Chapter 3: Morning After

The warm sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the contours of Chris's face, and Maya couldn't help but smile as she gazed at him. They had spent the rest of the night wrapped in each other's arms, talking and laughing, and eventually drifting off to sleep. Now, as she lay beside him, she felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She had never felt this way with anyone before, and it both thrilled and terrified her. As she turned onto her side, Chris stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "Good morning," he whispered, his voice husky with sleep. Maya's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. "Good morning," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. They lay there for a moment, simply looking at each other, the tension between them palpable. Then, Chris sat up, his movements fluid and relaxed. "I'm starving," he said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Want to grab some breakfast?" Maya nodded, feeling a little self-conscious about her disheveled appearance. She scrambled out of bed, smoothing her hair with her hands as Chris chuckled and pulled her into a gentle hug. "You look beautiful," he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. As they made their way to the kitchen, Maya couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. She had never been one for casual relationships, but with Chris, everything felt different. It was as if she had known him for years, not just a few days. As they sat down at the kitchen table, Chris reached out and took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. Maya felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, and she knew that she was in trouble. She was falling for this man, hard and fast, and she wasn't sure if she could stop herself. Over breakfast, they chatted easily, discussing everything from their jobs to their families to their favorite books. Maya was amazed at how much they had in common, and she found herself laughing and smiling more than she had in weeks. As they finished up, Chris leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked onto hers. "So," he said, his voice low and husky. "What's the plan for today?" Maya shrugged, feeling a little uncertain. She had been so caught up in the moment that she hadn't thought about what came next. "I don't know," she admitted. "What did you have in mind?" Chris grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, I was thinking we could take a walk in the park. The weather's supposed to be beautiful today." Maya nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. She loved the park, and the thought of spending the day with Chris was almost too good to be true. "That sounds perfect," she said, smiling up at him. As they cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher, Maya couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. She had no idea what the day would bring, but with Chris by her side, she felt like she could face anything.