Chapter 21
Morning came quietly.
Soft light slipped through the curtains.
For once…
The room felt calm.
Still.
Peaceful.
Jay stirred slightly.
Her eyes slowly opening.
Her breath warm… steady.
For a moment—
She didn't move.
Because something held her.
Strong.
Secure.
She looked down.
And there it was.
Keifer's arm wrapped around her waist.
Holding her close.
Like he wasn't letting go.
Her breath paused.
Her fingers slowly touched his hand.
Warm.
Real.
Last night…
Everything felt like a blur.
Emotions.
Closeness.
The way he looked at her…
The way she didn't pull away.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
But then—
A thought crept in.
Quiet.
Uncomfortable.
Her brows frowned a little.
He's like this…
So experienced…
So sure…
Her fingers stilled.
Her heart slowed.
How many…?
The thought didn't sit right.
Not at all.
A strange feeling twisted inside her.
Something sharp.
Something… jealous.
She turned slowly.
Looking at him.
He was still asleep.
Calm.
Unbothered.
So different from the man everyone feared.
Jay hesitated.
But the thought didn't leave.
It grew.
Until she couldn't ignore it anymore.
"Keifer…"
She whispered softly.
No response.
She nudged him lightly.
"Keifer…"
He stirred slightly.
His grip tightening unconsciously around her.
"Hmm…"
His voice was low.
Sleepy.
Jay swallowed.
"Can I ask you something…?"
A pause.
Then slowly—
His eyes opened.
Just a little.
Focused on her.
"…what?"
Her heart beat faster.
Not from closeness this time.
From hesitation.
"…you've been with… others before… right?"
Silence.
Complete.
Keifer blinked once.
Then fully awake now.
His gaze fixed on her.
Carefully.
"Why would you think that?"
Jay looked away slightly.
"Because…"
She struggled to say it.
"You act like you already know everything…"
A pause.
"…like this isn't new to you."
Silence filled the room.
But it wasn't tense.
It was… different.
Keifer watched her.
Long.
Then—
He shifted slightly.
Propping himself up.
Still close.
Still not letting go completely.
"This was my first time."
Jay froze.
Her eyes snapped back to him.
"What…?"
"I've never been with anyone before."
Her breath hitched.
"That's not—"
"It is."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
Not defensive.
Not annoyed.
Just… honest.
Jay stared at him.
Trying to read his face.
To find even a hint of doubt.
But there was none.
"You're serious…?"
A small pause.
Then—
"I don't lie about things that matter."
Her heart softened instantly.
The tight feeling inside her—
It disappeared.
Replaced by something warmer.
Something… deeper.
"Then… why me?"
She asked softly.
"Why now?"
Another pause.
This one longer.
Keifer's gaze didn't leave hers.
"Because you're not like anyone else."
Her breath stilled.
"You don't look at me like they do."
A beat.
"You fight me."
A faint shift in his expression.
"You stay."
Jay's eyes softened.
"And you chose me."
Silence wrapped around them.
Gentle.
Real.
Her fingers slowly moved again.
This time…
Holding his hand.
Not hesitating.
Not questioning.
Just… holding.
"And now…"
She whispered.
"…I'm not letting you go."
Keifer didn't reply.
But his arm tightened slightly around her.
Pulling her closer again.
Like that was his answer.
And for the first time—
There was no confusion.
No fear.
No doubt.
Just something steady.
Something real.
Something that finally felt… right.
End of Chapter 21