"You're so beautiful," he murmured, brushing her hair aside and pressing a kiss to her temple.
She smiled, heart fluttering, and she looked up at him from his chest. "You say that every time, babe."
"Because it's true every time." He groaned into her hair and kissed her temple again.
This time, she faced him fully, slightly lifting her head from his chest, and watched him with a shy smile. Their eyes locked, and his lips found hers—soft, slow, then deeper, and Brie responded, with her fingers threading through his hair.
Brie lay curled into Jeff's arms on the couch, hugging him closer. Her head rested against his chest as the final episode of their favorite series rolled.
The kiss grew hungry.
Jeff's hands slid down her back, gripping her waist firmer, and pulled her closer. A soft gasp escaped her, and his mouth moved to her neck, his touch trailing heat across her skin.
"Jeff…" she whispered, breathless as she allowed herself to sink deeper into the feeling his hands and mouth did on her body.
But Jeff didn't stop.
"Baby, please wait," she called out, placing a hand on his chest. "I'm not ready—not yet."
Her words stopped him, and he froze. His eyes searched hers, clouded with desire and frustration. Then, with a sigh, he pulled back and stood.
They had been dating for ten months, but every time he tried to take things further, she was never ready.
"I'll take a cold shower," he muttered between clenched teeth and disappeared up the stairs.
Brie sat there, heart pounding, and her mind spinning. Jeff looked angry just now. Although he didn't act out, she knew he was losing his patience as it was. She loved him and wanted him, but not in this way.
Not yet.
She wanted her first time to be special and when she was really ready.
Brie sighed just when Jeff's phone buzzed on the coffee table. She glanced at it, expecting a notification from his fitness app or a client.
Instead, it was a message from Libby.
"Is my form better this time?"
Attached was a photo—Libby in skin-tight gym wear, arching her back in a pose that screamed thirst trap. Brie's brows knitted. Her stomach twisted.
Curiosity got the better of her. She tapped the message thread.
More photos. More poses. Some are barely clothed. Some with captions like "Miss our sessions" and "Bet your girlfriend doesn't stretch like this."
Her fingers trembled as she read through.
She heard footsteps approach, but she didn't look up. Jeff was wearing blue sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt. His hair was still wet. Then, he froze when he saw Brie holding his phone.
"What are you doing?" he asked, voice tight as he walked towards her.
Brie looked up, eyes blazing. "Why is Libby sending you pictures of herself?" She asked, pointing her phone towards him so that he could see the screen.
A flicker of panic passed his features, but it went as fast as it came, and Brie didn't notice. "It's work for her form."
"Your assistant sends you half-naked pictures and flirty emojis, Jeff, for her form?"
Jeff walked over, snatching the phone and closing the screen. "It's not like that." He gave Brie a look like it meant nothing.
"Then explain it to me," she snapped. "Because it looks exactly like that."
"She's just… playful. It's harmless."
"Harmless?" Brie stood, arms crossed. "You think it's harmless for another woman to send flirtatious pictures to my man?"
"She's part of my job, Brie. I train her. Besides, she's always been like that."
"And you never told her to stop? Isn't that crossing the line, or are there no work ethics in fitness?"
Jeff hesitated. "I didn't want to make it awkward." His voice was slightly strained.
Brie's voice cracked. "Ten months, Jeff. Ten months of me trusting you. Of me saying no to sex because I wasn't ready—and you said you understood."
"I do understand," he said, stepping closer. "But I'm a man, Brie. I get horny. I want you. And you keep pushing me away."
Her breath caught. "So what? You flirt with Libby to cope?"
"No! I'm not cheating. I'm not even flirting. I just… I have options, Brie. You know that."
She recoiled like he'd slapped her. "Options?"
Jeff's face fell. "I didn't mean it like that."
"Yes, you did," she whispered. "You meant exactly that."
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just—sometimes I feel like you don't want me as much as I want you."
Brie's eyes shimmered. "I do want you, you know that."
Jeff sighed loudly. "Sometimes, I find that hard to believe." He answered, looking into her eyes with his arms at his side.
"Jeff," she croaked and looked at him incredulously.
He then placed his arms around her. "Alright, Brie, I'm sorry if everything came out wrong."
But she pulled away. "Then prove it. Stop entertaining women who obviously want you."
Brie wasn't the jealous type, and she trusted Jeff completely. He was sweet with her, kind, he listened, and always came through for her. He even asked her to move in with him barely five months into their relationship.
She understood he was a hot guy who would have lots of admirers. At least she knew better; she wasn't lacking admirers as well. So seeing him, with so many women all draped around him, she knew they wanted his attention, but Jeff was loyal.
He had always been loyal…
No pressure
However hard, he never pushed her when she didn't want to move further intimately.
His phone buzzed again.
Libby.
Jeff glanced at it, jaw clenched. "I have to go."
Brie blinked. "It's past ten, babe."
"She needs help with a shoot. It's work."
"Tonight?"
He grabbed his keys. "I'll be back." Not before planting a soft kiss on her lips.
Brie watched him leave, the door clicking shut behind him. Her chest ached, and her mind screamed.
The thought of him leaving this late home alone because Libby called gave her a sinking feeling in the pit of her belly. But she shook it off.
Jeff was trustworthy.
So, she stayed all night alone.
He never came back.