JAY'S POV
"Spending some quality time with my girlfriend," my foot.
It had been seven hours, and Kiefer was still buried in work. We hadn't even spoken thanks to his damn CEO duties. The worst part was that I couldn't even complain about it. I had no idea how heavy his workload actually was, but that didn't stop me from dying of boredom.
Sighing, I decided I'd had enough. I was going to sleep.
I set my phone aside and stood up to head toward the bedroom inside the cabin. Before I could take a step, a hand caught my wrist. I turned to look at Kiefer, who was finally watching me instead of his screen.
"You're busy, so I'm going to nap for a few hours," I said.
He didn't reply. Instead, he surprisingly shut his laptop, pushed it aside, and pulled me toward him with a gentle tug.
Before I realized what was happening, he lifted me onto his lap. He guided my legs around his waist, positioning me so I was sitting squarely on his lap, facing him. Pulling me closer, he buried his face in the crook of my neck.
"Tired?" I asked softy.
He nodded without lifting his head.
He was an absolute teddy bear. He might act strict and unbothered in front of the rest of the world, but he showed his vulnerabilities to me—and only me. Wrapping my arms around him, I soaked in the heat of his body, instantly feeling the tension drain away.
"Kiefer..." I murmured, running my fingers gently through his hair. "If you wanted a break, you could've just said so."
A deep, quiet chuckle vibrated against my collarbone, the warmth of his breath sending a subtle shiver straight down my spine. "I didn't want a break," he mumbled, his voice thick with exhaustion and laced with a raspy softness I rarely got to hear. "I wanted you."
His hands, warm and large, slid down my back, pressing me flush against his chest until there wasn't an inch of space left between us.
He slowly lifted his head from my neck, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart do a sudden, chaotic flutter. All the coldness, the sharp authority, and the heavy burden of his title had completely vanished, leaving behind only the man who belonged to me.
He reached up, his thumb gently tracing my cheekbone before brushing against my lower lip.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you all day," he whispered, his gaze dropping to my mouth. "I know you were bored."
"I was," I lied softly, my hands shifting to rest against his chest, feeling the steady, rapid rhythm of his heart beneath my palms. "I thought you forgot I was even in the room."
"Never." The word left his lips in a breathy velvet murmur. "You're the only thing keeping me sane today, Jay."
Without taking his eyes off mine, he leaned in slowly, giving me every second to pull away. I didn't. When his lips finally met mine, the kiss was lingering, soft, and impossibly sweet. It wasn't rushed or demanding; it was the slow, desperate relief of a man finally reaching home after a long journey.
He parted his lips slightly, deepening the kiss, his grip tightening around my waist as if he were afraid I'd disappear if he let go. Every trace of my earlier frustration dissolved into nothingness, replaced entirely by the hypnotic heat radiating between us.
When he finally pulled back just an inch, his forehead rested against mine, both of us catching our breath in the quiet, dim room.
"Stay like this for a little while," he whispered, wrapping his arms securely around my waist and closing his eyes. "Just a few minutes."
I smiled, tangling my fingers back into his soft hair and pressing a small, soft kiss to his temple. "Take as long as you need."