54

KATHERINE THRONES

I stirred from my sleep, awakened by the fluttering of the curtains and the chirping of birds outside our window. The sun had just started to rise, and its warm rays seeped through the small cracks in the fabric, casting a soft glow throughout the room. I turned to my side and saw Alexander peacefully sleeping beside me, his arm extended towards me. I couldn't help but run my fingers through his hair gently, causing him to wriggle around.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," I whispered, looking at him with a warm smile.

Alexander's eyes flickered open, and his face broke into a lazy grin. "Morning, beautiful," he mumbled sleepily, taking a deep breath.

His husky voice sent shivers down my spine, and I scooted closer to him, feeling his warmth envelop me. "How did you sleep?" I asked, tracing my fingers along his chest.

He yawned and stretched his arms above his head, "Like a baby. Thanks to you," he said, his eyes twinkling with affection.

I blushed, feeling my heart flutter. "Stop thanking me. It's just normal sleeping next to your girlfriend," I said, poking him playfully.

He chuckled and pulled me closer to him, "You're not just a girlfriend, you're my everything," he whispered, tracing his fingers along my back.

My cheeks reddened with shyness, and I said, "Stop making me blush. You know how shy I get."

He leaned in and kissed my forehead, "But you look so cute when you're shy."

I giggled and snuggled closer to him, feeling content in his arms. "So, what did you feel like doing today?" I enquired as I sat up in bed, casting a quick glance at the clock. It was barely eight in the morning, and we had the whole day ahead of us.

Alexander pondered for a while and said, "I was thinking of having a lazy day, lounging in bed, and binge-watching movies together."

"That sounds like heaven," I beamed happily, feeling content with his suggestion.

"How about we kick off the day with a shower together?" Alexander suggested, raising his eyebrows mischievously.

I shook my head, giggling nervously, "No thanks. I need to shower alone."

Alexander chuckled, "Alright, alright. But you're missing out on some fun," he teased me good-naturedly.

I shook my head, still giggling, "I highly doubt that."

As I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, the plush carpet underfoot felt like a warm hug, and I couldn't help but stretch my arms in anticipation of the day.

But just as I stood up, Alexander called out to me, and his voice was as soft and soothing as the bed sheets still tangled in my hair.

"Hey, how about having breakfast in bed?" he said, his sleep-filled eyes still heavy with the remnants of dreams.

I turned around slowly, peering over my shoulder, and the sight of his tousled hair and boyish grin melted my sleepiness away.

"That's a splendid idea," I replied, my own grin spreading wider.

"Cool, I'll order room service right now," Alexander said, reaching for his phone on the bedside table. The light from the sun was just starting to peek through the curtains, casting a warm glow over us as he scrolled through the menu on his phone.

"Sure. I want eggs on my toast, okay? Please and thank you." I said, my voice still hoarse from sleep.

He looked up and, for a moment, there was a twinkle in his eye that made me feel like I was the only thing in his world.

"Of course," he replied softly. "And also a side of bacon. You know, to satisfy my appetite."

I couldn't help but laugh, my chest heaving with amusement. "You and your love for bacon."

"Well, I can't help it," he admitted, his voice growing even softer. "It's the one food that always gave me a sense of comfort and joy."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help but laugh, "You know, I think you might be secretly part pig. The way you love bacon so much."

He scoffed, but his grin betrayed him. "I'll have you know, I have diverse tastes. I also like sausage and ham. I'm a sophisticated man."

"No, I think you're just a jock who likes meat!" I retorted, teasing him with a playful jab.

"Ha ha," he replied, his tone sarcastic but his smile genuine. "Very funny."

As I left the room, I could sense Alexander's eyes trailing after me, still sleepy but with a distinct hint of longing. The thought made my heart flutter, and I found myself walking slower, my steps lighter.

-:-

I finished the last bite of my toast and set the plate aside, feeling content. Alex and I had decided to have a lazy morning, with breakfast in bed and a movie to follow. As the end credits rolled, I turned to Alex, noticing how relaxed he looked, completely lost in the experience.

"That was a good movie," I said, smiling at him.

"It was," he said, his eyes still fixated on the screen. "It reminded me of us."

I looked at him quizzically, wondering how he came to that conclusion. "How so?"

"Well, the way the characters looked at each other, you know? Like they couldn't believe their luck to have found someone who gets them." He gave me a soft smile, and I felt my heart swell.

"That's sweet," I said, feeling a flush of warmth spreading across my face.

We lay there for a few more minutes, listening to the sounds of the apartment around us - the hum of the air conditioner, the distant beep of a car alarm outside, the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. We sat in silence for a few more moments, both lost in our thoughts. I started to feel a little antsy, though - like I'd been lying still for too long.

I stretched my arms over my head, feeling my muscles loosen up. "What time is it?" I asked Alex.

He leaned over to check the clock on the bedside table. "It's only three o'clock," he said. "We still have plenty of days left."

I nodded, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do next. Alex seemed to sense my restlessness because he rolled onto his side and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

We lay there for a while longer, just enjoying each other's company. But eventually, the silence started to feel a little too heavy. I was about to suggest that we go out for a walk or something when Alex spoke up.

"You know what we should do?" he said, his voice low and conspiratorial.

"What?" I asked, intrigued.

"We should go for a couples massage," he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

I laughed, surprised by the suggestion. "Really? You want to get a massage?"

He nodded, looking serious now. "Why not? It could be nice."

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a small pang of apprehension. The thought of being naked in front of Alex - even if it was just under a towel - made me nervous. We'd been dating for a while now, but I still felt a little shy around him. He'd never seen me naked before, and the idea of him seeing me in such a vulnerable state was a little daunting.

