Azalea's POV:

"Get off me, Dante !" I groan. "Why are so heavy ? You're literally squishing me !"

"Jeez woman, can you stop ? I'm not that heavy." Dante whines.

It was now morning. Today, I had to go to work because there is a very important meeting that I couldn't miss.

Elizabeth White, who is one of the best entrepreneurs in New Orleans and one of the most richest women, is personally coming to Marc Technologies for a meeting.

With me being the head of the IT department, it was necessary for me to go to work today, because she wanted to meet me.

Fast forward to now; Dante is not letting me leave the bed.

He keeps complaining that it isn't safe for me to leave. I even agreed to keep guards with me until I get home, but he just isn't listening.

He is holding with both of his hands and legs wound around my body. "What are you so worried about ?" I asked, trying to move his leg.

"I just want you to be safe." He huffed, tightening his hold.

"I'll be fine. There will be guards around me for the whole day." I tried reasoning with him.

"No. You're perfectly safe only and only in my arms." He said, his voice laced with concern.

I somehow managed to turn myself to face him. "It's really nice that you care about me, it really is. But, I have to go." I said, holding his face.

"If I don't, I could lose a really big opportunity to work with her."

Dante sighed. His hold on me loosened; that's when I knew that my technique was working.

"If you want, I will text you every two hours so you know that I'm alright." I added. "Okay ?"

He slowly let go of me. "Every five minutes." He corrected.

"Yeah. No. That's a little too much. Two hours it is." I finalized, getting out of the bed. Before I could, he stopped me by holding me by my waist.

"And my good morning kiss ?" He asked, his voice sounding hopeful. I turned to look at him and smiled.

Going closer to him, I kissed his forehead and then whispered in his ear, "We haven't brushed our teeth yet."

"It's alright." He said, pulling me towards him; his lips moving closer to mine.

This time, I was faster than he was. Pushing him back on the bed, I ran into the bathroom.

Locking the door behind me, I shouted, "Not today, Danny Whanny !"

"Just you wait, Azalea." He playfully threatened. "You can run, but you can't hide from me."

"Okay, then. See ya later !" I said and heard him sigh and walk away. I did my morning business and then had a shower.

It's not that I don't want to kiss him. It's just that I'm scared. I've never been in an actual relationship before.

It might not be one now, but later on if it does....I don't even know. Wait. Could I have Philophobia ? No, I don't think so. Maybe I'm just overthinking.

I'm not scared of commitment; I'm scared of giving someone my everything and then ending up with nothing. I'll have to talk to Kim today.

Coming out of the shower, I went to the bathroom and changed into work attire.

Feeling a little classy, I decided to wear a formal navy blue dress. It reached till just after my knees and had a short slit in the front.

I tied my hair into a high ponytail, leaving a few strands out in the front. I didn't put much on my face; just moisturizer and lip gloss.

Wearing black stilettos, I took a beige purse from my cupboard and left the room.

When I did, I saw Dante dressed in an Armani suit with a white undershirt; his usual work clothes.

He was making pancakes and stacking them in a plate.

"Aww....someone's making breakfast." I cooed at him, resting on the kitchen island.

"Yup." He said, keeping the plate of heavenly smelling maple syrup drizzled dish in front of me.

That's when I realized that his man in front of me is doing so much for me, so much to make me happy.

The thing is, he doesn't have to. I need to show him that he doesn't, and that I appreciate him.

Walking towards Dante, I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled at him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and mirrored my smile.

"Thank you for breakfast." I said, looking into his eyes.

"Only for you, Stellina." He smiled.

His gaze that was on me, moved onto my lips and back to eyes. It looked like he was debating on what to do next.

I pulled him closer to me and smashed my lips onto his. He looked surprised for a second but kissed me back. This was it ! There was no going back now.

This wasn't the same as the first time that we kissed. It wasn't intense; it was more gentle and passionate. Like we were pouring our feelings into that one kiss.

Eager for air, I pulled away but giggled when I saw his lips. My lip gloss had gotten on them.

When he saw me laughing, he brought his fingers to his lips and furrowed his eyebrows.

"Now my lips taste like vanilla." He said, wiping the lip gloss off.

"Whoops ! My bad !" I exclaimed, moving away from him.

"But I don't mind, though." Dante winked at me.

"Oookaaayy, then. Let's eat. I have to leave in a few minutes." I said, sitting on the stool near the kitchen island.

"Wow. Deliciosos !" I commented, taking a bite of the pancakes.

"I know. I'm the best." Dante said with pride.

"Yeah, right." I scoffed. "You didn't make this batter from scratch, it's from a box. All you had to do was add water."

"How did you know that ?" He asked with a bewildered face.

I pointed at the trash can near the sink that had a an empty pancake mix box thrown into it. "That's how."

"Okay then, Ms.know-it-all." Dante grumbled, taking a bite of the pancakes he made for himself.

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