It was late.
Very late.
Jay had just finished showering. Her hair was still a little wet, falling softly over her shoulders. She wore simple pajamas — soft, loose, comfortable. No makeup. No heels. No armor.
Just Jay.
She walked into the kitchen, yawning, reaching for a glass of water—
Knock.
She froze.
It was almost midnight.
No one visited this late.
Another knock.
Slow. Quiet. Firm.
Jay walked toward the door carefully.
"Who is it?" she asked.
Silence.
Then a voice.
Low. Familiar.
"Jay."
Her heart skipped.
She opened the door.
Keifer stood there.
Black shirt. Sleeves rolled. Hair slightly messy. Eyes dark and tired… but focused only on her.
Jay blinked.
"Keifer?"
He looked at her.
Really looked.
No heels.
No blazer.
No cold CEO expression.
Just her.
Something in his eyes changed. Darkened.
"You were sleeping?" he asked quietly.
"No… I was about to."
Silence stretched between them.
The night felt quiet.
Too quiet.
Jay leaned against the doorframe slightly. "It's late."
"I know."
"You came all the way here… at midnight?"
"Yeah."
She tilted her head. "Why?"
He stepped closer.
Just one step.
Close enough that she could smell him.
Close enough that her heartbeat started speeding up.
"I just wanted to see you."
Her breath caught.
Simple words.
But the way he said it…
Soft.
Low.
Almost hungry.
Jay swallowed.
"You… couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
"No."
His eyes moved slowly over her face. Her hair. Her bare shoulders.
"You look different," he murmured.
"I'm in pajamas."
"I noticed."
His voice dropped even lower.
"I like it."
Jay felt warmth creep into her cheeks.
"You drove here just to see me in pajamas?"
"No."
He stepped even closer.
Now there was barely space between them.
"I drove here because I couldn't stop thinking about you."
Her heart thudded.
"Keifer…"
"You walking into my office today," he said quietly, "calling me Mark Keifer Watson…"
His lips almost curved.
"I haven't stopped replaying it."
Jay smirked slightly. "You were terrified."
"I was."
He leaned down just a little.
"But I liked it."
Jay's breath became uneven.
"You're dangerous when you're jealous."
"Good."
"You looked at her like she didn't exist."
"She didn't."
His hand slowly reached up.
Paused.
Like he was giving her time to stop him.
She didn't.
His fingers brushed her damp hair gently, pushing it behind her ear.
Jay inhaled softly.
"You shouldn't come here this late," she whispered.
"Why?"
"You look at me like that."
"And?"
"And…"
She lost the words.
Keifer stepped closer again.
Now she could feel his warmth.
His voice softened.
"I missed you."
Jay looked up at him.
"You saw me this afternoon."
"Not like this."
His fingers lightly touched her wrist.
Her pulse jumped.
"Not when you're relaxed… not when you're just Jay."
Her voice softened.
"You like that?"
"I like everything about you."
The words settled between them.
Heavy.
Warm.
Real.
Jay leaned slightly closer.
"You drove here just to say that?"
"No."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I also came to do this."
He leaned in slowly.
Giving her time.
Giving her space.
She didn't move away.
Their lips met.
Slow.
Warm.
But there was something deeper this time.
Something quieter.
Something hungrier.
Jay's fingers lightly gripped his shirt.
Keifer's hand rested gently at her waist.
Neither rushed.
Neither spoke.
Just quiet night.
Quiet breathing.
Quiet heartbeats.
When they pulled apart, Jay rested her forehead against his.
"You really just came to see me?" she whispered.
"Yeah."
"You're crazy."
"Only for you."
She smiled softly.
"Do you want to come in?"
Keifer looked at her.
Eyes still dark.
"Are you inviting me in, Jay?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
He stepped inside slowly.
The door closed behind them.
And the quiet night wrapped around them both.