“FAMILIAR KISS”

I didn't know how to explain what I was feeling in those moments. It's like my entire body was paralyzed. I couldn't move. That's why Marius had the opportunity to deepen that kiss even more.

"Sam," he whispered as he momentarily released my lips. He then traced my face with his gaze.

I groped my chest, trying to find even a small trace of discomfort in the audacity of the young man. But I failed to see it. Instead, a sweet smile played on my lips. I couldn't help it.

"Your kiss tastes familiar," I couldn't stop myself from saying in almost a whispering tone, similar to what Marius used on me.

Marius couldn't speak anymore. Instead, he hugged me tightly after I said that. It wasn't the first time he embraced me since I woke up from my coma, but I could say it was my favorite among all the new experiences.

"Come with me, Sam. I'll take care of you, I promise," he said as he released me from the embrace.

My eyebrows furrowed as my eyes questioned Marius, whom I stared at intently. I was aware that he was my boyfriend, as he introduced himself to me. But what truly surprised me and caused my reaction was what he said.

"Take care of me?" I repeated my question based on what he told me.

At that point, it seemed like Marius ran out of time as he enclosed my face in his two hands.

"I just want you to know that I will do everything to make things right," he replied, then kissed me again.

At that moment, I surrendered once more. I couldn't tell if it was the warmth of his kiss that I truly enjoyed or the careful yet passionate way his lips caressed mine.

In the end, I let go of all those thoughts. I realized it wasn't important which was which or what was true. What mattered to me now was the fact that my heart was undeniably happy. It embraced everything that was happening.

"What do you think?"

After Marius released my lips again, that was the question he posed in an almost pleading tone.

I knew the answer he wanted to hear in those moments. And since I liked the idea too, I didn't hesitate to smile widely and nod repeatedly.

I quickly saw in Marius's eyes that he was pleased with the response he got from me. Those eyes immediately sparkled, making them even more attractive in my eyes.

"Do you know that you made me incredibly happy with what you just said, Sam?"

I could sense the joy in Marius's tone as he spoke. Again, like earlier, he softly caressed my heart with those words. And that feeling gave me the courage to let my hand gently stroke his left cheek.

I saw Marius take a deep breath, and then he carefully released it. Meanwhile, I couldn't deny that I enjoyed his reaction.

"I just realized now that I actually like the feeling of making you happy," I replied, using my free hand to touch his right cheek.

My heart pounded strongly in those moments, and I felt a gradual shift in the atmosphere in the room. But I didn't want to hold back because of all that. I didn't want to be affected by what should have been a strong discomfort whenever Marius was around.

Straightforward, intense, and arguably uncomfortable was the kind of gaze Marius gave me. But I chose to meet his gaze. I chose to stare into his dark eyes.

"I love you so much, Sam," he whispered, then rested his forehead against mine.

A broad smile formed on my lips. Since the moment I woke up, this was the first time I heard Marius say those words to me. But why was I so happy? Even though, in reality, he claimed to be my boyfriend, I couldn't remember anything.

"You know, I really believe you when you say there was something between us before I had the accident," I couldn't help but say to him while also failing to conceal the thrill I was feeling.

"Yeah?" Marius replied, smiling with a hint of amusement in both his expression and tone.

I nodded in succession. "Because my heart feels it. It might sound cheesy to say. But obviously, my heart knows you."

"Oh, sweetheart," was all he said, and I didn't anticipate what would happen next.

Marius embraced me, and afterward, he held me tightly. After a few moments, I felt a gentle rocking of his shoulders. My eyebrows furrowed because of that. Along with the overwhelming curiosity was a question that enveloped my mind.

"Are you okay?" I asked him while caressing his back.

Marius didn't hide his emotions from me anymore. And I couldn't help but worry because of that.

Marius didn't answer. Instead, he tightened his embrace even more. To the point that it became a bit difficult for me to breathe. It was tolerable, so I let it be. Just as I allowed him to release his emotions,.

*****

Marius failed to control his emotions because of what Sam said. In reality, the girl's words were quite simple, but each sentence pierced through his heart.

If only you knew. But I'm afraid. I'm afraid you'll leave me and be angry with me when you find out the truth.

That was what he actually wanted to tell Sam. However, he decided against it. Because, as he thought, he was afraid Sam might leave him once she knew the truth.

"I love you so much, Sam." Instead, that's what he replied before releasing Sam from his tight embrace.

With those words, he saw a tearful yet contented smile form on Samantha's lips.

"Even if you don't say that, Marius, I can see in your eyes that you love me very much," she said.

Marius took a deep breath again at Sam's words. Especially when her hand gently touched his cheek and she traced his thin beard.

