The words ‘what are we’ never crossed his mind, in fear of shattering the delicate harmony you two had built. Contentment, though partial, resided within him, savoring the enigmatic nature of your bond. You were not just friends, that much was certain. The intensity of your gazes, the shared intimacies—they transcended the realm of friendship.

Yet, you were not lovers either. Lovers did not treat their partners with such nonchalance, nor up and leave without a trace after nights of shared passion. And lovers certainly did not entertain the presence of others, as you both did, silently accepting the unspoken rules that governed your clandestine encounters.

"You smell good," he murmured, his words laced with a gentle chuckle, inhaling the intoxicating scent that enveloped you. It was a fragrance he longed to awaken to each morning, a scent that whispered of untold desires.

Yet, there he lay, his face nestled against your neck, his fingers tenderly entwined in your hair, knowing all too well that you would eventually slip away without uttering a word about your nocturnal escapades. It was the inevitable pattern that played out, night after night.