Stella's P.O.V.

I sit in the warm water of the bathtub, and Alex sits right beside the tub, holding my hand.

I look at him, still struggling to understand how Alex could love someone as broken as me. How can he love a woman who can barely hold herself together? Yet, here he is, his fingers entwined with mine, his gaze never wavering, filled with a tenderness I never thought anyone would have for me.

He told me I fixed him. I seriously don't understand when I did it.

"Stella..." he calls me out, breaking the silence. "What happened at the jewellery store?"

My hands tremble as I recall about the pendant and tears well up in my eyes. When will these painful memories stop affecting me? I fucking don't want to cry for that bastard anymore.

He places his one hand on my cheek and squeezes my hand with his other one. "Let it out, Flower," he murmurs. "You'll feel better."

Tears trickle down my cheeks as I begin telling him, my voice trembling. "I saw a woman purchasing the pendant which I purchased to gift Jade on the..." I hiccup and he gently wipes my tears. "On the day when he cheated on me."

A flash of anger flares in his eyes, but there's something deeper too—pain. He's hurting for me, sharing in my heartbreak as if it's his own. It's unbelievable that someone's emotions are so closely connected to mine. When I cry, he feels my pain, and when I'm happy, he smiles.

"How could anyone be so cruel?" I choke out, struggling to understand. "I thought... I thought I mattered."

He leans in, his forehead resting against mine. "Some people don't know how to appreciate a good thing when they have it, Stella. They don't realise they're breaking something beautiful. That's not your fault."

The pain in my chest eases just a little, but I want to forget this pain completely, and I know only he has the power to do it.

"I... I need you, Alex." As these words slip out of my mouth, he leans down and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. It's enough to set my body on fire. His velvety lips do the magic on me.

Without a word, he stands up, strips off his clothes, and then slips into the tub behind me. His arms wrap around my shoulders, pulling me close to his chest. I can feel the steady beat of his heart against my back, and it's like a balm to all the wounds.

"I'll love you, Stella, until my heart stops beating," he whispers against my hair. "And you'll always find me with you whenever you need me."

I completely lose myself in his touch, and his words filled with honesty. This moment is so pure. I just hope one day I can trust him with my entire heart.

He turns me around until I'm straddling his lap. Our eyes locked. The tenderness in his gaze is overwhelming, and I can feel every ounce of his love in the way he looks at me.

Slowly, I let him fill me, and as he does, I wrap my arms around him, pressing our naked bodies, holding on to him like he's my lifeline. For a moment, we stay still, neither of us moving, just savouring the closeness. When he's inside me, I feel like we're inseparable.

His fingers trail softly up my back as he whispers, "When I'm inside you, I always feel so complete and alive, Flower."

His hands hold my hips firmly, guiding me with a slow rhythm. He breathes against my lips, "I fucking love you so much."

He thrusts deeper, his mouth leaving kisses down to my collarbone. He reaches my chest, sucking gently. At this moment, everything else fades away—all the pain, all the memories of betrayal. There's only Alex and the way he's filling me.

I ride him, moving faster as he matches my pace. Breathless, I can't hold back and murmur, "You make me forget every pain, Alex. Thank you for being here."

With one last movement, we lose ourselves completely, shattering together in a release that feels as if it's cleansing all the wounds. We bury our faces in each other's shoulders, panting.

The connection between us is so deep, I can feel it.

***

Alex stands in front of me with only a towel wrapped around his waist as he gently dries my body with another towel. I'm just lost in him.

"Feeling better?" He questions, wrapping the towel around my body.

A smirk spreads across my face and I shake my head, although I'm feeling more than better now. "No."

He grabs my waist and yanks me closer to him with a grin on his face, understanding what's going on in my mind. "So how do you want me to make you feel better, Flower?"

"You know exactly what you have to do, Mr NMG." I wink at him.

"Absolutely." Saying this, he hoists me on his shoulder, startling me.

I squeal as he takes me out of the bathroom, spanking my buttocks. Who can say a few minutes ago, I was crying and an hour ago I fainted because of panic attacks? Alex has this magic that pulls me from my darkest moments so easily.

***

We lie tangled together on the bed naked, my head resting on his chest as I listen to the steady beat of his heart, feeling so peaceful. Alex's fingers caress my back, drawing invisible patterns that make me shiver. Who can say this person was fucking me like a wild animal a minute ago, resting my legs on his shoulder?

I close my eyes, savouring this quiet moment, feeling more connected to him than I ever thought possible. It's surreal—knowing he can be both gentle and wild, and somehow, each side of him feels like exactly what I need these days.

A lazy smile spreads across my face. "You really are two different people in one, aren't you?" I tease, my fingers drawing circles on his chest. "One moment, you're so gentle, and the next..." I trail off, letting my smile speak for itself as I meet his gaze.

There's a playful glint in his eyes as he chuckles, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"And the next, I'm wild?" he finishes for me, his fingers drifting to trace the curve of my shoulder.

His touch sends a shiver through me, and I laugh, nodding. "Exactly. I like both."

He smiles, pulling me closer. "You know you bring the gentle side of me which I didn't even know I had it in me."

"So you mean I'm the first woman to see this side of you?"

He nods, still smiling. "You are, Stella. I didn't know I could be like this until you. You make me want to protect you, to be the kind of man you deserve." His fingers trace my jaw, his thumb brushing over my cheek in a tender caress.

I close my eyes, savouring his words, letting them sink into my heart. There's something beautiful about knowing I've unlocked a side of him that no one else ever has. I feel so... lucky to witness his gentle side.