(Lisa POV)
Valin's house was large.
It had beautiful dark hardwood floors and a dark-green grand piano in the corner of the living room. All the other furniture in the house was brown or white. Above the fireplace was a massive, intricate painting, and in the space under the stairs was a built-in, completely packed bookshelf.
"Where did you get that painting?" I asked in awe.
All the details were painted in shades of green or white, but the painting was of a detailed city with families, animals, buildings, even a park and lake.
I could imagine something like this taking months to complete.
"I painted it..." Valin admitted.
"You?... You paint?"
He scratched his head.
"Well... when I started finding interest in math, I discovered its involvement in nature and patterns. That led me to art... I wanted to learn more, I just picked up some hobbies along the way."
"You.... you're so talented! Is there anything you can't do?"
My words were meant as a compliment, but they seemed to make him sad instead.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, touching his cheek instinctively, to comfort him.
He caught my hand, then pulled my palm against his lips.
"Nothing I want to talk about, right now..." Valin answered.
Then he held my hand and pulled me to the stairway. "I want to show you the upstairs now," he remarked.
"Wait!... what about the piano?" I asked while trailing after him,
"I planned to show that to you in the morning."
Planned? I thought coming here was a last-minute decision.
"This is the bathroom," Valin informed me while opening a door and turning on the light. It was a large bathroom with a walk-in shower and a tub large enough for four adults.
There were also two sinks in front of the bathroom vanity.
The floors were black stone tile. The countertops were gray marble, and all the metal in the bathroom was gold.
The toilet was black with a golden handle to match, and every towel was white.
Once I had a good look, he turned off the light and pulled me one room over, saying,
"And this is my room."
The bed was king-sized, and there was a computer desk and a white armchair in the opposite corner.
There was a built-in shelf in every corner of the wall, full of books with no space in sight. I also noticed a door leading out to a balcony, but the curtains were drawn.
"Wow," I muttered.
Valin kicked off his shoes and then flopped down onto his bed.
So I also kicked off mine and left my purse at his desk before lying down beside him.
"I knew you liked to read... but I had no idea you had such a large collection," I commented.
"I was the black sheep of my family... so I kept to myself and collected books. Even now, my brothers and I are closer, but..."
He seemed to be spiraling into sadness again, so I sat up and looked down at him, saying,
"Why were you the black sheep?" He laughed at my question, thankfully.
"Because I'm weird... I'm introverted and hardheaded, and I have outbursts. Truthfully, I know how to control myself, but I don't want to. I feel like the me who is screaming at everyone is the real me, so if they don't like that... then they don't like me," he confessed.
"At everyone? ...You've never screamed at me," I remarked.
Valin grinned wider, meeting my eyes, so I had to look away.
"You're not everyone... you're special to me. I have no reason to yell at you." He placed his hand on top of mine, so my heart started racing. "Truthfully, when you called me cute for the first time, I wanted to cuss at you." I gasped in surprise. "But... I'm glad I didn't. And I would never do it now."
"Do you not like being called cute?... If it makes you feel any better, you're my type. I mean, I didn't have a type before you... You're the standard for me now. I never intended to insult you," I blurted.
Valin sat up, placing his fingers under my chin and turning my face so his lips could meet mine.
"I'm used to people patronizing me by calling me cute... That's all..." he explained.
"Oh... mhm... yes... makes sense," I muttered shyly.
"Lisa... I really like you," Valin admitted.
Part of me wishes the word he used was love... but it's too early to be thinking like that. In fact, it's unfair of me. My last boyfriend scared me away by telling me he loved me too soon. Valin and I haven't even been together a quarter as long.
"I lo... like! Like you too."
I cleared my throat.
When he touches me, I feel like I'm in a trance, drawn in by his sweet scent, with only one thought. I need to be as close to him as possible.
I wanted to become one with him.
"I know well enough by now. You weren't patronizing me... I ... never mind."
I gasped again and shook him,
"No, finish what you were saying! No cliffhangers allowed!" I demanded.
He laughed as I was shaking him, then he pinned me down on his bed by my wrists.
"Stop..." Valin said coolly.
