Conrad
I arrive home from work, and when I step into the living room, the lights are dimmed, and candles are everywhere. The further I get in, I notice what looks like a fort in the corner. All the blinds are drawn, and music plays softly in the background.
“Maya?” I call out.
She comes skipping out of the kitchen in a pretty red dress, with her hair and make-up done. She smiles brightly.
“Welcome home, my love.” She gushes, rushing over to kiss me.
“What is all of this? You look beautiful.” I smile, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Date night.” She beams.
“Really? I feel like we haven’t had one in a while.”
She shakes her head, “We haven’t. Now, go shower and change. When you are done our first course will be ready, my love,” she says, kissing my cheek.
“Yes, ma’am.” I chuckle and do as I am told, disappearing to the bathroom.
I smile as I look around the living room again. It all looks romantic and homey. It must have taken her all day. She even has pretty fairy lights on the walls and around the fireplace. She is incredible. I find it sweet how much effort she has put in. I don’t need a shower. I had one this morning. All I need to do is freshen up a little and change. I planned on changing into my pjs, but she looked too pretty in her dress for me to return in my pjs.
I clean my face, rinse my mouth with mouthwash and change into jeans and a nice tee. I don’t want to wear a suit longer than I need to. Once I am done, I stroll back through, going into the kitchen to Maya. I come up behind her and slip my arms around her, kissing her neck.
“Can I help with anything, sweetheart?”
She glances over her shoulder, smiling at me, “You can take the wine, glasses and cheese to our fort.” She snickers.
“I can do that. What made you build a fort, and why didn’t you wait for me to help?” I pout.
“I wanted to do something different. I have the wall projector set up for us to watch a movie while inside of it.” She says proudly.
I smile and kiss her cheek. I take everything through to the living room and into the fort. She has pillows, blankets, and snacks for after dinner. She thought of everything. I set everything down on the little table she had inside. The thing is massive. I have never seen anything like it.
I get ready to join her in the kitchen, but I don’t get a chance because she comes through with our starters and shoos me back into the fort. I chuckle and return inside. I take a seat, and she hands me the plates.
“I hope they taste okay. It is the first time I have made garlic mushrooms from scratch.” She says nervously.
“I am sure they will be delicious, angel.”
She sits beside me, “I will take a kiss now since we will be smelling of garlic soon.” She laughs.
I reach over and kiss her softly, “Your garlic breath won’t stop me from kissing you.” I chuckle into the kiss.
She giggles as we part. “Try them, and I want your honest opinion,” she states firmly.
I nod and take a bite. I groan, “It is delicious.”
“Promise?” she asks with a raised brow.
I hold my hands up, “I promise. They are amazing. You should try them.”
She seems a little nervous about tasting them, but she finally does and agrees with me that they are good. I wish she would realise how great her cooking skills are. I pour us some wine, handing one to her.
“To us and our date night. I love you.”
“Yes, to us and to tonight. I love you too.”
We clink our glasses and take a sip, “You bought my favourite wine?”
“Yes. Everything tonight is all your favourite things.” She smiles.
I smirk, “Does that list include you?”
Maya playfully rolls her eyes, but a smirk rises on her lips, and she reaches over, her face only inches from mine, “Yes, I am on that list. I have something special prepared only for you.” She purrs and licks her lips.
I groan and reach in for a kiss, but she pulls back, waggling her finger at me, “No. If we do, you know where it will lead, and we still have another two courses before you get to the best part.”
She pats my cheek, laughing and focuses back on her food. I huff and do the same. She is right, though. I don’t want us to get carried away and her efforts being ruined by our hormones. I can wait a few hours.
“I can be patient.” I smile.
“I know you can, handsome. Finish up. We have another two courses to get through.”
I am eager to see what she has made for the main and dessert. It will taste as good as our starters.
****
Maya is lying next to me with her head on my chest as we watched a movie. She is snuggled in tightly. She nuzzled her face into my neck.
“I love you so much, Conrad; please don’t ever forget that.” She whispers.
I glance down at her, “I know you do, angel. Why would I forget that?” I ask, confused.
I caress her cheek, and she smiles up at me. “I just wanted you to know, that’s all. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You have given me a life I didn’t think I would ever have. I will always be grateful for you and the love you have for me.” She says softly, tears in her eyes.
“Maya, are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Yes. I am fine.” She answers and kisses me softly.
“You are the best thing ever to happen to me, too, beautiful. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Me too.” She agrees, lying her head back on my chest.
I stroke her hair and kiss the top of her head. We turn to watch the movie again. I worry something is wrong. My gut tells me I am missing something. I hope I am wrong. I sigh and cuddle her closer to me. I don’t ever want to let her go.
She slips her hand under my tee, drawing circles on my stomach. I close my eyes and draw in a breath, enjoying her touch on my skin. I will never tire of her touch. I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost her. It is a thought I don’t even want to think about.
“Thank you for dinner, angel. It was amazing. You are amazing.” I say proudly.
“You treat me like a queen all of the time. You deserve to be treated as a king because you have given me a modern-day fairy-tale life, Conrad. I wish I could do more for you.” She sighs.
“Hey, now, baby girl. You do enough for me. You make me feel loved and cared for every single day. You have made me a better man and a better human being. As long as I have you, that is all I need.” I smile and kiss her forehead.
“You are all I want and need too.” She says, climbing on top of me.
She lies down on top of me. I snake my arms around and hug her close to my chest. She is where she belongs, and no matter what it takes, she will always be mine and safe with me.