A Long Day

A Long Day
Nathan’s POV

We must have drifted off again after the second round, bodies tangled and slick with sweat. 

When I woke up sometime later, the couch felt too empty. Kayla was gone. 

A soft blanket had been draped over my naked body. I sat up, rubbing my face, confused for a second as I looked around the living room.

The clock on the wall read 10:07 PM.

Where is she? How did I sleep for that long?

Then the most mouthwatering aroma hit me…rich tomato sauce, melted cheese, garlic, and herbs. My stomach growled loudly in hunger.

I smiled and quietly headed to the bedroom to grab some shorts. The last thing I needed was Kayla throwing a spatula at me while I was still naked and obviously wanting round three. 

I can’t help it. I just can’t get enough of her.

Inside her room, my eyes landed on the framed picture on her vanity table. 

Kayla was smiling brightly, holding a happy little Caden in her arms. They both looked so full of love. 

My chest tightened with warmth. I couldn’t wait for the day we’d take our own family picture…the three of us. Once Caleb was completely out of the picture.

I quickly pulled on a pair of black shorts from the walk-in closet and went to find her.

In the kitchen, Kayla was standing at the stove, humming softly. I came up behind her, wrapped my arms around her waist, and dropped a slow kiss on the side of her neck.

She leaned back into me with a small smile. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a man who just had the best moments of his life,” I murmured against her skin. “I don’t want this to end, Kayla.”

She turned in my arms and pressed a sweet kiss to my cheek. “We still have to eat. I’m famished.”

“Why didn’t you wake me? I would’ve helped.”

“You were sleeping like a baby,” she teased. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

I shook my head, pulling her closer. “Disturb me. Every single day of my life. Interrupt me. Bother me. I need you in my life at all costs.”

She laughed softly and patted my chest. “Take a seat, poem lover boy.”

I grinned as I sat down. “I’m not just a lover boy. I’m your husband too.”

She rolled her eyes playfully while setting the table. “Let the world have peace for once. It’s always ‘husband this, husband that’ with you.”

“Of course,” I said proudly. “Who wouldn’t be over the moon? You’re my wife. You are Nathan’s wife.”

She paused for a second, then said lightly, “It’s fake though. You shouldn’t think we’re really husband and wife.”

The words stung more than I expected. She has no idea it’s real. 

I stopped for a second and wondered if she’d be happy or furious when she finally learned the truth.

She glanced at my shoulder. “How’s your injury? Sure you don’t need painkillers?”

I smiled sheepishly. “Doesn’t hurt much. Maybe because of the medicine you gave me earlier. We might need to do it again so I won’t feel any pain at all.”

“Stop messing around!” She blushed hard and began serving the food.

The meal was simple but perfect…cheesy lasagna with garlic bread and a fresh salad. 

One bite and I groaned in pleasure. “This is incredible. I’ll do anything not to lose this. Ever.”

She smiled, looking pleased.

We fell into a comfortable silence as we ate, stealing glances at each other across the small table. When we finished, I insisted on washing the dishes since she cooked and she let me.

For the first time in my life, everything felt smooth. Peaceful. Almost too perfect.

Is this real? Or am I dreaming? 

The anxious part of me whispered that good things like this usually get ruined right when you start believing in them. 

I hoped I could prevent anything from spoiling Kayla’s mood. Or ruin what we have.



Kayla’s POV

The moment I left Nathan in the kitchen, I went back to the couch, turned on the TV, and switched to Netflix. 

The latest season of FROM had dropped, and I hadn’t been able to keep up with everything going on. I needed something to distract me.

I picked up my phone and saw messages waiting.

Holly had texted asking for the exact time of the court hearing. 

I replied quickly with the details. Then came a message from my assistant at the bakery, giving a rundown of how today went. 

I typed back… Good job Mia. You will have to handle things tomorrow too. There's somewhere important I have to be. I’ll double your pay at the end of the month.

The last message I checked was from Caleb.

Caleb: Get ready for tomorrow. You better start packing Caden’s things because I will win custody of my son.

I hissed and deleted the message without replying. Strangely, after Nathan’s reassuring words earlier, I wasn’t as scared or worried as I expected to be.

Nathan settled in next to me on the couch and immediately gathered me close against his chest. 

I’d noticed he couldn’t keep his hands to himself whenever he was around me. Strangely, I was starting to find it comforting…like the steady sound of his heartbeat.

Still, a nervous thought crept in. What if he betrays me just like Caleb did? What if he’s just using me to pass time and at the end of everything, he will marry the stunning lady from earlier.

I trembled slightly at the idea. Nathan noticed immediately and pulled me even closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Why are you shaking, baby?” he asked gently.

I summoned my courage. “I’m just scared everything is happening too fast. What if you leave? Or betray me?”

He turned me so I was facing him fully, cupping my face with both hands. His eyes were intense, sincere, and full of heat.

“Listen to me,” he said, voice low and doting. “I’ve wanted you for a long time…even before you knew I was there. Not just your body…you. The way you fight for your son, the way you smile even when you’re tired, the way you love. I’m not going anywhere, Kayla. If I ever hurt you, I’d rather lose everything I have. You’re safe with me, Kayla. I swear on my life.”

Something in his voice, in the way he looked at me, settled deep in my chest. I couldn’t explain why, but I believed him.

Am I being too trusting? I feel like I should trust him because it’s Nathan. I nodded, snuggling further into him.

We stayed like that for a while, talking. Really talking.

“So,” I started, smiling, “what’s your biggest fear? And don’t say spiders.”

He laughed. “Heights. I hate heights. Once I had to rescue someone from a fifth-floor balcony and almost passed out.”

I burst out laughing. “Mr. Tough Police Captain is scared of heights?”

He laughed, the sound rumbling through my body. “Your turn,” he said, poking my side. “Worst date you’ve ever been on.”

“Oh God,” I groaned. “Back in college, this guy took me to a seafood restaurant even though I’m allergic. I spent the whole night in the bathroom while he kept ordering more shrimp.”

We kept going like that…asking silly questions, deep ones, funny ones. Favorite childhood memory. 

Most embarrassing moment. What superpower we’d want. What we’d do if we won the lottery. He told me he’d buy an entire bakery just for me. I told him I’d buy him a fear-of-heights therapy program.

The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and teasing. For the first time in a long while, I felt seen. Comfortable. Wanted.

Eventually, he leaned in and captured my lips in a deep, slow kiss. Heat flared instantly between us again.

Before I could even think about resisting, he scooped me up and started walking toward the bedroom.

He set me down gently on the bed and began kissing me from my legs upward…slow, open-mouthed kisses along my calves, my thighs, my stomach, my breasts. 

By the time he reached my neck I was aching, throbbing, soaked and needy.

Then he dropped beside me, pulled me into his arms, and kissed my forehead softly.

“Go to sleep, baby,” he whispered. “You’re probably tired.”

Umm… What?!

I lay there stunned, body still humming with unmet desire.

This asshole. He just spent the last ten minutes turning me into a throbbing, dripping mess and now he wants me to sleep? 

How can he leave me like this? Wet, aching, and frustrated as hell. 

He knows exactly what he’s doing. Is he trying to make me beg for it?