Tisha stirred first, lashes fluttering as she nestled closer against his chest. Her body ached, deliciously spent, yet the warmth of his embrace wrapped around her like a cocoon.

Then, a small rumble betrayed her... her stomach growled, breaking the silence. She blinked, a soft laugh escaping her lips.

"Ohh…" her voice was still husky, laced with drowsy sweetness. "We… we still haven't eaten dinner."

Alex chuckled low in his throat, his arm tightening around her waist.

She swatted his chest weakly, pouting like a scolding wife. "It's because of you… you never stop… you always..." her cheeks burned as the words tangled. "...you can't control yourself."

His smirk deepened. "I already had my dinner."

She frowned, tilting her head. "When?"

"Just now." His finger traced a slow path along the curve of her waist, making her shiver.

Her lips parted in a shy smile before she huffed, "Don't joke right now, Alex… You don't even know how much I prepared."

She puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance, fingers pressing lightly against his bare chest instead of letting him go.

"I spent the whole evening setting everything... dinner, the table, the candles… all of it."

"And you…" her voice trailed off, heat blooming across her face, "you just ruined the timing completely."

His expression softened, the teasing melting into something more serious. He brushed her damp hair back. "Alright… come on. Let me take you to the bath."

Before she could argue, he scooped her up easily, her small gasp muffled against his chest. She clutched his shoulders, half embarrassed, half touched.

"I can walk," she mumbled, though her arms clung tighter.

"Maybe," he said, voice amused, "but I like carrying you."

When they reached the bathroom, she shook her head, her cheeks crimson. "No. You're not coming in with me. You'll just… you'll lose control again."

He let out a low, throaty chuckle, eyes darkening with mischief. "Heh… you're too hot to resist," he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "but… I'll control myself."

The tub was wide, big enough for two. He set her down gently, rolled up his sleeves, and began filling it with warm water.

She tried to protest again, but his calm, steady hands silenced her. He helped her ease in, the water lapping around her flushed skin.

Sliding in behind her, Alex guided her back against his chest.

He dipped his hands into the water, cupping it over her shoulders, smoothing it down her arms. His touch was careful, almost reverent at first.

She closed her eyes, sinking into the warmth, a sigh slipping past her lips. His palms moved over her, lathering, rinsing, slow and steady.

The intimacy of it... the quiet care... made her heart ache more than the wildness of earlier.

"Feels good?" he murmured against her ear.

Her lips curved into a soft smile. "Mhm… better than good."

She hesitated, then added softly, voice barely above the water's gentle ripple, "You don't know… how happy I am today. Just… being here, like this, with you…"

A shiver ran through her at the admission, the steam swirling around them, the closeness pressing warmth into every nerve.

But then his hands grew bolder, roaming lower, fingertips grazing along her thighs, circling dangerously close. Her breath hitched, her thighs tensing.

A shiver ran through her as his fingers lingered just where they shouldn't, and despite herself, a soft gasp escaped her lips.

She pressed back slightly, betraying how much she enjoyed the touch, her body responding to the teasing even as her mind protested.

He chuckled against her neck, feeling her tremble beneath him, his fingers teasing and tracing along her skin with deliberate slowness.

Every soft sigh and little shiver only egged him on, making his control feel increasingly impossible.

"Alex…" she whispered, her voice trembling between protest and desire.

He chuckled against her neck, his voice a husky tease. "I said I'd control myself. But it's torture, Tisha."

When his fingers brushed her folds, she jolted, gasping.

"N-no… I'm still sensitive… ahhh… and... we're already so late…" Her plea was half sob, half laugh, but her body betrayed her with the way it leaned back into him, trembling under his hands.

He kissed her temple gently, finally pulling back, his smile softening. "Fine. Dinner first… punishment later."

***

The dining room glowed with soft, golden light. Candles flickered in crystal holders, casting gentle shadows across the table set with polished cutlery and neatly folded napkins.

