The banquet stretched on long into the night.
As the hours wore on, the monkeys began to drop what they were doing and go to sleep, either by choice or from the amount of wine they consumed.
Even the generals retired for the night, each one bowing to us in turn except for Ba, who would remain on duty until the sun rose.
As for me?
Well, I made sure to stick close to Wukong as the night wound down, waiting, praying he’ll eventually get the idea to get some air with me.
He partied hard, he was still going strong by the time all the other monkeys had gone to sleep.
When he put down his cup and finally noticed we were the only two still up, I gave in and finally asked him to take me outside for some air myself.
He happily agreed, and summoned Nimbus.
We both hopped on, and now we were flying around Flower-Fruit Mountain, taking in the crisp night air and the scenic views of the island and starry night sky.
I leaned back to look at them.
The stars looked so close.
I reached up, half-thinking that I could touch them, and now my palm was outlined in the glittering lights.
I giggled, drawing my hand back down.
Man, I was pretty drunk, wasn’t I?
I looked back at Wukong, tuning back in right as he finished up his story.
“Okay, and then he said, ‘This isn’t the place for monkey business.’ And I whipped off my cloak and said ‘Then you’re not getting any business of mine!’ and stormed out.
You, you should’ve seen their fucking faces, they were all so shocked, I never saw so many shocked humans in my entire life!” I snickered at Wukong’s story as he finished it.
He always told it when he got really drunk.
And yeah, he was sloshed.
But I wasn’t one to talk.
Here I was laughing at a story I heard about a dozen times like it was the first time I ever heard it.
I felt good.
I glanced up at the moon, warm, full, and bright.
The thousands of stars, the only witnesses to our late-night rendezvous.
The wine warmed me up from within, and I closed my eyes, giving a happy little sigh before strategically leaning onto Wukong’s shoulder.
The atmosphere was perfect.
It was time.
He stiffened up and moved away.
“Um, we should probably head down.
We’re both pretty drunk right now.” I felt the smile on my face.
So shy.
“Why?
I like it up here.
Let’s just stay a little longer.” “I don’t know Yue, it’s probably about time to head to bed.” I felt Nimbus turning.
Crap.
Not part of my plan.
I reopened my eyes and gave him a pouty look.
“Please?” I could see him breaking down in the face of my cuteness.
“Oh, okay, just a little bit longer.” “Yay!” I shuffled over next to him and leaned on him again.
Man, he was muscular.
His shoulders almost felt as stiff as stone.
I bore with it, gently rubbing my cheek on his shoulder.
Just think how nice his muscles will be when I get him back to bed with me.
“Um, Yue, what are you doing?” “Hmm?” “Are you… purring?” Was I?
After a moment I realized I was.
I guess I just felt so nice and happy right now.
A perfect night, a hot guy, and romance.
This was everything younger me dreamed about back on Pluas.
I looked up at him, sliding in to bump my hip against his.
My tail reached out, and gently caressed his.
The effect was instant.
A shiver raced up his spine, poofing his fur out along with it, as if he’d just been electrocuted.
He swallowed hard, and after a pregnant moment, he shifted back.
“Okay.
You’re drunk.
We’re heading back down.” “What?
Noooo!” I felt Nimbus jolt as we began descending towards the mountain.
This wasn’t how this was supposed to go!
What would it take for him to make a move on me?!
Fine.
If he didn’t want to make a move, I would.
Nimbus came to an abrupt stop as I grabbed Wukong and climbed into his lap.
I hugged his torso tight as he stiffened up again, trying to tug me off.
“Yue!
Let go!
I’m… really reaching my limit here!” Yeah, I could feel that.
I looked up at him and gave him a wicked smile.
He froze, like a deer in headlights.
Let’s see him resist this.
I nuzzled into his neck, pressing our bodies together.
Mmmm, he smelled so good.
Earthy, like freshly turned soil, or the forest after it rains.
“Gah!
Yue!” He raised his arms up but didn’t wrap them around me.
He trembled.
So close.
He was so close to breaking.
I pulled my face back to look up at him, and coyly smiled once more.
“Can’t we spend a little more time together today?
I want to have some more fun.” He sucked in a sharp breath, but instead of wrapping his arms around me and pushing me onto Nimbus like I wanted, he firmly grabbed my waist and yanked me off of him.
I was stunned as he firmly sat me beside him on Nimbus.
“Yue, if you weren’t drunk, I’d say yes in a heartbeat.
But we both are, and before we do something we’ll regret in the morning, I think we should drink some water, and get some sleep.
Here’s your bedroom.” What?!
When did Nimbus get in front of the window to my room!?
He floated inside and grabbed me again as I protested, finally struggling against him.
“No!
Wukong, don’t leave me!” All my thrashing was in vain as he firmly set me on my feet, on the floor.
As soon as he let go, Nimbus jerked back through the window before I could try and hop on again.
“Goodnight Yue.
Don’t forget to drink some water.” Then he was gone.
He took off, probably to go back to his room.
I gaped at the empty sky beyond the window, unable to believe he just… left me here.
When I was throwing myself at him!
That fucker.
I wasn’t that drunk.
I had plans for tonight, plans I made sure I wasn’t too drunk for!
Ruined!
All because he was too fucking nice!
Well, if he thought this was the end of it, he had another thing coming.
I marched over to my bed, usually our bed, but I was guessing he’d gone back to his original room tonight.
Of course, he didn’t notice all the fucking flower petals I had spread over it, or the bottle of wine with two cups on the nightstand.
I grabbed the jug of water from under my bed, determined to drink the whole thing before I slept.
I didn’t have time for a hangover in the morning.
I would have vengeance for this night.
