the fire between us

chapter 26

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The air was still, a quiet contrast to the intensity of the night before. Martinus stirred beside me, his arm draped lazily across my waist, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, a comforting reminder of the connection we'd shared.

For a moment, I stayed still, savoring the peacefulness of the moment. My mind replayed the events of the night, the passion, the closeness, the way his touch had sent shivers through my body. But now, in the gentle light of day, there was something more—something deeper. The raw desire that had fueled our movements was still there, but it was layered with a sense of tenderness and trust that made the memory even more powerful.

I turned slightly, careful not to wake him, and watched as his face relaxed in sleep. There was a vulnerability in him that I hadn't fully realized before. The way he'd opened himself up to me, not just physically but emotionally, made my heart swell with a mixture of affection and gratitude.

As I shifted, Martinus's grip on me tightened slightly, his eyes fluttering open. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he looked at me, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," he murmured, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face.

"Morning," I replied, my voice soft. The quiet between us was comfortable, a reflection of the unspoken connection that lingered in the air.

Martinus propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes scanning my face as if searching for something. "Are you okay?" he asked, his tone filled with concern. "About last night?"

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me at the question. "Yeah," I whispered, meeting his gaze. "I'm more than okay."

His smile widened, a look of relief crossing his features. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead, and for a moment, we simply lay there, wrapped in each other's presence. The world outside seemed far away, and I found myself wanting to stay in this moment a little longer, to hold onto the quiet intimacy that had blossomed between us.

But eventually, reality began to creep in. I could feel the weight of the day pressing against the edges of our little bubble, reminding me that there were things to do, places to be. Martinus must have sensed it too because he sighed softly, his fingers tracing idle patterns on my skin.

"We should probably get up," he said, though his tone lacked any real urgency.

"I know," I replied, but neither of us made any move to do so. Instead, we lingered in the stillness, savoring the last few moments of peace before the day officially began.

Finally, with a reluctant sigh, I pushed myself up, pulling the sheet around me as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. The cool air hit my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth I'd felt cocooned beside Martinus.

As I stood and stretched, I felt his eyes on me, and when I glanced back, he was watching me with a look that made my heart skip a beat. There was something more in his gaze—something that went beyond desire. It was as if he saw me, really saw me, and it made me feel both exposed and cherished in a way I hadn't expected.

"Last night was... something," he said, his voice low and filled with a mixture of awe and tenderness.

"Yeah," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips. "It was."

There was a brief pause, and then Martinus sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and standing in one fluid motion. He crossed the room in a few steps, closing the distance between us. His hand found mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles as he looked at me with a seriousness that made my breath catch.