But before I could say anything, Alex reassured me. "Don't worry, Katherine," he said, sensing my unease. "We won't be naked. We'll be wearing towels the whole time. You have nothing to worry about."

I let out a relieved sigh, feeling some of the tension in my shoulders ease. "Okay," I said, nodding slowly. "That sounds better."

Alex grinned at me, clearly pleased that he'd managed to convince me. "It'll be good for us," he said, leaning in to kiss me on the forehead. "Relaxing, and intimate too."

I nodded, feeling a flutter of excitement in my chest despite my nerves. The idea of spending the afternoon with Alex, getting pampered and relaxing together, sounded amazing. And who knew - maybe the experience would help me open up more to him, to shed some of my shyness, and start feeling more comfortable around him.

"You shouldn't be doing that, Katherine! You should be finding a way to break his heart!" A voice in my head reminded me and it oddly sounded like Katie's voice. I shook the thought away immediately.

"Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "Let's do it."

Alex grinned, then leaned in to kiss me. It was a slow, lingering kiss that left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside. We broke apart and stared at each other for a moment, both of us feeling content.

Within, my heart was throwing cartwheels. Alexander just kissed me! It's not the first time, yes. But he willingly kissed me without having to ask for my permission or me being drunk, or whatever.

"So, what do we do now?" I asked, feeling slightly restless.

Alex stretched, then propped himself up on an elbow. "Well, first, we need to look up some of the spas here and figure out where we want to go."

I nodded, grabbed my phone from the nightstand, and started scrolling through various spa websites. We spent the next few minutes discussing and debating different options, eventually settling on a spa that was romantic-themed and made just for couples.

"Okay, it's booked," I said, shutting off my phone. "We have a couples massage at 5 p.m."

Alex grinned, then pulled me into another kiss. "I can't wait."

-:-

As we walked into the spa, I could feel my heart racing with anticipation. The smell of essential oils and soft music playing in the background created a tranquil atmosphere. We were greeted by a friendly receptionist who checked us in and led us to a private room for our massage.

I took off my shoes and climbed onto the massage table, feeling a little nervous as I wrapped myself in a towel. Alex did the same, and we lay side by side as the massage therapists entered the room. They started with a warm-up massage, working out the kinks in our shoulders and backs.

As the massage progressed, I could feel myself relaxing, sinking deeper into the table. The tension in my muscles started to melt away, and I was grateful for this time to unwind and let go.

And as I lay there, feeling more comfortable around Alex by the minute, I started to realize how much I trusted him. How much I cared about him. Maybe it was the soothing atmosphere, or maybe it was the intimacy of the experience, but something about that moment was opening me up in ways I never expected.

When the massage was over, we sat in the relaxation room, sipping herbal tea and feeling rejuvenated. As we looked at each other across the room, I could feel a deeper level of connection between us. We had shared something intimate talk today, something that has brought us closer together. I think.

I know Alexander must've seen a lot of girls nearly unclad before him previously, but I haven't been in that position with a man before. This was a new territory for me and I was trying to navigate it with novices. So this really meant a lot to me, much more than it meant to him.

And as we left the spa, hand in hand, I knew that I was grateful for Alex's suggestion. It had been nerve-wracking at first, but it had ended up being just what we needed to take our relationship to the next level…

-:-

As soon as we entered the room, I couldn't help but stare at Alex. He was saying something about soccer – I wasn't listening to any of it, rather, I focused on how his shirt clung to his muscular frame, revealing his chiseled chest and abs.

I felt a stir deep in my core as I admired his handsome features.

The jolt was foreign but somehow familiar, and I knew that I wanted to explore this intense chemistry.

"You looked so good, Alex," I whispered, my eyes hungrily drinking in every inch of him.

He chuckled softly, his own gaze raking over my body. "You weren't so bad yourself, Katherine," he said, a risqué glint in his eyes.

We were standing by the window, but we couldn't seem to focus on our discussion. Our conversation was light and carefree, but as we looked at each other, there was a longing ignited within us that couldn't be ignored.

"I didn't know if I could focus on this conversation," I said, smiling coyly at him as I leaned against the wall.

Alex chuckled, his eyes roaming over my body. "I don't blame you," he said, taking a step closer to me. "You looked absolutely stunning."

I felt my cheeks heat up at his words. My mind was wandering, fueled by the sensual atmosphere of the spa and the tantalizing touch of the therapists. I could feel the sexual tension building between us, a longing ignited deep within me.

I reached out and stroked his cheek, feeling a jolt of electricity as our eyes locked, and before I knew it, we were kissing passionately. The feeling of his lips against mine was electric, sending shivers down my spine.

I lost control of logic, reasoning, and my own self. The subconscious voice in my head screamed to let go of Alexander, but instead, I pulled him closer by his shirt and pushed away the call of awakening. Our bodies pressed together, our hands roaming freely over each other's skin.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. All that existed was the heady, intoxicating feeling of desire and the explosive chemistry between us.

We pulled away for a moment, panting heavily, our eyes locked on each other. I could see the desire burning in his gaze, and it only fueled my own.

Another moment spent without reconnecting would have prompted regret in me, and I didn't want that. I was in too deep already, only to be pulled out by second thoughts.

So, I took the bull by the horns, connecting my lips with Alexander's again in an even more igniting passion. Suddenly, we were tugging at each other's clothes, desperate to feel skin on skin.

The night was young, and we had all the time in the world to explore each other's desires.