#belli5

Being on a vacation with Jobe felt like a dream, but having his entire family around didn’t exactly help the constant ache of neediness that pulsed through you whenever Jobe was near.

You really loved it, the opportunity to grow closer with his parents, to laugh with Jude and his girlfriend, and to experience Greece’s breathtaking islands from the deck of a private boat was something you’d cherish forever.

But sometimes, you wished the boat was just for the two of you, where you didn’t need to behave. Because right now, all you could focus on was your boyfriend.

And especially focus on his toned abs. And muscles.

Back home, Jobe was well aware of how much you enjoyed his abs and muscles, probably way more than he did himself. And he didn’t blame you one bit. In fact, he silently thanked football every single day for sculpting this body, because the way your eyes devoured him, it was worth every training session.

But what he wasn’t aware of was that you were thinking like this right now, surrounded by his family. He obviously had no clue.

Jobe stood at the railing in nothing but navy swim trunks, the sun kissing every inch of his body. When he pointed out a distant island to his dad and Jude, his muscles flexed naturally with the movement.

You had to bite your lip to stop yourself from staring too obviously, your cold iced tea sat forgotten in your hands as you tried your best to put your attention to his mother and Ashlyn talking, rather than staring at Jobe.

When Jobe and Jude finally sat down at the foredeck, leaning slightly back on their arms with their legs stretched out in front of them, their dad came over to join the conversation with you, his mom, and Jude’s girlfriend. You took the opportunity to excuse yourself from the group, murmuring something about the sun getting stronger.

You reached into your bag for the bottle of sunscreen and walked toward Jobe. He looked up at you with a smile as you approached. “You should put some sunscreen on.” You said softly, holding up the bottle.

“Oh yeah, thanks, babe!” Jobe replied, reaching out his hand to take it from you.

You smiled sweetly, pulling it back just out of reach. “I’ll help.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, but he was more than happy to get your help. He moved a little, giving you more space. You started with his back to save the best for last, smoothing the lotion over his broad shoulders and the defined muscles along his spine.

Once his back was done, you moved around to face him. You squeezed a generous amount of sunscreen into your palms, rubbing them together before reaching for his stomach. The moment your palm made contact with his warm skin, Jobe instinctively squeezed his abs, the cool lotion making his muscles tense and ripple beneath your touch.

You bit back a grin, feeling every ridge and line move under your hands.

You used both hands now, spreading the sunscreen in smooth strokes. You tried to keep it subtle, tracing the defined squares of his sixpack, letting your fingertips glide along the deep cuts at his sides, but it was impossible to keep your hands away.

Just as you finished, Jude turned toward you. “Y/n, you doing full service today? Mind putting some on me too?”

You straightened up, wiping your hands on a towel, and gave him a playful eyeroll. “Fine..” you said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Later when you all were back at the beach, Jobe laid comfortably on a sunbed under a large umbrella. You sat right beside him near his thighs, the two of you talking quietly while his family laughed in the water a good distance away.

Without a thought, you reached out and placed your hand on his stomach again. You didn’t feel like there was a need to be careful now, your fingers traced the hard planes of his abs slowly, feeling the firm ridges move under your touch as he breathed.

Jobe continued talking about tomorrow’s plans as if nothing was happening. When he finished his sentence, you looked up at him with a soft smile. “You know you look so good today!” You complimented him.

Jobe’s grin widened, his eyes crinkling in a charming way you loved. “Really? Thank you, babe. You’re just as beautiful as you always are,” he cut himself off. “— Actually, even more with this sun on you.”

“Thank you, baby!” You replied, still running your palm over his warm stomach. “But really.. even your abs have got me so distracted today.”

He let out a low laugh, the sound vibrating under your hand. “Are you really this worked up with everyone around?” He teased lightly.

You jokingly glanced around, checking the shoreline. His family was still happily swimming. “I don’t see anyone around right now?!” You said innocently.

“Yeah, not right now.” Jobe replied, raising an eyebrow. “But on the boat? That was my whole family right there.”

“So?” you shrugged, a playful smile tugging at your lips.

You leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the center of his stomach, then another, and another, trailing your lips over the defined muscles. Jobe’s hand found its way into your hair, holding it gently, his fingers threading through the strands as you worshipped his abs with kisses.

When you finally made your way up to his lips, he happily pulled you closer, his hand moving to the back of your head to deepen the kiss. It was sweet, his mouth moving against yours. When you started to pull away after a moment, he chased your lips with a few soft pecks, making you smile against him.

When he finally let you pull away after the few more pecks, you were both smiling. You leaned forward slightly on the sunbed and reached into the back pocket of your shorts, pulling out your phone. “Let me take a picture of you.” You said, already opening the camera app.

Jobe raised an eyebrow, still lounging back against the cushions. “Is there any particular reason you would need to take a picture of me right now?”

You grinned, tilting your head. “Do I have to have a reason to take a picture of my boyfriend?” you asked, deliberately dragging out the word ‘my.’

He shrugged. “I don’t know.. I’m just trying to understand if it’s because of how I look right now, or so you can stare at the abs in the picture later.”

You laughed softly, cheeks warming. “Well, I actually wanted to take a picture of you because you look really good right now.. but thanks for the idea. Now I’ll do both.”

He happily flexed his biceps for the camera, making sure to tighten his core at the same time. You snapped a few shots, adjusting the angle to capture the way the light kissed him. “Perfect!” You murmured.

When you first laid your eyes on the blond, your heart forgot how to beat for a second. It was during the slumber party challenge, the girls and the boys were all piled onto the massive white sheeted bed that had quickly turned into a colorful mess of the girls trying to find their partner with paint.

All of the girls quickly learned that there clearly had been someone else kissing the guys, because no girls from the villa had the red paint.

And of course, Ariana announced that there was bombshells who kissed the guys while the girls blindfolded tried to find their connection. All the girls whined, until Ariana spoke up. “And girls, I know I forget a lot but this time I didn’t forget about you. Please welcome Caleb!”

You couldn’t see clearly from the start, but soon you saw a figure walking down the stairs. It was a tall, blond guy, all easy confidence and a genuine smile.

He was easily one of the best looking guys you’d ever seen in person. He had sunkissed skin, sharp jaw, and warm eyes that scanned the group. You couldn’t blame Melanie for jumping up and down on the bed, squealing with pure excitement as the sheets twisted under the movement. The girls were losing it, and really so were you on the inside.

Caleb laughed a little at the over the top welcome. When it was his turn to speak, he stepped forward and said where he was from, the southern drawl rolling out so naturally it hit you right in the chest. Yeah.. you loved yourself a cowboy.

Something about the way he carried himself, made your stomach do backflips in a way you hadn’t expected on day whatever this was.

You tried to play it cool, sitting there in your white lingerie, but your eyes kept drifting back to him as he made his way around the bed, greeting each girl with a make out. When he got closer to you, your heart picked up. You hoped he’d notice you the most out of everyone. Of course, not in a desperate way, but there was something about him that felt different from everyone else.

Maybe it was the way he looked like a guy who might actually mean what he said. Or just him being very cutesy. Or maybe both. Either way, you wanted to find out whatever it was.

Somehow, your wish came true. The chemistry between you and Caleb was even better than you’d hoped for. From the first day, he matched your energy in a way that felt natural, rather than forced.

But of course, nothing in the villa stayed simple for long. Kenzie had the same type, apparently, and zero shame about going after what she wanted. You tried not to feel greedy but it stung. She already had Corbin, like wasn’t that enough? You’d pulled the girls for a chat the day after Sol, Jen, and Caleb entered, telling them straight up that you wanted to see where things could go with him.

The next day, you decided not to wait. You spotted Caleb by the firepit talking to Sincere and walked over. “Hey, do you wanna go for a chat?”

He smiled warmly and nodded. “Lead the way.”

Once you were settled on the cozy couch of soulties, you swung your legs over his lap, getting comfortable. “So how do you feel about yesterday?” you asked, studying his face.

Caleb let out a small laugh, his hand resting on your knee. “I can’t lie I was a bit nervous walking into the villa.”

“Yeah?” You smiled, feeling your cheeks warm. “I was kind of nervous when you came in too.”

“Really?” His eyebrows lifted, his proud little smirk appearing. “I’m lowkey feeling kinda proud right now that I made you nervous.”

You laughed. “Who caught your eye first?”

“Should I be honest?”

“Obviously.”

“Probably you.” he said sincerely.

You covered your mouth for a second. “Shut up.” You played around “Are you saying that just now because I asked? You might be going around telling all the girls that.”

Caleb laughed, shaking his head as he squeezed your leg gently. “No, I promise. It’s not like that.”

A comfortable silence settled for a few seconds. You bit your lip, the question bothering you, “So.. how’d you feel about our kiss?”

He pretended to think hard. “I don’t know.. maybe I need a reminder?”

You couldn’t help but smile as you leaned in, your hand brushing his chest. The kiss was soft and sweet and exploring, exactly like how you’d felt when you two kissed for the first time. When you started to pull away, he chased it with two small kisses, both of you breaking into wide, ear to ear grins.

Two days later, everything changed for the better. America had voted, and somehow they saw exactly what you saw; the spark between you and Caleb. When your name was called with his at the recoupling, a wave of relief washed over you. He walked over to you with a genuine smile, and he pulled you into a warm hug.

He looked genuinely happy, his bright smile lighting up his whole face as he whispered in your ear, asking if you were okay. You were happy too, happier than you’d been since stepping foot in the villa.

That first night coupled up, you chose your cutest set of pajamas, soft pink shorts and a matching top that made you feel pretty. Caleb was already under the covers when you climbed in beside him. Without a word, he opened his arms, and you curled right into him, resting your head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady under your cheek, and his arms wrapped around you protectively, one hand gently rubbing your back.

“Goodnight.” He murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of your head.

You smiled against his skin. “Night, Caleb.”

