I wake up to a light touch being rubbed across my cheek. Adjusting to the light in my room, I look over and see Veronica smiling.

“Good morning.” I clear my throat, smiling.

“Morning.” She snuggles closer to me.

“Were you watching me sleep?” She nods. “That’s not creepy.”

“Shut up.” She giggles. “I’m just …” Biting her lip, she looks away.

“What?”

“Happy.”

“Me too.” Pulling her closer, I run my thumb softly over her cheek. “Are you …” I stare at her for a moment, hoping she understands what I’m saying, but she just stares back, “sore?”

An adorable blush creeps over her cheeks, as she drops her head into the crook of my neck.

“No. I mean, a little, but nothing crazy like I thought I might be.” Resting her head on my chest, her fingers run over my skin. “Last night was perfect.”

“Yeah. It was.” I smile up at the ceiling. This is the only way I want to wake up from now on. “You don’t have to leave, do you?”

“Nope. I’m all yours.”

“Yes, you are.” I hold her tighter, pressing my lips to hers.

I know last night wasn’t my first time, but in a way, I do feel like it was. With Lana, when we had sex, I don’t think either of us was in love. We thought we could be, but I know I wasn’t there yet. With Veronica, I am there. Completely, one hundred percent. And I wanted to tell her last night, but I didn’t want to freak her out. If I told her last night would she think I’m only saying it because we were having sex? I didn’t want to take that chance.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” I chuckle.

She smiles back. “Me too.”

“Okay, you go first. I’ll see what we got for breakfast. Then, I say we stay in bed for the rest of the day.”

She smiles, pressing her lips to mine again. “I like that sound of that.”

Throwing on a shirt, I head to the kitchen as she goes to the restroom. Looking through the cabinets, I pull out a box of Pop Tarts and start toasting a couple. When she comes in, I just watch her. Her curly hair everywhere, my shirt hanging off of her, and her little pink shorts riding high. I’m in love with this girl.

“Be right back. Pop Tarts are toasting.” I give her a quick kiss, before heading to the bathroom.

“Mmm, sugary, toasted pastries. Breakfast of champions.”

“Got that right,” I call back.

When I’m done, I head back into the kitchen, and she stands over the counter, waiting for the toaster to finish. I wrap my arms around her from behind, leaning down, kissing her neck.

“It feels like someone else is up,” she giggles.

“Sorry,” I reply, smiling into her neck.

“Don’t be. I, um … I’m ready.”

“Are you sure? We can wait if you need to.”

She turns to face me, wrapping both arms around my neck. “No, I want to.”

“Damn the Pop Tarts, then.” I laugh and start kissing her.

Taylor walks into the kitchen behind us. “Morning, you two.”

“Good morning,” I answer as Veronica giggles into my chest.

“Morning, Taylor,” she says.

“Did you guys pray this morning?” he asks, already dressed in shorts and a polo shirt for work.

I look at Veronica, who stares back at me with a confused expression, then turn to face him. “What?”

“Pray.” He looks at me like I should know what he’s talking about. “You know, to God?”

“What are you talking about?” I ask as Veronica raises an eyebrow.

“Oh, sorry. I heard you guys praying last night, so I thought you might do the same thing in the morning.”

Veronica’s face contorts with confusion. “What do you mean you heard us praying?”

“You know …” He smiles before closing his eyes and his voice hits a higher pitch. “Oh my God! Oh my God!”

Shit.

Veronica’s face drops in horror. “What? You … you heard us? Me?”

“Girl, our neighbors heard you.”

“Oh my God!” She bolts out of the kitchen.

“He’s standing right there,” he replies, pointing to me.

“What the hell, Taylor?” I cringe.

“Oh, come on, you know I’m joking around. It’s all good.”

“No, it’s not—” I wrinkle my nose, staring at the kitchen door as I hear my bedroom door slam shut. “Damn it.”

“What?”

“Last night …” I don’t want to talk about our sex life with him, but he needs to know he crossed a line. “Dude, last night was her first time.”

Now his face drops. “You for real?” I nod. “Shit, now I feel like an ass.” His voice drops lower. “Wait, she made those noises, and she was a virgin?”

“That’s beside the point, Taylor.”

Turning around, he walks out of the kitchen and toward my room.

“What are you doing?”

He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he knocks on my door. “Hey, Veronica. I’m sorry. I … I’m just sorry, okay? My bad.”

He looks over at me, both of us waiting, hearing nothing but silence.

“It’s fine,” she finally calls back out.

