I slowly stir awake, my eyes fluttering open as the sunlight filters in through the curtains. I'm warm and comfortable, but there's something else that immediately catches my attention. 

I feel a pair of strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close. I turn my head, and see Jayden lying next to me, still asleep.

I smile, feeling a warm rush of affection for him. The night before comes back to me in flashes - the passion, the intensity, the sheer bliss of it all. 

I snuggle closer to him, pressing my body against his. He mumbles in his sleep, his arms tightening around me.

I lie there for a long moment, just enjoying the feeling of being close to him. Then, slowly, his eyes flicker open. He looks at me, a lazy smile spreading across his face. 

"Good morning, beautiful," he murmurs, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Good morning," I reply, smiling back at him. "Did you sleep well?" He hums, pulling me closer still. "Like a baby," he says, his hands running up and down my back. "You?"

"Me too," I reply. "I feel like I could sleep for a week." He laughs, the sound rumbling through his chest. "We did work up quite a sweat last night."

"We did," I agree, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks at the memory. He grins, clearly enjoying my reaction. "What are you blushing about, baby?" he teases, his thumb tracing a pattern on my hip.

"Just remembering last night," I mutter, burying my face in his chest. 

He chuckles, his arms tightening around me again. "You don't need to be embarrassed," he says, his voice low and intimate. "Last night was incredible."

"It was," I say, lifting my head to look at him. "It was so much better than I ever imagined." His eyes soften, and he reaches up to brush a strand of hair out of my face. "I feel the same way," he says, his voice soft. "I've never experienced anything like that before."

I can feel myself melting under his tender gaze. "Me neither," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. 
He leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "I want more," he murmurs, his lips moving to my temple. "So much more."

He pulls back slightly, looking into my eyes. "But we're going to take our time with this," he says, his voice firm but gentle. "I don't want to rush anything between us. I want to savor every moment."

"I know," I reply, resting my head on his chest again. "I want that too." He smiles, his hand resuming its pattern on my hip. "Good," he says. "But that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun in the meantime." He smirks.

I chuckle, feeling a flutter of excitement in my stomach. "I like the sound of that," I say, looking up at him. His smirk widens, and he pulls me closer, rolling over so that I'm lying on top of him.

He settles back against the pillows, pulling me tight against him. "We've got a few hours before I need to head to practice," he says, his hand tracing circles on my back. "And I plan on spending every second of it cuddling with you."

I smile, snuggling closer to him. "Sounds perfect," I say, resting my head on his chest. We lie there in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying the feeling of being close to each other. His hands wander over my skin, his touch slow and gentle.

"Can I ask you something?" I say, lifting my head to look at him. He looks down at me, his eyes soft. "Of course," he replies. "You can ask me anything."

"Do you..." I hesitate, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious. "Do you do this often? With other girls, I mean." A look of surprise crosses his face, and he looks at me intently. "No," he says firmly. "I don't. I'm not the type to sleep around." Relief floods through me when I hear his answer. "Really?" I ask, my voice tentative.

"Really," he says, his hand coming up to cup my face. "I don't do casual flings. I want something real." I smile, feeling my heart flutter. "Me too."

"Good," he says, his thumb tracing a line down my jawline. "Because I don't want this to be just a one-time thing." I shake my head. "Neither do I." His smile widens, and he pulls me in for a soft, tender kiss.

We stay like that for a while, just kissing and holding each other. I lose myself in the feel of his lips on mine, the warmth of his body against me. It feels so natural, so right.

Reluctantly, Jayden pulls away from me, sighing softly. "I need to get going," he says, his voice tinged with disappointment. I nod, feeling a pang of loss as he moves away from me. "I understand," I reply, sitting up in bed.

He swings his legs over the edge of the bed, standing up and stretching. I can't help but notice the way his muscles ripple as he moves, and I feel a flush of heat in my cheeks. He turns to look at me, a sly smile on his face. "Like what you see, baby?" he teases, his eyes sparkling.

I roll my eyes, trying to play it cool. "I've seen better," I tease back, even though we both know it's a lie. He laughs, bending down to grab his clothes from the ground. "You're a terrible liar," he says, pulling on his pants.

I watch as he gets dressed, and I can't help but feel a little disappointed that he's going to be leaving. "When will I see you again?" I ask, suddenly feeling a little needy.

He pauses in the act of buttoning his shirt, looking at me with a soft smile. "Tonight," he says, his voice gentle. "I'll come back as soon as practice is over. And then we can continue what we started this morning."

I smile, feeling a flutter of excitement in my stomach. "I'll hold you to that," I say, watching as he slips on his shoes. He grins, crossing the room to where I'm still sitting on the bed. He bends down, capturing my mouth in a quick, fierce kiss.