It was simple, but it was everything. You were exactly where you wanted to be.

The entire week that followed felt like a dream. You and Caleb spent every free moment getting to know each other deeper than you expected was possible in the villa. It was crazy how quickly it happened, but you two already felt like you’d known each other for way longer than a week and a half.

Caleb hated feeling a certain type of way when he saw you with someone else. He hated the tight twist in his chest every time another guy pulled you for a chat. He hated watching from across the villa as someone else got to sit with you on the daybeds, making you laugh, trying to build something.

And don’t even get him started on the challenges, moments when a guy chose to kiss you out of all the girls. Seeing another man’s lips on yours, even if it was “just a challenge” made something ugly flare up inside him.

He knew he shouldn’t feel that type of way. This was love island after all; kisses, chats, and tests were part of the deal. You two had only been coupled up a short while, and he trusted the connection you were building. You were sweet, genuine, and the way you looked at him after every conversation made him feel like the luckiest guy in the villa.

But it wasn’t every day that his woman got kissed by other men.

Caleb brushed the feeling aside, forcing himself to stay cool and confident. He didn’t want to come off insecure or controlling because that wasn’t him. He’d seen enough guys in the villa spiral and ruin good things by acting on every jealous impulse.

So he smiled through it, focusing instead on the moments that mattered: waking up with you on his chest, talks where you both opened up, and the way your hand always found his when you walked through the villa.

He knew the guys from the villa well enough by now or at least he hoped he did. Most of them respected the couples and would tell him straight if they were actually feeling you. But every time one of the others stayed a little too long in conversation with you, Caleb found himself watching, jaw tight until you came back to him with a bright smile that melted everything else away.

It especially didn’t help when a new bombshell came in and made it crystal clear he had come straight for you.

The Islanders had gotten ready for the kissing booth challenge. The rules were simple: first the boys would be blindfolded with noise cancelling headphones while the girls went down the line kissing them. The boys would rate each kiss out of ten, and the top girl would win bragging rights. Then the roles would reverse.

You were almost one of the last girls standing in line when the boys’ turn to kiss came around. Caleb moved down the row, and when he finally reached you, he made it obvious it was him. He started with a kiss on your neck, trailing upward until his lips captured yours. His hand gently held the back of your neck, pulling you closer. You melted into it instantly, the familiar tenderness making your knees feel weak.

Caleb had already kissed most of the girls by that point, and he was over it. He’d had enough of the random lips and at this point, he only wanted to kiss you.

You obviously knew your man’s lips. Even blindfolded, you could tell it was him the second he touched you. When it was time for the girls to give their ratings, you waited until your turn and smiled.“I mean, I think I already know who that was,” you said confidently, “and if I could, I’d give him a twelve out of ten. But since that’s probably not allowed, I’ll just settle for a ten.”

Caleb, laughed shyly but there was clear pride on his face too, he was proud that his girl could recognize him so easily among everyone else.

Bryce was the last guy to go down the line, because all of the other guys had already had their turns. But it obviously wouldn’t be love island if a bombshell didn’t come in during a challenge. Caleb saw the guy walking from the entrance, tall, complete opposite of him and the guy stopped Bryce from doing his part. “Don’t mind if I do?”

The girls were still blindfolded and wearing the headphones, completely oblivious to the new guy walking in.

“How was that kiss?” Zach asked, standing by the board with the marker ready as the girls told about their thoughts.

When it came to your turn, you shrugged with a small laugh. “I don’t know.. it wasn’t bad, but it definitely wasn’t my man.”

When you were finally able to take your blindfold off, you saw the bombshell standing in front of you all, the girls with their mouths open. You glanced over at Caleb, before the girls were ushered toward the firepit with the new arrival. His name was Aidan, he was tall, darkhaired, and confident as he introduced himself.

The guys peeled off to the daybeds for their usual debrief. “Dude!” Zach spoke up first, “Bryce didn’t even get to kiss the girls.” Bryce nodded, chuckling. “Yeah, they were definitely excited to see the new guy.”

Sincere leaned back and pointed toward the firepit, nudging Caleb with his elbow. “There goes your girl.” You and the new guy, Aidan, made your way together towards the kitchen.

Caleb watched you sitting with Aidan, the new bombshell leaning in as you two talked. The jealousy flared hotter, but he decided not to say anything. “Do you think she pulled him or he pulled her?” Zach asked.

Caleb shrugged, eyes still locked on the kitchen area where you and Aidan had moved to continue chatting at the counter. “I dunno, but either way I’m cooked. If she pulled him, then she’s got some slight interest. If he pulled her, then he’s clearly going for her hard since she’s the first one he’s talking to.”

The guys murmured in agreement, but Zach tried to offer some comfort. “I mean, you know her. I don’t think it’ll be that easy for her to turn her head.”

Caleb nodded slowly, appreciating the words even if they didn’t fully help him. After a few minutes, he stood up and stretched, acting casual. “Dude?” Kc laughed, “are you going to the kitchen because they’re there?”

Caleb let out a short laugh, not even bothering to deny it. “Yeah.”

Later that night, after the long day and villa chatter had finally died down, everyone got ready for bed. You changed into your comfy sleepwear and padded over to the shared bedroom, a small smile tugging at your lips when you spotted Caleb already under the covers waiting for you, one arm behind his head.

You wasted no time wrapping yourself around him, legs tangled with his and your head resting on his chest. Even after the time you’d spent together, you were still excited every night to share a bed with him. There was something so comforting about his warmth and the rhythm of his heartbeat.

You two chatted softly like you always did before bed, like little observations about the other islanders, funny moments, and plans for the next day. Eventually, Caleb’s voice grew a little more serious. “So.. what did you two talk about?” he asked, referring to Aidan.

You tilted your head up to look at him. “Oh, nothing much. He just asked how I feel being in a couple with you, if we’re closed off, and stuff like that.”

Caleb’s hand paused on your back. “What’d you say?”

You smiled gently, tracing lazy circles on his chest. “I told him we’re not closed off yet, but I feel really great with you. That I’m not really waiting for anyone else to come in, and just excited to see where things go with you.”

The relief on Caleb’s face was immediate. His shoulders relaxed, and he pulled you a little closer, pressing a kiss to your forehead. Hearing you be so honest and hearing you affirm your connection out loud, settled something in him. Hopefully Aidan would take the hint and try to get to know someone else more romantically instead of focusing on you.

When the lights finally turned off, you lifted your head from his chest and nestled your face into the crook of his neck. You pressed a soft kiss there, then sucked lightly, obviously not enough to leave a mark, just enough to feel the warmth of his skin. You soothed the spot with your tongue before trailing up to capture his lips in a kiss.

It was sweet and comforting, the kind of kiss that said everything words couldn’t in the dark. You stayed like that for a while, exchanging soft kisses until the tiredness started to win. With a contented sigh, you pulled back slightly, smiling against his mouth. “Night, baby.” you whispered.

“Night, baby.” Caleb murmured back, his arms tightening around you protectively.

The next morning, you sat on the poufs with Trinity and Kayda, sipping coffee and enjoying the sunshine. The guys were working out nearby, muscles flexing as you three enjoyed the show.

That’s when Aidan walked over. You expected him to pull one of the other girls, but he stopped right in front of you. “Hey, you wanna go for a chat?”

You couldn’t exactly say no without seeming rude, so you agreed with a polite smile. “Sure.” He suggested the speakeasy and you nodded, following him inside but making sure to leave the door open. You settled onto the couch, keeping things light and friendly.

He started with somewhat easy questions, like where you’re from, what you do outside the villa. The conversation flowed nicely for about ten minutes. It was harmless, even kind of nice..

Until it wasn’t.

“So, did you enjoy our kiss yesterday?” Aidan asked, leaning in a bit.

The question instantly brought you back to how things started with Caleb and you had zero interest in going there with Aidan. “It was cool.” you laughed lightly, shrugging it off. “I don’t really have any complaints.”

“That’s great” he said with a smile. “How about we try again?”

You stared at him for a second, caught off guard. “Uhh, I don’t know.. I don’t think it’s going to be that easy.”

Aidan laughed, playing off the embarrassment. “Maybe another day?”

You gave a small, noncommittal smile. “We’ll see.”

After your chat with Aidan, you found Caleb in the kitchen talking to Sincere. You walked up behind him and slipped your hand around his waist, leaning into his side. “Hey, can I steal him for a bit?”

Sincere waved you off. “Go ahead. He’s all yours.”

You led Caleb up to soulties, the cozy spot feeling like the perfect place to talk. The second you sat down, you turned to him. “Aidan pulled me again.”

You could tell Caleb was getting annoyed, but he was clearly trying not to show it too much. “Did he?”

“Yeah” you said, sighing. “And he wanted to kiss me.”

“What?” Caleb’s eyes widened, surprise flashing across his face. He was expecting anything but this, because yesterday you made it clear that you weren’t going to be that easy.

“Yeah. I obviously told him no, but he asked if maybe another day and I just said ‘we’ll see’ because I didn’t know what else to say.”

Caleb nodded slowly, processing everything. “You handled it well. But I don’t like that he keeps going for you when he knows we’re coupled up.”

Before you could dive deeper, you heard the islanders yelling from downstairs. Trinity’s voice carried up clearly. “I got a text!”

You and Caleb immediately got up and leaned over the railing. Trinity read it out loud: “Islanders, the hideaway is open tonight. Please vote for the couple you want to send in.”

Your eyes met Caleb’s at the same time. A big smile broke across both your faces. Trinity looked straight up at you. “Bitch, you gotta go!” she yelled, grinning.

The rest of the islanders cheered and hyped you two up with no hesitation. You and Caleb broke into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around you securely. “I guess we’re going to the hideaway,” you said, laughing softly against his chest.

The girls immediately started running up the stairs to help you get ready. Caleb got the hint and gave your butt a gentle, playful pat as you pulled away. “Can’t wait to see you downstairs.”

