“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." - Robert Frost

When I open my eyes, it takes me a minute to adjust to my surroundings. The sun is shining brightly through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. I stretch my arms and legs, feeling well-rested and content. As I turn to my side, I notice something that makes me smile.

Zeph is lying next to me, his arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace. His eyes are closed, and his breathing is slow and steady. I can feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back, and I snuggle in closer to him.

I take a moment to admire him, studying his features. His dark hair is messy and tousled. He looks peaceful and relaxed, like he doesn't have a care in the world.

I start to wonder how long he's been holding me like this. Was he awake before me, just enjoying the moment? Or did he wake up and reach for me, wanting to feel my warmth next to him?

As if sensing my thoughts, Zeph stirs and nuzzles his face into my neck. "Good morning, beautiful," he murmurs, his voice rough with sleep.

I can't help but giggle at his endearment. "Morning, sleepyhead," I tease him, turning over to face him. "What time is it, anyway?"

Zeph checks his phone and grins. "It's almost midday. I figured you could use some extra rest after our late-night snack."

I roll my eyes playfully, remembering the ice cream we devoured in the wee hours of the morning. "Yeah, I guess I did need the sleep. Thanks for letting me crash."

Zeph leans in to kiss me, his lips warm and tender. "Anytime, angel. I love having you here with me.

I smile into the kiss, feeling grateful and happy. Being with Zeph feels natural and easy, like we've known each other for years. We spend the rest of the afternoon lounging in bed, talking and laughing about random things. I feel content and at peace, like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Eventually, we both get up and start getting ready for the day. As I brush my teeth, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and cringe at my bedhead. Zeph catches me making faces at myself and chuckles.

"You're still beautiful, even with crazy hair," he says, winking at me.

I grin at his comment and give him a playful shove. "Thanks, but I think I should probably do something about it before we leave the house."

Zeph nods in agreement and suggests, "Why don't you take a shower and I'll get you some clothes? I can call my personal shopper and have her bring some things over for you to try on."

I raise an eyebrow at him in surprise. "You have a personal shopper?"

Zeph shrugs nonchalantly. "Yeah, it's a luxury I indulge in sometimes."

Zeph quickly reaches for his phone and dials a number, his fingers moving with practiced ease. "Hey, Leila," he says, his voice smooth and confident. "I have a little favor to ask. Can you help me out with something? I need you to get some clothes for my lovely lady. She's about 5'5 and weighs around 140 pounds. We're at the Fifth Avenue apartment. Thanks a lot, Leila. You're a lifesaver."

With a satisfied nod, he ends the call and turns to me with a grin. "Don't worry, angel. You'll have some clothes to wear soon enough. Leila is the best personal shopper I know. She'll have you looking fabulous in no time."

I smile gratefully at him, feeling a little embarrassed at the thought of him buying clothes for me. I thank him and head to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of sleep from my body. I take my time, enjoying the luxury of the spacious bathroom and the high-end toiletries that Zeph keeps stocked.

The warm water feels like a blissful escape from reality, and I let my mind wander as I wash my hair and scrub my skin. It's not until I'm done that I realize I don't have any clothes to change into.

I quickly wrap a towel around myself and make my way to the living room, hoping to find my bag. Zeph is lounging on the couch, scrolling through his phone, and looks up when he hears me.

"Hey there, gorgeous. Feeling better?" he asks, a playful smile on his lips.

I nod, smiling back at him. "Yeah, I feel great. Thanks again for letting me crash.

Zeph notices my search and asks, "What are you looking for?"

"My bag. I need to find my phone," I explain, still searching through the piles of clothes and accessories scattered around the room.

Zeph gets up from the couch and walks over to me. "Here, let me help," he offers, his eyes scanning the room. He spots the bag lodged in between the cushions of the couch and pulls it out, handing it to me.

When I turn on my phone, I'm greeted by a barrage of notifications. My heart sinks as I see that I have 20 missed calls and several text messages from Mila, my best friend. I can practically hear her buzzing with excitement and anticipation, waiting to hear all the juicy details about my night with Zeph.