“Okay, thank you Beng.
Just keep all the monkeys away from the room until we come out.” It was in the early hours of the morning.
I’d just finished my bath and made sure to brush out all my fur.
I knew I looked good.
I wore a light dress and was making the last preparations with General Beng.
He bowed to me, awake even when it was so early.
He had taken over for patrol duty for Ba when dawn arrived.
“I’ll stand at the end of the corridor Your Majesty.
I’ll ensure no one interferes with you and the king.” Good old reliable Beng.
Even though he stayed up as late as the rest of us, he was already awake and guarding the palace.
I’d have to get something special from the kitchens for him.
He walked off, to go guard the hallway into the royal suites.
I turned back to Wukong’s door.
Now, I knew we wouldn’t be disturbed.
I clasped the handle and softly turned.
The wood let off a small, low creek as I slunk in.
There.
I could see him, snoring away in bed.
His limbs were all askew, the blanket a tangled mess, and his head was thrown back and drooling.
I was guessing he had trouble getting to sleep last night.
Good, he should have had trouble given everything I did to get him to just kiss me already.
It was a good thing he was a heavy sleeper.
I softly padded over to his bed and grabbed the skirt of my dress.
Pulled it up, over my head, and carelessly tossed it onto the floor.
As if it had been thrown there in a fit of passion.
Then I detangled the blanket, and tossed it over him.
I crawled into it, and laid on Wukong’s arm.
He mumbled, and I caught my breath.
Come on… He turned, without waking up, and circled his other arm around me too.
Yes!
I figured sleeping habits died hard.
I shifted, getting comfy.
Now I just had to pretend to sleep, and when he wakes up I’ll give the acting performance of my life.
Back in bed, nice and warm, it wasn’t hard to drift off.
Movement.
Not from me.
I blinked and yawned.
I rubbed my eyes.
When I looked up, I saw Wukong’s eyes, almost popping out of his skull as he leaned back from me, utterly shocked and scared stiff.
“Yue?
But I, you were…” I gave him a smile.
“Good morning Wukong.
Did you sleep well?” “Yue, what are you doing here?
I put you in your room last night.” I frowned and tilted my head at him.
“No, you didn’t.
You brought me back here, remember?” I cuddled up to him.
“Stop joking honey.
We should sleep in a little longer.” He shrank back from me, pulling his arms away.
“Yue, did you crawl into my bed?
Are you still drunk?” “Wukong, stop it.
I’m not in the mood for jokes.
C’mere.
I want a kiss.” I moved in towards him again, but he jumped out of bed.
“Yue, I think you’re the one who needs to stop.
I definitely did not sleep with you last night.” He turned back to me and crossed his arms, having none of it.
Wukong had a pretty good memory, even when he was drunk.
Unfortunately for him, I was a better liar.
I let my eyes fill with tears.
I was a daddy’s girl with an older sister who loved to try and get me in trouble.
I knew how to act.
“Wukong, do you… do you not remember our first night together?” “What?
No!
I mean, yes?
I mean—” He took a deep breath.
“We didn’t have a first night together.” I wiped away my eyes.
“It’s fine.
I should have been more considerate.
You drank more than me after all.” I gave him a hurt look that said it definitely wasn’t fine.
Got him.
I could see the doubt on his face, the little furrow between his brows.
Watching him question his sanity gave me a feeling of deep satisfaction.
But I wasn’t done yet.
I pushed up off the bed.
“I should go.
You can’t remember, so it would be awkward for me to stay.
Don’t forget to drink something for your hangover and take a bath.
I’ll wait for you to go first.” The implication that I would have bathed with him hung in the air, along with the tension that this would harm our relationship.
I grabbed my dress off the floor, and his eyes widened as he realized it hadn’t flashed into my necklace, what I usually did.
I took very good care of my clothes, I wouldn’t just leave them lying around unless I was very distracted.
Or if I was trying to make him remember something that didn’t happen.
“I’ll head back to my room.
I’ll see you later.” I pulled it back over my head, and bowed my head as I walked towards the door, hunching my shoulders for a cross between crushed and disappointed.
C’mon, c’mon….
“Wait.” Hook, line, and sinker.
“You don’t have to leave yet.
I just… I remember dropping you off to your room yesterday.” I stopped halfway to the door and threw a quizzical glance over my shoulder.
“I told you, you didn’t do that.
Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?” He had his arm’s uncrossed, reaching out towards me.
“Okay, well, what do you remember?
Maybe we can figure out what happened.” I hid a smile as I walked up to him, stepping into his reach.
He flinched a little and drew his arms back, behind his back as he nervously glanced to the side to avoid looking at me.
“Well, I was feeling really good yesterday, and we were on Nimbus together.
I cuddled up to you, like this.” I pressed into his chest.
“And I started purring.” I purred and nuzzled into him.
“Um, Yue, this is a little—” “And then I looked up at you and smiled.” I looked up at him and smiled again and I heard his breath catch.
“And you kissed me.” “I-I did?” I nodded.
“I thought I pushed you off of me.” I looked down sadly.
“I was hoping we could jog your memory.
I’m sorry, it was a dumb idea.” I was about to back away, but his arms sprang up around me keeping me close to him.
“Hold on, maybe there was something to your idea.
So, I kissed you?” I nodded and looked up at him.
I pursed my lips and closed my eyes.
Finally.
His lips met mine.
They were rough.
Hot.
And gentle, oh so gentle with me.
I deepened the kiss, and he groaned as he followed my lead, getting drawn in.
By the time we broke apart, we were both breathing heavy.
His voice was husky as he whispered.
“What happened next?” I bit my lip to hide my grin.
“We should probably move to the bed for this next part.”