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The night air was crisp as they walked back to Drew’s apartment, their pace unhurried, hands intertwined. The weight of the press conference and media circus had lifted, leaving behind a sense of calm and anticipation. Kelsi could feel it humming between them, an electric tension that had been simmering beneath the surface for weeks.
Drew glanced down at her, his eyes reflecting the glow of the streetlights, but there was something deeper in his gaze—something raw and unspoken. They hadn’t had a moment truly to themselves in what felt like forever. Now, with the world knowing about them, no more hiding, they were free.
When they reached his apartment, Drew paused at the door, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “You still okay with coming up?”
Kelsi smiled, feeling her heart race with a mix of nerves and excitement. “More than okay.”
The door clicked open, and Drew led her inside, his hand resting gently on the small of her back. Kelsi’s pulse quickened as the door shut behind them, sealing them away from the world outside. The apartment was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city, and the dim lighting cast a golden glow over everything.
They stood for a moment in the entryway, both acutely aware of the charged atmosphere between them. Drew's fingers traced lightly over her arm, sending shivers down her spine. He didn’t rush to fill the silence, but the weight of his gaze on her was enough to make Kelsi’s breath hitch.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” Drew said softly, stepping closer, his voice low and rough. “For us to have this moment... without cameras, without distractions.”
Kelsi's heart fluttered as she looked up at him. “So have I.”
Slowly, Drew reached for her face, his hand sliding into her hair, his thumb brushing along her jawline. He tilted her chin up, and Kelsi’s breath caught as his lips hovered just above hers. The anticipation was almost unbearable, the closeness between them pulling tighter, like a string drawn taut.
When his lips finally claimed hers, the kiss was soft at first, testing the waters. But then, as if the weeks of restraint had finally snapped, the kiss deepened, growing more urgent. Kelsi melted into him, her hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her fingertips.
Drew pulled her closer, his hands sliding down to her waist as he backed her up against the wall. His touch was firm but careful, every movement deliberate. Kelsi’s pulse raced, her head spinning as their kisses grew more heated, more demanding. There was something about the way Drew held her, the way he kissed her, that made her feel completely seen—completely known.
“Drew...” Kelsi whispered his name between breaths, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.
He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his forehead resting against hers, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. “Tell me what you want,” he murmured, his voice husky, the weight of his desire clear in his eyes.
Kelsi’s skin tingled from his closeness, the warmth of his body pressed against hers. She could feel the restraint in him, the way he was holding back, waiting for her to guide them. Her heart swelled at the care he was showing, at the way he made her feel so safe even in this moment of vulnerability.
“I want you,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart. “All of you.”
That was all it took. Drew’s mouth claimed hers again, this time with a hunger that sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine. His hands were on her now, sliding under her shirt, his touch igniting a trail of heat across her skin. Kelsi gasped into his mouth as his fingers found the bare skin of her waist, his touch sending jolts of electricity through her.
Without breaking the kiss, Drew scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her toward the bedroom. Kelsi clung to him, her fingers tangling in his hair, her heart pounding with excitement and need. He laid her down gently on the bed, his eyes never leaving hers, and the intensity of his gaze made her feel more desired than she ever had in her life.
Drew hovered over her, his fingers tracing lightly down her arms, sending waves of heat through her. His mouth followed, pressing slow, deliberate kisses along her neck, her collarbone, the soft skin of her shoulder. Kelsi arched into him, her breath hitching with every touch, every kiss.
Their clothes fell away piece by piece, discarded without a second thought, until there was nothing between them but the heat of their bodies and the intensity of their connection. Kelsi’s skin felt alive, every nerve ending on high alert as Drew’s hands roamed over her, learning every inch of her.
When they finally came together, it was slow, deliberate, a culmination of all the tension and longing that had built between them for so long. Every touch, every kiss, every movement was a declaration—a promise that this was real, that what they shared went far beyond the physical.
As they moved together, Kelsi felt herself losing track of time, lost in the sensation of Drew—his warmth, his strength, the way he made her feel cherished, wanted. He was everything she hadn’t known she needed, and in this moment, everything else melted away.
When they finally reached that pinnacle together, the release was both physical and emotional, a wave of pure bliss that left them both breathless, their bodies entwined, hearts racing in sync.
For a long time, they lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside forgotten. Kelsi rested her head on Drew’s chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, feeling a sense of peace and contentment she hadn’t felt in years.
“I love you,” Drew whispered against her hair, his voice tender and full of emotion.
Kelsi smiled, her heart swelling with love for the man who had not only seen her for who she truly was but had helped her become the best version of herself. “I love you too.”
As they drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms, Kelsi knew that this was just the beginning of their story—a story of love, passion, and partnership, both in and out of the kitchen. And no matter what challenges came their way, they would face them together, stronger than ever.