As I scroll through the messages, I can't help but roll my eyes at her typical Mila-style messages: "OMG, spill the tea girl!", "I need to know everything!!", and "Did he kiss you? Details, details, details!" I quickly skim through her messages, each one more urgent than the last. "Girl, where are you? I need to hear all about it!" "Cham, seriously, call me ASAP. I can't take the suspense!" "Okay, if you don't answer me in the next five minutes, I'm calling Gabriel!"

My brother. I feel a pang of guilt as I see that I also have two missed calls from him. Gabriel and I are very close, amongst all my other arc siblings he’s the only one who maintains contact with me in our human lives. Mila must have called him in a panic when I didn't answer.

I quickly call him back, hoping he's not too worried. "Hey, Gabe, sorry I missed your calls. Everything's okay, I just stayed at a friend's place last night," I explain.

"Cham, I was really worried about you. Mila called me when she couldn't reach you. Please, at least send a text next time," he says with concern in his voice. Then he pauses and asks, "Wait a minute, is this friend 'The Friend'?

I can sense his curiosity about whether or not I'm with my soulmate. I take a deep breath and smile to myself. "Yeah, Gabe, it is. And everything is great. "

“Finally, we shall talk more later enjoy yourself,” he says sounding happy and then he hangs up

I turn to Zeph and give him a small smile. "Sorry about that. Mila and my brother were just checking up on me."

Zeph furrows his brow in concern. "Is everything okay?

“Yes everything is fine,” I smile. Zeph's expression softens at my reassurance, but I can see the hint of worry still lingering in his eyes. As he steps closer, I feel my heart rate increase. My senses heighten, and I become acutely aware of the warmth radiating off his body.

He stops just inches away from me, his eyes locked onto mine. I'm entranced by the way they seem to sparkle in the light, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. My body responds to his proximity, a shiver running down my spine as I anticipate his touch.

With a slow and deliberate movement, he reaches out a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The touch is gentle, but sends electric pulses through my body. His hand lingers for a moment, tracing a line down the side of my face before dropping to his side.

For a moment, we simply stand there, lost in each other's gaze. It's as if time has stopped and nothing else in the world matters. The air between us crackles with a charged energy, and I can feel the intensity of our connection.

As he finally breaks the silence, I'm almost surprised by the sound of his voice. "Good," he murmurs, his eyes still fixed on mine. "I'm glad everything is okay. You had me worried for a moment there."

Just as I'm about to respond, the doorbell rings, interrupting us. Zeph breaks eye contact and turns to answer the door, leaving me feeling a little disappointed that our moment was cut short. I watch him disappear down the hallway, admiring the way his muscular back tapers down to his firm buttocks covered by his briefs.

I watch as a tall, elegantly dressed woman with long black hair enters the apartment. It must be Leila, the personal shopper Zeph had called earlier.

Leila carries several shopping bags from different high-end brands, and her eyes sweep over me with a quick, appraising glance. I feel self-conscious under her scrutiny, suddenly aware of my disheveled appearance. My hands tighten around my towel.

But Leila's expression remains neutral as she turns to Zeph. "I got everything you requested," she says, handing over the bags. "Is there anything else you need?"

Zeph thanks her and starts to inspect the contents of the bags, pulling out different pieces of clothing and holding them up to me. I'm impressed by the quality and style of the items. Leila has certainly done a good job.

As Zeph and Leila discuss payment and logistics, I slip away to the bedroom to try on some of the clothes. The items fit perfectly, accentuating my curves and making me feel confident and beautiful.

After trying on several pieces, I finally settle on a black off-the-shoulder jumpsuit with a flared leg. The material is soft and silky, hugging my body in all the right places. The off-the-shoulder neckline adds a touch of elegance, while the flared leg gives the outfit a playful feel.

I quickly slip on a pair of black flats, opting for comfort after a night of dancing in heels. I stand in front of the full-length mirror and admire the way the jumpsuit flatters my figure. The fabric flows gracefully as I move, and I feel a sense of confidence wash over me.

As I step out of the bedroom, Zeph's eyes light up when he sees me. "Wow," he breathes out, his gaze sweeping over my outfit. "You look stunning, angel."

