Sugar, Spice & Secrets

29

The morning came almost as soon as I'd closed my eyes last night. This morning felt different. I had made up with Caleb over everything yet I felt like I had just broken up with my lover.

"Morning, sunshine," Caleb crawled over to me and kissed my forehead.

The gentle touch of Caleb's lips against my forehead stirred me from my restless slumber, pulling me back into the present moment. Despite the heaviness weighing on my heart, his affectionate gesture offered a fleeting sense of solace, a reminder of the love that still existed between us despite the trials we faced.

"Morning," I murmured, forcing a smile as I reached up to return his kiss.

As Caleb settled back beside me, his arm draped protectively over my waist, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us, that the events of last night had left an irreparable crack in the foundation of our relationship.

"I'm sorry,"

"Huh?"

"About last night and accusing you of all those things," I explained to him. "I shouldn't have believed any other person and should've just trusted you and what we had."

Caleb's expression softened, his gaze meeting mine with a mixture of understanding and compassion. "You have nothing to apologize for, Julie," he murmured, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Last night was... difficult. But what matters is that we're here now, together."

Despite his comforting words, the weight of my guilt still hung heavy on my heart. "I just don't want anything to come between us," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, Caleb."

Tenderly, Caleb reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face, his touch sending a surge of warmth through me. "I love you too, Julie," he replied, his words filled with sincerity. "And I promise, we'll get through this together, stronger than ever."

With his words echoing in my ears, I allowed myself to believe, if only for a fleeting moment, that perhaps our love was strong enough to weather any storm. I allowed myself to believe that the man who was on the top floor with another man could not sway me any further.

"And I hate to admit it but I was jealous of that man," he finally admitted. "I just think I was too proud to say it."

As Caleb's words hung in the air, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips, a mixture of relief and warmth flooding my heart. His admission broke through the lingering tension between us, offering a glimmer of understanding and vulnerability that only served to strengthen our bond.

Gently, I reached out to cup his cheek, my thumb tracing a soft caress against his skin. "I'm glad you said it," I confessed, my voice filled with tenderness. "And you have nothing to be jealous of. You're the only one I want, Caleb."

And maybe, Gabriele.

Moved by his honesty and touched by the depth of his emotions, Caleb leaned in, his lips finding mine in a sweet, lingering kiss. As his lips met mine in a sweet, lingering kiss, the warmth of his embrace enveloped me, melting away the remnants of doubt and insecurity that had lingered in the wake of last night's turmoil.

With each tender caress, the kiss began to deepen, igniting a fiery passion that pulsed between us like a current of electricity. Lost in the moment, Caleb's touch became more urgent, his hands sliding down my shoulders. His fingers grazed the soft fabric of my nightgown, threatening to push it down further as his desire intensified.

But just as the intensity of our embrace threatened to consume us, a sharp knock on the door shattered the spell, jolting us back to reality. With a reluctant sigh, Caleb pulled away, his expression a mix of frustration and disappointment.