"A MORNING OF LOVE"

When I woke up the next morning, the first thing I felt was Marius's embrace, his strong arms wrapped around me protectively. His face was so close to mine that I could feel his warm breath against my skin. He was still sleeping soundly, his expression serene and peaceful, like a baby lost in the sweetest of dreams. I couldn't help but smile at how perfect he looked in this vulnerable state.

I raised my hand, my fingers gently tracing the outline of his perfect, straight nose, marveling at the sharp lines and soft curves that made up his handsome face. He was so incredibly pleasant to look at, a true work of art. Every time I gazed upon him, I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me, grateful for the serendipity that had brought us together. I was indeed lucky that he had chosen me, that we had chosen each other.

After a few moments of silently admiring him, I found myself unable to resist the urge to get closer. I leaned in and softly kissed his cheek, feeling the gentle tickle of his budding mustache against my lips. It made me giggle quietly, a sound that seemed almost too loud in the quiet of the morning. Emboldened by my first kiss, I then pressed my lips to his, moving slowly and tenderly in an attempt not to disturb his sleep.

But my effort was in vain. His eyes fluttered open, and a lazy, affectionate smile spread across his face.

"Good morning, handsome," I whispered, my smile mirroring his.

"Good morning, beautiful," Marius responded, his voice filled with warmth as he gently caressed my face. "The morning feels so much brighter when I'm waking up beside you."

His words sent a rush of warmth through me, and I couldn't help but blush under his loving gaze. It was moments like these that made me truly feel the depth of Marius' love for me, not just in his words but in the way he looked at me, as if I were the most precious thing in the world to him.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, pulling me closer into his embrace, his arms wrapping around me protectively.

I returned his hug, feeling a surge of happiness enveloping me. It was in these simple yet intimate moments that I found pure joy, a happiness that was hard to put into words but easy to feel in my heart. And in that moment, that was all that mattered—the love in my heart and the happiness that radiated from being with him.

"I slept like a dream," I replied, smiling up at him. "Being in your arms always brings me such comfort."

Marius grinned, his eyes sparkling with affection. "I could tell," he teased playfully, his gaze lingering on my face. "You had that peaceful look about you like you were lost in the sweetest of dreams."

I rolled my eyes at his observation, a playful blush coloring my cheeks. "You already know the answer to that," I teased back, reaching up to pinch the tip of his straight nose affectionately. "You're the reason for my peaceful sleep, you know."

His laughter filled the room, a melodious sound that echoed with love and joy. In that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges we faced, as long as we had each other, we could overcome anything.

Marius remained silent, a playful glint dancing in his eyes as he absorbed my response. After a moment, he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on my forehead, a gesture so tender it sent ripples of warmth through my entire being.

"Are you happy here, Sam?" he asked softly, locking eyes with me once more, his gaze filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

His question caught me off guard, not because I wasn't happy—quite the contrary, in fact. Being with Marius felt like stepping into a world where happiness was a constant companion. Yet, I hesitated for a moment, contemplating the depth of his question and the honesty I owed him.

Before I could utter a word, our son, MJ, suddenly started crying from his crib. Instantly, my focus shifted, and I scrambled out of bed, hurrying to comfort our precious child. I reached him just as he raised his little hands, a silent plea for his mother's embrace.

"Let me take care of MJ first, and then we can talk," I told Marius, my voice tinged with a mix of urgency and affection.

"Of course," Marius replied with understanding, rising from the bed and heading towards the bathroom without a hint of complaint.

As I held MJ close, soothing him with soft whispers and gentle strokes, my heart swelled with love for both him and Marius. Despite the interruption, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the life we had built together—a life filled with love, laughter, and the shared responsibility of raising our child. And as I watched Marius attend to his morning routine, a wave of warmth washed over me, reaffirming that this was where I belonged, in the loving embrace of my family.

After a few moments, Marius emerged from the bathroom, his skin still glistening from the shower, draped only in a towel that hugged his sculpted physique. My cheeks flushed instantly at the sight, and I found myself averting my gaze, pretending to focus on feeding MJ who was nestled in my arms.

"What are you doing? You could have at least gotten dressed in the bathroom," I exclaimed, my annoyance masked by a hint of embarrassment as I avoided stealing glances at his muscular and undeniably attractive form.

Marius chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes. "What's wrong with my towel?" he teased innocently, feigning ignorance as he casually strolled towards the dresser.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his nonchalant demeanor. "You know exactly what's wrong," I retorted, my tone teasing yet filled with a hint of longing that I tried to suppress. Marius had a way of stirring up conflicting emotions within me, his effortless charm and magnetic presence both exhilarating and maddening at times.

"Hurry up and get dressed," I urged, gesturing towards the dresser, my cheeks still flushed from the unexpected encounter. "And let me shower too. I'm sure Manang Sela has breakfast ready by now."

I couldn't shake off the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. Despite the intimate moments we shared, and the passion that ignited between us, there was a lingering sense of uncertainty that gnawed at me. Why did it feel like nothing had changed like I was still fumbling through the nuances of love and desire as if it were my first time?

I sighed softly, trying to push aside the doubts that clouded my mind. Maybe it was the weight of past experiences or the fear of vulnerability that held me back. But deep down, I knew that with Marius, every moment was a chance to embrace love in its purest form, to shed the layers of doubt and insecurity, and to revel in the passion that bound us together.

