"First thing first," Blake whispered in my ear. His hands gripped my waist firmly and his chest pressed against my back while we stood behind the large window, a city view before us.

It was the first September after I graduated from university, and the summer was at its last bit. After a long flight from home that evening, Blake and I scrambled throughout the airport, two big trunks and a few carry-on suitcases in our hands, finding a taxi that brought us to my apartment. The place soon I'd call home.

The apartment unit was way more luxurious than the flat I used to live during my university years and of course, way more expensive; my free-fall amount of savings was evidence. Sadly, at that moment, I didn't have much choice and the clock was ticking. I had no family or friends where I could crash in until I found a cheaper place, but I'd decided to take this job nonetheless. Blake helped me find the opportunity, and he believed we would survive the long-distance relationship. It was just temporary, so he said.

Once I received my keys and stepped into my apartment, it felt like I walked into a totally different world.

The black wooden floor contrasted the white walls, while warm yellow lights adorned every corner of the ceiling. Other than the couch and the dining chairs, the rest of the furniture was white, or at least a mix between black and white. The unit was not huge but definitely bigger than my old flat. Instead of curtains, the windows were covered by shades, and they were all white too.

I saw a few pictures of my future apartment before I agreed to rent it, but walking into it was different than checking it in the picture. The photos didn't smell like lavender from the home fragrance diffuser on the kitchen island. And the city view through the window didn't blink its lights. The place wasn't bad at all.

Blake's gentle squeeze on my waist brought me back to our convo.

"And what is that first thing?" I mumbled, slightly turning my head to let his lips hover over mine. His warm breath caressed my face, and it took my whole willpower to not pull him by the neck and kiss him like there was no tomorrow.

"You know what it is." His hands slid down and began stroking my hips. His movement caused the hem of my dress to ride up my thighs. "We need to make this place official." His fingers slid underneath my skirt, finding the line of my panties. "We need to bless your new home."

His bold move prompted me to chuckle and gasp at the same time. "And how are we going to do it exactly?" My voice sounded more like a moan.

"Good question. Open your legs."

And just like a good girl I was, I did what he said. My breath was getting rougher once Blake's fingers sneaked inside my panties and made direct contact with my wetness. "We just uh...arrived, aahh, Blake."

"Exactly. First thing first."

The next thing I knew, I was pressed between the glass window and my boyfriend's warm body. The colorful glow from the city lights became a blurred sight as my breath fogged up the glass window. It wasn't like I was enjoying the city view at that moment anyway, because my whole body and mind were focusing on what Blake was doing to me.

We'd been together for over six months but his touch, his stroke, his kisses, and his thrusts felt like the first time we explored each other. Not caring that people might have seen us from the street down there, our bodies moved in sync, climbing our climax together. We'd been living under the rock for a half year, avoiding being discovered by others because of our problematic situation, and we'd finally put that fear behind us. We were ready to let the world see us.

When Blake groaned in the croak of my neck while finding his release, I was already limp from my climax. His strong hold around my hips kept me standing, or I would drop to the wooden floor since I couldn't feel my legs for a while. And this was the moment I enjoyed the most during sex with him: being in his arms after we shared the intimate moment. It was when I truly felt connected to him.

"I thought you would bless my house." I chuckled while running my fingers through his disheveled hair. "You did my womb instead."

"Oops." He laughed his deep laugh before pulling himself out and putting his pants back on. "I can try again later, but first, food." He then turned me around, kissed me hard, and before I could blink, he turned me around again and smacked my butt cheek. "Let's freshen up. We're going out. I know a nice place to eat around here, and I hope they're still there."

Forty minutes later, we walked hand in hand on the pavement of the busy street. Since Blake grew up not far from the city, he knew places in the city center like he knew the back of his hand. I was glad that he was staying for a few days to help me settle before I started my first week of work orientation. After twenty-two years of life, this was the first time I left my hometown, my family, and my friends so that I could chase my dreams on the other side of the country.

I was ready for that except for one: leaving Blake behind.

