= Our sweethearts engage in domestic activities for the day. Charlotte also does some self-reflecting. After all, they do need a break from being all over each other during their weekend.
Today, it was Charlotte who stirred awake first, which was unusual, but Mia was definitely tired after all of her antics last night.
Charlotte had assumed she was dreaming, her eyes were fluttering a little and she seemed to be smiling in her sleep. It definitely intrigued Char, but most importantly, she didn't want to disturb her sleep since they had a pretty long day ahead of them. Charlotte thought back to their aftercare last night:
"Sweetheart, I love you, but I don't think my body can actually take anymore, I'm knackered, holy shit!"
"Never underestimate an innocent looking lady" Char quipped back.
"From the moment I saw you, I knew you weren't innocent."
"Oh? Is that so Amelia?"
"Definitely..."
The redhead had been breathless from their most recent 'round' and it was evident the ladies had lost count of how many. It reminded the pair of when they first started dating, the initial thrill and the idea of the 'honeymoon phase'. As they laid, cuddling, chests rising and falling with each breath, both, individually, couldn't help but reflect on how far they'd come.
Mia had never been in a truly romantic relationship before Charlotte. She had dated, sure, but none of her past relationships had ever felt like this. They had been fleeting, passionate in the beginning but always ended short before that 'high' wore off.
Even with Reece, even though she adored him in the current day, way back when they would get back together for the billionth time. It would be that 'high' that made it doable, despite Roger's manipulation. The constant threesomes, the active sex-life. It all revolved around going on holidays together, going out, going to bars, clubs, you name it. They needed these activities, grand events to even want to be around one another.
What made it worse is that the two of them had acknowledged this, around maybe the ten year mark of their on-and-off relationship. It was their 'normal'. It was something constant for them.
She had always feared that she wasn't capable of sustaining a long-term relationship, that her insecurities and fears would drive her partner away once the initial excitement wore off.
In the quiet moments, when they weren't tangled in each other's arms, unable to get enough of each other's bodies or sharing breathless laughter, a less mature Mia found herself questioning if this was enough for Charlotte. She worried about the days when they weren't as obsessive or passionate, the days when the thrill of the new had faded and what remained was the simple, everyday life they had built together. The mundane parts of life—the grocery shopping, the late-night laundry sessions, the quiet evenings spent reading or watching TV—seemed to be what held them together.
Charlotte would never forget what she said to her last night, under the covers, her heart full of vulnerability. "Char. Never had something so real, so... stable. I used to think I wasn't capable of a love that lasted beyond the first excitement... It's so crazy to me that we are reliving that same feeling."
Charlotte, sensing the depth of Mia's thoughts, ran her fingers gently through Mia's hair.
Mia shut her eyes, loving the feeling, the way it sent shivers down her spine and gave her goosebumps.
"You are more than capable, Mia. We both are. Although I'm enjoying the more frequent sex, that'll wear off in due time, to a much more reasonable amount, as we go on with life. It's about everything in between."
Charlotte herself had known love before Mia, but it had been different. Her marriage to her ex-husband had taught her about the complexities of love, the highs and the lows, the compromises and the heartbreaks.
The fact that someone can be lovely and beautiful inside and out as an individual. The fact that this amazing person might just not be for you. You not for them. It was a complex thing to navigate, sure.
But with Mia, it was like discovering a new branch of love, one that was more profound and fulfilling. Even after the initial thrill had settled, what remained was a deep, abiding connection that surpassed anything she had known before.
"Since my divorce," Charlotte began, her voice soft and contemplative, "I thought I understood love. But what we have... it's different. It's not just about the passionate moments or the excitement. It's about knowing that even when the thrill isn't constant, you're still my person. You always will be."
Mia looked into Charlotte's eyes, seeing the sincerity and depth of her feelings. "I guess I always feared that once the initial excitement faded, you might not feel the same way. That I might not be enough."
Charlotte shook her head, her expression one of tender reassurance. "You are enough, Mia. You always have been and always will be. I don't need that constant high to love you. What we have, it's built on so much more than just the honeymoon phase. It's built on trust, on understanding, on the way you make me laugh and the way you hold me when I'm scared."
