KEIFER'S POV — "She walked in, and every man forgot his girlfriend."
The restaurant wasn't fancy-fancy.
Candlelit tables.
Soft jazz.
Dim lighting.
Warm, golden atmosphere — perfect for a date that wasn't supposed to be innocent.
I chose it because it matched her vibe tonight:
Pretty.
Dangerous.
A little secretive.
But the second she stepped out of the car and I placed my hand on the small of her back—
I immediately regretted bringing her somewhere with other people.
Because everyone turned.
Everyone.
Men froze.
Women side-eyed.
Staff stared a second too long.
And Jay?
Jay didn't even realize how much she was stealing oxygen from the room.
I leaned down, lips near her ear, and said quietly:
"Stay close to me."
She looked up. "Why?"
"Because if you walk ahead," I murmured, "I'll start a war."
Her cheeks flushed.
We walked in, my hand sliding from her back to her waist — not subtle.
Not accidental.
Mine.
The hostess nearly forgot her job.
"Table for two…?" she stammered.
I nodded.
Jay kept fiddling with her necklace, pretending she didn't notice people staring.
I leaned closer.
"You're worried," I whispered.
"No, I'm not—"
"You always play with your necklace when you're nervous."
She looked at me, startled. Still not used to me remembering everything.
I smirked.
The hostess sat us in a cozy booth — dark wood, warm lighting, just enough privacy to be dangerous.
Jay sat first.
I sat beside her.
Not across.
Her eyes widened.
"You're not sitting—?"
"No," I said simply.
She swallowed.
Good.
I placed my arm behind her on the seat, casual but close enough to feel her warmth.
She shifted slightly — her thigh brushing mine.
I inhaled slow through my teeth.
This girl was going to kill me.
---
JAY'S POV — "Why is he sitting NEXT to me?"
I expected him to sit across.
Normal date.
Normal distance.
Normal breathing.
No.
He slid right next to me, thigh pressed against mine, arm behind me like a protective cage.
My heart was doing cardio.
"What… what are you doing?" I whispered.
"Being near you," he said simply.
My face?
Red.
My brain?
Gone.
And then the waiter came.
A guy.
A cute guy.
Who smiled at me a little too long.
Keifer's entire body went still.
Like a predator clocking another predator.
I tried not to panic as the waiter spoke.
"What can I get for you two?"
Keifer dragged his gaze from the menu up to the guy.
"First," he said calmly, "you can stop looking at her like that."
I choked on air.
The waiter blinked, flustered. "Oh— I didn't mean— I just—"
"Good," Keifer said, smiling politely but with clear threat. "Now we understand each other."
The poor man nodded too fast and took our order.
The moment he left, I swatted Keifer's arm.
"Keifer! You can't just—"
"He was staring at you," he said simply.
"So? People stare."
"They can stare at the sky," he murmured, leaning closer, "not at you."
My breath caught.
He continued, voice low:
"And especially not when you're dressed like that."
"Wh-what does that mean?"
He turned to me fully, eyes dragging over my top, my legs, my lips.
"It means," he said softly, "that this outfit is meant for me… not them."
My stomach flipped.
"Keifer…"
He reached up and gently tucked a stray curl behind my ear.
His fingers lingered.
"You're beautiful tonight," he whispered. "I just want to enjoy it without killing someone."
My face heated.
He smirked.
---
KEIFER'S POV — "She's going to melt and so am I."
While we waited for food, she shifted again — nervous.
Her thigh brushed mine.
Light. Soft. Too soft.
I couldn't control my reaction.
I turned toward her, lowering my voice.
"Jay."
"Hm?"
"Stop moving."
She froze. "Why?"
I looked her straight in the eyes.
"Because I'm one second away from pulling you onto my lap."
Her breath hitched.
Her fingers curled into the hem of her skirt.
I smirked.
"See?" I whispered. "Now you're nervous."
She shook her head. "I'm not—"
"Then look at me."
She did.
Big mistake.
Her cheeks were warm.
Her eyes wide.
Her lips slightly parted.
I leaned in a little, just enough that she felt my breath on her mouth.
