Melanie

As I unlock the door to our apartment, a wave of exhaustion washes over me. All I want is to collapse into bed and drift off into a deep, uninterrupted sleep. But before I can even entertain that thought, I need to talk to Marcus, find out how much longer he'll be at his parents' home so I can pick him up, and then... well, then we'll figure out the rest.

Pushing the door open, I step inside and immediately freeze in astonishment. The living room is transformed into a romantic haven, bathed in the soft glow of flickering candlelight. The air is infused with the sweet scent of vanilla and lavender, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. My eyes widen as I take in the sight before me.

The coffee table is adorned with a bouquet of fresh flowers, their vibrant colors popping against the muted tones of the room. A plush blanket is draped over the back of the couch, inviting me to snuggle up and get cozy. Soft music fills the air, its gentle melody weaving through the room like a soothing lullaby.

But it's the centerpiece of the room that truly takes my breath away. A small table is set up in fron of the couch, adorned with a delectable spread – strawberries dipped in chocolate, a selection of cheeses and crackers, and a bottle of chilled champagne. My stomach rumbles at the sight, the exhaustion momentarily forgotten as excitement bubbles up within me.

"Marcus?" I call out, my voice barely above a whisper as I take a hesitant step forward. "What's all this?"

He appears from the kitchen, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he meets my gaze. "Surprise," he says simply, his eyes twinkling with warmth.

I can't help but smile at his words, my heart swelling with affection for this man who never fails to surprise and delight me. Crossing the room, I wrap my arms around him in a tight embrace, burying my face on his chest as I breathe in his familiar scent.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice choked with emotion. "This is... incredible."

He pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine with a mixture of love and adoration. "I wanted to do something special for you," he says softly. "To show you how much you mean to me."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I gaze up at him, overwhelmed by the depth of his love for me. "I love you," I whisper, the words spilling from my lips without hesitation.

"I love you too," he replies, his voice barely above a whisper as he leans in to press a gentle kiss to my lips.

"But what about your stuff?" I ask, my brow furrowing in concern.

Marcus smiles, his fingers tracing gentle circles on my back. "Already done," he replies confidently.

I blink in disbelief, stunned by his efficiency. "Really?" I breathe.

Marcus nods, a proud smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I left work a little early and got it done," he explains. "I wanted to spend a romantic evening with my girl."

A surge of warmth floods my chest at his words, my heart swelling with love for this incredible man standing before me. "You are so good to me," I murmur, my voice filled with awe.

He leans down to press a tender kiss to the top of my head, his lips lingering against my skin. "You deserve nothing less than this," he whispers, his breath warm against my ear. "Maybe more, but definitely not less."

I melt into his embrace, feeling cherished and adored in his arms. Marcus guides me to the couch, his hand clasped in mine as we sink into the plush cushions together.

"This is so great," I murmur, leaning against him as we settle onto the couch.

Marcus returns my smile, his eyes alight with affection. "I'm glad you like it," he says, reaching for a bottle of champagne. "Champagne?" he offers, his voice filled with anticipation.

I hesitate for a moment, my exhaustion catching up to me. "I'm a little tired," I confess, my voice soft. "I'm afraid if I drink champagne, I'll instantly fall asleep on the couch."

Marcus's expression softens with understanding as he sets the champagne aside. "That's okay," he says gently, pulling me closer to him. "We can save it for another night."

A contented sigh escapes me as I lean into Marcus's embrace, his arm wrapped securely around my shoulders. The warmth of his body against mine fills me with a sense of comfort and peace that I've never known before. In this moment, all the worries and stresses of the day fade away, replaced by an overwhelming feeling of contentment.

"Definitely," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.

Marcus's lips curve into a tender smile as he leans back against the couch, pulling me closer to him. I nestle against his side, letting out another sigh of contentment. The thing I was saying earlier, about not being able to imagine being happier? Scratch that. This is the happiest I've ever been.

I glance up at Marcus, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. "Marcus," I say softly, "I'm so grateful you did this. I really needed a night to rest, after everything. I feel absolutely drained."

Marcus's expression softens, his gaze filled with understanding. He hesitates for a moment before speaking, his voice gentle. "Actually," he begins, "I had a little help."

