Shawn just looks at my face for a moment, noticing it upsets me and he looks away, his eyes focused on the forest on the other side of the cliff.

'Is there a restaurant near here?' He asks, changing the subject.

I close my eyes, sighing from relief.

'No, but we do have a pub. It's a little far. Through the meadows, across the river and then the next path to the right. I don't go there often, Elijah does not like it when I go there alone.'

Shawn sighs, clearly irritated.

'It's a good thing you're not going alone then.' Shawn says, standing up.

It still surprises me how different he is now. He is like a completely different person and I just can't seem to understand it. Of course, I play some sort of role when I'm working, the secret fantasy every man wants, but that's me being different, not the client. 

It's like he also plays a role when we have sex. Kind of like his dark side that he doesn't show to anyone... but me.

I climb to my feet and Shawn grabs my arm to make sure I don't fall to my death. I stand up and pat the back of my legs, trying to clean all the filthy stuff I just sat on. 

We make our way back to the big meadows, walking in the direction of the pub.

Twenty minutes later we arrive at the pub and Shawn opens the door for me, waiting until I walk inside. I thank him and pull my hoodie away from my head, the owner recognizes me immediately.

'Lockhart!' He shouts, holding a pint of beer in his hand.

'Mercury! How are you?' I ask with a smile on my face as I walk to him.

He stands up from the barstool and grabs my arm, pulling me into a tight hug. 

Mercury is the typical pub owner. A big beer belly, a bald head and with the biggest welcoming smile on his face every time a client enters his pub. Today he's wearing a black t-shirt, tucked in his jean shorts. 

He orders someone to play some music to celebrate my visit. I thank him with a smile and start to feel a little awkward when he brings out a toast.

'I thought you never came to this pub?' Shawn whispers with a smile in his voice, standing behind me with his arms crossed.

'I don't, but it's quite the party when I do.' I whisper back, smiling over my shoulder at Shawn.

Mercury sees me talking to a tall man standing behind me and his smile turns into a confusing frown.

'Oi! Who's this handsome chap you brought with you today?' Mercury walks to Shawn and puts his hand on his back.

You know when dad's hit their sons on their back as a greeting, but it basically knocks all the air out of your lungs? Well, that's how Mercury just greeted Shawn.

'This is Shawn Mendes, a friend of mine.' I decide to say.

I guess Shawn just got upgraded from "client" to "friend". 

Mercury blinks a couple of times, looking confused, waiting for the punchline. I shake my head a little and he stares at Shawn for a moment.

'I know you.' He whispers with his strong Liverpool accent. 'This is that chap from the "I know I can treat you beetteerrr!' Mercury sings with a hoarse voice.

Shawn and I both start to laugh and Mercury joins us, hitting Shawn on his shoulder a little and pulling at his denim jacket.

'Yeah. I'm the Shawn Mendes who made that song. Glad to hear you know it tho.' Shawn says with a smile.

'Typical American.' Mercury says when Shawn finishes his sentence.

'I'm Canadian, sir.' Shawn says.

Never thought I would hear that word coming from his lips. Mercury looks at him and shakes him a little by his shoulder, somehow proud of his answer.

'Great. I don't like Americans anyway.' Mercury's heartwarming laugh fills the pub and he walks away to the bar. 'What can I get you, folks?'

'One bourbon and one scotch.' Shawn answers for both of us.

I look at him with one raised eyebrow as he takes a seat behind the bar, taking his jacket off and putting it down next to him. I see the strong muscles in his arms relax a little. 

'Is that so?' I say as I sit down next to him.

'Well, the bourbon is for you of course.' 

He comes a little closer. 

'I noticed how you took a sip of my bourbon the day we met. Most people don't like it, but you didn't even flinch when you took a sip, that means you either like the burning down your throat, or you drink it a lot so it doesn't burn that bad anymore. Am I right?' Shawn says in my ear without even catching his breath.

I'm impressed by Shawn's analysis and I can't help but feel my respect for him grow. I nod slowly, showing him I'm impressed. He shows me a proud smile before grabbing the glass of scotch Mercury just put down in front of him.

'Cheers.' I say, thanking Mercury.

Shawn and I both take a sip at the same time and yet again I don't flinch, feeling the liquid burn down my throat. Shawn leans a little closer to me again.

'But you're a masochist after all.' He whispers in my ear.

I chuckle a little, enjoying how Shawn is with me right now. He's so relaxed, somehow not as nervous as he was outside. Maybe it has something to do with the alcohol.

A few more drinks later, I start to feel a little tipsy, giggling about everything either Mercury or Shawn says. Suddenly the song Thinking Out Loud from Ed Sheeran starts to play, making me jump off my stool.

'Oh my god, I love this song!' I shout in Shawn's direction.

'He's a friend of mine you know.'

'I know that. Come. Dance with me.' I grab his hand and pull at it.

'Oh, I don't dance, princess.' Shawn still seems very sober, besides the fact that he drank four glasses of scotch.

'Please?' I say with my sweetest voice ever.

He looks at me for a moment and I can see the twinkles in his eyes. The sound of his glass hitting the bartop makes me smile as Shawn stands up from his chair too, rising above me. He is not as sober as he seems, he has trouble finding his balance and I giggle a little.

