Chapter 5
May 12, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Five minutes later, we were curled up together on the soft gray plush couch by the window. I couldn’t stop the gentle smile tugging at my lips as I watched my baby’s face slowly light up with quiet happiness. The large mug of hot chocolate — her much-needed dose of liquid serotonin — had worked its magic. The tension in her small shoulders had melted away, and for the first time tonight, she no longer looked like she was ready to fight her way home. Instead, she seemed content to settle for the “maxi version” of Jaedi sitting right beside her.
Rosé set her empty cup aside and immediately crawled closer, tucking her legs beneath her before wrapping her arms around me. With a soft, relieved sigh, she buried her face in the crook of my neck, nuzzling there like a kitten seeking warmth. No words were needed — her body language told me everything. I was forgiven.
My chest tightened with overwhelming affection as I stroked her fragile back in slow, soothing motions and pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head.
“So, sunshine?” I murmured against her hair. “Did I manage to fix your mood a little?”
She let out a tiny, contented sound and rubbed her nose against my neck.
“Thank you, my darling… You always know exactly what I need.” Her voice was quieter now, laced with lingering guilt. “I’m sorry I got so angry with you earlier. I didn’t mean to be so difficult…”
“Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart,” I whispered, threading my fingers through her silky hair. “The only thing that matters is that you’re not mad anymore. I can handle your anger… I just can’t handle seeing you upset.”
Rosé shook her head gently against my chest, then slowly slid down until her head rested comfortably in my lap. The sight of her curling up there — trusting, vulnerable, seeking comfort from me — made something deep inside my ribcage ache with tenderness.
A moment later, she demanded in the most adorable, imperious tone:
“Now pet me properly so I can forgive you completely. You owe me for the emotional damage.”
Before I could even respond, she caught my hand and placed it firmly on her head, closing her eyes in expectant bliss. I couldn’t hold back a soft laugh, which earned me an indignant little huff.
“Well?” she prompted, clearly impatient.
“Silly girl…” I said lovingly, my voice thick with emotion. “I would stroke your hair for hours even if you never forgave me. You don’t have to earn my affection, baby. It’s already yours.”
I surrendered completely to my tiny dictator and began slowly carding my fingers through her long, fluffy strands, letting the soft locks slip between them like silk. She melted under my touch, a quiet purr of satisfaction escaping her.
“Do you like that, my love?” I whispered, leaning down to kiss her temple.
She nodded without opening her eyes, shifting slightly to get even more comfortable on my lap. My heart clenched so hard it almost hurt. How could something so simple feel this precious when I knew how fragile our time together might be?
“You know… now you understand why I’m always begging you to do this to me,” I teased softly, though my voice carried a deeper ache.
Rosé smiled sleepily.
“You were definitely a spoiled stray cat in your past life. But I’ve given you enough pets already, so now it’s your turn, Maxi Jaedi.”
I huffed a quiet laugh and leaned closer, brushing my lips against her ear.
“I can already tell this nickname is going to haunt me. But be honest — I’m much more charming than the original, aren’t I?”
She nodded, her smile widening, and I sighed dramatically, already dreading the day Ten might overhear it. My reputation would never recover.
Wanting to secure her silence, I dipped my head and pressed a slow, coaxing kiss to the sensitive skin of her neck.
“Promise me this stays our little secret, okay?” I whispered, my voice low and intimate, the kiss serving as both bribe and plea.
“Mm… deal, Jay,” she murmured, clearly softened by the constant affection. She turned toward me, cupping my face gently in her small hands, and pulled me down into a kiss — sweet, lingering, and full of quiet need.
I was helpless against her. The way she had grown so bold, so unafraid to reach for what she wanted… it filled me with pride and a strange, bittersweet joy. Not long ago she would blush and hide from even the lightest touches. Now she initiated them without hesitation. My innocent little fawn had blossomed under my hands, and I loved every version of her.
I soon took control of the kiss, deepening it with quiet hunger. Her lips still carried the rich sweetness of chocolate, and I drank it in, coaxing a soft, trembling sigh from her that sent warmth flooding through my veins.
When I finally pulled back just enough to breathe, I rested my forehead against hers.
“You taste so sweet…” she whispered, eyes half-lidded and glowing with affection.
“So do you,” I replied, unable to resist stealing one more kiss. “I keep telling you that, don’t I?”
But my words must have carried a suggestive undertone I hadn’t fully intended. Rosé’s cheeks flushed a deep, charming pink, and she bit her lip, suddenly shy again. The contrast — her earlier boldness melting into adorable embarrassment — made me chuckle softly.
She grumbled, half-annoyed, half-flustered:
“Did you really have to remind me of that right here… right now?”
I raised an eyebrow, smiling as my fingertips traced lazy, tender patterns along her delicate collarbones.
“And what’s so bad about right here and right now, sweet girl?” I asked, deliberately emphasizing the word with gentle teasing.
She surprised me again. Instead of hiding or swatting at me, Rosé sat up so our faces were level. Looking at me from beneath her lashes, she whispered boldly yet vulnerably:
“Because right here… right now… you can’t do the things you usually do when you call me that.”
Her words hit me like a spark to dry tinder. For a moment, all I could do was stare at her, heart pounding with a mixture of desire, pride, and something far heavier.
I cupped her face in both hands, stroking her velvet-soft cheeks with my thumbs, my voice dropping to a rough, emotional whisper:
“Just wait a little longer, my love… I promise I’ll give you everything you want. Everything.”
Rosé let out a small sigh and lowered her gaze, her next words slicing straight through my chest:
“You’ve been promising me that for so long… At this rate, I’ll probably die before you ever get the chance to keep it.”
The air left my lungs. Her innocent, teasing comment landed with devastating weight because now it felt terrifyingly possible. My heart — the one that was supposed to be strong enough to save others — twisted violently at the thought of losing her.
I pulled her fiercely into my arms, crushing her against my chest as if I could shield her from fate itself. Pressing my lips to her temple, I held her there, breathing her in, fighting the sudden burn behind my eyes.
“Don’t say that, Bambi…” I whispered hoarsely, my voice cracking with raw emotion. “Please don’t say that. I won’t let it happen. I swear on my life — I won’t let you go. Not now. Not ever.”
