"If you aren't careful all of those gentlemen are going to ask Ale to dance and the night will be gone without you even getting a second to tell her how beautiful she is," Nate sighed, Eliot sipping on his third beer.

Eliot wasn't planning on drinking tonight, but after seeing the wedding and how beautiful Ale looked, he felt like he needed something to forget his feelings. After the beer he was sure he would move onto something a little stronger. After all, watching Ale dance with everyone but him was not helping his cause.

A slow song that sounded like something coming from a jazz club came on and an old man in suspenders walked up to Ale, asking her to dance. She of course smiled and nodded, the old man whisking her around the floor. Once the song ended Ale gave the old man a kiss on the cheek, heading over to the team's table.

"Can I get you something to drink, Ale?" Nate asked, Ale shaking her head softly.

"I can get it. I am actually just going to get some water," Ale smiled, standing again. Eliot watched her go, waiting a beat before he followed behind her.

Once she was at the bar Eliot sidled up next to her, asking the bartender for a line of shots.

"Taking out the big guns, hey cowboy?" Ale asked, a small amount of concern behind her eyes.

"Just wanted to celebrate a bit," Eliot shrugged.

Ale was feeling bold, and the fact that Eliot had had a few beers might have helped that fact.

"Are you going to ask me to dance, tonight, or am I going to have to keep pretending to like all of these guys that have wandering hands?" she said, Eliot looking at her with wide eyes.

"Let me take these shots and then I think I can keep up," Eliot laughed, Ale smiling back.

When the next slow song came on Ale and Eliot took the floor, Eliot holding Ale close to him, her head resting on his chest.

"I am really glad we came, Eliot. Thank you so much for inviting us here," Ale said, looking up at him. Eliot smiled lazily, Ale pretty sure the alcohol was getting the best of him.

"I'm glad you came," he sighed, squeezing Ale's hand he was holding against his chest.

"We wouldn't have missed it," Ale said.

"No, I am glad that you came," Eliot emphasized, his voice rolling together.

"What do you say we get you home, cowboy?" Ale laughed, Eliot nodding.

"Right after this song," he smiled, Ale not wanting to argue. She would have stayed in Eliot's arms all night if it meant feeling as wonderful as she did just then.

LEVERAGE

Eliot's head was in a complete fog. He didn't drink, and when he did, he told the truth all too often. He was trying so hard to keep his mouth shut and not say anything about his feelings for her. As she drove his truck to the family house, however, he couldn't help but notice how strong his feelings were.

"Did I tell you you look beautiful tonight?" Eliot asked.

Ale couldn't help but laugh. He was being free with his thoughts, and he was reminding her slightly of a kid on Christmas.

"You did. Multiple times," Ale laughed. She was flattered with how attentive Eliot was being, but she also didn't want to get too excited, seeing as Eliot was not totally himself.

Then again, it was often alcohol that made people bring out their true feelings and selves.

When they finally made it to the house Ale got out of the truck, helping Eliot out as well.

"I am sorry I am drunk. I don't usually drink. But you were driving me crazy," Eliot said, wrapping his arm around Ale gently so she could help him inside.

"I was driving you crazy?" Ale asked, looking at Eliot. Eliot nodded, taking the railing as he headed upstairs.

"That dress, and the way you played with Chris, and all of those guys swirling you around the floor. The way you drove my truck. And your smile and the way you smell. Everything about you drives me crazy, Alessandra," Eliot said stopping at the top of the stairs.

"I don't think you mean that, Eliot," Ale breathed, her cheeks flushing. She led Eliot into his room, sitting him down on his bed. She bent down to start untying Eliot's shoes.

"I do. I have meant it since I first saw your picture when Lio came to us for help. I meant it when I wanted to kill Quinn for admitting he liked you. I meant it every time I looked at you but I just…I wasn't drunk enough to admit it. I always mean it, Ale, anytime I look at you. It's never an accident," Eliot whispered, Ale slowing down in her task. She looked up at Eliot only to find that he was looking right at her. His eyes were still in a fog but there was a clarity to them that was a bit reassuring.

Eliot wasn't sure he was going to remember what he was about to do in the morning, but he didn't care. When Ale looked up at him he took her chin in his hands, gently guiding her lips up to his. When he was close enough his mouth encased hers, Ale sitting down on Eliot's knee as he deepened the kiss.

Eliot wrapped his arms around Ale's waist, rolling her onto the bed. Eliot put his weight on his forearms, kissing Ale more intensely with each passing second.

Ale couldn't believe that Eliot was kissing her—and she couldn't believe that she was kissing him back.

The kisses from Eliot were the tenderest and yet urgent kisses she had ever had in her life. He was so gentle with her, but he was also clear about how much he needed to kiss her in the way he took charge and made Ale feel wanted.

Ale's head was starting to swirl when headlights lit up the room, the front door opening a few minutes after.

"Eliot," Ale said between kisses, Eliot either not hearing or ignoring her. "Eliot," she said, again, laughing a bit when Eliot shushed her.

"You're family is here. And you are drunk," she said, as if that explained everything.

"I don't care. It doesn't matter if I'm drunk. And I am a grown ass man, I am allowed to have a girl in my room."

"It does matter if you are drunk," Ale sighed, although all she wanted to do was kiss him more. "You need to sleep. You need to sober up. You need to be able to make the conscious decision to kiss me and change things. I loved tonight and want it to go on forever. But your family is downstairs, and there is alcohol in your blood and you need a new day to make sure this is what you want," Ale explained.

"What about you, darlin'? What do you want?" Eliot said lowly, Ale instinctively looking at Eliot's lips.

"I want this. But I want to make sure you want this…without having to give you shots every day," Ale laughed, planting a soft kiss on Eliot's lips. "So I am going to get you some water and aspirin, and you are going to get out of these clothes. After you get a good night's sleep, and we determine in the morning if you remembered this, we can either continue or figure out what we are doing or pretend it never happened. Sound like a deal, cowboy?"

Eliot chuckled, his head starting to spin. All he could do was nod, Alestanding and going out of the room. He fell asleep before she returned, however, not waking up until the sun started to rise, the blanket Ale must have pulled over him providing him almost as much warmth as her lips had the night before.