I hold his hand and walk to the space between the tables, created for dancing (or fighting). One of my hands rests on Shawn's shoulder and my other hand holds his. I feel his big hand sliding down my back, stopping at the small of my back and pushing me closer to his body.

We slow dance to the rhythm of the music and I let my head rest on Shawn's chest, hearing his heart pound really fast. As the song goes on, Shawn lets go of my hand and just wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on top of my head.

I sigh.

This feels so good, so... right.

Shawn slowly pulls away, lifting his arm and putting his hand under my chin and lifting it a little. I stare up into his beautiful eyes as he stares into mine and I look at his lips coming closer. 

Everything around me disappears and it's suddenly just him and I, with only Ed Sheeran's song playing in the background. Everything about him is so charming... just like a prince.

I close my eyes a little, captivated by everything Shawn does. But suddenly the song ends and my eyes shoot open. I clear my throat, stopping the kiss that was going to happen.

'It's a little stuffy in here, don't you think?' I step away, creating distance between us. 

'I'm going outside to get some fresh air. See you in a minute, love.' I walk away, rolling my eyes.

Why did I call him love? And since when am I running away from a silly kiss?

I push the door open and feel the cold air against my face. I'm drunk, now I'm sure. I laugh a little, thinking about why I didn't want to kiss Shawn.

'Do you still smoke?' Mercury asks when he steps outside, a cigarette in between his fingers.

'No, it was a one-time thing.' I answer, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

It's because it would be a real kiss. A kiss where I'm - kind of - not getting paid for. A kiss that will cause confusing feelings, especially now I'm drunk.

After a few minutes, I return inside and see Shawn sitting down behind the bar again with a bottle of water in his hand. I guess he wanted to sober up too. 

I walk to him and sit down next to him, grabbing the menu to see if Mercury added something new to it, but everything is still the same.

'Are you hungry?' I ask Shawn.

'Yes, pretty much.' He giggles.

When Mercury returns inside, I order two times the shepherds pie and rest my head on Shawn's shoulder. He puts his arms down on the bartop and rests his head against mine. We both inhale sharply and I close my eyes for a moment.

'What do you want to do the rest of the day?' I ask.

'I don't know. I think-- uhm...' He takes another sip of his water. 'Something less drunk? Does that make sense?'

I laugh and grab his arm.

'It should... I think it does?'

We both laugh for a moment and when Mercury serves us the food, I practically just shove it inside my mouth. When did I get this hungry? When I look over at Shawn's plate it's almost empty. I guess we were both a little hungry.

After a few hours of laughing, drinking and eating, Mercury calls a taxi to return us to the brothel. I fall into the car when I try to climb inside, my body landing on Shawn's. He laughs and pushes me up next to him. Maybe those tequila shots weren't such a good idea after all?

Shawn and I stumble inside the brothel through the front door, his arm wrapped around my shoulder.

I think we should've taken the back door...

We have a lot of trouble keeping ourselves standing, so I grab the wall to support both our bodies. 

'I had a lot of fun.' Shawn looks at me, pushing my back against the wall. 'And we...' He blinks a couple of times. 'And we were right to like me, you? What?' He shakes his head a little. 'I mean, I like you. You nice.' We both giggle.

'Long time, I got drunk last again.' I laugh.

'Me--' Shawn doesn't finish his sentence. He takes a few steps away and moves to the corner of the space, vomiting on the ground.

'Ah, gross.' I mumble, covering my mouth as I almost vomit too.

'Celina!' Elijah's voice rumbles through the brothel.

Oh shit.

My eyes widen and my jaw drops, like a small child who just got caught stealing candy. I look at Shawn who is trying to wipe the vomit away from his mouth. He looks at me with wide eyes.

'Haha, I think you're in trouble.' He bursts out in laughter and I start to laugh too.

An angry Elijah walks to us and tells the security guards that are always standing at the door to go outside and wait there. I look at the rage in his eyes. I guess now I know the reason why he doesn't like me going to the pub.

'How much did you drink?' Elijah asks, grabbing my face with both his hands and pulling at my eyelids.

'She had six? Maybe nine? Or twelve, I don't remember.' Shawn mumbles, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I shoot Shawn daggers for selling me out, but he gives me a cute crooked smile back.

'Thank you.' Elijah tells Shawn.

I slowly turn my head to Shawn when Elijah lets it go. We both have a smile on our faces.

'I think Elijah is mad mad.' I whisper behind my hand.

'I can hear you!' Elijah sneers. 'You're in so much trouble, Cee.' He shakes his head in disappointment.

He snaps his fingers a couple of times and two big guys walk up to us. Elijah tells them to take us to one of the free rooms so we can take a shower and sleep.

'Mr Mendes, I'm sorry for this. This is not part of her job.' Elijah apologises.

'Oh, well, actually it is. I am paying her for three days.' He wraps his arm around my shoulder again. 'And I got her there, so completely my fault.' Shawn says, pulling me with him when we walk away.

He smirks at me and I smile back at him. Elijah just rolls his eyes and walks away. I tell the two security guards it's fine and that I know where I can find a free room, but they ignore me and just point where they want us to go.

'A soft bed would feel great right about now.' Shawn whispers in my ear.

'To sleep in? Or did you have something else in mind?' I smirk at him and his face lights up. 

Thank you for reading!

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