In the dressing room, the girls were hyping you up like it was a wedding. They helped you pick out the perfect set, and you ended up choosing a white lingerie that made you feel sexy. You layered a silky dark blue nightgown over it, the fabric soft and flowing beautifully against your skin.

Before you and Caleb went into the hideaway, the islanders made a song for you two, with plenty of cheeky lyrics.

When you entered the hideaway, the space felt like pure luxury compared to the main villa. It was big and romantic, and the first thing you both noticed was the inviting hot tub bubbling away in the corner. You walked over to the sign next to it and read it out loud.

“Stay wild..” You turned to Caleb. “Oh, we’re definitely staying wild tonight. I can promise you that.”

Caleb chuckled, pulling you close before you both explored further. You wandered into the bedroom area and stopped in your tracks. “Holy shit, Caleb.. that’s all for us?” The massive bed looked incredibly comfortable, complete with plush pillows and soft lighting. It felt like a whole different world.

Caleb’s eyes scanned the room and landed on a big mirror on the wall. “Y/n, look what I found.” he said, pointing with a smirk. The mirror had text that read: Pull here for a good time.

“Pull it!” you told him, curious.

He reached out and tugged on the handle. The mirror swung open to reveal a little compartment filled with handcuffs, a belt, game cards, and a few other things clearly meant for a very good time. You laughed and pulled out the belt, playfully snapping it in the air toward him.

“It don’t hurt..” Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Keep doing it.”

After spending some time relaxing in the hot tub, you both dried off and made your way toward the bed. Caleb lay back against the pillows, looking ridiculously attractive. You straddled his lap, pulling the covers up over your shoulders as you settled on top of him.

“Ughh..” you groaned. “Can we please just get the lights off now?” you complained. “Because I’m holding myself back from jumping your bones right now.”

Caleb let out a deep laugh, his hands resting on your thighs. “That right?”

Before he could even reach for the switch, the main lights dimmed and turned off automatically, leaving only the soft LED lights glowing around the room. You both paused, surprised, then broke into laughter again.

“Guess the hideaway heard you.” Caleb said, grinning up at you, his hands sliding up your sides.

You leaned down until your lips met his, your bodies pressed chest to chest. The kiss started slow, but heat quickly took over and it didn’t take long for Caleb’s hands to slide down and find your ass, squeezing with both hands. The firm grip pulled a soft moan from your throat, and he took the opportunity to slide his tongue into your mouth.

Before you knew it, Caleb flipped you both over with ease so he was hovering above you. He continued kissing you hungrily, occasionally breaking away to trail his lips down your neck, sucking lightly on your skin before finding his way back to your mouth.

His hand moved from your waist to your thigh, smoothing over the soft skin there before sliding higher. He played with the waistband of your panties, teasing you until you were aching for more.

“Please, Caleb..” you pleaded.

He didn’t tease you for long. Caleb slipped his hand into your panties, sliding his fingers over your slick folds. The sensation earned a louder moan from you.

He quickly pulled his hand out just long enough to tug your panties down your legs, leaving you more open for him. Bringing his two middle fingers to his mouth, he spit on them before returning to your core.

He entered you slowly with one finger, then added a second when you gasped saying “I want more.”

The stretch and rhythm of his fingers pulled another moan from your lips. Your head fell back against the pillow, mouth open as his fingers worked you perfectly.

As much as he wanted to kiss you and swallow every sound, he also loved seeing you with your head thrown back, back arching off the bed. It was a sight he couldn’t get enough of.

While your back arched, he took the opportunity to reach behind you and unclasp your bra. It took a little struggle with one hand, but he eventually got it open and tossed it aside.

He leaned down, taking one of your nipples into his mouth, sucking and teasing with his tongue while his fingers kept their pace. The multitasking was impressive, you’d give him that.

“Hm” he hummed against your skin, getting your attention. “I bet he wishes he got you like this. Think that?”

From your point of view, Caleb was still a little jealous about Aidan, but it didn’t bother you. You silently thanked everyone who had voted for you two to get this time alone in the hideaway so he could get his jealousy out.

Caleb kept working you, curling his fingers just right until your thighs started to tremble.

He rode out your high with you, whispering praises against your neck as you came undone beneath him. When your body finally relaxed, he slowly pulled his fingers out and brought them up to his lips, tasting you with a satisfied groan.

“Fuck, you taste good, baby.” he complimented.

After Caleb let you catch your breath, he leaned back down to kiss you hard, his tongue sliding against yours with renewed hunger.

He pulled the sheets up over both of you, creating a private cocoon that blocked out the rest of the world. It felt incredibly intimate with just the two of you tangled together under the soft fabric.

“Can you handle more, baby?” he asked sweetly.

You nodded immediately, absolutely not wasting this rare chance at alone time with him in this villa. “Yes.. please.”

Under the covers, you gladly helped him take off his boxers, both of you giggling as the fabric got tangled for a second. Once he was free, Caleb’s hands gripped your waist tightly as he positioned himself between your thighs.

He pushed in slowly, giving you time to adjust to his size. The stretch was perfect, and a moan escaped your lips. At least you were now promised, or at least really hoping, to have a sexy boyfriend after this villa and a fire dick every night once you got out.

When you finally gave him the sign to move, Caleb didn’t hold back. His thrusts came harder, and deeper, the bed creaked rhythmically beneath you, and you were so thankful the hideaway was soundproof enough that no one else in the villa could hear you two.

The wet slaps of skin on skin filled the small space under the sheets, mixing with your shared heavy breathing.

“Think he could fuck you like this?” Caleb growled against your ear, his hand sliding up your thigh and spreading you wider for him.

“Fuck..” you moaned, nails digging into his back hard enough to leave marks that would definitely show tomorrow. “No.. only you, Caleb.”

It seemed to spur him on even more. With a sound in his throat, he flipped you onto your stomach, pulling your hips up so your ass was raised while your chest pressed into the mattress.

He took you from behind, sinking back into you in one smooth thrust. His hand fisted gently in your hair, obviously he wasn’t trying to be rough, but just to tilt your head back so he could kiss you sloppily while still pounding into you.

The new angle was incredible, he was hitting that perfect spot with every thrust, making your eyes roll back. Your moans were muffled by the pillow and the heavy sheets, but Caleb seemed to love every single sound you made.

He reached around with one hand, finding your clit and rubbing it in tight, expert circles. The dual sensation pushed you right toward the edge again while he chased his own release, hips snapping against you relentlessly.

You came harder this time, clenching around him and shaking as pleasure crashed through you. Caleb followed right after, groaning your name. At the last second, he managed to pull out, stroking himself a few times before finishing across your lower back in hot pulses.

He collapsed on top of you, both of you panting heavily under the messy sheets. Your bodies were slick with sweat, hearts still racing from the intensity of it all.

After a moment, Caleb rolled off you with a satisfied groan but immediately pulled you into his chest, wrapping his strong arms around your body. He pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead, his thumb stroking soothing circles on your back.

“I wasn’t too rough, was I?” he asked quietly, genuine concern in his voice as he checked on you.

You smiled against his skin, still catching your breath. “No.. it was perfect.”

He hummed happily, hugging you a little tighter. You yawned, the exhaustion finally hitting you hard after the long day and the passionate night. Caleb chuckled softly, recognizing the sign immediately.

“Get some sleep, baby.” he whispered, kissing the top of your head again. “We can talk about everything tomorrow.”

You nodded sleepily, already drifting off in his warm embrace.

If there was one thing in the world that Macklin hated, it was the way you always called him cute.

Well, hate was a strong word.

Macklin didn’t absolutely hate it when you called him cute. There were times it felt nice, like when you’d scroll through old baby photos his mom had texted you, and you’d coo, “Look at baby Mack, so cute!” He’d duck his head, cheeks burning, but the shyness came with warmth because it was harmless.

Back then, he was still figuring out how to fill out his frame, still the kid everyone babied a little. But now it kind of felt annoying.

He was 19, standing 6’0, carrying 190 pounds of solid muscle that came from endless hours in the weight room and on the ice. He’d bulked up noticeably since his rookie year; broader shoulders, thicker legs, the kind of build that let him drive the net without getting shoved off.

In the 25-26 season, he was already at 29 goals and 54 assists, a Sharks team that finally looked like it had a future because of him. Alternate captain some nights.

He wasn’t a puppy anymore. He was a man who could bench his own bodyweight, who absorbed hits from guys twice his age and still finished checks. He wanted you to see that, and to treat him like the big guy he actually was.

But instead, you kept saying cute.

And the worst part? You said it about everything small and sweet. A puppy trotting by on the sidewalk during your daily walks together? “Aww, so cute!” A kid in a tiny Sharks hat waving at him after a game? “Look how cute that little guy is!” It wasn’t jealousy exactly, he wasn’t competing with dogs or toddlers but it lumped him in with them.

Another worst thing was that you weren’t even dating. If you had been boyfriend, girlfriend, something with labels and night kisses and mornings tangled in sheets; maybe the “cute” thing wouldn’t have landed like a slap every time.

Maybe he could’ve laughed it off, tugged you closer by the waist, murmured something cocky like, “Yeah? Wait ’til you see what else I can do that’s cute,” before proving exactly how not-cute he could be. In that version of things, “cute” would’ve been foreplay, a tease, a private joke between two people who already knew the heat underneath.

But you weren’t dating. You were just you and him: best friends, the girl who’d been there since forever. The one he could show up to unannounced, bruised and moody, and you’d still open the door without hesitation. The one he thought about way too much when the lights were off and the condo was quiet.

Macklin didn’t remember exactly when the feelings had started. Maybe they’d been there all along. Maybe they’d crept in slow when you laughed too hard at his dumb jokes, every time you patched him up after a fight. Either way, he’d been too stupid to name it until it was too loud to ignore.