"Do I need to shave?" he asked, noticing Sam seemingly enjoying what she was doing.

She shook her head in succession and surveyed his face with her eyes.

"Do you know, when you said you were my boyfriend when I woke up in the ICU, I thought of something?"

Marius's eyes immediately sparkled at what Sam said.

"Really? Can I know what you were thinking?" he asked, brushing some strands of hair that lightly clung to Sam's beautiful face.

Sam's eyes momentarily turned as if she were thinking. Then she smiled and opened her mouth to speak, her face slightly blushing.

"I said, 'Wow, I'm so lucky if this is my boyfriend because he's so handsome!'"

Marius couldn't help but chuckle softly at that. Then he remained silent, listening as Sam seemed to have more to say.

"Yeah. And of course, I blushed a bit when I found out I was pregnant, and you said you were the father of the baby," she continued.

*****

I immediately noticed the thick eyebrows of Marius lifting. There was amusement in his eyes, and I think he understood what I was referring to, so I quickly blushed.

“Why are you blushing?” he asked in an almost teasing tone.

His face was close to mine at that moment, allowing me to freely inhale his pleasant breath, which sent delightful shivers through my entire body.

Almost involuntarily, I bit my lower lip. Afterward, I shook my head in succession.

“Just say it,” Marius urged me in the same unchanged tone. "Don't be shy," he added, holding one of my hands to give it a gentle kiss.

"Well, you see," I said in a stuttering tone, simultaneously avoiding his gaze quickly.

I didn't know why I suddenly felt warm. I couldn't admit it to him, but the truth was, in those moments, I was really wondering how exactly we conceived the baby in my womb.

"Are you thinking about how you got pregnant?" Marius asked me kindly.

I gasped abruptly. I couldn't believe he could read me like that and do it in a way I didn't see coming. It was a gentle approach, but it had a unique kind of allure and magnetism that sucked away all my strength.

I swallowed hard, not expecting what he would do next.

Since I was avoiding eye contact, Marius gently held my chin and carefully turned my face towards him. With that move, I had no choice but to look into his eyes.

"Tell me the truth. I know that's what you're thinking. Am I right?" he asked, gazing intently at my face.

It seemed like that was what I was waiting for. After that question, it felt like my head had a mind of its own, nodding automatically.

"Well, we made love," he said, his response unapologetically confident.

I gasped in surprise, simultaneously giving him a light tap on the shoulder. "Marius!" I scolded him.

"What?" Marius playfully questioned me, trying to suppress a smile.

"Don’t be so loud!" I said.

He shrugged and then held my hands again. Afterward, he lifted them and gently kissed them.

"At our house, would you like to continue everything there?" Marius asked with a meaningful and mischievous tone, followed by a flirtatious wink.

My face grew warmer at what I heard. Then I tried to retrieve my hands from him, but he tightened his grip even more.

"You know what? Our ancestral house in the province is beautiful. It was built during the Spanish era. My father passed it on to me. I'm sure you'll like it there." Marius continued his story.

Once again, I found myself smiling. The playful remarks he made earlier quickly faded from my mind, replaced by an indescribable kind of happiness.

"I can't wait to bring you there, sweetheart. As I told you, we'll fill every corner of that house with warm memories. We'll mark every room and every part. We'll make it a symbol of our passionate and intense love," Marius said, and his tone turned more erotic.

Again, my face warmed up. I couldn't hide the effect his words had on me, but this time, I gathered more courage.

I didn't want him to think I was hesitant, so I looked him in the eye. Despite the discomfort in my heart during those moments, I tried not to give in. I strengthened my resolve and spoke. I told him what I truly felt and what I wanted to say.

"I can't wait for that to happen," I uttered.

Since I was gazing into Marius's eyes, I couldn't help but notice the corners of his lips lifting. I saw the naughty side of my boyfriend in that smile. So, I spoke again to add to what I previously said.

"Give me new memories of how passionate your way of expressing love is, Marius," I said, then bridged the small gap between our lips for a simple kiss.

I secretly delighted in Marius's reaction to what I did. However, his response to the teasing I started surprised me.

"What time were you last checked for vital signs?" he asked.

"Earlier, before I ate, I think it's done every four hours," I replied.

Marius just nodded, then stood up and approached the door. Afterward, I heard the lock click.

A strong sense of anticipation surged through my chest. I felt like I could guess why Marius did that, and I could say I was excited.

As he approached me, he sat again on the chair beside my bed. Then, he bent down and kissed me. No words, just a kiss. And it was a passionate one.

"I think I can make love with you right here, Sam," he said teasingly and erotically before passionately kissing my lips once again.