“ Love is meant to keep you safe. ”
***
— Cecile —
My eyes had opened up to an unfamiliar environment until I caught sight of Joel sleeping right beside me, and my heart relaxed a bit.  
Where are we? I thought, looking around at the well-furnished room.
“ Hey, Jolie. ” I blushed at his nickname. “ Hi. ” 
He pulled me into his arms and held me by my bare stomach making me freeze. “ Were you testing my control when you decided to wear this? ” He whispered, referring to my clothes. 
“ I just… ” He claimed my lips before I could say a word and our legs became tangled on the bed as we kissed fiercely. 
I had underestimated how light my top was until it came off amid our make-out session, and I was in his arms, in my armless bra, which only covered half of my breasts. 
   “ Cecile… ” I felt his call again, asking for permission to stop… but how could I when I feel so passionified?
Probably because of the ovulation, but I craved being one with him… that instant, and I found myself pushing myself further towards him. 
My brazier came off, and my breasts bounced in front of me; the chill hit them, but I didn’t stop until he claimed one of them with his mouth, and I screamed….. he kept going on, changing his position until I became all red and sore. I collapsed in his arms. 
“ That was intense. ” He smiled, kissing my forehead. 
I looked down at the hickey marks on my breasts… “ Sorry about that. ” He smiled, kissing one of them. 
“ Okay… ” I smiled though, already feeling uncomfortable.
“ Tell me. ” He lifted my chin, and I felt open and vulnerable before him. 
“ Can I take a bath? I feel uncomfortable. ” I said at long last. “ Sure, ” and before I knew it he was carrying me in his arms, my chest bare…. But I felt comfortable in his arms. 
He left me at the door, granting me the privacy I needed. 
After freshening up, I put back on my brazier and grabbed one of his shirts that was hanging on the dryer and didn’t bother about putting on my trousers…. I trusted him that much, though I could barely trust myself.
***
— Joel —
I watched her walk towards me in nothing but my shirt and my breath hitched. Is she testing my self-control?
“ Hey. ” She sat on the couch and eased herself into my arms. “ I don’t want to go back to my hostel, can I stay here tonight? ” Her words were soft and inviting… it would have meant something else if we hadn’t been clear about our boundaries. 
“ What about your roommate? ” The shirt was short and wasn’t properly buttoned, so I could see her underwear, and it made me a bit stiff. 
“ She traveled earlier to see her parents. ” 
“When will she be back?”
“In a week.” Her voice was slow, each word heavy with unspoken meaning. I could already feel the weight behind them, so I didn’t waste time with pleasantries.
“Do you want to stay with me until then?” I asked, choosing my words carefully. I already had a pretty good idea of what she wanted. If not, she wouldn’t be here, would she?
“Yes, if that’s okay.” She licked her lips in a way that was hard to ignore.
“Cecile, I live alone. You know that, right?” My voice was colder than I intended, and I could tell she felt it as she tucked herself into my shirt.
“I do…” she whispered from where she rested.
The hours that followed felt like we were just any couple, living in the moment—binge-watching movies, eating the popcorn I ordered, cooking dinner together, sharing soft kisses, and gentle touches.
It all seemed perfect… until it was time for bed.
“We can sleep in the same bed, right?” she asked, and I nodded, realizing I was already lost.
She fell asleep almost instantly once her head hit the pillow, and I sighed, watching her settle in so comfortably, unaware of the stir she caused in me.
***
The next morning, I woke up to the smell of something cooking. Curious, I headed to the kitchen and found her there—freshly showered and already dressed for the day in my clothes. This time, she’d chosen a longer shirt, something I was quietly grateful for. Still, it was clear I needed to set some ground rules if I didn’t want to keep putting myself through this.
“ Morning, Joli,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her from behind. My hands slid under her shirt, and the realization struck—she wasn’t wearing a bra. My breath caught for a moment.
“ Hi, ” she murmured, turning to face me. Her reaction was calm, almost expectant, as she pulled me into her embrace.
I retracted myself from her embrace and lifted her chin. Her face was completely bare and without makeup. “ You look beautiful, Joli. ” I didn’t give her the time to react as I claimed her lips in mine. 
My hands went under the shirt again and before I knew it… it came off, and we stood in the kitchen, kissing in her panties, which were wet due to overstimulation. 
We kissed until I found myself at the last shred of control, and I broke the kiss, but she remained in my arms. 
I lifted her and placed her on the kitchen counter, and though she still had her panties on… she looked naked, with her face flushed and hair tied up in a messy bun. 
---
— Joel —
“Cecile…” I began, drawing her attention. Her soft gaze met mine, filled with curiosity. “What do you say we get married?”
Her eyes widened in shock, the words catching her off guard.
“But… I haven’t graduated yet,” she stammered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“It won’t change a thing,” I said with a smile, my tone reassuring. “You’ll officially take my name after graduation, okay?” I leaned in and gently pecked her lips.
“But… weddings take time to plan, don’t they?” Her voice was cautious, but I could see the doubt starting to crumble.
“Yes, but we can keep it simple—a shotgun wedding in Las Vegas.”
“Isn’t that a little… fast?” she asked, her hesitation evident.
“Maybe,” I admitted, holding her gaze. “But we’ll have the rest of our lives to think about it. Besides…” I paused, letting my eyes trail over her face. “I can’t keep seeing you like this every day and not do something about it.”
“I’m—”
I silenced her with a kiss. “It’s not your fault,” I murmured against her lips.
Minutes ticked by before she finally whispered, “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow.” I grinned. “And by this time tomorrow, you’ll be mine.”
I sealed my promise with another kiss before walking away, knowing I had to distance myself before my resolve faltered completely.
---
- Cecile -
Joel’s proposal didn’t surprise me as much as it should have. I’d been feeling it too—the magnetic pull, the aching need to be closer to him in ways that terrified me. His words just gave voice to what I couldn’t admit out loud.
I craved him in ways I never thought possible. Simply looking at him made my body burn with a longing that scared me. And as we sat down for breakfast, I found myself voicing something I would probably regret later.
“Joel…”
“Hmm?” His gaze locked on mine, intense and burning with a fire that mirrored my own. Knowing he felt it, too, gave me the courage to continue.
“Can we… consider other options for now?” My voice wavered, unsure yet hopeful.
He didn’t speak at first; he just pulled me into his arms. When he finally spoke, his words were soft, yet so powerful they brought tears to my eyes.
“I won’t do that to you, Cecile,” he whispered. “You’re not an option. You’re my lifeline. My everything. You’re not just a person—you’re the person.”
At that moment, I had never loved him more.
“I love you, Joel,” I said, the words spilling from my heart.
“I love you too, Joli,” he replied, holding me so tightly I thought we might melt into one if it were possible. “I can’t wait to be your forever and always.”
“Same,” I murmured, already practicing my vows in my mind.
Maybe they’re right—absence makes the heart grow fonder. But for me, absence has only made my body crave him more.
---
A/N: What do you think, guys?