"I wouldn't expect anything less," he murmurs against my lips. "I'll see you later, baby." I nod, my heart skipping a beat at the endearment. "See you later."

He gives me one last smile, then turns and heads for the door. I watch as he leaves, feeling a pang of longing as the door closes behind him. 

I collapse back against the bed, letting out a sigh. I can still feel the heat of his kiss on my lips, and I know that the next few hours are going to drag by until I see him again.

I wrap a towel around myself and make my way into Jayden's bathroom. I dig my phone out of my purse and dial Avery's number.  She picks up after a few rings, her face appearing on the screen.

"Hey!" she says, her eyes widening as she takes me in. "Is that Jayden's bathroom?" I nod, feeling a little self-conscious. "Yeah," I say, holding the phone out to show her the surroundings.

"Damn girl," she says, her eyebrows raising. "You're living the dream. How was the sleepover?" I smile, remembering the events of the night before. "It was amazing," I say, my voice filled with giddy excitement.

"Don't hold out on me," she says, leaning closer to the camera. "Tell me everything. I want all the dirty details."

I chuckle, settling back on the edge of the bathtub. "It was incredible," I say, my cheeks flushing as I remember the feeling of Jayden's body against mine. "He was gentle, and tender, and so passionate. I've never felt anything like it before."

"Did you guys, you know...?" Avery asks, her voice dropping to a whisper. I shake my head, feeling a little embarrassed. "No, we didn't. We took things slow. We just...we just did other stuff." She grins, leaning back against her bed. "Damn, you got to the good stuff without even crossing the finish line? Color me impressed." I roll my eyes, feeling a little defensive. "It was more than just physical, you know. We really connected last night."

"I know," she says, grinning widely. "I'm just messing with you. I'm really happy for you, Hannah. You deserve to find someone who treats you right." I smile, feeling a wave of gratitude towards my friend. "Thanks, Ave. That means a lot."

"So..." I say, trying to steer the conversation away from my own romantic adventures. "How are things going with you and Ja'Marr?" Avery blushes and smiles, her eyes lighting up at the mention of his name.

"They're great," she says, her voice soft. "He's so sweet, and he's so supportive. I feel like I can really be myself around him." Ave tells me.

"I'm glad," I say, feeling a pang of affection for my friend. "You deserve someone who makes you happy." She sighs, her expression becoming serious. "There is one problem, though."

"What is it?" I frown, feeling a flutter of worry in my stomach. "We haven't told anyone about us yet," she admits, looking a little ashamed. I raise an eyebrow, surprised. "Why not?"

"He's worried that if we go public, the media will make a big deal out of it," she explains. "And he doesn't want our relationship to become a spectacle for the tabloids." I nod, understanding her concern. "But you're worried that he's hiding you because he's still seeing other girls?"

"Yeah," she confesses, looking down at her hands. "It feels like he's ashamed of me or something. Like I'm not good enough to be seen with him." My heart goes out to her.

"You are good enough," I say firmly. "You're amazing, and he's lucky to have you." She smiles faintly, but I can see that my words haven't completely convinced her.

"I just don't understand why he'd want to keep our relationship a secret," she says, her voice small. "It's like he's embarrassed to be seen with me." I sigh, feeling a mixture of frustration and sympathy.

"He might just be worried about the negative attention," I say, trying to find a positive way to look at the situation. "Maybe he doesn't want to subject you to that." She nods, but the expression on her face is still doubtful.

"What about Jayden?" she says, suddenly changing the subject. "Is he planning on telling people about you guys?" I shrug, feeling a little uncomfortable. "I don't know," I admit. "We haven't really talked about it yet."

"But you're okay with going public, right?" she presses, her gaze intense. I hesitate for a moment, suddenly feeling unsure. "I don't know," I say, my voice soft. "I don't want to be the subject of gossip and scandal."

"Plus, my brother is already a big deal in the football world," I point out. "If Jayden and I go public, the talk shows and podcasts will have a field day with it." Avery nods, her expression sympathetic.

"Yeah, that's true," she says. "The media would have a lot to say about a player dating the sister of another player." I sigh, feeling a little overwhelmed by the idea.

I say goodbye to Avery, promising to keep her updated on the situation between me and Jayden. I hang up the call and put my phone down on the counter, taking a deep breath. I stand up, dropping the towel from around my waist before stepping into the shower.

I go through my usual routine, blow-drying my hair and putting on some light makeup. Once I'm satisfied with how I look, I pull out my phone and order an Uber to come pick me up. I wait patiently outside, watching as cars go by. I'm lost in thought, my mind swirling with thoughts of Jayden and our budding relationship. I can't help but wonder how things will play out between us, and whether we'll be able to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

After a short time, the Uber arrives and I climb into the backseat. I give the driver the nearest mall address, and we set off towards our destination.