I held my breath at his word, and he chuckled again before whispering,
"I didn't mean to stop breathing... silly," as he planted a new kiss on my lips.
Since my arms weren't free, I stroked his leg with mine and moaned into his mouth to show my consent for him to continue.
He responded by blushing and burrowing his face into my neck. After that, Valin whispered,
"I'm scared of you."
He released my wrist in favor of my hips.
So I put my hands on his back under his shirt.
"Um... what about unpacking?" I asked nervously,
"It can wait."
"Oh... then ...I hope I'm not assuming too far... by thinking... that uh... you want to ... let me learn more about your preferences tonight...your uh... se-sexual preferences," I mumbled nervously.
Valin sat up to smirk at me, then he rested his forehead on mine.
"You're not... but I should warn you. I'm a strict teacher."
I'm excited enough already, and he's barely touched me.
I'm almost embarrassed for him to find out.
"... I want to learn... I hope this doesn't turn you off, and please stop me if it does."
Valin closed his eyes and replied,
"What is it?"
".... I... can't see myself with anyone else... so I... want to be a partner who keeps you satisfied in all aspects of life... So... don't hold back... and be as strict as possible. Please," I muttered.
He opened his eyes again, then sat up slightly to look down at me.
"That's practically a love confession."
His comment made me want to hide, but his actions afterward stopped me from doing so, with repeated smooches, into deep kisses, that led to vigorous intercourse in which he guided me through each step.
Hearing his voice so much made the whole thing feel even more intense than usual. Especially when he praised me.
We ended up in multiple positions, starting on the bed, partially clothed, to the armchair, his desk, and ending on the floor, both completely nude.
It felt like we'd never stop, but we had to have at some point since I woke up in his bed, tucked in and cuddled up next to him.
My dreams starred him and me together... continuing from last night. Because of that, I couldn't help but get flustered when I looked up at him in the morning.
My dreamy mood faded a little when I saw he was texting Snowe.
I saw the message was just a math-related dad joke, and after that, he sent,
"Can we talk later?" before putting his phone down and turning to me.
"Hey... how are you feeling?" Valin asked, lifting the covers and placing his hand on my hip,
"I'm fine!" I yelled, feeling my blushing return to my face.
"Um... you and Snowe are very close, huh?" I noted.
He was texting her last time too...
"Yeah... I'm glad that you seem to be doing much better than last time."
"... Are you going to ignore my question?" I asked while pouting.
"Hmm... She is my sister and technically my best friend. She's the first person who insisted on spending time with me even after I acted crazy in public and guilted her into dressing up with me."
I feel a little jealous... but as he said, she's practically his sister-in-law, and I like Snowe.
"I'm sorry... I... It's just that even yesterday you both got along so well with each other. I know I shouldn't be jealous... I just want to be close to you too," I admitted.
Valin's hand left my hip and slid down to my bottom.
He then pressed his body against mine.
I squealed in surprise, hiding my face against his chest.
"I have no interest in incest and... I also have no interest in losing you," he assured.
His hand shifted upwards to the center of my back, and he sighed.
Valin considers her his real sister... which makes sense if his brothers aren't his blood either. And... I'm important to him.
His words relieved me, so I hugged his shoulders in return.
"Do you want to go out for breakfast or order in?"
"I... can make breakfast," I offered.
"I haven't bought any groceries yet."
After that, I laughed and said,
"Then... let's order in, but I'm not hungry right now," before kissing and then straddling him on top.
He held my waist and gently coached me on my rhythm and movements, as well as saying things like,
"Good girl."
"You're doing great."
and
"Just like that."
Which made me blush more than I thought was possible, so I had to keep my eyes closed even to continue.
My heart is under attack! After we climaxed, Valin put his hand behind my head and brought me down for an intense kiss, and when our lips parted ways, I lost myself and whispered,
"I love you."
Valin's eyes widened, then he looked troubled.
He rolled me over onto my back and got out of bed to pick up his phone.
"... I'll order breakfast now."
After saying that, he left the room... I had exhausted myself too much to follow him, but...It was too soon. I thought when he said, "That's practically a love confession." He wouldn't be bothered by a real one.
I really screwed up.