Mia felt a lump form in her throat, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief and overwhelming love. "I love you so much, Char."
"And I love you, Mia," Charlotte whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Mia's lips.
Around 30 minutes of Charlotte's self reflection had passed before Mia finally stretched out. Waking up, putting Char's thoughts back into the present.
Her voice was raspy and gruff, as usual. "Good morning, fiancée, mm you smell beautiful."
Charlotte shot up, not realising she was awake. "Morning, fiancée, really? I was awake but I didn't get up."
"Must be your natural scent then.. You seemed deep in thought, you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah I'll explain over breakfast. You must be starving."
"Mhm, think you took all the energy out of me, I think today will be one of those days where we share a massive jug of coffee to get through the day." Mia sighed out, stretching again.
Charlotte put her arm in the air, contorting her hand to see the diamond shimmer. "I know, thank God I'm off work, I'm excited to tell the famalam at work about this massive rock on my finger, but I need today to sort out the house, gosh it's a mess."
"I know, we've been at it like bunnies, think you and I lived off appletiser yesterday." Mia faked being in a state of famine, her voice jaggedy and croaky. "In d..dire need of c... coffee..."
As Mia was washing her face, Charlotte ended up explaining her thoughts this morning, and how grateful she was for the little things. How it was an instinct for them to always be there for each other.
Mia listened intently, and ended up getting a little soap in her eyes in the process. However, she didn't complain, not wanting to interrupt Char.
There it was, the little things like that, kept them together.
It wasn't much long after that they found themselves sitting opposite one another at the kitchen island, planning how to go about the day. Both hands wrapped around their mugs of coffee, and the frequent exchanges of kisses.
"Alright," Mia began, taking a sip of her coffee. "I think we should start with the living room. It's looking a bit cluttered."
"Agreed," Charlotte said, her fingers brushing against Mia's as she set her mug down. "And then we can tackle the kitchen. I've been wanting to reorganise the whole lot of plates for ages."
With their plan set, they moved to the living room, picking up scattered items and putting them back in their places. Charlotte dusted the shelves while Mia hoovered, the two working in a seamless rhythm born from years of living together. Their conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and the occasional teasing comment.
Once the living room was spotless, they moved to the kitchen. Charlotte opened the cabinets and started rearranging the plates while Mia wiped down the counters. It wasn't long before Mia decided to put on some music to make the chores more enjoyable. She scrolled through her playlist and selected 'Forget Me Nots,' a song a bit before her time, but a timeless classic.
As the upbeat tune filled the kitchen, Mia couldn't help but sway to the rhythm. Charlotte looked over her shoulder and grinned. "Dance break?" she suggested, her eyes devious.
"Always," Mia replied, grabbing Charlotte's hand and twirling her around. They laughed and danced together, their movements light and carefree.
The music shifted, and Charlotte, with a mischievous gleam in her eye, put on 'Get Low,' a song with particular significance to their early relationship. She immediately started dancing provocatively, stealing the show with her confident moves. Mia couldn't take her eyes off her, captivated.
"Show-off," Mia teased, her voice playful.
"You know it,," Charlotte shot back, her hips swaying seductively. She moved closer to Mia, her body brushing against hers.
"Maybe I like it," Mia whispered, pulling Charlotte into a close embrace.
Their dancing grew more intimate, their bodies pressed together as the music encapsulated around them. Mia found herself completely entranced. It wasn't long before their chores were momentarily forgotten, their focus solely on each other.
Charlotte, feeling bold, turned around and pressed her body against Mia's, her back arching as she whined softly. Mia's hands roamed over Charlotte's hips, pulling her closer.
The pair giggling as the song faded to a much calmer track, signalling them to get on with the work at hand.
"You're such a distraction," Mia murmured, her voice filled with affection and desire.
"Good," Charlotte replied, turning her head to kiss Mia's neck.
Mia's grip tightened, "Let's finish these chores quickly," she suggested, "We've got enough hours in this day for other engagements sweetheart."