5: It's A Very Bad Idea

"What are you sorry for?" Noah laughed at her reaction. He couldn't comprehend why she was looking like she had done something wrong. "It's just a breakup," he told her. "It's not that serious."

Vivienne's expression didn't change much even when she couldn't obviously see how hard he was trying to lighten the mood. He seemed to not know that she was the girl who had an unrequited love towards him. And unrequited love is often etched on your very bones and becomes a part of your soul. You begin to read the object of that unrequited love closely in silence.

Vivienne did that too. Therefore, she could see he wasn't as fine with this breakup as he was trying to appear right now. 

"If it wasn't that serious, you wouldn't be drowning your sorrow in alcohol right now," she responded.

Noah's hand paused as he glanced at the glass of whiskey he was holding and glanced at her, "How about I show you around? There is a beautiful place in the back of the estate where you can really enjoy your wine in the presence of the beautiful stars and moon. Do you want to see?"

Vivienne knew he just cleverly avoided the topic but she didn't bring the topic back either rather she contemplated for a minute before nodding her head, "Sure."

Without asking any more questions, Vivienne followed him without a thought. She would usually overthink things a lot but with him around, her brain didn't have the capacity to go down the overthinking lane. 

Noah brought her to the back of the well-lit estate. Taking the stairs, they came to the terrace which had a very modern feel to it, quite contrary to the vintage vibe of this old winery estate. He offered her to sit while he opened the glass door and entered the room. Soon, he came out of the with a glass and a bottle of wine in his hands. 

"You seem to enjoy the wine so I found this for you," he passed her the glass and very gentlemanly even poured some wine for her before he sat down beside her and took out a whiskey bottle from under the chair. 

Vivienne was speechless at this but she still took the wine and slowly tasted it. Her brows knitted up together and she extended her hand to pick up the wine bottle. Seeing the name, her eyes widened a little. "Cheval Blanc 1947? Whose collection did you take this from?"

Noah seemed very carefree at the moment as he replied, "Don't worry. They won't come looking for you. Look up. Didn't I say the company of stars and the moon here is the best?"

Who cared about the stars and the moon when he was sitting so close to her and she could actually smell a heady blend of musky cologne from him, mixed with the subtle hint of pine, reminiscent of a forest after summer rain?

"By the way," started Noah as he kept looking at the moon in the sky. "Are you really single?"

"Why are you curious?" asked Vivienne. "You don't think I have been waiting for you, right?"

Noah laughed at that, "I know I am charming but I am still not narcissistic enough to think that you'd have been waiting for me. Especially, after the jerk move I pulled back then."

"Calling yourself charming and still saying that you aren't narcissistic? You're contradicting yourself, Mr. Sullivan."

Noah looked at the smile playing on her lips and couldn't move his eyes away again. She took another sip of the wine and seeing the remnants of the red wine on her supple lips, Noah's eyes narrowed slightly. He couldn't comprehend what he was feeling right now. Maybe it was because he drank too much tonight or maybe it was because she was truly looking gorgeous that he had felt compelled to get closer to her all this while. 

He reminded himself to not fall deeper into it as if noticing his intense gaze, Vivienne's smile was restrained and she stared back at him, "What is it? Is something on my face? Why do you keep looking?" She bit her lower lip a bit nervously as her lashes fluttered.

Noah lost his restrain, cupped her face with his well-defined hand, and kissed her. Her soft lips were warm and he could taste the sensual flavor of the wine. Vivienne's eyes widened and she gasped in surprise as her body went still. She put her hand on Noah's chest as if she wanted to push him but for some reason, her hand just stayed there. This gave Noah even more courage as he bit her lower lip lightly, seeking a response from her. 

Instinctively, Vivienne opened her mouth and let him in. She moaned and kissed him back with equal fervor. He had only pulled away when she started to feel lightheaded because of the lack of oxygen.

Looking at her flushed face, Noah smirked at her as his thumb pad rubbed her lips softly. "I think tonight's wine is certainly more intoxicating than my whiskey."

Vivienne mentally smacked herself for losing her control. Instead of pushing him, she actually wanted to pull him closer. What was she even thinking? She really lost her mind seeing him.

No, you can't do this, Vee! This is a trap! It's a very bad idea. You can't fall into the same place twice or you won't be able to face yourself ever again!

But when his warm hand went to her cheek, gently caressing it, Vivienne lost all her reasoning and closed her eyes to feel the moment. 

His face came closer to hers again and she could feel his breath on the side of her face as he whispered, "You look beautiful." Vivienne shuddered as his lips brushed against her ear.

As he placed his forehead against hers and continued his slow caressing on her cheek, Vivienne finally made up her mind and opened her eyes to stare right back at him. "Are you drunk?" she inquired resolutely.

"Maybe," he responded in a soft voice.

"Then do you know who I am?" she asked further. 

He saw the urgency in her eyes as if this was a very important question to her right now. Although he didn't understand why, he still replied, "I'm drunk, not blind. I was only blind in the past. Now my eyes work perfectly fine."

"Then tell me who I am?"

"Vivienne Pearl."

When she heard her name from his mouth, she threw caution to the wind. As long as he knew who she was, she didn't damn about the consequences of the impulsiveness that was taking over her right now. So, she took the initiative and claimed his lips taking Noah by surprise.