In your perspective, it was totally harmless. Calling Macklin cute had always felt like the most natural thing in the world, the same as breathing. You never once thought it could hurt him. You’d noticed the way he sometimes turned his face away when the word slipped out, cheeks going pink, jaw tightening just a bit.

But you’d chalked it up to shyness. Macklin was shy in the sweetest ways, when you complimented his new haircut, when you hugged him too long after games, when you caught him staring at you across the room like he’d forgotten how words worked. That flush, that quick duck of his head made your chest ache in the best way. You loved seeing him like that.

You really did think he was cute. Not in a diminutive way, not like you were patting him on the head and calling it a day. Cute in the way his whole face lit up when he scored and he’d do that little fist pump shrug combo like he was surprised he’d done it again. Cute in the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed, cute in the way he’d sprawl on your couch looking exhausted and impossibly beautiful all at once.

Anytime a new picture of him popped up, you’d stop scrolling and zoom in. His smile, all teeth and triumph, cheeks flushed from adrenaline. Every single one made you melt a little more. There wasn’t a person on the planet who could unravel you like he did. Not with grand gestures, just by being Macklin, by existing in the same space as you, close enough to touch, far enough that you ached with it.

To no one’s surprise, you traveled to Italy with Macklin for the Olympics. He’d known Italy was one of the countries you’d always wanted to visit since high school.

When he made the Team Canada roster, he didn’t hesitate. “Come with us,” he’d said casually. “My family’s going. You can crash in the hotel, I want you there.” His parents had loved the idea; his mom had already booked your room before you could protest.

Tonight was one of those casual evenings. Canada had practice earlier for tomorrow’s quarterfinal; his family had retreated to their rooms after dinner. It was around 7pm, the city lights twinkling outside your window.

You and Macklin were side by side on your hotel bed, backs against the headboard, legs stretched out. He was in gray sweats, scrolling aimlessly on his phone. You had yours open to Pinterest, hunting for new nail inspo for when you got home.

The feed loaded slowly on hotel wifi. Then a photo popped up on your home page: Macklin during warmups, red jersey hugging his shoulders, helmet tilted just so, stick gripped tight. The angle caught the focused set of his jaw, the faint flush on his cheeks from the cold rink, eyes sharp under the visor but with that tiny smile tugging at his mouth.

You gasped out loud. Macklin’s head snapped toward you. “What? Show me.”

“Oh my gosh,” you breathed, already zooming in. “This is the cutest pic I’ve ever seen.”

He leaned over, expecting maybe a photo of kittens or one of those viral baby animal reels you sent him constantly. “Lemme see-”

You turned the screen toward him fully. His eyes landed on the photo of himself, in full Olympic gear, looking every bit the focused sniper who’d been tearing up the tournament. He stared at the screen, then immediately looked back down at his own phone, jaw clenching.

You didn’t notice anything at first. “Mack, that’s such an adorable face expression. Look at your little smile. Like you’re plotting to score the next one.”

He didn’t respond right away, he kept scrolling, thumb moving too fast. “No, it’s not. It’s just another random picture they took of me..”

You nudged his shoulder lightly. “Nooo, it’s my new favorite picture. I’m putting it on one of my home screen widgets.”

“Y/n.” His voice came out low, he didn’t snap; he’d never snap at you but he was annoyed. “Can you just stop?”

You blinked, lowering the phone. “Stop what?”

“Calling it cute. Calling me cute.” He set his phone face down on the bed, rubbing a hand over his face. “It’s not adorable. It’s just me doing my job.”

“But it is adorable,” you insisted, softer now, confused. “The way your cheeks are pink from the cold, that tiny grin, you look happy. I love it.”

He exhaled sharply through his nose, shoulders tense. “That’s the problem. You love the happy, focused puppy version. Not..” He gestured vaguely at himself. “Not anything else.”

“Mack,” you started gently, “I didn’t mean-”

“I know you didn’t.” He cut you off. “But it’s every time like I’m still the kid you met years ago.” He finally looked at you. “I’m not and I don’t want to be that to you.”

Macklin didn’t know what he expected when he said that out loud but he’d carried the words around for so long, that saying them now felt inevitable. He wanted you and maybe this hotel room in Milan, was finally the right time.

You stared at him, eyes wide. “Okay.”

He exhaled, shoulders dropping. You paused, shifting so your knee brushed his. “Then what do you want to be?”

Macklin shrugged, gaze dropping to the space between you. He couldn’t look at you right now. “I don’t know.”

“Tell me, Mack.” Your voice was gentle, coaxing. You reached out, fingers brushing along his jaw lightly.

He shook his head once, catching your wrist in his hand to pull it away before the touch unraveled him completely. His thumb brushed the inside of your wrist. “This is gonna sound stupid, but.. I just want you to think I’m good looking. Not just cute.” He swallowed. “It makes me think you don’t want me the way I want you. And yeah, maybe I’m being an idiot right now, confessing like this in the middle of the freaking Olympics, but-”

“Mack!”

He stopped rambling, eyes snapping up to yours. “Do you really think I don’t find you attractive?”

He shrugged again. “I don’t know. You never say it like that.”

You let out a soft laugh. “Just because I haven’t exactly said the words doesn’t mean I don’t think it.” You moved closer, turning so you were facing each other fully on the bed. You lifted your free hand, fingers gentle under his chin, tilting his face up until he had no choice but to meet your eyes. “If anything, you’re the most handsome guy I’ve ever seen.”

The compliment landed softly, his cheeks flushed deeper, pink creeping up from his neck but this time it wasn’t embarrassment.

You smiled and started to lean in.

He met you halfway and your mouths brushed together. He deepened the kiss as his hand found the back of your neck, fingers threading into your hair; yours slid to his shoulder, gripping the soft fabric of his long sleeve. You sucked lightly on his bottom lip, and he made a quiet sound in the back of his throat that sent heat curling through you both.

When you pulled back, both of you were smiling, stupid and breathless and a little dazed.

Macklin’s voice came out rough. “That.. that was nice to hear from you.” He swallowed, thumb brushing your cheek. “I think the same about you.”

You laughed softly, the sound muffled against his skin as you pressed another quick kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Took you long enough to say it.”

“Me?” He huffed, but there was no bite in it. “You’re the one who kept calling me something like it was a personality trait.”

“Maybe it is,” you teased, fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “But handsome fits better.”

Macklin leaned back against the headboard, pulling you with him so your shoulders pressed together. You both settled in, he took your right hand in his, lacing your fingers without thinking, thumb tracing slow circles over your knuckles.

You reached for your phone with your free hand, still open to that photo of him, “You know,” you said, tilting the screen toward him again, “I really might make this my Instagram profile picture.”

He huffed a laugh, glancing at it, then at you. “Yeah, sure. Maybe once we make it official to the public.”

You raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Oh?” You say as you leaned your head on his shoulder.

TAGLIST: @bouncedatahhh @cheerymints @lynsdigitaljournal @ill-uminati7 @behindthescreenobsessed @lemsies25 @definitelynotdomanique @lcvlyhughesy @sh1ft1ng1234 @willsmiths2 @mintbrini98 @kazansky-slxt @siennaluvshcky @wherethezoes-at @macka @carlottawllms @blankenbirks @mcelebrini @probably--possessed @celebrinigf @postgamevibes @icetimedreamer @misslivinglegend @alexxavicry @sohhh09 @goaldengay @umm-ok-fine @idkwhatthisis2009 @luckylzclerc @miyasfatass @0717luv @downtownjulie @feellikeimphoebe @lilfreakjez

If there was one thing you loved after a long day in the villa, it was getting into bed with Caleb. In fact, it was easily your favorite part of every single day.

No matter how much fun you had, nothing ever compared to the moment the lights went off. There was just something comforting about ending the day together.

Sometimes you’d lie there talking for what felt like hours, replaying everything that had happened that day until one of you drifted off. Other nights, a sleepy smile, fingers intertwined beneath the duvet, gentle forehead kisses, or a kiss goodnight were enough to remind you how lucky you were.

Tonight, you took your time getting ready for bed. The dressing room was buzzing with the girls’ chatter as you sat in front of your mirror, carefully curling your lashes.

You slipped into your soft pink and white striped top paired with the matching shorts. With one last glance in the mirror, you told the girls you’re heading to the bedroom and padded barefoot to the shared bedroom.

A few of the guys were lounging against the headboards and talking while they waited for their own girls. Caleb was among them, arms crossed casually over his chest, smile on his face as he listened to one of the boys.

You climbed into your shared bed, pulling the covers over your legs, and Caleb turned fully toward you when he noticed you. “Finally. Took you long enough.” He teased.

You laughed quietly, settling beside him. “Sorry, I wasn’t rushing tonight.”

When the lights finally turned off, you two talked in whispers for the next half hour. You replayed moments from today, laughing quietly whenever Caleb said something funny. Eventually, his hand found yours under the covers, thumb brushing gently over your knuckles. “You know, I think I feel really close to you. Even closer than I’ve felt with anyone in here. I don’t think it feels right to explore anyone else anymore..”

Your heart fluttered. You moved closer, resting your forearms over his chest, as you rested your chin on your arms. You draped one leg comfortably over his, tangling together under the sheets. “I feel the same.” You whispered back, smiling into the dark. “I don’t want anyone else either.”

Caleb’s arm wrapped around your waist, as he gently pulled you higher up against his body. Your forearms pressed firmer into his chest for balance, and suddenly his lips met yours in the dark. You smiled into the kiss, warmth blooming in your chest, and you felt the familiar curve of his mouth.

He tilted his head slightly, capturing your lips again with more intent. His free hand continued tracing lazy patterns along your back, fingertips slipping just beneath the hem of your top. The cool touch of his skin against your warm back made you yelp softly into his mouth.

Caleb chuckled lowly, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Sorry, baby.” He whispered against your lips, though he didn’t sound sorry at all. He pulled you flush right against him, eliminating any space between your bodies, his hand now splayed warmly across your lower back under the fabric.