"Jay…" I murmured, "do you know what you're doing?"
She blinked. "What?"
"Sitting here," I said, brushing a thumb lightly along her jaw.
"Dressed like sin."
"Looking at me like that."
"Pressing your leg against mine every few minutes."
Her lips parted again.
"I—I didn't—"
"Yeah," I murmured, "you do."
The waiter returned with food and she practically jumped.
I bit back a grin.
---
JAY'S POV — "God help me I can't eat like this."
The food looked good.
My appetite?
Dead.
Keifer was staring at me like he wasn't hungry for dinner… but something else.
We ate in silence for three seconds.
Then he spoke.
"You're quiet."
"Because you're… you're being… you."
He laughed quietly.
"And what am I?"
I stabbed a piece of pasta and muttered, "Trouble."
He leaned in, lips brushing my ear.
"Only for you."
My fork dropped.
The entire restaurant disappeared.
It was just him.
His voice.
His hand resting warm on my waist.
He whispered:
"Jay… look at me."
I did.
Regret.
His eyes dragged over my lips, my throat, the neckline of my top.
He swallowed hard.
"You're killing me."
My face burned.
Then—
His thumb brushed my bottom lip.
Soft. Warm. Slow.
"Eat," he said quietly.
"Because after this… I'm not promising we'll make it through dessert."
My entire soul left my body.
---
KEIFER'S POV — "Dinner is over."
We finished eating somehow.
Jay was flustered beyond functioning.
Which was exactly the state I loved her in.
I signaled for the bill.
Jay blinked. "Already?"
"Yes," I said.
"Why?"
I leaned close, lips brushing her jaw.
"Because this restaurant has too many people…"
She shivered.
"…and I'm done sharing the view."
Her hand froze on the table.
I stood and held out mine for her.
"Come on," I said softly.
"There's somewhere else I want to take you."
She hesitated.
"Where?"
I smiled, slow and dangerous.
"You'll see."
She placed her hand in mine.
And I led her out.
Not to the car.
Not yet.
Somewhere darker.
Quieter.
More private.
Because dinner?
Was only the beginning.
KEIFER'S POV — "I needed to show her something that felt like her."
The lake wasn't far.
Five minutes from the restaurant, hidden behind tall trees and quiet roads.
No city noise.
No people.
Just water, moonlight, and breathing space.
Jay needed that.
I needed her without the world staring.
When we stepped out of the car, the cold breeze lifted her curls, and she wrapped her arms around herself softly.
Without thinking, I took off my jacket and put it around her shoulders.
She looked up at me, startled.
"You'll get cold—"
"I won't," I said.
Because her wearing my clothes warmed me more than anything else.
We walked along the wooden path until the trees opened and the lake unfolded in front of us — wide, still, glowing under the stars.
Jay gasped.
"Keifer… it's beautiful."
I didn't look at the lake.
I looked at her.
"Yeah," I murmured. "It is."
She didn't notice.
But I let my hand brush hers lightly.
Not grabbing.
Not claiming.
Just enough to say I'm here.
We reached the end of the dock, where the water reflected the moon perfectly.
Jay sat first.
I sat beside her, legs dangling over the edge.
She hugged her knees, smiling softly.
"It's so quiet," she whispered.
"Good quiet or bad quiet?" I asked.
"Good," she said immediately.
"Like… it feels safe here."
My chest tightened.
Safe.
She felt safe with me.
For the first time in too long.
Jay leaned back, lying down on the dock to stare at the stars.
Her hair spread around her like a halo.
I turned, lying beside her.
She didn't speak for a moment.
Just breathed.
Then… timidly…
"Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you," she whispered."For today. For… trying."
I looked at her profile — soft, lit by moonlight.
"Jay," I murmured, "I'm not trying."
She blinked.
"I'm choosing you."
Her breath hitched.
We stayed like that — staring up at the stars — until the silence turned warm and full.
And then…
It was time.
I pushed myself up slowly.
"Come here."
She sat up, confused.
"What is it?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"K-Keifer…?"
"Relax," I said softly.
"It's not a ring."
