered at his words.

David chuckled, ruffling her hair, his laughter soft. "Don't overthink it. I just want a quieter place to hold you. If you're okay with that, I'd be happy."

Alice clutched his shirt, too shy to speak, her eyes moist, her head spinning.

"To the hotel, okay?" David held her tightly, whispering seductively, "It's not safe here. At the hotel, you can do whatever you want... If you can't walk, I'll carry you, okay?"

Alice thought, 'What a flirt!'

To her surprise, the hotel was meticulously prepared. It was a special couple-themed room.

On the double bed, rose petals were arranged in a heart shape, and the bedside table had thoughtful little items provided by the hotel. In the wardrobe, besides soft bathrobes, there were even a few carefully selected outfits.

As soon as the door opened, David quickly pulled Alice into the room. The door closed gently, and she leaned against the cool wall, facing his warm body.

Tonight, David seemed different. From the restaurant to now, his subtle actions kept her heart racing. Even a slight touch or an accidental brush of his hand made her blush and her emotions fluctuate.

David's breathing was slightly heavy, his gaze falling on his fingers as they gently caressed her flushed lips. "Do you want to take a bath together?" he asked hoarsely.

Alice was shocked. "You want to bathe with me?" They had just started dating, and now he wanted to bathe together?

David's eyes darkened slightly, and he smiled. "If you're willing, of course."

"No way!" Alice pushed him away, holding her weak knees, planning to escape. But David quickly grabbed her wrist from behind, bent down, and lifted her onto his shoulder, heading to the bathroom.

"I don't want to!" Alice screamed, "I'm not even an adult yet!"

David pushed open the bathroom door and gently placed her on the sink. "Eighteen is an adult. Now, you have to take responsibility for what you've done before."

Alice's eyes widened. "What did I do before?"