The kiss deepened, he pushed his tongue forward gently, asking for entrance, and you gladly opened for him. Your tongues met and danced together in a intimate rhythm.

The taste of him was addictive, it was familiar from daytime kisses but it is so much better like this, tangled under the covers with no one watching.

You pulled back just enough to lick along his bottom lip with the tip of your tongue. Caleb’s breath hitched. Encouraged, you leaned in again, sucking gently on his lower lip before kissing him fully once more. He responded with a groan, his hand pressing you even closer as if he couldn’t get enough.

Caleb eventually slowed the kisses, pressing a few softer ones to the corner of your mouth. “Turn on your back for me?” he asked softly.

You nodded, and he lifted his arm, draping it across the pillow beside him like an invitation. You shifted obediently, settling onto his forearm so your head rested comfortably in the crook of his arm. He continued pressing sweet kisses to your cheek.

His free hand slid down to your waist, rubbing soothing circles over the fabric of your top. His fingers drifted lower, brushing over the tied waistband of your shorts. He toyed with the little bow for a few seconds, tracing the edge teasingly.“Can I?” he whispered against your ear, seeking permission.

You nodded again. With your consent, his hand slipped beneath the waistband of your shorts. It didn’t take long for him to realize you weren’t wearing anything underneath. Appreciative sound rumbled in his chest as his fingers ran through your folds, discovering just how wet you already were for him.

The first touch made you moan a little too loud for the shared bedroom. Caleb reacted instantly, pressing his lips firmly against yours to swallow the sound. He kissed you deeply as if to remind you that those sounds were only for him.

He obviously loved hearing you, in fact, he craved it and he’d do anything to do more to hear you, but not here where the others could hear. “Shh, baby.”He murmured against your mouth when he finally pulled back.

His fingers returned to your center, circling your clit with the perfect pressure. You bit down hard on your bottom lip, trying desperately to stay quiet as pleasure sparked through you. The feeling was intense in the dark, heightened by the need for silence and the way his strong arm cradled you close.

You managed to stay somewhat quiet, until he pushed two fingers inside you at once. The stretch drew a sharper gasp from your throat. Quickly, you slapped a hand over your mouth, eyes squeezing shut as pleasure rolled through you. When his fingers curled just right, hitting that perfect spot, you removed your hand, grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him down into a hungry kiss instead.

He understood the silent plea immediately. His fingers began pumping in and out of you in a steady rhythm, curling with every thrust. The wet sounds were faint beneath the covers, but they felt deafening in your ears.

“Oh, Caleb..” you moaned softly into his mouth.

“Shh, baby..” he whispered, lips brushing yours. “You’re doing so good being quiet for me.” His fingers never stopped their delicious pace. “Can you stay quiet just a little longer?”

You nodded frantically, burying your face against his neck. The pressure in your stomach built fast, tight, coiling heat that made your thighs tremble. Caleb kept whispering praise against your skin, his thumb occasionally brushing your clit while his fingers worked you closer and closer to the edge.

It hit you suddenly, your whole body tensed as waves of pleasure crashed over you, coming hard around his fingers. You pressed your face into his shoulder to muffle the sound, trembling in his arms. Caleb gently pumped his fingers through every pulse, helping you ride out the orgasm until the waves slowly subsided and your body melted boneless against him.

When you finally relaxed, he eased his fingers out of you slowly. And when your heavy breathing finally slowed, you turned onto your side, back pressed against Caleb’s chest.

Your eyes fluttered closed, and without a word, he wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you flush against him. His hand splayed warmly over your stomach as he tucked you closer.

The next morning in the dressing room, you sat at the vanity, carefully blending concealer under your eyes. The girls were scattered around, doing their makeup and hair, the usual lively chatter filling the air.

“Yo, which one of y’all was getting french fries last night?” Trinity suddenly spoke up, loud and teasing.

You quietly laughed to yourself but stayed focused on your reflection, blending the product smoothly into your skin. The other girls immediately started denying it with giggles.

Trinity’s gaze landed on you. She noticed the small, telling smile you couldn’t hide. “Y/n.. was that you?”

You looked up, shrugging with a grin still playing on your lips. “It was!” Trinity yelled, pointing dramatically. “It was so fucking loud I knew damn well that wasn’t just kissing!”

The other girls erupted into excited cheers and laughter, crowding closer with wide eyes. Your face warmed, but the energy in the room was supportive. “Okay, okay, it was me.” You admitted with a laugh, setting down your brush.

Melanie leaned forward, eyebrows raised. “How did that even happen?”

You hummed, thinking back to the night before. “I don’t know.. we were just talking about how we really don’t want anyone else, but we didn’t close things off yet” you quickly added. “We were cuddling and kissing and, it just happened.”

Kayda grinned. “Ouhh, was it good?”

You looked straight at her, deadpan. “Bitch, is the grass green?”

The room filled with laughter as Trinity shook her head. “Sure it was good, she was barely staying quiet over there.”

Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door. “Come in!” the girls called out in unison.

The door opened and Caleb stepped inside, holding a plate of fresh fruit and toast in one hand and a mug in the other. He scanned the room until his eyes found you. “Oh, look, there’s the chef of french fries..” Trinity teased loudly.

Caleb blinked, confused, glancing between you and the girls. “What?”

You stood up quickly, smiling as you walked over to him. “They’re just joking around.” You reassured him softly. Rising onto your toes, you gave him a sweet peck on the lips. “Thank you for breakfast. This is really sweet.”

When you walked into the villa, everything was new. The people were amazing but you didn’t know if there was anyone for you, yet.

And honestly no offence to any of the guys, but none of them were really your type either. You got along with everyone, sure, but something had always felt like it was missing. You laughed and chatted with everyone, but your bubbly side never truly came out.

Until Caleb came in.

From the moment he arrived, everything clicked in place. You found yourself smiling more, laughing more and feeling lighter than you had since stepping into the villa.

He made you feel comfortable enough to be yourself. The conversations felt natural, the silences comfortable, and that spark you’d been waiting for finally showed up.

Ever since the first recoupling after his arrival, the two of you have been together. Every challenge you did side by side, kissing in the dressing room after he made you breakfast, sleeping together, everything only brought you closer.

At the second recoupling where you two wrote each other a letter, he wrote the sweetest letter to you. The words were thoughtful and sincere, hitting you right in the chest. You felt like the luckiest girl in the villa, because who wouldn’t want themselves such a sweet guy in their life?

Caleb made you feel chosen every single day and standing there holding his letter, you knew you had something special.

So when Aniya got a text, everyone perked up immediately. She read it out loud: “Islanders, get ready to raise some heart rates in tonight’s challenge, Hearts On Fire”

You started jumping up and down from excitement. Cause baby, you’ve been ready. You were ready to suck some fingers, make that ass clap in everyone’s face, and just be all up on that thing.

In the dressing room, you sat down and focused on your makeup and hair, making sure your look was flawless. You weren’t about to let anybody raise your man’s heart rate higher than you did.

The costumes were hung up on the hangers, and all the girls were picking theirs. The second you saw the cowgirl one, you knew it was yours. The outfit hugged your body just right, a silver crop top, paired with glittery silver shorts that caught the lights. Paired with a cropped white shrug draped over your arms, while silver cowboy boots completed the look. Topping it all off was a matching white cowboy hat.

“What do y’all think if I come in like this?” you asked, earning the girls’ attention as you practiced in the mirror.

You walked forward with a little sway, then opened the shrug blouse, slipping it off smoothly as you spoke. “This cowgirl loves reverse.” You said, turning around and shaking your ass to the beat in your head.

The dressing room filled with “ouhhh’s” and laughs. Melanie spoke supportively. “I love that!”

Kayla nodded, hyping you up. “Caleb’s gonna love that.”

When all the girls walked downstairs, there were no boys waiting to greet you. It made sense if they were already at the fire pit, but you kind of got confused because you at least expected the guys to make some noise for the girls like they always hyped yall up.

Instead, you were met with a big white box tied with a pink ribbon sitting in the middle of the villa in front of the fire pit. The girls immediately started getting excited, making comments about how they were ready to unwrap that present and see what was inside. “This shit better be good.” You laughed.

The gift tag read “Girls, a gift for you! XOXO.” You all sat down on the couch, hoping the guys would come bursting out any second.

The box started opening on its own. You leaned forward, wishing it was the boys. And in a way, your wish came true, but not how you expected. Inside was a big screen that lit up, showing the boys in their costumes at another fire pit. Below the screen, red letters appeared: “Welcome to Casa Amor”

So they were at Casa Amor. While you girls were stuck at the villa.

This was a fucking great gift.

Everyone’s mouth fell open, just as shocked as you. “What the fuck?” Melanie said, confusion all over her face.

“Are you deadass?” you stood up, equally stunned. The guys on the screen looked hyped, smiling and clapping like this was the best news ever. You all rushed toward the screen, trying to get a better look.

Fuck me, you thought. You were irritated. You and Caleb had been so good since the first recoupling, and you knew damn well Casa Amor was the biggest test, and now the boys were there while new girls were probably already waiting for them.

You easily found Caleb among all the other guys on the big screen. He was right there in front, sitting in his cowboy costume. At least you were matching.

The first girl stepped up dressed in a firefighter costume, looking confident. “I’ll happily be your new emergency contact.” She said with a flirty smile.

You watched as Caleb leaned in and kissed her. It wasn’t a quick peck either. His hand rested on her lower hip as he held her close. Jealousy burned hot in your chest, the girls around you kept glancing in your direction, but you decided to stay silent, and keep your eyes glued to the screen.

You all slowly sat back down on the couch, as the next girl approached, a dark haired beauty who moved with confidence. “I’m not a regular cat. I’m a Persian cat.” She announced, walking toward Caleb. She straddled him without hesitation, her body pressed against his. “You’re a cowboy, huh?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am.” Caleb replied with a happy smile. His hands settled on her ass as she leaned in, kissing his neck and grinding herself against him. The sight made your stomach turn, you made a disgusted face, unable to hide your reaction. The girls around you shifted uncomfortably, the energy turning sour fast.

