Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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A hallway had five doors and Duke started his tour by gesturing to the first door on the right, "This is a storage, and the next door is the room which I'm using when I work from home." He gestured to the left. "That is the bathroom, the next door is my bedroom. Straight ahead is the living area with kitchen."

I didn't peek into bedrooms or the bathroom, fearing that I might find something compromising. We went to the living area that had a balcony accessible through the sliding doors.

The furniture was clean, but it showed it was not new.

The whole place smelled of pine trees mixed with the ocean and a smile crept on my face. I love that scent!

Because of Duke's warning, I imagined an apartment buried in papers and dirty underwear, but I found it to be rather normal. It seems that he was overly cautious about leaving a good impression and I found that to be super-cute.

Other than one t-shirt that Duke swiftly took from the sofa chair and business magazines scattered on the coffee table, I didn't see any mess in the living area.

The dining table was another story since it had a coffee mug and a plate with crumbs scattered around it, and there was a bag with the logo "Fresh dough". Lefovers after breakfast.

Duke scrambled to clean up and he refused my help.

"Please sit. I will only need a minute…"

I stepped on the balcony, gripped the cold iron railing, and gazed at the street below.

I noticed that this is only a few blocks away from my old home.

Duke joined me on the balcony, and I took the opportunity to confirm, "Is this the place where you stayed during high school?"

"Yes. I didn't find the need to move as it serves the purpose."

"There is nothing wrong with this apartment. I think it's lovely.", I assured him.

The location was good, and it provided all the space he needed, but I was surprised that he didn't upgrade it for something more luxurious considering how successful Eclipse is.

I suppressed a yelp of surprise when Duke hugged me suddenly.

"You have no idea how happy I am that you are here.", he murmured.

I glanced around nervously. I didn't see any people looking our way, but that didn't mean that there are no eyes directed our way from the flats on the other side of the street.

"Duke…", I called while trying to squirm away. "We are outside, anyone can see us."

"Oh…", a sound escaped his lips before he scooped me into his arms and carried me inside.

"Is this better?", he asked when he sat on the sofa with me in his lap.

I rolled my eyes at him. I wanted to protest against his cheeky behavior, but he nuzzled my neck with his nose, and I found myself leaning into him.

Why is my body moving on its own?

"Hmm…", Duke hummed while pulling me closer to him. "Do you want us to go out for dinner, or stay here for the night? I can lend you one of my t-shirts to sleep in."

His voice was deeper than usual, and it made my insides tingle.

In my apartment, there was Maria and the faint notion that we might be disturbed, yet here it was just the two of us.

I was sitting on Duke's lap with his arms around me, feeling his warmth and inhaling his scent, and he mentioned staying the night and the heat in my core told me that I'm getting aroused.

What the hell is wrong with me?!

Thinking about sleeping arrangements only made everything worse. "Can we not talk about it now?"

"Hm?", he hummed questionably and raised his head to look into my face. "You don't want to talk? Would you rather if we… do… something?", he whispered the last few words and the heat in my cheeks increased.

Duke peppered kisses along the edge of my jaw, adding occasional licks and small bites, making the butterflies in my stomach go crazy.

Would I like to do something? Of course, I would. I would like to rip his clothes off and push him down on this sofa, but I am too shy to do so.

My whole body hummed as it came alive and I gripped his shoulders.

What if he takes the initiative? So far, Duke was mostly teasing me and testing my limits, but what if he really goes for it? Will I resist or let him do whatever he wants with me?

Duke touched the tip of my nose with his before asking in a murmur, "What are you thinking?"

I prayed silently that he can't read my mind because I would die from embarrassment.

"What are you thinking?", I returned the question, surprised how my voice came out squeaky.

"I am thinking if I have anything we could eat in the fridge or the pantry.", he said with a straight face. "I usually eat out and other than some liquor, I don't have anything edible to offer you."

'I could eat you, you knucklehead!', there was no way I would say that aloud.

Oh, goodness! Was I the only one with naughty thoughts while he was just teasing me? Again!?

I looked at him dejectedly. "Were you really thinking about food?"

The corners of Duke's lips lifted into a devious smile. "I was thinking about eating you right here on this sofa, but the night is long, and we should have some snacks handy to replenish the energy."

My eyes widened partly because of how outrageous his words were, and partly because those were my thoughts. He can read my mind! Oh, God!

Duke chuckled. "Don't worry, Serina. I won't do anything until you stop resisting yourself."

Duke kissed me on the cheek and moved me from his lap to sit on the sofa, like I weigh nothing at all.

"I'm going to check what I have…"

I watched him walk toward the kitchen and it took me a moment to process his words. Am I really resisting myself? I guess I am.

My urges are to let go and enjoy the moment, yet some reservation exists in me, demanding that I take this slow.

What's the point in taking it slow? Isn't this fake modesty? Why can't I act according to the lustful thoughts I'm trying to conceal?

What will change if I wait a week or a month or a year?

Aren't I already waiting for seven years? Or is it eleven?

I know I love Duke and that he is the only one in my heart, and I believe that he feels the same about me. We are not kids, why wait?

"You will be OK here on your own for a bit, right?"

Duke's words pulled me out of my thoughts. "What?"

"There is a store at the corner. I'm going to pick up a few things. Feel free to check out the place or rest. Nothing is off-limits for you. I will be back in fifteen minutes, max…"

Duke gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and he was out of the apartment.

I found myself in silence. In Duke's apartment. Alone.

I sank into the sofa and glanced around, not daring to touch anything. He said that nothing is off-limits, but I didn't want to risk finding female undergarments.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling Duke's scent of pine trees mixed with the ocean. It smelled like home.

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