~Alexander's POV~
I smiled, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the sex. "Okay, baby. I'll do anything you want. Anything."
I kissed him one last time, and Alis hugged me tight, his body finally going limp with peace as we drifted off to sleep.
Morning light crept in around the drawn fabric at the windows, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. I woke up first, my mind clear and calm. I stayed still, opening my eyes to find Alis sleeping peacefully beside me. He was curled against my arm, holding on as if even in sleep he feared I might vanish the moment he loosened his grip.
I watched him for a moment, admiring the way his features softened when he was at rest. A teasing thought crept in, and I gently tried to slip my arm free, pretending I was about to get up.
"Mmm…" Alis murmured, his brows knitting together as his grip tightened, tugging my arm back against his chest.
A soft laugh slipped from me as I gave up and relaxed back against the pillow. I just watched him, my heart aching in the best way. "Alis," I murmured, "I love you so much. Seeing your face first thing every morning makes everything feel right."
I couldn't help myself. I leaned down and captured his lips in a tender, slow kiss. I kept at it, brushing my lips against his until I felt him start to respond, his mouth moving sweetly against mine in his half-awake state.
"Tell me you love me," I murmured against his lips.
Without opening his eyes, a small, sleepy smile touched his face. "I love you so much..." he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
I smiled, brushing a kiss against his forehead. "Alright, baby. I'll get up now and make your breakfast, just as I promised."
"Alright, baby..." he mumbled, already drifting back toward a light doze.
I finally managed to slip out of his grasp. As I stood up from the bed, I couldn't resist, I leaned over and gave his bare butt a playful spank. Alis let out a tiny, indignant hum, but didn't move.
I headed into the bathroom to freshen up, the sound of the shower masking the house's quiet. Once I was dressed in something comfortable, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen, ready to keep my promise and cook a meal for my husband in our finally quiet, peaceful home.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, the maids greeted me with polite smiles. As I headed toward the kitchen, one of them spoke up quickly.
"Good morning, sir. Breakfast has already been prepared."
I shook my head, offering a slight smile. "Thank you, but you can pack that up and share it among yourselves. I'll be the one preparing breakfast today. That's what my husband wants, and I intend to give it to him."
The maids nodded respectfully. "Of course, sir." They cleared the counters, though they stayed nearby, insisting on helping me prep the ingredients. Together, we worked in a light, easy rhythm until the meal was finished.
Once the table was set and the food was covered to keep it warm, I moved to the living room. I settled onto the sofa, propping my legs up and resting my laptop on my knees to get a head start on some work while I waited for Alis.
After a while, the soft sound of footsteps on the stairs drew my attention. I looked up, a smile spreading across my face. Alis appeared, freshly showered and dressed in clean, elegant clothes, looking calm and refreshed. I set my laptop aside as he crossed the room and dropped onto the sofa between my legs, resting his head comfortably against my chest.
"Good morning, baby," he murmured, his voice sounding soft.
"Good morning, love," I replied, leaning down to press a firm kiss to the top of his head. "Did you sleep well?"
Alis nodded against me. "Yes, I slept very well."
"Good. Let's eat."
We moved to the dining table, and as Alis took his first bite, he let out a hum of approval. "This is so good, baby. Thank you."
"You're always welcome, love."
We finished the meal in a comfortable silence, enjoying the peace of the house. But as we set our spoons down, Alis looked at me, his expression turning a bit more serious. "Babe?"
"Yes, love?"
"I wanted to ask for permission to meet a friend later," he said softly.
My smile faltered for a fraction of a second. "Which friend?"
"The one I met yesterday," Alis explained. "He said we should meet up for a bit this evening."
The silence that followed felt heavy. I chose my next words carefully, my protective instincts flaring. "When was the last time you saw this friend, Alis?"
"We went to high school together," he replied. "After I traveled, we kept in touch for a while, but eventually we lost contact."
"And why have you never mentioned this friend to me before?" I asked, my voice level but guarded.
Alis reached across the table, his eyes earnest. "Babe, it's just a quick meetup."
I looked at him, my jealousy warring with my trust. "What if I told you not to go?"
Without hesitation, Alis replied, "Then I won't go."
I stared at him for a long beat, my heart tight. "Then my answer is no."
Alis didn't argue. He didn't get angry. He simply nodded and said, "Alright, babe." He stood up to head back upstairs, his face neutral.
The sight of him walking away made my chest ache. I reached out, catching his hand and stopping him. "Babe... wait. I'm sorry."
He turned back, his expression soft. "I understand, Alex. It's okay."
I looked up at him, hating the idea of him being out with someone I didn't know, but wanting his happiness more than my own peace of mind. "What time are you going?" I asked. "Can I drop you off? And pick you up?"
Alis shook his head. "No, I want to drive myself."
"Then let the driver take you," I suggested, trying to find a middle ground.
"No," he said firmly.
I was silent for a full minute, searching his eyes. I wasn't okay with it, the jealousy was still there, gnawing at me, but I wanted to show him I trusted him. "Okay," I finally sighed. "Go. But please, don't stay out late."
A small, grateful smile touched his lips. "Okay, babe."
I still wasn't completely at ease, but seeing him happy made the unease feel bearable. I stood, took his hand, and we walked back upstairs together.
Once we were back in the bedroom, I couldn't help noticing how quickly Alis reached for his phone to reply to that "friend." The sight of it unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.
For seven years, we'd lived like an open book, no lingering exes, no hidden attachments, no secret crushes tucked away in the corners. I remembered how firmly Alis had spoken about cheating in the past; He'd been clear that if I ever crossed that line, he wouldn't hesitate to retaliate, cheating back, twice over.
I knew, deep down, that he wouldn't cheat. I'd always done everything I could to be attentive, loving, and present for him. Still, my thoughts refused to settle. The unease lingered, quiet but persistent. And yet, I also knew that telling him he couldn't go, or questioning every move he made, would push me from being protective into becoming controlling. That wasn't who I wanted to be. I didn't want to cage him or take away his freedom, no matter how uneasy it made me feel.
Alis glanced up from his phone, his expression lighting up as if he sensed the shift in my mood. "Babe, I want to order some new clothes online. Will you help me with the payment?"
"Of course," I replied, masking my unease with a smile as I sat beside him. "Let's take a look together."
We spent the next half hour scrolling through high-end catalogs. Alis picked out several sleek pieces for himself, but he spent just as much time selecting items for me, holding the phone up to my chest to see if the colors matched my eyes. Seeing him so focused on "us" helped soothe my nerves. We finally hit the checkout button and processed the payment.
Just then, a soft knock came at the door. It was one of the maids.
"Yes? What is it?" I called out.
"A package has just been delivered for you, sir," she replied from the other side of the door.
I got to my feet and opened the door. She stood there holding a large, discreet brown box. I accepted it with a polite, "Thank you," then carried it back into the room, nudging the door shut with my foot. I didn't need to check the label to know what it was. Our special collection had arrived.
Alis's eyes lit up instantly, his phone forgotten on the duvet. A mischievous, beautiful smile spread across his face. "Babe! The toys are finally here."
I tried to return the smile, the earlier jealousy fading as the air in the room suddenly grew thicker with a different kind of tension.
"Come on, babe," Alis urged, patting the spot on the bed next to him. "Let's unbox them."