And right when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did.

The next girl was a blonde in a police officer outfit, handcuffs dangling from her fingers. Caleb had the audacity to grin and say “Arrest me” while holding his hands out to her like it was funny.

“Oh baby, you’re so weird..” you said out loud, even though you were really talking to yourself. Your heart was pounding with a mix of anger and hurt. This was supposed to be your night, the girls’ turn to do the heart rate challenge while the boys watched. Instead you were stuck here, forced to watch new girls throw themselves at your man.

The screen went black after all the girls had come out and done their big one. Kayda’s phone pinged and she read the text out loud “Girls, the show’s over. The boys will be spending the next few days at Casa Amor. Don’t wait up.”

That night, when you got ready for bed, you realised how jealous you had been. You knew you really liked him because seeing him be touchy with them really got to you. You had grown so attached, and now the thought of him at casa amor for days made you pissed.

You would miss Caleb sleeping next to you. The way his arm would end up around your waist, the talks before bed, the warmth of him, it had become your normal. You changed into your sleep clothes, brushed your hair, and tried to shake off the negative thoughts.

When you walked into the shared bedroom, you immediately went to your bed, the room now felt too big and too empty without the boys. You sat down on the floor, reached under the bed, and pulled out the drawer. Inside were the pictures you two had taken in the photo booth.

You knew you both had put two different photo booth pictures in there. Seeing only one left in the drawer made you smile softly.

You just hoped that what you had was strong enough to survive the next few days.

The next morning you woke up feeling a bit lighter. You decided to start the new day with better energy and tried not to think too much about what Caleb might be doing at casa. You still missed him, of course, but dwelling on it wasn’t going to help.

You and the girls gathered in the dressing room to get ready. The usual chatter and laughter filled the space as everyone did their makeup and picked outfits. You were all surprised when Ariana walked in with her signature smile and welcomed you all down to the fire pit. “Obviously the boys are at casa amor” Ariana spoke. “But where do you feel like you stood in your couple before they left?”

Melanie was the first one to talk. “I felt like me and Sincere were at, like, a whole new chapter for us so I think before I saw what I saw, we were the best we could ever be.” she said.

Ariana turned to you. “Y/n, how did you feel about your connection with Caleb?”

You took a breath and answered honestly. “I actually felt really good about my connection with Caleb. We had such a great time in the villa and every day just felt like we got closer and closer and then casa amor came and I was like damn.” You laughed lightly before continuing. “But I don’t regret anything. I think we built something special, and I hope he knows that.”

The other girls went around sharing how they felt too. Once everyone had spoken, Ariana smiled and dropped the next bombshell.

She announced that casa boys were coming in for all of you. And it wasn’t only seven guys, it was twelve. At the end of the day you’d choose seven to keep in the villa. The energy shifted instantly for the better as the twelve new guys started walking in. They went around introducing themselves, each bringing different vibes and personalities.

Ariana left after the introductions, giving you all time to get to know each other and enjoy the pool party. A couple of hours passed as you got to know the guys. You tried to be as open as you could, especially with Chris and a couple of the others who seemed cool.

You were determined to have fun and explore like the show encouraged, but it wasn’t easy. Caleb was never fully out of your mind, every funny moment or flirty comment made you think about him and what he might be doing on the other side.

Later, Ariana came back and welcomed everyone to the fire pit again. “Islanders, there’s been lots of chatting, but I want to see what the chemistry is like,” she said, sitting down with the girls while the twelve guys got comfortable on the beanbags across from you. “After all, the boys at casa can’t have all the fun. And you did say you want to explore new connections.”

Ariana explained the rules clearly; one by one, the boys were going to choose and kiss two girls who had caught their eye.

At casa, Sincere received a text that said everyone to gather at the fire pit. The guys headed over, trying to guess what was coming. They thought of anything except what actually happened.

A big screen was set up right in front of the fire pit. The boys settled down, confused, as the girls from the villa appeared on the screen. Caleb immediately found you, his eyes locked on your face right away. You looked good, of course, but he wasn’t expecting this.

Ariana’s voice came through clearly. “Okay, Carl, go kiss your girls.”

Caleb frowned, confused about what this was and why they were showing it to them. One of the casa boys in purple shorts stood up and went straight to Aniya, kissing her. When he finished, he moved to you, taking your hand, walked you to the middle of everyone, picked you up, and pulled you in for a kiss.

Caleb assumed this had to be some kind of challenge, so at first he didn’t really care.

After another two guys who didn’t choose you, another one walked up to you. He asked the girls to move so he could lie you down on the couch. He pressed himself against your body as he kissed you. Caleb shifted in his seat, folding his arms over his chest; he knew you were a pretty girl, so of course you’d get chosen.

Another guy went without choosing you, and Caleb felt a small moment of relief. Then a guy in green shorts picked you and led you to the middle of the fire pit, you got picked up again, gently pushed your hair behind your ear, and kissed you.

Caleb’s jaw tightened, his knee started bouncing restlessly as he looked away for a second. “He don’t gotta do all that..” he murmured under his breath.

The next guy wasn’t holding himself back at all. He sucked on your bottom lip, and the camera zoomed right in on it. Whoever was sitting next to Caleb jokingly covered his eyes, but Caleb pushed the hand away.

Yes, he didn’t want to see other guys kiss you, but he couldn’t look away either.

By the end, Caleb was so done. He wanted this shit turned off, he didn’t like that at all. Watching it made him realize how much he had missed you since he left yesterday. He hated that he needed to see this just to feel it. He should’ve realized how much you meant to him without the screen showing him other guys all over you.

The next day another challenge came, this time pitting the villa against casa amor. The rules were simple: couples would go head to head, in different categories to see who came out on top.

You went third and picked Chris to team up with. When the category landed on “kiss” you felt confident. You knew how to kiss, and you were determined to win this round for the villa.

The moment the challenge started, you were all the way in and didn’t waste time. You stepped forward and quickly pulled Chris’s shirt off, revealing his toned chest. You kissed him deeply at first, then moved lower, kissing and licking down his abs.

Chris responded just as intensely, his lips trailing across your stomach and up to your neck, leaving a trail of heat. You both dropped to the ground, bodies pressed close, hands exploring as you kissed everywhere you could reach.

The villa cheered loudly as you and Chris crossed the finish line first.

You jumped up from the ground with pure excitement, laughing and hugging Chris. “We did it!”

At casa, Caleb also did everything he could with Jaiden, his shirt also came off very quickly, and both of them were on the ground too. But unfortunately you reached the finish line faster. He was kind of pissed, like what were you exactly doing over there that made you win so fast? Were you two basically naked? Did that guy even look like him?

The casa received a text that said, “Y/n and Chris win the round for the villa.”

“Chris? Who the fuck is Chris?” Caleb laughed out loud, trying to play it cool in front of the guys. “He could never be me” he joked.

Caleb was jealous on the inside though, like not only did you win the challenge, but you won it in a kissing round.

After the challenge, the villa had won. Back at casa everyone was getting ready for bed. Caleb laid in his bed, arms behind his head, staring up at the ceiling while the girls and guys moved around the room.

The thought of you kissing other guys made his blood boil. He didn’t want to admit how much it bothered him, but he couldn’t deny it either. He yearned for you. He missed the way you fit perfectly against him in your shared bed, the way you were comfortable enough to tell him anything, and the way you made the villa feel like home. He didn’t want to sleep with anyone else anymore.

None of the new girls felt right. All he wanted was to skip time straight to the recoupling and hopefully see you standing there alone, waiting for him.

He knew it was just a challenge, you’d obviously do anything to help the villa win because it was part of the game. But he still hoped you hadn’t kissed anyone outside of the challenges. The idea of you connecting with someone else outside challenges didn’t sit right.

He knew he’d have to pull Jaiden for a chat and be honest with her. He couldn’t pretend. If he wasn’t true to himself, none of this meant anything. His feelings for you were stronger than he’d even realized before casa, and he realised why exactly casa was made.

He just wanted to get back to you.

The day the recoupling came felt like judgment day had finally arrived. You didn’t know exactly how Caleb had been moving in casa other than the little bits from the mail everyone received. You’d be absolutely devastated if he came back in with another girl.

Caleb was just as nervous on the other side. As the boys got ready to head back to the villa, he kept thinking about you. He hoped and prayed you didn’t choose anyone else over him, because that would mean he should’ve explored harder. But at the same time, he knew what you two had built.

You had stayed loyal the whole time, you explored when you had to, and now it was out of your control. It was up to him.

Ariana called you up after Kayda. You stood up from your seat, heart racing as all eyes turned to you. “Y/n, you and Caleb coupled up at the first recoupling after his arrival” Ariana said, looking at you. “You chose each other again at the letter recoupling.”

You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips at the memory of his sweet letter and how safe you felt with him. “How has the casa amor experience been for you?” Ariana asked, giving you the floor.

“Well..” you smiled softly, taking a small breath. “At first, I was really sad when Caleb left. Obviously, I wanted to be open to the experience because that’s what casa is for, and I didn’t want to shut anyone out.”

You glanced over at Chris, offering him a warm smile.

“I definitely got to know Chris the most, and I can honestly say he’s an amazing guy. We had some really great conversations, and he’s someone I have so much respect for.” You paused for a second before laughing quietly. “But.. I just kept comparing everyone to Caleb.”

“Not in a bad way.” you quickly added. “But i just feel like no one here was Caleb. No one made me laugh the way he does or brought out that really bubbly side of me. So, for me, the romantic spark just never happened.”

Chris smiled and nodded in understanding. “Chris is genuinely such a lovely person.” You continued. “But he’s just not my person. And I think that’s totally okay.”

