The aroma of sweet, grilled chicken and steaming veggies wafted through my nostrils and Kaleb's apartment as I stood at the stove and put the finishing touches on Kaleb and I's late night dinner.

We had arrived home from the opening of the play just under an hour ago and we were both on a performance high and equally as starving after having spent so much energy on stage tonight.

Since I had moved in a few weeks ago, Kaleb and I had somehow fallen into this perfect partnership.

Living with him was polar opposite of how it was living with Zach.

Everything I did when I was with Zach, was for him. I cooked for him, cleaned for him, made sure every little detail in the apartment was pristine just to please him.

Yet, with Kaleb, it was as if we were equals. He cooked some nights, I cooked some nights. Occasionally, we would stay up late watching movies, other nights we would simply lay in his bed, talking and delving into each other's pasts or reminisce about certain memories we shared until we both fell asleep from exhaustion, usually wrapped up in each other's hold as we did so.

"Kaleb, could you bring me a fork please?" I inquired with my back still facing away from where Kaleb was as I flipped the sizzling chicken one last time in the pan.

Seconds passed and yet, no response from Kaleb.

"Kaleb?"

Still nothing.

Setting my stirring spoon down on the pan, I spun on my heel to head off and try and find where Kaleb had gone off to or why he wasn't responding.

I didn't have to go far at all though as he was standing in the exact same spot at the counter he was in the last time I saw him. He was resting both of his muscular arms on top of the counter, his handsome head cocked somewhat to the side and he was just... watching me.

My brows strung together in uncertainly.

"Hey, you okay?"

Kaleb's somewhat far off stare zeroed in on mine as he seemed to be thrown back into the moment.

"Yeah." He nodded, his gaze softening considerably as an adorably charming lopsided smile rose up onto Kaleb's full lips.

"I'm great."

The relaxed smile that was resting upon my lips stumbled as Kaleb pushed himself off of the counter top and began to make his way towards me, an intense emotion swirling through his river blue stare.

Slowly, Kaleb's massive frame towered over mine as he slipped both of his large, commanding hands around my waist and brought our chests flush up against one another's.

"Kaleb-"

"I like you being here," Kaleb cut me off, his stare drilling into mine as he spoke. "I like watching you in the kitchen, I love waking up with you curled into my chest every morning... I think I'm becoming addicted to it if I'm being honest," Kaleb admitted with a soft chuckle, his eyes exuding with truth and affection.

"You just feel right being here and... I want you to stay," he whispered out as he pressed his lips against my forehead in a sweet kiss.

"Kaleb..." I sighed out as I felt myself become heady as Kaleb stroked his lips in tender kisses down my cheek, trailing down until his warm lips pressed a soft, loving kiss against my chin; my lips aching to be awarded with his lips presence next.

"You don't have to answer now," he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

Finally, my prayers were answered as Kaleb's mouth smoothed over my own, his sweet lips melding to mine and pulling at them in such a loving, intimate manner.

"Dinner's gonna burn," I mumbled out between Kaleb and I's lips.

"Let it," he mumbled out his own reply quickly before sealing his mouth back over mine, our kiss slowly but surely churning with more and more heat.

Far before I was ready, Kaleb detached his lips from mine, leaving me cold and wanting for more.

"I have something for you," he revealed suddenly.

"You do?"

"Stay here," he ordered just before turning on his heel and retreating into another section of the apartment.

Thoughtfully, I spun and switched off the stove before the chicken and vegetables could ruin any more so than they already had. I took two plates out of the cupboards and readied both plates with slightly mushy veggies and an extra crispy piece of grilled chicken that somehow still smelled fantastically sweet and delicious.

"Okay."

At the sound of Kaleb's voice, I pulled my attention away from the steaming plates of food and turned to face him.

My lips parted and an unfamiliar, giddy sensation suddenly soared through my veins as I took in the large, square, wrapped up present that Kaleb was holding in his hands.

