Vanessa’s eyes slowly opened to find Darryl’s face hovering above hers, his gaze warm and tender. A breakfast tray sat beside the bed, laden with a simple breakfast and flowers. As she took in the scene, memories of the previous night came flooding back, and she realized that her current position, naked under the bed cover, was the proof that last night was real.
Darryl’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he greeted her, “Good morning, sweetheart.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“Good morning,” Vanessa murmured a response, trying to hide her morning breath. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she returned his gaze, still trying to process the events of the past twenty-four hours.
Darryl’s eyes were bright and beaming as he smiled, passing the breakfast tray to Vanessa. Love and affection etched into his face as he watched Vanessa dig into her breakfast.
“Get ready, sweetheart. We have a great day ahead,” Darryl said with excitement as he passed the cup of coffee to Vanessa.
“What’s the occasion?” Vanessa asked, confusion etched on her face as she took the cup of coffee from him.
“There’s something I want you to see, more of a place.” Darryl told her as he watched her chew on her breakfast with a sinister smile on his face.
The fact that she was naked under the bed cover dropped him crazy, but he had no intention of rushing her. He knew how fragile Vanessa was, and he was ready to take it slowly, matching her pace.
“I don’t think I can go anywhere with you,” Vanessa said, her tone laced with worry.
“Why?” Darryl asked as the sinister smile on his face morphed into a frown.
“I don’t have the appropriate dress to go out. I know you don’t want me to worry about my outfits, but I just can’t help it.” Vanessa explained calmly, her gaze moving from her breakfast tray to Darryl’s face.
“Shush, sweetheart,” he urged her to stop rambling. “You really do underestimate your husband, don’t you?” Darryl said as he got out of bed, moving towards the closet.
“Everything you need is in here, I mean everything.” He said, pointing at the closet.
“You should have informed me before getting me anything.” Vanessa whined as she got out of bed with the cover hanging heavily around her frame.
Darryl, who noticed her discomfort as she struggled with the bed cover, went into the bathroom and grabbed a bathrobe for her. That one will be easy for her, he articulated as he walked back into the room.
“What if I don’t fit into the things you got?” She asked as she saw him walk towards her with a bathrobe in his hand.
“Before last night, I was familiar with your taste in dresses, but after last night, I mastered every part of your body, making me know what fits you perfectly.” He said, using the husky voice he used with her last night.
His confession made butterflies danced in Vanessa’s belly. He might have sounded too nasty to her, but a part of her loved the comment he made.
“Stop wasting time and freshen up, we have a lot of things to do today.” He said, handing over the bathrobe to her.
“Now, we have a lot of things to do today,” she whined as she grabbed the bathrobe from him. She walked to the bathroom to get changed and came out in the bathrobe around her body and the bed cover in her arms. Tossing it back on the bed, she walked back to the closet to see the dress Darryl had brought for her.
Silently, Darryl watched her as she took out the shopping bags from the closet, waiting for her reaction. Vanessa’s eyebrows furrowed as she dig into the bag, bringing out the contents one after the other.
Her eyes widened in shock as she brought out the first thing I hand touched, a lacey fabric, soft and fragile in her palm. “What the hell, Darryl? She gasped as she took out the lacey underwear.
“Underwears. It is called underwear, Vanessa.” Darryl replied, a smug smile spread on his face.
“Did you get these yourself?” She asked in disbelief, her tone irritated.
“Will you feel better if I say no?” Darryl asked, teasing her.
Dropping the lacey fabric, she dug her hand into the shopping bag, preparing herself for another surprise. This time, a smile played on her face as she brought out the content. Satisfaction washed over her as she saw the dress Darryl got her.
A floral pattern dress, with a lowered back cut, and a thigh length flare cut. It was simple and pretty at the same time, and her beauty melted her heart.
“I also picked that one myself,” Darryl said as he watched her adore the dress instead of him.
“I love it, thank you.” She said as she dropped the dress on the bed.
“And I love you,” Darryl said, causing her to freeze on the spot.
Her face went blank as if blood drained out of her face. His words caught her surprise and she had no knowledge of how to react. That was the last thing Vanessa was expecting to hear from him.
“I…. I,” she stammered, searching for the right response, but her head was blank.
“Breathe, Vanessa.” Darryl said as his hand rubbed her back in a comforting way. “I said I love you doesn’t mean you have to say it back to me. Don’t push yourself because of my confession. All I want is for you to accept my love the way I know how to express it to you.” he said, his tone solemn and calm.
“I have to make an important call outside, take your time to get changed. I will be back soon.” Darryl said, placing a tender kiss on her forehead before leaving the room.
Vanessa’s head spun as she watched Darryl exit the room. Trying to wake herself up from the dream, she pinched herself on the cheek. She flinched at the pain, but everything still felt like a dream to her.
The infamous player just told her he loved her. She couldn’t believe her ears. Was he serious about it? She wondered as her eyes moved to the shopping bags in front of her.
He was being serious, she answered herself. But why didn’t she say it back? She should have said it back because she felt the same way about him.
“Darryl,” she grunted as she facepalmed herself in shame. ‘This man would be the end of me’ she whispered as she pulled out matching sandals from one of the bags.