"I promise it's not a bomb"

Finally, I knew it was time to get out and start getting ready for my date. So I took my bath, turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower, quickly wrapping a towel around myself as I walked out of the bathroom.

As I entered my room, I was completely taken aback by the sight before me.

"Hi, Mia"

There on the bed, casually lounging as if he belonged there, was Ray. 'What was he doing here?'

A scream escaped my lips before I could even think to hold it back, and my hands flew to my mouth in a reflexive gesture.

It wasn't until I felt the weight of my towel slip from my grasp and fall to the ground that I even remembered I was still holding it. My shock and surprise were so intense that I completely forgot about my own state of undress.

'Oh shit' I said to myself as I quickly grabbed my towel and covered up myself.

"Uhm... yeah," I said, as I took a deep breath and surveyed the room, taking in the clutter and disarray. Piles of books and papers covered the desk in the corner, my bed hasn't been made yet. It wasn't usually this chaotic, but I had barely had time to keep up with my usual tidying routine this morning.

"How did you get here?" I asked, turning to face Ray as I walked towards the center of the room.

"To pick you up, remember? You said to be here by eleven?" he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I tried to recall our conversation from this morning, feeling a twinge of panic as I realized I had completely lost track of time.

"Is it really eleven already?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief.

"Not exactly. I just decided to be a little early. I heard it's good to be punctual; makes a good impression," he said, a hopeful look in his eyes.

I wasn't sure if I agreed with his sentiment. "Hmm... I don't know about that," I said, shrugging my shoulders as I sat down in front of my mirror and reached for the jar of body cream.

I scooped a generous amount onto my fingers and began massaging it into my skin, feeling the silky smooth lotion sink into the pores on my arms and legs.

"Kira said it was okay if I come in," he explained, as if sensing my hesitation.

"Yeah, sure. It's just that you startled me, that's all," I said, trying to shake off the feeling of surprise.

I hadn't even realized that he had left the edge of the bed where he had been sitting until I felt his warmth behind me. I turned to the mirror and saw him standing there, his eyes locked onto mine.

He looked at me with such intensity, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he spoke. "Your scent intoxicates me," he said, his voice low and husky. I felt my heart flutter at his words, and I couldn't help but blush at the compliment.

"Awwn... thanks," I said, feeling my cheeks warm up with embarrassment. I couldn't believe he was saying such sweet things to me.

Suddenly, he straightened up and began to dig into his pockets. "I got you something," he said, a smile spreading across his face.

He pulled out a small black box with a pink bow on top and handed it to me. "For a moment there, I thought I'd lost it," he said, grinning sheepishly.

I took the box from him, my hands shaking with excitement. I had a feeling I knew what was inside, but I couldn't quite believe it.

"Come on, open it. I promise you it's not a bomb," he joked, a twinkle in his eye.

I chuckled, trying to calm my racing heart. "Well, if it is, we're sure going out with a bang," I replied, and we both laughed.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened the box. As I lifted the lid, my breath caught in my throat at the sight of what was inside. Nestled in a bed of velvet was a beautiful silver necklace with a heart-shaped crystal pendant.

I carefully lifted it out of the box and held it up to the light. The ray of sunlight streaming in through the window caught the crystal, and it reflected the colors of the rainbow in a mesmerizing display. I was awestruck by such a wonderful gift, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.

Tears of joy welled up in my eyes as I looked at him, feeling grateful for such a thoughtful and loving gesture.

"I just wanted to surprise you," Ray said in a low voice, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "I can return it if you don't like it," he added, his hands going to the back of his neck as he waited nervously for my response.

"Like?" I raised a brow at him, feeling my cheeks warm up with embarrassment. "I love it. It's wonderful, Ray. Thank you," I said, delighted.

He collected the necklace from me and placed it around my neck, his fingers sending electric sparks wherever they touched.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled, feeling beautiful and loved. I turned around and dragged Ray down, pulling him close to me.

"Come over here," I said as I dragged him down to my height and smashed my lips against his.

He responded quickly, adjusting himself and taking control of the kiss. Our lips moved in sync as we lip-locked, the heat between us rising with every touch.

I felt Ray lift me up from the chair, his hands on my thighs sending electric sparks wherever they touched.

I wrapped my legs around his waist as he sat down on the bed, placing me on his lap without breaking the kiss.

My hands ran through his hair as his hands explored my bare back. It felt like home in his arms, under the spell of his kiss.

His left hand went down to my waist while his right hand moved up my thigh, the trails of passion following his fingers. I could feel the bulge in between his legs and I smiled, knowing that I had that much of an effect on him.

We broke apart, filling our lungs with air before merging our lips again. This time, the kiss was deeper, hungrier, and more intense.

My brain can't even come up with what to say as his hands went to my thighs, leaving trails of passion at every touch His tongue sought entrance and I gladly allowed him. Our tongues danced around, fighting for dominance as we both laughed.

Eventually, we separated, smiling at each other with love and desire.

"Thank you, Ray. I love it." I said, looking up at him with a warm smile.

"I'm glad you do." he replied, returning my smile.

Feeling content, I leaned my head on his chest and closed my eyes, listening to the reassuring beat of his heart. The rise and fall of his chest was soothing and I lost track of time, simply enjoying the moment we were sharing.

"Mia?" Ray said softly, breaking the peaceful silence.

"uh-huh.?" I responded, not wanting to lift my head from its comfortable position.

"Nothing. Just wanted to know if you are still with me." he said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Yeah, I am." I assured him, opening my eyes and looking up at him.

"How about I go down and see Kira for a while while you get dressed?" Ray suggested, standing up and lifting me gently off the bed.

I hesitated, not wanting to leave the comfort of his embrace. The masculine scent of his cologne and the warmth of his body were inviting me to stay a little longer.

"Can I stay like this for a while?" I asked, snuggling closer to him.

"sure, why not?" he responded, pulling me closer.

I closed my eyes and inhaled his intoxicating scent one last time before raising up my head.

As I did, he looked at me and asked, "Ready?"

"Yes," I replied.

He then stood up, lifting me up and placing me gently on the floor. He kissed my forehead and went downstairs.

I watched as he took one last glance back at me before disappearing from view. With a content sigh, I busied myself with getting dressed.

'Okay, let's see.' I said to myself, scanning the contents of my wardrobe.

Deciding against a skirt or dress, I opted for a pair of comfortable jeans and a light sweater. I slipped on my favorite sneakers to complete the look.

After blowing my hair dry and applying a mild amount of makeup, I combed it straight and grabbed my phone, placing it in a one-hand cross body bag. One last look in the mirror and I was ready to join Kira and Ray in the living room.

As I descended the stairs, the sound of laughter and chatter filled my ears. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as I thought about all my life here and about Ray.

'Today's gonna be fun.' I told myself.

After listening to Kira's eye-rolling sermon amidst laughter, I and Ray started the day.