Fresh flowers stood in a vase at the center, their fragrance mingling with the aroma of carefully cooked dishes.

Alex slowed to a stop as he entered, his brow lifting, his chest tightening at the sight.

"Tisha…" his voice dropped low, touched with genuine awe. "You did all this?"

She brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly nervous under his gaze. "Mhm… I just thought... since it's your first time here, I wanted it to feel… special."

He turned to her fully, catching her chin gently between his fingers, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"Special?" His lips curved into a slow, warm smile. "This is perfect. You're perfect."

Her heart skipped at the words, warmth rushing to her cheeks. She tried to cover her fluster with a playful pout. "So… you like it?"

"Like it?" He chuckled, drawing her closer until his breath brushed her lips. "Tisha… I'm loving it. Every detail, every effort... you've left me speechless."

Her lips curved shyly, eyes shining with the kind of happiness she couldn't hide. The praise, so direct and heartfelt, meant more than she could say.

They sat down together, Alex still glancing around, as though he couldn't stop admiring the way she had poured her heart into this dinner.

Alex picked up his fork, but his eyes never left hers. "I don't even know where to start… everything looks amazing," he murmured, voice low, warm.

Between bites, he leaned back, watching her with that same intense look that made her skin heat.

"You know," he murmured, voice husky but tender, "I don't think I've ever had anyone do something like this for me. It's not just the food. It's you… letting me see this side of you."

Her chest tightened, emotion swelling as she ducked her head, fiddling with her fork. "Then… it was worth it."

They ate slowly, savoring the food, but also savoring the quiet closeness. Between bites, their fingers brushed, small smiles shared, glances lingering longer than usual.

At one point, Alex set his fork down, eyes locking on hers with a slow, mischievous glint. "You know… I think you deserve a better seat," he murmured, voice low and teasing.

Tisha tilted her head, curiosity flickering. "Oh? And what seat would that be?"

He didn't answer with words. Instead, he slid from his chair, bending down to scoop her up effortlessly. Her small gasp of surprise mixed with laughter as he carried her back to the table, setting her gently on his lap.

"Alex! What... " she started, cheeks burning, but the warmth of his chest against her back left her momentarily speechless.

He grinned, his hands steady and confident. "Relax. I thought… maybe dinner tastes better like this," he teased, lifting a forkful of food and bringing it toward her lips.

She leaned in slightly, letting him feed her, a soft laugh escaping as he watched her reactions intently. "Hmm… that's… perfect," she murmured, tasting the morsel, her fingers brushing his as they held the fork together.

Her cheeks warmed, a soft heat spreading through her chest as she realized how close they were. Every little thing he does… he's really noticing me. She bit her lip, savoring the taste of the food, but more than that, the gentle pressure of his hand holding hers made her heart thud.

I've never felt this… cared for. A small sigh slipped past her lips, and a shy, blissful smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she leaned slightly closer, letting herself melt into the quiet intimacy of the moment.

He fed her another bite, watching her cheeks flush deeper, the way her lips curved into shy smiles. "You know," he murmured, voice husky, "I could get used to this… having you like this, right here."

Her hands drifted to his arms, holding him lightly, but the warmth of her body against his lap betrayed how much she was enjoying the closeness. "You're… dangerous," she breathed, laughter mingling with a soft sigh.

Alex's grin softened, eyes twinkling with amusement and tenderness. "Maybe. But only for you."

She let out a small, contented laugh, leaning back against him, letting him continue feeding her, the playful intimacy stretching out in quiet, delicious moments.

Each bite, each brush of their fingers, each shared glance, only made the room feel warmer, the connection between them deeper.

Dinner, the candles, the food... they all became secondary to the soft, lingering intimacy of being this close, this connected, and she silently marveled at how effortless it felt to be exactly where she belonged... in his arms, on his lap, completely his for this small, perfect moment.

And she wished, with a fierce, almost desperate ache, that time itself would pause... just for a heartbeat longer... so this perfect, fragile closeness could stretch on forever.

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