My astonished stare flitted back and forth between Kaleb's enlivened, anxious stare and the present wrapped securely in a brown, cardboard looking material with a soft, red bow wrapped elegantly around the middle.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice laced with obvious wonderment.

Kaleb held out the present to me, a warm smile gracing over his handsome features as he spoke.

"Open it."

Hesitantly and with trembling fingers, I reached my arm out and gripped the unknown object in my hand.

It was light enough to where I only had to grip it with one hand but it was easily the size of a pillow one would sleep on.

With careful precision and delicate fingers, I slowly pinched the bow surrounding the present and pulled, the material unraveling gracefully and neatly falling to the floor.

A sharp gasp tore through my lips as I finished unwrapping and turned the gift over.

An overpowering awe and astonishment sang through my body as I held the gift tenderly in my grasp, my quickly welling eyes raking over the object, utterly mesmerized by its mere existence.

"Oh my god," I breathed out as I took in every gentle brush stroke across the canvas, every dip and curve of the face painted so flawlessly and beautifully against the canvas.

My face.

It was me. Kaleb had painted me.

"That's exactly how I see you, Leah; so strong but still so kind... so unbelievably gorgeous," Kaleb spoke, his words soft as they caressed my ears and filled my heart to the absolute brim with the purest and most powerful sensation of love I'd ever experienced before.

The painting stole my breath away without effort. My auburn locks framed around my cream colored face elegantly in large curls, the red he used for my hair practically jumping off of the canvas with its striking, vibrant coloring.

My eyes were by far the most captivating thing about the painting.

The look Kaleb painted into my honey brown eyes made me look so... spirited.

I looked sure of myself, proud, and yet still I could detect the kindness that Kaleb always said he loved about me sitting within the paintings eyes.

"Do you like it?"

My eyes snapped away from mine on the canvas and fixed onto Kaleb's curiously nervous stare.

I parted my lips, scavenging through every crevice of my mind to try and find the right words to tell him how much I loved it; how much I loved him.

Yet, I couldn't.

There were no words great enough or that held enough impact that could possibly describe how I was feeling or how deeply my love ran for the man standing just feet away from me, watching me and waiting for my response.

There were no words...

But there were actions.

Carefully, I set the painting down next to me on the kitchen table. Wordlessly, I walked up to Kaleb.

With each step, the room charged with energy; energy that came from Kaleb and I's undeniable connection and chemistry, an energy that was becoming all-consuming as I reached Kaleb's stoic frame, his eyes now full of intense wonder.

Without missing a beat, I flattened my palms against Kaleb's chest and lifted myself up onto my toes, pressing my lips against his in the most impassioned, warmhearted kiss I could.

He responded immediately, wrapping his strong arms around my waist and anchoring me to him, our lips moving wantonly and intimately with each other's in a kiss filled with so much passion that I was quickly becoming dizzy from its potency.

"So I take it you like the painting?" he asked, a slight sly smile inching up on his pink lips.

I nodded, keeping my ardent stare pinned on his as I prepared myself of what I was going to say next.

"I do..." I spoke softly, my fingers playing with the material of Kaleb's shirt nervously as I swallowed back my anxiety.

"Kaleb..." I trailed off.

"What, Peaches?" he inquired, his voice mixed with warmth and compassion as he stroked his hand in loving circles across my back.

Keeping my stare fixed on his and focusing on every ounce of earnest love and devotion sitting in his gaze that I knew only mirrored mine, I found my voice and spoke with confidence.

"Take me to bed."

I witnessed as shock sprang to Kaleb's eyes, his brows dipping together in dire need of confirmation.

"You mean..?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Kaleb took in a deep breath, his handsome face creasing over with so many emotions I lost track.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his tone giving away to the true emotional depth of what my acceptance of our physical connection truly meant to him.

"More than anything."

Kaleb's stare flickered and surged with an overpowering sensation of love and before anymore could be said, his lips were on mine.