She smacked my arm.
"DON'T joke like that—"
I grinned.
Then opened the box.
Inside:
A delicate gold chain.
A tiny pendant.
Two letters intertwined:
"K×J"
Her breath caught.
She reached out with trembling fingers.
"Keifer… it's…"
"Yours," I finished for her.
She swallowed hard.
"It's beautiful."
"No," I whispered, "it's just honest."
She looked up at me, confused.
I took a breath.
Slow.
Steady.
"Jay… I know I messed up before. I know I hurt you. And I won't pretend one date fixes that."
She blinked fast — eyes starting to shine.
"But this," I said, brushing my thumb over the pendant, "is me telling you that I'm here. For real. No running. No disappearing. No bullshit."
Her lips parted.
"Keifer…"
I lifted the necklace.
"Turn around," I murmured.
She did — hair moving to one side.
My fingers hesitated only a second before touching her skin — warm, soft, familiar.
The chain clicked shut.
She exhaled shakily — like she felt it more in her heart than on her neck.
I leaned closer.
"Jay," I whispered at the back of her ear,
"this stays with you. Always."
She turned back to me slowly.
Her eyes were shimmering.
Not sad.
Not scared.
Just… full.
She lifted a hand and touched the pendant gently.
"Does this mean…" she whispered, "I'm yours?"
My chest tightened so hard it hurt.
I brought a hand to her cheek and answered quietly:
"It means I'm yours too."
Jay's breath faltered.
Then—
She leaned forward.
Not shy.
Not scared.
Just needing me as much as I needed her.
Her forehead rested lightly against mine.
"Keifer… kiss me."
My pulse stopped.
I smiled.
"Come here."
And under the stars,
by the quiet lake,
with her wearing my jacket and my necklace—
I kissed her like she was the only thing in my world.
Because she was.
Jay's POV — Outside Her House, After the Date
The car rolled to a stop in front of the Fernandez gates, engine humming low.
The porch lights were on — Angelo and Aries' paranoia showing — but the yard was quiet.
My hand was already on the door handle when Keifer caught my wrist.
"Jay."
His voice dropped — that dangerous, gravel-soft tone he used only when he couldn't hold himself back anymore.
I turned.
And before I could blink, he leaned over the console, one hand on the back of my neck, the other sliding around my waist, pulling me across the seat.
My breath hitched.
"Don't go yet," he murmured, forehead resting against mine, warm breath brushing my lips. "I'm not done with you."
The world outside didn't exist.
Just him.
His cologne.
The faint lake-night cold still clinging to his jacket.
His thumb tracing my jaw like it belonged there.
"Keifer—" I whispered, but my voice broke when he tilted my chin up.
"Come here," he breathed.
Then he kissed me.
Not soft.
Not slow.
Not careful.
This one was hungry — lips crashing into mine, hand tightening in my hair, the kind of kiss that stole air and replaced it with heat.
I grabbed his shirt, fisting the fabric, dragging him closer like my body moved without asking me.
He groaned into my mouth when I slid my hand up to his jaw, thumb brushing the faint stubble there.
His tongue grazed mine — and we both lost whatever restraint we had left.
He shifted, pulling me fully onto his lap, my knees bracketing his thighs, his fingers digging into my waist as if he needed proof I was real.
The seat creaked under us from how close he hauled me in.
"Jay…" he whispered against my mouth, breathless, desperate.
My necklace — the one he just gave me — pressed between us, cold against my skin, warm where it touched his.
I cupped his face, kissing him harder, deeper, until we were both gasping.
The porch light flicked twice — Aries' warning.
Keifer broke the kiss first, resting his forehead on my shoulder, breathing heavy.
A low, frustrated laugh escaped him.
"Your brothers are going to murder me."
I smiled, breath shaky.
"I know."
He kissed my neck once — slow, lingering, possessive.
"Go," he whispered, voice rough. "Before I keep you till morning."
I climbed off him slowly, legs barely steady, heart racing.
His fingers brushed mine before I fully stepped out.
"Goodnight, Jay," he said softly, eyes warm and wrecked.