Ariana smiled softly. “And how are you feeling about Caleb now?”

You couldn’t stop yourself from grinning. “I didn’t think I’d miss him as much as I did, honestly. Every little thing reminded me of him. I found myself wondering what he was doing, hoping he was behaving himself.” You laughed, causing a few islanders to chuckle too.

“I think the time apart has actually made me realize how much I value what we have. Caleb just brings out a side of me that not many people do. He’s so easy to be around, he’s funny without even trying, he’s really smart, and I always feel comfortable when I’m with him. I never felt like I had to force anything with him because it all came naturally. And I really hope the feelings are mutual.”

Ariana smiled at you warmly. “Well, Y/n, the choice is yours. You can either stay loyal to Caleb or couple up with one of the new boys. What do you wanna do?”

You took a deep breath, nerves fluttering in your stomach. “Um.. I’m going to stay loyal to Caleb. Because I want to see if the feelings are mutual and if they are, I wanna see where this could go.” You said, your voice a little shaky but sure.

Ariana nodded understandingly. You glanced over at Chris, who gave you a small, disappointed smile, but you knew you were doing what felt right for you.

“Okay, you’ve decided to stay in a couple with Caleb” Ariana continued. “If he walks in with one of the girls from casa amor, you will be single and vulnerable.”

You nodded, heart pounding. “Let’s find out.” You closed your eyes for a few seconds. The wait felt like forever as you stood there, hoping.

Then you heard the footsteps. When you opened your eyes and saw Caleb walking in alone, relief flooded through you. “Oh, thank God!” you said, a big smile breaking across your face.

Caleb noticed you standing there by yourself and his face lit up. He smiled wide, briefly looked up at the sky like he was thankful, then looked back at you. You waved at him excitedly, the butterflies in your stomach turning into pure joy at seeing him again.

Ariana smiled brightly at him. “Welcome back to the villa, Caleb. How are you doing?”

Caleb sighed softly, a shy laugh escaping him. “I feel good.. I think I’m literally going to cry right now.” he joked.

“Aww!” you said, your heart melting as you watched him.

“Tell us how you’re feeling?” Ariana asked.

Caleb looked straight at you. “So good. I missed you so much! I missed holding you at night. I thought about our letters every day. I hated seeing the guys kiss you during that challenge.. I just wanted to be back here with you. And I know exploring is what this is for, but all I could think about was you. Like, I’m so happy right now.”

You smiled so wide your teeth showed, warmth spreading through your chest. He was so sweet. “Y/n, how does it feel to hear these beautiful words from Caleb?” Ariana asked, turning to you.

You let out a happy little laugh, glancing at him. “It feels amazing. He’s so sweet, and that’s honestly all I wanted to hear. I missed him a lot too. I’m just really happy that he’s back and that we both stayed loyal.”

Ariana smiled warmly at the two of you. “Well, since you both have decided to stay loyal, you’re still in a couple. Congratulations, Y/n and Caleb!”

Everyone clapped and cheered for you two. Caleb stood there awkwardly for a second, shifting on his feet with a big smile still on his face. “Can I go to her?” he asked, looking at Ariana.

You chuckled at how cute he looked. “Of course.”Ariana said, laughing. “Go get your girl.”

Caleb didn’t need to be told twice. He walked straight over to you, unable to stop smiling. The second he reached you, you stepped into his arms and the two of you hugged tightly. His arms wrapped around you perfectly, and you breathed him in.

When he finally pulled back from the hug, he gently cupped your face and pulled you in for a soft kiss. The villa erupted in more cheers and whoops. You both sat down together, still grinning at each other.“I missed you so much.” you whispered again, squeezing his hand.

Caleb looked at you. “I missed you so much too.” He said right back, leaning in to kiss your forehead. “We’re good now.”

After the dramatic final bits of the recoupling, Aniya was left heartbroken while Kc coupled up with someone from casa. You and Caleb finally made your way upstairs to the soulties, both exhausted but happy after the long, emotional day.

Caleb immediately cuddled into your side, his head resting on your chest as you wrapped your arms around him. “Ughhh, I can’t wait to sleep with you in the same bed again.” You said softly, running your fingers through his blond hair. The feeling of him close like this again made your heart feel full.

“Me too.” He murmured, smiling against you. “I was literally yearning to be with you.”

You smiled, continuing to play with his hair. “You look so beautiful tonight!” Caleb said after a moment, tilting his head up to look at you. “I don’t think I said it before.”

“Thank you!” You replied, warmth spreading across your cheeks. He lifted his head a little more and you leaned down, meeting him in a kiss. When you pulled away, you both settled back in, enjoying the quiet for a few minutes. “Wait.. what did you mean you saw me kissing other guys?” you asked, curiosity finally getting the best of you.

Caleb let out a small laugh. “On the second day in casa we had this big screen set up at the fire pit. They showed us the challenge where the casa guys got to kiss two girls each. I saw quite a bit.” he explained, his arm tightening around you a little.

“Ohhh” you nodded, processing. “We also had a big screen the day y’all went to casa. The heart rate challenge with the girls was live streamed for us.. so we saw everything too.”

He nodded. “‘Arrest me’ was crazy.” you repeated his words from the challenge, teasing him.

Caleb laughed quietly. “You’re so funny..” you said sarcastically, poking his side. “Just wait till I get handcuffs.” You added playfully.

“Oh, I can’t wait.”

If you knew one person who hated pda in front of others, it was your boyfriend, Will.

At home it was one story. The second the front door clicked shut behind you, he’d be on you; arms wrapping around your waist from behind, chin hooking over your shoulder while you tried to kick off your shoes, lips brushing the side of your neck like he couldn’t wait another second.

He’d pull you down onto the couch with him, long legs tangling with yours, hands sliding under your hoodie to rest warm against your stomach, fingers tracing lazy circles until you laughed and squirmed.

He’d kiss you slow and deep like he was making up for every minute you’d spent apart, murmuring against your mouth how much he’d missed you, how pretty you looked even in sweatpants and his hoodie that swallowed you whole.

He’d cuddle into your side during movie nights, head on your chest, one hand always finding yours to lace your fingers together, thumb rubbing over your knuckles. Sometimes he’d just hold you from behind while you cooked, swaying slightly like it was a slow dance, pressing soft kisses along your shoulder blade whenever you reached for something on the counter.

He hated the thought of having his hands off you.

But the moment you stepped outside; it was a completely different story.

In public, Will kept it subtle. Always touching, but never made it obvious. A hand resting low on your back as you walked through a crowded bar. Fingers brushing yours when he passed you a drink. His knee pressed lightly against yours under the table at dinner with teammates.

He’d drape an arm across the back of your chair, thumb occasionally grazing your shoulder, but nothing that screamed couple in the way other couples did: sloppy kisses, loud declarations, hands everywhere like they were staking claim in neon.

And you were fine with it. You’d been together a little over a year now, long enough that you’d learned his rhythm. You weren’t big on pda either, you didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. The way he looked at you when no one else was watching, the way his eyes softened the second you walked into a room, the things he’d whisper to you when it was just the two of you was enough.

He wasn’t embarrassed of you. If anything, he loved showing you off in his own way. He’d introduce you to new people with his arm casually looped around your shoulders, proud smile tugging at his lips every time someone complimented how good you looked together.

He’d text you links to articles or tiktoks with captions like “Us” and half of them were disgustingly couple-y. He just didn’t want other people seeing the parts of him that belonged only to you. The greedy way he held you at home, the way he’d bury his face in your neck and breathe you in like you were oxygen.

Tonight you and Will went out with a few of his teammates to the bar a couple blocks from the rink that had become your unofficial spot. It wasn’t anything fancy, just something you all learned to enjoy going to. You’d dressed like you always did for a place like this: nothing too revealing, nothing too casual.

Will included you in every conversation like he always did. He’d lean in when Macklin was ranting about a bad call from the last game, repeating the punchline so you could laugh too, or he’d nudge you gently and say, “Babe, tell them what you said about that hit exactly.” His voice easy, and his eyes stayed on you longer than usual.

When the bartender came over, Will ordered your usual without asking and then slid it toward you with a small.

A little while later, you moved on the barstool. “I’ll be right back,” you murmured, slipping your hand from his.

Will nodded once, but as you stood, he reached over and tugged your glass closer to his spot, fingers brushing the condensation like he was guarding it. His other hand lingered in the air for half a second where yours had been before dropping back to the bar.

Once you came back from the bathroom after quickly fixing your lip combo in the mirror light, touching up the gloss that had faded from sipping your drink, you found Will still perched on his barstool, facing his teammates.

If you’d gone straight back to your own seat next to him, his broad back would’ve been turned to you the whole time. But the second he caught sight of you weaving through the crowd, his arm reached out without hesitation.

His fingers found yours, locking tight, and he tugged you gently toward him instead of letting you slide back onto your stool. “C’mere,” he murmured.

You let him pull you in, stepping right between his spread thighs until your hips brushed the edge of the stool. Your hands landed on his chest for balance, as he looked up at you.

“Where’d you go?” he asked, even though he knew.

“Bathroom,” you said, smiling despite yourself. “Took longer than I thought, someone was hogging the mirror.”

He hummed, the sound vibrating through his chest, and then he leaned in. The kiss was slow, sweet, nothing rushed or sloppy. Just his lips pressing to yours like it was the most normal thing in the world, his one hand sliding up to cup the back of your neck while the other stayed locked with yours at his side.

Your breath caught. Will almost never kissed you in public, not where anyone could see. For a heartbeat you froze, surprised, but then you melted into it, leaning forward until your forehead brushed his when he finally pulled back.

He didn’t say anything about it. Just handed you your unfinished vodka soda with a small, crooked smile.

You turned with him so you were facing the group again, your back settling against his chest. His arm came across your front, forearm resting easy over your collarbone, fingers splayed loose but possessive against your shoulder. His other hand found your waist, every few minutes he’d tug you closer, like he couldn’t quite get enough, even though you were already pressed flush against him.