I refused to consider the opportunity at first because the idea of not being able to see him, touch him, and feel him was too intimidating. Yet he kept assuring me that I would regret it if I skipped the opportunity just because of him. But again, what opportunities in the world could buy the thing we had together? After a long back-and-forth talk and sometimes an argument that ended with heated sex, I agreed to take the job, because he promised he would come to me once he settled his joint venture with his friends.

"Penny for your thoughts?" His deep voice pulled me out of my bubble of thoughts.

"It's just" —I squeezed his hand gently— "I wish you didn't have to go back on Sunday."

"Me too, but we know that's what's going to happen."

I dropped my head, feeling sad and hollow all of a sudden. My eyes were fixed on my brown leather shoes dancing on the pavement, one foot forward and then the other one, right, left, right, left. At the same time, my mind was jumping to Sunday afternoon when I'd have to say goodbye to Blake at the airport, not knowing when he would come to see me. Maybe in a fortnight, or next month. It was all depending on his business project.

It was when I felt a tuck on my hand, and in the next second, I was already in Blake's embrace. His sweet sandalwood perfumes mixed with his musky scent invaded my nostrils.

"Hey," he said while caressing my cheeks, our faces inches apart. "I know this isn't the fun part, but this is for our future. Not just my future, it's also yours. We both know how unhappy you were when you had that shitty job back home. No career path, no nothing."

"I know."

"I'm setting up my business center there, and you're building your career here. Once everything is ready, I will make my way to you and build our life together in this city."

I looked up at him, and his midnight blue eyes captured me, holding me captive and taking away all my doubts. I put my hands over his fingers, tilted my head slightly, and kissed his palm. "I know."

"Come here." He then wrapped his arms around my torso and his familiar scent enveloped me instantly. "We might be a thousand miles apart but I will be just one dial away if you need to talk."

Snuggling into his chest, I wish we could just walk back to my apartment and cuddled up on the sofa like this, or maybe some more sex, or anything that could calm down my jittery mind. But when a growling sound vibrated through his chest, which I was sure came from his tummy, I pulled away slightly and giggled. "I heard that. Your worms went on a riot for food."

"What can I say, Jennifer? Not only my balls that are empty now, my stomach too." He leaned down to kiss my forehead before starting to walk, pulling me with him. "Two more blocks and we're there."

We resumed walking past stores and a few diners. The streets had a distinctive scent that I could only catch when I visited big cities. It was the mix of fumes from the vehicles on the street, the pungent industrial odor, and all kinds of strong perfumes from people around us. Still, the one that caught my nose at the moment was baked garlic coming from the Mexican food truck we just passed by, causing my stomach to grunt approvingly.

"They're still here." Blake grinned as we stood in front of a diner with a big terrace, yet every spot was occupied. A red board with a cartoon oriental face wearing a farmer hat stood on top of its entrance gate. "We should be able to find somewhere to sit inside."

"A Chinese?" I asked, looking at my surroundings. People were eating noodles with a lot of soup in their gigantic bowls as if the noodles and every other thing were swimming in it.

"Vietnamese. I learned how to make Banh Mi from the cook in this diner back in the day." Blake pointed at the spot in the corner of the room. "Those people are leaving. Go grab the table. I'm going to see if he's still working here."

I nodded and strode to the spot where the couple was getting ready to leave. Judging from the swimming noodles that occupied almost two-thirds of their bowls and the tension written on their faces, they must have been fighting and lost their appetite because of it. Well, at least we got one of the best spots.

Looking around, I wondered what kind of life Blake had when he still lived here. A snobbish rich kid? A troubled teenager who barely talked? Or a famous playboy? Had he ever brought dates to this eating place? Would it remind him of them? Did he ever fall in love with one of them? What if we bump into her?

I shook my head while smacking myself inwardly. I shouldn't keep digging into his past just to prove my worth to him. He was with me and we were about to lay the foundation for our future together. Everything from the past would be lying dead beneath the bedrock.

I just needed to trust us.