I tilt my head up to look at him, curiosity sparking in my eyes. "What do you mean?" I ask, my brow furrowing slightly.

Marcus's expression shifts, guilt flickering across his features. "I... Evie texted me," he admits reluctantly. "She told me you were exhausted."

I groan inwardly, frustration bubbling up within me. "Really?" I mutter, shaking my head. "She told you? I didn't want you to know."

Marcus strokes his thumb gently across my cheek, his touch soothing. "Why, baby?" he asks softly, concern evident in his voice.

I sigh, feeling a pang of guilt for keeping this from him. "Because I thought you would suggest taking a day off from moving," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "And I didn't want that. I couldn't imagine that you would do all this."

Would it be so bad if we took a day off from moving?" Marcus asks, his voice soft and tentative.

"Yeah," I reply pointedly. "I want to be done with it so we can enjoy living together."

A smile spreads across Marcus's lips as he pulls me closer to his body, his touch igniting a fire within me. Without a word, he captures my lips in a hungry kiss, his passion washing over me like a tidal wave. My body responds eagerly, leaning into him as our lips move together in a dance of desire.

His kiss is intoxicating, his touch making my body feel alive in ways I never knew possible. I part my lips, inviting him in, as our tongues entwine in a heated embrace. The world fades away, leaving only the two of us lost in the moment.

When we finally break the kiss, Marcus's voice is low and husky as he murmurs, "That's what I want too."

A smile plays at the corners of my lips as I nod in agreement. "Good," I reply softly. "Then we're on the same page."

Leaning forward, I pluck a strawberry from the bowl on the coffee table, my gaze never leaving Marcus's. I bring it to my lips, biting down slowly, savoring the sweetness of the fruit. Marcus's eyes darken with desire as he watches me, his gaze heated and intense.

Marcus's breath hitches at the sight, his eyes darkening with desire. "Fuck," he mutters, his voice rough with need.

In an instant, he pulls me to him, crushing my body against his as his lips find mine once more. His kisses trail down my neck, sending shivers of pleasure coursing through me. I moan softly, the throb of desire building between my legs as his hands roam my body.

His touch is electric, sending sparks of pleasure racing through me as he kneads my breast with gentle insistence. I arch into his touch, a soft whimper escaping my lips as he continues to caress me, his fingers tracing patterns along my skin.

Marcus's touch is insistent as he pushes me gently onto my back, his hands moving with purpose as he unbuttons my pants. I lift my hips eagerly, allowing him to slide them down my legs with ease. The anticipation coils tightly in my chest as Marcus removes my pants and panties in one smooth motion, leaving me completely exposed to his hungry gaze.

I watch breathlessly as Marcus places one of my legs on the back of the couch, his eyes raking over my body with a hunger that sends shivers of excitement coursing through me. I've never felt sexier than I do in this moment, with Marcus's eyes devouring me whole.

With a boldness that sets my heart racing, Marcus places my other leg on his shoulder and dives in, his tongue tracing a path along my slick slit. I arch my back instinctively, a loud scream escaping my lips as Marcus finds my clit and begins to lick and suck it with a relentless fervor.

The sensation is overwhelming, sending waves of pleasure crashing over me as Marcus's skilled tongue works its magic. I reach out blindly, my fingers scrambling as I grab onto the pillows on the couch, the need for something to hold onto becoming overwhelming.

But Marcus shows no signs of slowing down, his fingers finding their way to my entrance and thrusting inside me with a relentless rhythm. Each movement sends waves of pleasure crashing over me, my body responding eagerly to his touch.

I can feel the tension building within me, coiling tighter and tighter with each thrust of Marcus's fingers. And then, with a cry of ecstasy, I shatter into a million pieces, my orgasm washing over me like a tidal wave.

My walls clench around Marcus's fingers, my body writhing with pleasure as he continues to penetrate me, prolonging my intense orgasm until I can't take it anymore. I collapse against the couch, panting and spent, my entire body buzzing with the aftershocks of pleasure.

Before I can even catch my breath, Marcus stands up and takes my hand in his, his eyes burning with desire. "We're not done," he says, his voice low and husky.