I feel a rush of pleasure at his words, and I can't help but smile at the compliment. "Thank you," I say, feeling a warmth spreading through me.

Leila nods in agreement, a smile on her lips. "I knew that jumpsuit would look amazing on you," she says. "You wear it well."

As Leila takes her leave, Zeph turns his attention back to me. I glance at my phone and see that it's already 5:00 pm. The neon pink aura surrounding him seems to grow brighter, obscuring the yellow aura that was there before.

"So, what do you want to do?" I ask, trying to steer the conversation away from the intense energy that seems to be building between us.

But Zeph doesn't take the bait. Instead, he looks at me with a blunt intensity that sends goosebumps prickling along my bare arms. "You," he says simply, and the air between us crackles with a raw, unbridled energy.

I swallow hard, feeling my heart race in my chest. The tension between us is palpable, and I can't deny the way his words make me feel. It's like every nerve ending in my body is on high alert, attuned to his slightest movements.

Zeph seems to notice my reaction, and he lets out a small chuckle. "I think I'll have to wine and dine you first," he jokes, his tone lightening the mood slightly.

I try to hide my relief, but a small smile tugs at the corners of my lips. "That sounds nice," I say, trying to play it cool. "But maybe you should take a shower first," I add, gesturing towards his chest.

Zeph nods, seeming to snap out of his trance. "Yeah, good idea," he says, heading towards the bathroom. "Make yourself comfortable," he calls over his shoulder, before disappearing behind the door

I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as I pull out my phone, sending a quick text to Mila.

"Hey girl, sorry I missed your calls earlier. Will give you all the tea tomorrow. Still with Zeph 😉".

It doesn't take long for Mila to respond. "OMG did you guys do it?" I roll my eyes at her eagerness for gossip.

I quickly type out a reply, "Girl, chill. I'll tell you everything tomorrow," and hit send. Putting my phone aside, I take a moment to gather my thoughts and calm my racing heart.

As I wait for Zeph to finish his shower, I glance around the room, taking in my surroundings. The decor is modern and sleek, with clean lines and minimalistic furniture. I notice a small bar in one corner, stocked with top-shelf liquors and expensive-looking wine bottles.

The thought of Zeph "win[ing] and din[ing]" me crosses my mind, and I can't help but feel a flutter of excitement in my chest. The tension between us is palpable, and I can't wait to see where the night takes us.

Moments later, Zeph emerges from the bedroom, dressed in a crisp white button-up shirt with a brown jacket and black jeans with . His hair is still damp, and he runs a hand through it, sending droplets of water flying in all directions.

But it's his smile that really catches my attention. It's wide and genuine, showing off his deep dimples and making his eyes crinkle at the corners. The intensity from before seems to have dissipated, replaced by a relaxed and playful energy.

"Here," he says, handing me a black jacket. "It's chilly out there, and I don't want you getting sick."

“We 're going out," he says, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. I slip on the jacket and follow him out of the apartment, onto the crowded New York streets. The sidewalks are packed with people, and we have to weave our way through the throngs of pedestrians.

"So where exactly are we going?" I ask, shivering slightly in the cool spring air.

"I left my car on the street by the bar last night," Zeph explains. "But don't worry, it's not far." I smile as we walk past the mcdonalds from last night.

As we approach the car, I can't help but admire it. It's a sleek black Mercedes-Benz, with shiny chrome accents and tinted windows. Zeph unlocks the car with a beep of his remote, and I climb into the passenger seat. The interior is just as impressive as the exterior, with plush leather seats and high-tech gadgets.

"How come no one stole it?" I ask, still marveling at the car's luxurious features.

Zeph points to a street camera mounted on the building across the street. "I park here all the time. The camera keeps an eye on my car, so I never have to worry about it getting stolen."

I nod in understanding, impressed by his practicality and attention to detail.

"We're going to this amazing restaurant I know," he says, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "It's called 'Chez Lenny' and they serve the best steak in the city.  I buckle my seatbelt as Zeph backs the car out of the parking space and onto the street.