"Okay, I'll be quick," he assured me before disappearing into the bathroom, leaving behind a lingering scent of his favorite cologne that seemed to linger in the air, teasing my senses.

As promised, Marius returned in less than five minutes, his presence filling the room with a newfound energy. The soft fabric of his white shirt hugged his toned physique, while the floral green pajama shorts added a playful charm to his appearance. Despite his casual attire, there was an undeniable magnetism about him that made it hard to look away.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. Why did I feel this strong pull towards him? Was it the way his eyes sparkled with mischief or the way his laughter filled the room with warmth? Whatever it was, I found myself drawn to him in ways I couldn't quite explain.

"I'll take my handsome son, who clearly takes after me because, let's face it, I'm handsome too," Marius quipped playfully as he reached for MJ, his smile infectious and filling the room with joy.

His playful remark brought a smile to my lips, the love and pride in his voice reflecting the bond he shared with our son. It was moments like these that made me grateful for the beautiful family we had created together, a testament to the love that bound us in ways words could never fully capture.

I didn't argue with Marius's playful remark about MJ resembling him more. It was undeniable—our son had inherited his father's features, except for the subtle differences in eye color and hair, which he got from me. It was these small details that reminded me of the intricate blend of our love, woven into the very fabric of our child's existence. Deep down, I knew that forgetting Marius would be a challenge, especially when our eldest mirrored him so closely.

As Marius took MJ from my arms, a sense of urgency washed over me. I hurried to the bathroom, my mind racing with thoughts of Manang Sela finishing breakfast and waiting patiently for us. Hastily, I shed my yellow dress, the fabric slipping off with a soft rustle. In the back of my mind, Marius's comment from yesterday about the dress echoed faintly.

Facing the large mirror, I couldn't help but notice the faint marks Marius had left on me from the previous night's intimacy. His words lingered in my mind, a mix of desire and longing veiled in his playful tone. "I've been wanting to do this for a while. But I couldn't because the space in the car was too tight..."

The memory sent a flush of heat rushing to my cheeks, my reflection mirroring the embarrassment and arousal that coursed through me. Yet, amidst the whirlwind of emotions, I knew that giving in to anger would only complicate things further. So, I focused on the present moment, my cheeks still tinted with a rosy hue as I realized I had forgotten to bring a change of clothes into the bathroom.

My eyes scanned the bathroom, searching for a solution, and finally landed on a clean towel hanging on the rack. Relief washed over me, a silent acknowledgment of the small victories amidst the chaos of emotions and desires that danced within me.

I continued with my bath, hurriedly ignoring the pounding of my heart. I knew that Marius would make a move when I emerged with just a towel wrapped around me. And I was right.

As soon as I opened the door, he gazed at me suggestively. Not satisfied with just that, he even let out a flirtatious whistle. I blushed once again.

I thought that would be the end of it, as I ignored him and headed to the walk-in closet to get dressed. But I was mistaken. He followed me there, MJ was in a position where he was trying to make him grunt, not facing me.

"Hey, young man, do you think you want to have a brother or a sister?" Marius inquired. I couldn't help but steal glances at him. In those moments, my face was truly flushed with awkwardness.

"Your Mommy is beautiful, MJ. And that made me the luckiest man on earth," he said as he scanned me from head to foot.

My movements were hurried. Marius' watching me dress was too distracting. To the point that he even saw me putting on my panties and bra.

I wasn't really sure what was appropriate to put on because I was so nervous at the time. I just chose a crimson dress that reached barely beyond my knees, hugged my body, and had no sleeves.

Then Marius whistled once more. That's when I started to notice him again.

"I still need to fix my hair, so you should go down first," I shooed him off.

He raised his bushy eyebrows. His lips then quirked. He glanced at me thoughtfully, running his tongue over his lips and then biting his bottom lip playfully. "No, we'll wait for you," he said.

"Rude!" I exclaimed playfully, my cheeks flushing with a mixture of amusement and affection. The lightness of our banter added a delightful spark to the morning air, making our bond even more intimate.

"Oh, why am I being rude?" Marius asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, his lips curling into a teasing smile that tugged at my heartstrings.

I didn't answer verbally, my response a playful silence as I reached for the comb to run through my hair. Each stroke of the comb seemed to mirror the gentle caress of Marius's touch, creating a symphony of tenderness in the simple act of grooming.

Once satisfied with my hair, I approached Marius, feeling the warmth of his presence drawing me closer. As I reached for MJ, ready to resume our morning routine, Marius surprised me with a sudden yet tender kiss.

In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still. My senses heightened, capturing the essence of his love in every soft brush of his lips against mine. It was a kiss filled with unspoken promises, a silent vow of devotion that resonated deep within my soul.

I surrendered to the sweetness of his kiss, allowing myself to be enveloped in the warmth of his embrace. It was a gesture that spoke volumes, conveying his unwavering affection and his desire to cherish every moment we shared.

As the kiss lingered, I savored the precious connection between us, feeling a sense of completeness that only Marius could evoke. I gave myself fully to the moment, granting him the freedom to extend the kiss as he pleased, knowing that in his arms, I was home.