Their first morning in the apartment set the tone for the life they were beginning to build, a rhythm of restrained passion pulsing beneath the surface. Meena, accustomed to her mother's gentle wake-up calls that once stirred her from erotic dreams, was jolted awake at 5:30 AM by a sharp, insistent beep-beep-beep from Vijay's watch alarm, a sound that vibrated through her like a teasing toy. She heard him slide out of bed-the 'Great Wall of Mysore Pak' still firmly in place between them, a flimsy barrier against the heat radiating from his body-and then the soft thud of a yoga mat unrolling in the living room, his form stretching in poses that evoked images of flexible entwinements. Before the alarm, she had been vaguely aware of his breathing, a slow, steady rhythm in the quiet room that synced with her own quickening pulse, a strange, intimate thing, sharing a room with someone, even divided, his presence making her nipples harden against the sheets. It was followed by the quiet, steady breathing of his surya namaskars, each inhale and exhale a hypnotic cadence that made her imagine him gasping above her. Meena smiled into her pillow, her core clenching. He really was that disciplined, a master of control she longed to shatter.
At 6:45 AM, on the dot, a rich, dark, and comforting aroma wafted into the bedroom, the smell of filter coffee invading like a lover's musk, instantly making the place feel like home, warm and enveloping. She got up, splashed water on her face, the cool droplets trailing down her neck like teasing fingers, and found him in the kitchen. He was already showered and dressed in a crisp, formal shirt (on a Saturday!), the fabric hugging his broad shoulders, pouring the coffee with precise movements. He looked so fresh and awake it was almost offensive, his clean, citrusy scent from the car returning, wafting toward her like an invitation to bury her face in his neck and inhale deeply while grinding against him.
"Good morning," he said, smiling, his eyes roaming her rumpled form, lingering on the thin fabric clinging to her curves. "Coffee? Hot and strong, just how it should be."
"Good morning," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes, her body awakening fully under his gaze. "You've got this timed right down to the minute, haven't you? Every beat precise."
He grinned, handing her a cup, their fingers brushing in a spark that shot to her aching center. "It's how I function. Predictability saves time, builds anticipation. And good coffee is non-negotiable, a daily indulgence." He had even remembered how she took it from their first meeting, another little detail he'd stored away, like mapping her erogenous zones.
"Ha! I'm more of a 'hit-snooze-until-I-panic' person," she laughed, taking a sip, the hot liquid sliding down her throat like a prelude to other swallows. The coffee was perfect, warming her from within. "This is going to be interesting, our rhythms clashing and merging. But hey, I am not complaining about this coffee, or the man who brews it."
They had a simple breakfast of toast and jam, the sticky sweetness on her fingers making her imagine licking it from his skin. When they were done, Meena reached for the plates, but Vijay grabbed them first, his hands firm and commanding.
"I can do that," she said, going to help, her body brushing his in the tight space.
"I'll get it," he replied, turning on the tap, water gushing like a torrent of release.
"No, really, it's fine, I-" He stopped, his hands soapy and slick, and looked at her, his expression firm but not mean, a dominant edge that made her knees weaken. "Meena. Teamwork. We agreed. A partnership, sharing every load."
That stuck with her, burrowing deep-teamwork, not a grand, romantic "let me pamper you" gesture, but a practical, "this is our responsibility" statement that pulsed with promise. And honestly? She found it incredibly romantic, a vow that made her wet with anticipation. It was a promise of equality in ecstasy.
"Teamwork," she agreed, smiling, her eyes locking on his with heated intent. "Okay. But I'm drying, rubbing every surface clean."