Hope had never been in this room before, but she could feel it enticing all of her senses. Somebody put out the candles, and the only light came from the burning flames in the fireplace. In front of the hearth sat a huge bear fur and next to it two glasses with a bottle of red wine.

It seemed that this time, Drake had decided to make the surroundings more pleasant for the game night. Hope sat down on the fur and began to caress it. The fur had belonged to a beautiful and magnificent bear. Did Drake put it here to upset her, knowing how much she loved animals? It was a possibility, but it wouldn't bother her. The life cycle is something natural, each animal has its predator, and such magnificent animals can only be killed by the supreme hunter: man.

Drake entered the room, approaching her with his eternal arrogant smile on his face. It was the first time in his life that the voice inside him whispered that he didn't need that mask and that he might be himself for once, but that was impossible. He had already forgotten how the real one was.

Hope was holding the bottle of wine and reading the label. "Do you really think we'll have only one bottle of wine? Do you fall on your knees after one glass?"

She was trying to vex him even from the start. He didn't understand why, but that didn't annoy him at all. Did he even find it adorable? No! This was not Drake. Does this girl have other powers? Mind control or something like that? He recovered in time to respond in his usual tone. "If it is not enough, I will immediately send a servant to bring us more. Do not worry."

Drake sat down on the other side of the bear's fur, took the bottle from Hope's hands, opened it, and poured it into glasses. "So, how do you play this game?"

"Oh, it's straightforward," the girl giggled. "Everyone says a sentence that starts with the words never have I ever, and then everyone who did that has to drink. The rules are elementary. "

A single glance at Drake convinced her it wasn't. 'He looks at me like I am a madwoman talking useless or crazy things, and now he will decide to get up and leave. I have a few more seconds, and I will lose his attention. I need to be assertive and more objective.'

All of Hope's thoughts were useless. She could have said almost anything because Drake was also lost in his own thoughts. 'The shadows formed by the light coming from the fire caress her face and give her an ethereal look. Why do I think about this? I have a few more seconds, and I will reach out to caress her cheek because I am jealous of that shadow that plays so smoothly on her face. Why do I think about this? I have to be tougher and more imposing.'

The change of rhythm in Hope's voice brought him back to reality. "I better give you an example to better understand. Never have I ever been a prince or princess! Now, everyone who is or was a prince or princess drinks. "

The sudden stiffness that appeared on Drake's face made Hope think he already hated this game. He clenched his jaw tightly but then relaxed and sighed. "Ok, fine! I'll try to be honest for one night," he whispered to himself, raising his glass and tasted his first sip of wine.

Hope's eyes widened like two huge onions, and she put her hand to the mouth in astonishment. Was she really sitting in the presence of a prince, and that prince had agreed to play this stupid game with her? She snorted in a laugh so loud it shook her entire body. Hope leaned on her back and continued to laugh heartily, thinking how funny the situation was, and she hadn't even had a drink yet.

If anyone else had dared to laugh at him, Drake would have cut off his head in less than a second, but somehow he knew that the girl in front of him wasn't doing it with bad intentions or making fun of him. It was a laugh from the heart and from the freedom she could afford no matter what the situation.

Drake cleared his throat to catch her attention. "It is my turn. Never have I ever lived my life the way I wanted. "

Hope took the glass and drank almost half of it. Lord Springwood looked at her questioningly, so the girl felt the need to say, "I was thirsty!"

Seeing that he did not touch the glass this time, Hope continued. "Only he who lives his life the way he wants is a powerful person. You always have to fight for what you want and for what defines you as a person. Never have I ever killed a person. "

Of course, Drake drank…

-----

The sun was starting its journey on the sky while Hope and Drake were lying on the fur next to each other, with seven bottles of wine lined up beside them. They looked at the ceiling and laughed. None of them had ever felt so good.

Hope turned to face him, leaning on her elbow. "I like your real laugh much more than the mischievous and deadly smile you show every time. I would like you to show it more often! "

Drake raised his hand and stroked her cheek. He knew he wanted to do this before, but now Drake couldn't remember why he hadn't done it. Her skin was so smooth and velvety, and he wished he could always feel it so close. Her face began to move closer and closer to his. Did Hope want to do what he was thinking? Their lips met for a split second when suddenly the girl rose abruptly and ran to the window.

Drake didn't know what to think, but instinct told him to see what happened to her. He got up with difficulty and reached the window next to her. Hope was vomiting. Drake smiled. 'So she also has a sensitive side?'

The man grabbed her hair with both hands and then wrapped it in a single ponytail, which he held with his right hand behind her back to allow Hope to do her thing more freely. Then he waited until she put her head on the edge of the windowsill and whispered, "You can go. I'm going to sleep here. "

Drake laughed heartily. This girl really had something special. He lifted her into his arms and slowly laid her back on the bear's fur when he saw Hope's lips moving slowly. He bent down to hear better. "I can't sleep without a pillow."

Drake's amusement was boundless. He sat down next to her and put her head on his chest while caressing her hair with one hand. "Now you have a pillow. You can sleep. "