I look out the window, watching as the city passes by. I try to clear my mind, focusing on the task at hand – shopping. I make a mental list of the things I need to buy, hoping that the distraction will help take my mind off of my relationship worries.

The drive is short, and before I know it, we've arrived at the mall. I thank the driver and step out of the car, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

I make my way through the crowded parking lot, heading towards the entrance of the mall. As soon as I step inside, I'm greeted by a wave of noise and color. The place is packed with shoppers, all hurrying from store to store. I begin to browse the stores, losing myself in the sensory overload.

I spend the next few hours trying on clothes, browsing through jewelry, and sampling various perfumes at different stores. By the time I'm done, I've bought enough clothes to stock a small boutique.

I pay for my purchases, and then make my way back towards the entrance of the mall, my arms laden with bags. I step outside, feeling a little tired but also a little bit better than when I had arrived.

I wait for my Uber to arrive, feeling a little bit lighter after the shopping trip. The fresh air and the distraction of browsing through various items have helped to clear my mind and put my relationship worries on hold, at least for a little while.

My Uber arrives, and I get in, setting my bags on the seat beside me. I sink back into the seat, feeling a little more relaxed than I had been earlier.

The drive home to his house was quiet, and I watch as the cityscape flies by the window. My mind begins to wander again, but this time, the thoughts are less chaotic and more contemplative.

I arrive back at Jayden's house, and I make my way inside. The place feels big and empty, and I suddenly feel a pang of loneliness. I miss Jayden's presence, and I can't wait to see him again.

I'm walking through the house, putting away my shopping bags, when I hear a knock at the door. I head towards the front door, puzzled by who could be visiting me at this hour. 

I open the door, and my eyes widen in surprise. Standing there on the doorstep is Jayden, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

I blink, unable to believe my eyes. "Jayden?" I say, my voice soft. He grins, holding out the flowers towards me. "Surprise," he says, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

I take the flowers from him, feeling a mixture of surprise and happiness. "They're beautiful," I say, bringing the bouquet up to my nose to inhale the sweet scent. His eyes dart towards his phone, which he holds in his other hand, and I realize that he's recording me.

I raise an eyebrow, my lips curving into a smile. "You're recording this?" I ask, holding the flowers aloft. He nods, still smiling. "Yep," he says, clearly enjoying himself. "I wanted to capture your reaction on camera."

I shake my head, feeling a little embarrassed. "You're sneaky, you know that?" He shrugs, still grinning. "What can I say? I like to keep things interesting."

Later that day. I'm laying on the couch, mindlessly scrolling through my phone, when Jayden comes in and plops down next to me. He slings an arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer to him. "Whatcha doing?" he asks, his voice low and lazy.

I'm about to respond to Jayden when my phone suddenly starts buzzing incessantly on the coffee table. I unlock my phone, seeing that the notifications are coming from Instagram. My heart rate quickens as I see that I have dozens of new followers and messages from people I don't recognize.

I look up at Jayden, my eyes widening. "Did you put the flowers video on your Instagram story?" I ask, my voice tinged with disbelief. He grins, looking pleased with himself. "Yeah, I did," he admits. "I tagged you in it, too."

"You did what?" I exclaim, feeling a little outraged. "You recorded my reaction and then put it on your Instagram for thousands of people to see?" He shrugs, still grinning. "I thought it was cute, and I wanted to share it with my followers."

"But I looked like a crazy person," I say, feeling embarrassed. "I was just reacting to a set of flowers. I didn't know I was being recorded." He laughs, pulling me closer to him. "You looked cute," he says. "And my followers thought so too." Jay tells me.

I sigh, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement. "You're unbelievable, you know that?" He grins, planting a kiss on the top of my head. "I take that as a compliment."

I roll my eyes, but I can't help smiling. Jayden is clearly enjoying himself, and I can't deny that it's a little funny. I lean against him, resting my head against his shoulder. "So, how many views did the video get?" I ask, curious despite myself.

He looks down at his phone, scrolling through his Instagram. "Looks like it's got over a hundred thousand views so far," he says, sounding impressed.

"A hundred thousand?" I exclaim, feeling a little dizzy. "There are a hundred thousand people out there who saw me freak out over a bouquet of flowers?"

As the sun sets outside, Jayden and I lay on the couch, our bodies intertwined. We're both exhausted from the day's events, and the soft hum of the air conditioner is lulling us into a doze. Jayden pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm tired," he mumbles into my hair.

"Me too," I murmur, feeling sleep threatening to overtake me. I nestle my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. I feel safe and comfortable in his arms, and before I know it, I'm drifting off to sleep.