**Chapter 21: Morning After**

The warm sunlight streaming through the window gently caressed Maya's face, slowly rousing her from her peaceful slumber. She stretched, feeling the lingering ache in her muscles, a reminder of the intense passion she and Eric had shared the night before. As she opened her eyes, she found Eric still fast asleep, his chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. She smiled, taking in the sight of him, his rugged features softened in sleep. Maya carefully extracted herself from Eric's arms, not wanting to disturb him. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and planted her feet firmly on the ground, feeling the soft carpet beneath her toes. The room was quiet, except for the occasional chirping of birds outside, and the distant hum of the city awakening. As she stood up, Maya noticed the scattered clothes on the floor, remnants of their passionate encounter. She picked up her clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles, and began to get dressed. Eric stirred, his eyes fluttering open, and he watched her with a lazy smile. "Morning," he whispered, his voice husky from sleep. Maya smiled back, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Morning," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Eric tossed off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm starving," he said, standing up and towering over her. Maya laughed. "I'm not surprised," she teased, running her hands over his chest. Eric chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "I think I need some sustenance to replenish my energy," he said, his breath hot against her ear. Maya felt a shiver run down her spine as he led her out of the bedroom, his hand on the small of her back. They made their way to the kitchen, where Eric began rummaging through the fridge, pulling out eggs, bacon, and bread. As they cooked and ate, Maya couldn't help but feel a sense of domesticity wash over her. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying. She glanced at Eric, who was watching her with a thoughtful expression. "What's on your mind?" she asked, her voice cautious. Eric put down his fork and reached out, taking her hand in his. "I was just thinking," he said, his eyes searching hers, "maybe we should take things to the next level." Maya's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Eric's smile was enigmatic. "I mean, we could make this a regular thing. See where it takes us." Maya felt a rush of excitement mixed with trepidation. She had been drawn to Eric from the start, but she had also been wary of getting too close. Now, as she looked into his eyes, she knew that she was ready to take the leap. "Okay," she said, her voice firm. Eric's face lit up with a smile, and he pulled her into his arms. "Okay," he whispered, his lips brushing against hers. As they kissed, Maya felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. She had no idea what the future held, but she was ready to face it head-on, as long as Eric was by her side.