Taylor looks at me. “Dude, I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, I’ll talk to her.”

He nods and lifts his hand to fist bump me. “I’m headed out. Sorry again, man.”

Nodding, I watch him walk out our front door, and then stare at my door for a second, unsure what I’m going to say. Stepping inside, even though no one else is in the apartment, I close the door behind me. This room is our space now, and I really hope that hasn’t changed.

“Hey,” I say.

She’s already changed out of her shorts and stands up, buttoning her pants. “Hey.”

“Vero, Taylor really didn’t mean—”

“I know,” she cuts me off. “But that was really embarrassing.” Her head swivels around, and she lifts the blankets, searching for something.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking for my shirt. I think maybe I should go home. I just—”

“What? No, stay. Please.”

She shakes her head, still not facing me. “No, I … I should go.”

Taking a seat on the bed, I grab her hand and pull her closer, so she’s standing between my legs. “Veronica, please. It’s not that big of a deal. So, you were a little loud.”

She jerks her hand away from me. “A little loud? Are you serious?” She crosses her arms and stares down at me. “And why didn’t you say anything? I’m so embarrassed.”

“Honestly?” I wait for a second, unsure how my answer is going to sit with her. “Because last night was amazing and those sounds you were making just turned me on more.” Her mouth drops for a second, before she snaps it shut, fighting off a grin.

“There she is.” I wrap my hands around her legs, pulling her closer.

“No.” She doesn’t move away, but keeps her arms crossed. Her eyes narrow, but her mouth’s fighting back a smile. “I’m still mad.”

I run my hands up her legs, cupping her butt. “You look cute when you mad.”

“You’re to blame for this, you know that?”

“Oh, I know.” I give her a devilish grin.

“Nooo,” she protests again, but now she sits on the bed, her knees pinning my waist. Putting a hand on my shoulder, she jabs a finger into my chest. “That’s not what I mean. You could’ve told me something.”

“To be fair, I did try to tell you.”

“No you didn’t.”

“Yeah, I did.” I nod. “Remember, I whispered your name?”

“You said my name a lot.”

“Okay,” I agree. “The first time I said it. I put my hand over your mouth, and you bit my fingers.”

She looks away, redness crawling up her neck. “Oh.”

Her shoulders slump, and I run my lips under her chin. A soft moan comes from her, my tongue tracing her skin to her lips. “Am I forgiven?”

“I don’t know,” she pouts. “Maybe.”

I pick her up, turning us around, and then lay back down on the bed, pinning her underneath. She lets out a giggle that turns into a soft whimper, as I run my lips up to her ear, taking a small bite. Finding her mouth again, I kiss her deeply, my tongue meeting hers. Her smell, her skin, it’s all intoxicating. Last night was everything, and I always want her.

I nuzzle her with my nose. “Please?”

“I’ll have to think it over.” She smirks. “You might have to give me some valid reasons why I should forgive you.”

“I think I can do that,” I whisper, finding her lips once again and running my hand under her shirt. “I might have you screaming those reasons though.”

“Stop.” She pushes my chest, laughing. “It’s still embarrassing. Plus, you have neighbors.”

I run my lips down her neck and over to her other ear, trailing her skin with my tongue. “We never see them. Besides, I don’t care if they know I’m having an incredible morning.”

Holding myself over her, our laughs intertwine, and she shakes her head. “I hate you,” she says through a giggle.

“I love you.”

Her eyes pop open. Crap.

I mean it. I absolutely, positively mean it, but from her reaction, it might be too soon. There’s no turning back now though.

“You don’t—” She stops herself and nervously averts her gaze. “You don’t have to say that just because …”

“Just because what?”

“Just because … we slept together.”

“Whoa.” I bring a hand up, cupping her cheek. My thumb brushes along her skin and I give a slight shake of my head, but she’s not looking at me. “Vero?” I wait for her to face me, but she doesn’t. “Veronica, please look at me.”

It takes a moment, but she her eyes finally find mine. They’re glistening.

“I would never say that just because we had sex. I said it because it’s the truth. I’ve known I’m in love with you for a while now, but I wasn’t sure if it was too soon to say it. My favorite time of day is when I wake up and you’re in my arms. Your hair tickling my face, then seeing your smile. I’m in love with you, Veronica. I don’t know if you’re there yet, but—”

“I am. There. I love you, too.”

I let out a breath then my lips slam into hers. This kiss right now, knowing how she feels and that she knows how I feel, makes it feel like any and all barriers are gone. There’s just us and our love.