Macklin raised an eyebrow, smirk tugging at his mouth. “You finally figure out how arms work tonight?”

Will just tightened his hold a little, chin dipping to rest lightly on your shoulder as he shot Macklin a lazy look. “Shut up, Mack,” he said a little amused.

You stayed like that for a while, cocooned against him, his heartbeat steady against your back. His fingers kept moving in small, absent strokes along your waist, thumb brushing the underside of your ribs every now and then.

Eventually your heels started screaming. Standing this long in them, even leaning into him, made your calves burn.

You tilted your head back just enough to murmur against his jaw, “My legs are killing me.”

Will’s arm loosened instantly. “Sit,” he said softly, kissing the shell of your ear before letting you go.

For the rest of the night, Will didn’t let the space between you grow. He kept one hand on you at all times: resting on your thigh when you were back on your stool, thumb drawing slow, mindless patterns over the denim; sliding up to play with the ends of your hair when you laughed at something one of the guys said; brushing your lower back.

Every few minutes he’d press a quick kiss to your temple, or drop his chin to your shoulder just to murmur something dumb and sweet.

You were happy for it. The warmth of his palm against your skin felt like nice in public. The guys ribbed him lightly but Will just shrugged it off with a smile and never pulled away.

By the time you both said goodbyes and stepped out into the cool night air, your cheeks were flushed from the bar’s heat and from the way his hand had stayed tangled with yours the whole walk to the car.

When you got home, the apartment was quiet, you kicked the door shut behind you, already reaching to slip off your heels, but Will beat you to it.

He dropped to one knee right there at the edge of the bed, fingers gentle around your ankle as he lifted your foot and eased the first heel off. Then the second, thumbs pressed into the arch of your foot for a second, massaging away the ache without being asked.

You watched him, heart doing that stupid fluttery thing it always did with him. “What’s gotten into you tonight?” you asked quietly.

He glanced up, brows lifting like he had no idea what you meant. “What? I always do this.” He asked setting your foot down and standing.

You shook your head, smiling despite yourself. “No, I mean.. being so touchy in front of everyone, kissing me like that. You never do that.”

He paused, then took your hand in both of his. Slowly he brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss to your knuckles, eyes never leaving yours. “Can’t a guy show how much he loves his girlfriend?”

You laughed softly. “You never do it like that.”

He tilted his head, mock offended. “What? I always show everyone how much I love you.”

“Yeah,” you said, reaching up to trace the line of his jaw, “but not in a way that makes Macklin tease you for ten straight minutes.”

Will’s expression softened. You pulled him down to you, as he started crawling over you until his weight settled warm and solid, knees sinking into the comforter on either side of your hips.

He braced himself on his forearms so he wasn’t crushing you, but close enough that you could feel every breath he took.

“I love you,” he said simply, as if it was the easiest truth in the world. His forehead rested against yours for a second before he kissed you, the kind of kiss he usually saved for when the door was locked and the lights were off. “I just.. wanted to be close to you tonight. Didn’t want to wait until we got home to touch you the way I always want to.”

His hand slid up to cradle the side of your face, thumb brushing your cheekbone. “I like when we keep things private. But sometimes..” He exhaled. “Sometimes I look at you laughing with the guys, or just sitting there looking like mine, and I want everyone to know.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him down until his chest pressed to yours. “That’s sweet,” you whispered against his mouth. “I liked tonight a lot.”

He smiled and kissed you again. “Me too.”

His hands found yours, fingers lacing tight as he settled more of his weight over you, like he was trying to memorize every inch of how you fit together.

TAGLIST: @alliwritespuck @bouncedatahhh @cheerymints @lynsdigitaljournal @ill-uminati7 @behindthescreenobsessed @lemsies25 @definitelynotdomanique @lcvlyhughesy @sh1ft1ng1234 @willsmiths2 @iknowtonystark @mintbrini98 @kazansky-slxt @siennaluvshcky @val413 @wherethezoes-at @macka @beckieepicaz00 @carlottawllms @blankenbirks @mcelebrini @probably--possessed @celebrinigf @postgamevibes @icetimedreamer @misslivinglegend @alexxavicry @sohhh09

You and Connor haven’t been dating for very long, so you were still a little shy when it came to anything that had to do with him.

Compliments made your cheeks burn. Wearing his jerseys made you nervous. Even holding his hand in public sometimes made you feel some things.

Most girls would have already been proudly wearing their boyfriend’s number by now, but the thought of anyone knowing how gone you were for Connor still made you nervous. You didn’t understand why he had this effect on you? he was just so him.

Even Connor didn’t fully understand it. He always made sure you felt safe and comfortable, never pushing you past what you were ready for. He’d wait patiently when you hesitated to hold his hand in front of his teammates, never complained when you changed the subject after he complimented how pretty you looked, and always asked before pulling you closer on the couch.

He was everything you could ask for in a boyfriend. But still, he couldn’t figure out why you stayed so shy around him.

He’d thought the nervousness would fade after a few weeks, the way it usually did for most people. But time had passed, and you still blushed at the smallest things. He’d brushed it off eventually, telling himself you’d open up when you were ready, since you never said anything was wrong.

Yet deep down, he wished you’d wear his stuff proudly one day.

You were wandering through the mall after grabbing a few groceries, the bag swinging lightly from your wrist. The afternoon was quite boring and you had some time to kill before heading home.

As you passed a small jewelry store tucked between a coffee shop and a clothing boutique, something made you pause. The display window sparkled with delicate pieces, and on impulse, you stepped inside.

The store smelled faintly of vanilla and polished metal. Soft lighting highlighted rows of necklaces, earrings, and charms. You wandered over to a section of tiny gold number charms designed to dangle from chains, each one elegant and understated, numbers from 0 to 9 available.

Your eyes landed on the 8 and 9 sitting side by side. They looked so simple, yet they instantly reminded you of Connor. A small smile tugged at your lips as warmth bloomed in your chest.

If you were still this shy around him, maybe it was time to take a tiny step. Wearing his number every day, could help you get comfortable with the idea of belonging to him a little more openly.

You approached the counter where a friendly older woman was arranging a tray of rings. “Hi,” you said softly. “Could I get the 8 and 9 gold charms, please? And would it be possible to put them on a thin gold necklace chain?”

The woman smiled warmly. “Of course, dear. Would you like the chain in 16 inches or 18?”

You hesitated for half a second, then nodded. “18 inches is fine. Thank you.”

You explained to the older lady how you wanted the numbers arranged. “Could you put the 9 first and then the 8 right after it, so it looks like 98 from the front?” you asked.

The woman nodded with a little smile. “Of course.” She worked quickly and carefully, attaching the tiny gold charms so they dangled side by side, the 9 and 8 forming Connor’s number perfectly. You paid and slipped the pouch into your bag.

Later that evening, you texted Connor asking if he wanted to come over for dinner, you’d promised to cook one of his favorite dishes. He replied almost instantly saying he’ll be there.

You decided on a simple blue tank top that dipped just low enough. The thin gold chain felt cool against your skin, the small 98 resting right at the center of your chest. It still made you a little shy, but you wanted him to see it.

When Connor knocked on the door, you opened it with a soft smile. He stepped inside and immediately pulled you into a warm hug, his arms wrapping around your waist as he pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

“Hey, baby,” he murmured happily.

You hugged him back for a moment before gently pulling away. “Dinner’s almost ready. I just need to finish the sauce.”

While he shrugged off his jacket and shoes, you hurried back to the kitchen. A minute later you heard his footsteps behind you. Connor walked up and wrapped his arms around your shoulders from behind, leaning down so his face tucked into the curve of your neck. He pressed a light, lingering kiss there that made you smile and tilt your head slightly.

“Mmm, smells amazing,” he said against your skin. You felt the cool metal of the necklace shift as his chin brushed it. He paused. “Put on a necklace?” he asked, the smile clear in his voice.

“Mhm,” you answered softly.

He pulled back just enough to gently turn you around to face him. His hands stayed on your waist as his eyes dropped to your chest. The moment he saw the tiny gold “98” resting against your skin, his expression changed.

Connor’s eyes widened, a genuine smile spread across his face. A faint blush crept up his cheeks as he stared at the necklace, his thumb absently brushing the side of your tank top near the chain.

He looked up at your face, eyes soft and still carrying the faint blush. “Is this for me?” he asked.

You nodded, a shy smile tugging at your own mouth. “Yeah. Do you like it?”

“Are you kidding? Of course I like it,” Connor said, letting out a small laugh as he pulled you closer into a tight hug. His arms wrapped fully around you, one hand gently cradling the back of your head while the other rested at the small of your back. “I hope you never take it off.”

“I didn’t plan on it,” you murmured against his chest, the words muffled but sincere. The necklace sat warm between you now.

He pulled back just enough to look at you again, his hands still on your waist. “You know.. I think you look even better with the 98 than I do.”

You let out a laugh, shaking your head. “How could anyone look better than the OG?”

“I dunno..” Connor shrugged lightly. “I never thought someone could, but you proved me wrong.”

The compliment made your cheeks heat up, but you couldn’t stop the small laugh that escaped. You turned back toward the stove to stir the sauce, trying to hide how flustered you felt. Connor stayed right behind you, arms loosely around your middle again.

“Seriously, thank you,” he said, voice dropping softer. “It looks so good on you. I don’t understand why you’re so shy when it comes to me. I’m just a guy.”

You glanced over your shoulder at him. “Yeah, just Connor Bedard.”

He chuckled warmly at that, the sound rumbling close to your ear. Then he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to your cheek. The kiss lingered for a moment before he slowly trailed it toward your lips.

His mouth met yours in a sweet, unhurried kiss. One of his hands came up to cup your jaw tenderly as he deepened it just a little, pouring all the happiness and warmth he felt into that single touch.

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