"Goodnight, Keifer."
I shut the door, still feeling his mouth on mine.
As I walked toward the house, I didn't look back.
But I didn't have to — I could feel his gaze burning on me the whole way.
Jay's POV — Her Room, Right After the Kiss
The front door clicked shut behind me.
Perfect timing — Angelo and Aries stepped into the house from the living room at the same moment.
They looked like they were ready to interrogate me to hell and back… until they saw the time on the clock.
11:59 PM.
Aries exhaled.
Angelo muttered something like "At least she listened."
Neither said a word.
They just exchanged that older-brother look — concern wrapped in resignation — then went upstairs to their rooms without glancing back.
I stayed still for a full second, heart still thundering from Keifer's mouth, his hands, his breath.
Then I went straight into my room and closed the door.
Everything went silent.
I leaned against the wood, letting my head fall back, gripping the necklace he gave me — the one with our initials that kept brushing my skin all night.
My lips were still swollen.
Still warm.
Still tingling.
I touched them with my fingertips.
God.
I could still feel him.
The way he pulled me onto his lap.
The heat of his hands on my waist.
The way he kissed me like he was starving.
The way I kissed him back like I forgot how to breathe without him.
My knees gave a little, and I slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor, knees pulled up, heart racing like the date hadn't ended at all.
I closed my eyes.
And it hit me — the quiet lake, the stars reflecting on the water, his arm brushing mine as we walked.
The way he looked at me before putting the necklace on — like I was something he prayed he'd never lose.
Then that car scene…
My face heated up again.
I pressed my palms to my cheeks, trying to cool them but failing miserably.
Every kiss replayed in my mind like a loop — the soft ones, the slow ones… and that last messy, breath-stealing, mind-erasing one.
My heartbeat refused to calm down.
My lips refused to forget.
My whole body felt like it was still sitting on his lap, fingers curled in his shirt, his breath mixing with mine.
I finally stood up and walked toward the mirror.
My reflection looked… different.
Necklace glinting.
Eyes a little brighter.
Lips a little ruined.
I laughed under my breath — small, shaky, disbelieving.
"Oh god… I'm in trouble," I whispered to no one.
And as I collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling, one truth echoed in my mind:
I didn't just like Keifer.
I was falling Hard not like before but REALLY HARD.....
Hard.KEIFER'S POV — The Drive Home (a.k.a. He Has No Chill)
I should've driven away the second she got out of the car.
I should've.
But no — I sat there with both hands on the wheel like an idiot who just had his soul kissed out of his body.
My lips were still burning.
My face felt hot.
And my heartbeat?
Yeah. Dead. Gone. MIA. Jay took it with her.
I leaned back in the seat and dragged a hand across my mouth.
"Holy shit…"
I could still taste her — that soft, warm sweetness, the way she tugged me closer like she didn't care if we ran out of air.
Her fingers in my hair.
Her breath on my neck.
Her little gasp when I pulled her closer.
My grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Focus, Watson.
Just get home.
I hit the accelerator and immediately had to roll down the window because the car felt too damn warm.
The necklace box sat in the cupholder, empty.
And the thought of it resting against Jay's skin made my stomach flip so hard I nearly swerved.
I replayed everything — the quiet lake, her head on my shoulder, the way she smiled when she thought I wasn't looking.
The way her eyes lit up when I put the necklace on her.
The way she whispered, "Kei… thank you," like she meant it.
Damn her.
Damn me.
I slammed my hand lightly on the wheel, grinning like an idiot in love.
Because that's what this was.
No denying it.
No pretending.
I was gone for her.
Hopeless.
Completely and totally hers.
The memory of that final kiss hit me again — how she pulled me back when I thought she would just say goodnight.
How she pressed her lips to mine like she didn't want to let go.
I actually groaned.
I had a long night ahead of me, thinking about that kiss, those lips, that girl who somehow undid every piece of me.
I parked in front of my house and rested my forehead on the steering wheel.
"I'm screwed," I whispered to the dark.
Then I smirked.
"But damn… she's worth it."
"Good night my future Mrs. Watson🪄"