Secret Desire

Episode 6:Care,Jealousy And Devotion

Mary had been looking forward to her calls with Matthew all week. Even though the hotel had been exhausting lately, his messages, gifts, and video calls made everything feel lighter—like a warm glow amid the stress. Every notification from him made her heart skip a beat, and she found herself counting the hours until she could see his smiling face on her screen.

That evening, she curled up on her couch, her blanket wrapped tightly around her. Her phone vibrated, and her heart fluttered at the familiar chime of Matthew’s call. She answered quickly, smiling despite her tired eyes.

“Hey, beautiful,” Matthew greeted immediately, his eyes lighting up the screen, his smile infectious.

“Hey,” Mary replied softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s been a long day.”

“I can imagine,” he said, concern flashing in his eyes. “How are you feeling? I know work’s been intense lately.”

Mary sighed, leaning back against the couch cushions. “Exhausted. But it’s fine. I just… sometimes I feel like I’m running on empty.”

Matthew’s brows furrowed. “Mary… you work too hard. You don’t have to push yourself so much.”

“I have to, Matthew,” she replied. “It’s my job. It keeps me going. I don’t… I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Burden?” His voice was soft but firm, and Mary could see the genuine worry in his eyes. “Mary, you’re never a burden. I just… I want to take care of you. You’re important to me, and it hurts me to think of you tired, stressed, or overworked.”

Mary’s heart ached a little at his words. She had never met someone who cared this deeply, someone so intentional. “You’re too sweet,” she said softly, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Matthew leaned closer to the screen, his eyes shining with a mixture of concern and affection. “I’m serious. I care, Mary. And I want to make sure you’re taken care of.”

She hesitated. “Matthew… I know you send me gifts and allowances, and I appreciate it. But I… I can’t help feeling like I’m being spoiled.”

“You’re not spoiled,” he said firmly. “You’re loved. And sometimes, people need to be reminded they deserve care. I can’t help but feel protective… maybe even jealous sometimes.”

Mary laughed softly, her cheeks flushing. “Jealous?”

“Yes,” he admitted, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I can’t help it. When I hear about other men around you, even at your hotel, my chest tightens. Not because I don’t trust you—I do—but… I just want to be the one who makes you happy. The one who sees you, cherishes you.”

Mary’s heart fluttered. She felt warmth and a deep trust blooming inside her. “Matthew… I promise, you don’t need to worry. I’m loyal to you. Even though we haven’t met, I—”

“I know,” he said softly, interrupting her gently. “I know. That’s why I love you already, Mary. And that’s why I want to support you. Let you focus on yourself, on us, without the stress of work weighing you down.”

Her fingers fidgeted nervously over the screen. “You… really mean that?”

“Absolutely,” he said, a small triumphant smile forming. “If you want, I can give you a weekly allowance. Enough so you can step away from the hotel for a while, rest, and focus on your health and us.”

Mary’s eyes widened. “Step away… from work? Matthew, I… I don’t know if that’s—”

“Mary,” he said softly, leaning closer, “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t mean it. I trust your judgment, but I want you to feel safe and cared for. You don’t have to work so hard. Let me provide for you—just for now, until we meet. I want to make things easier for you.”

Mary paused, heart pounding. His words weren’t just generous—they were deliberate, intentional, and full of love. She realized she could trust him in a way she had never trusted anyone. “Matthew… I… I think I’d like that,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

“Good,” he said, a small triumphant smile forming. “And don’t worry—I’ll keep spoiling you, in little ways, just so you feel how much I care.”

Over the next hour, they lingered on the call, talking about small things—favorite foods, childhood memories, silly habits, and songs that made them laugh. Matthew’s jealousy surfaced now and then, subtle and protective, whenever Mary mentioned colleagues or hotel stories. But each time, Mary reassured him with laughter, honesty, and flirtatious words that made his chest swell with pride.

At one point, he teased her, “So… tell me, did anyone at the hotel make you laugh today? Or maybe notice how amazing you are?”

Mary blushed and giggled. “You’re impossible, you know that? I promise, no one comes close to how… special you are.”

Matthew’s eyes softened, a small proud smile forming. “That’s good to hear. Because I don’t like thinking about anyone else being around my Mary. Not yet. Maybe… maybe never.”

Mary laughed, rolling her eyes playfully. “You’re way too intense sometimes.”

“Intense?” he echoed, leaning closer to the camera. “No… I’m intentional. Caring. Protective. And maybe… just a little jealous.”

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, playful teasing, and sharing memories. Matthew sent her a photo of a small gift he had arranged to be delivered that day—a soft scarf, her favorite flavor of hot chocolate, and a little note that read:

“For you, Mary. To keep you warm until I can. —M”

Mary held the scarf close, smiling, feeling the warmth of both the gift and his heart. She hugged it to her chest, imagining the moment she could finally meet him in person. “You’re impossible,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with emotion.

“I’m intentional,” he countered with a grin. “And jealous. But mostly… I just love you.”

Her chest tightened, a rush of emotion coursing through her. “I love you too, Matthew. Even though we haven’t met, I… I feel like you’ve been in my heart for months already.”

He smiled, and for a long moment, they just looked at each other through the screen. Words weren’t needed—every glance, every subtle movement spoke volumes.

Then Matthew’s expression grew a little serious. “Mary… can I ask something?”

“Anything,” she replied.

“Sometimes, I worry,” he admitted, “that you’ll meet someone else at work, or that maybe… I’m not enough. I know it sounds silly, but… I care about you more than I’ve ever cared about anyone.”

Mary’s heart melted. “Matthew… you don’t have to worry. I’m loyal. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. You’re the one I’ve been waiting for… even if we haven’t met yet.”

A soft silence passed as they both smiled, hearts beating in unison despite the miles between them.

Later, Matthew shared little anecdotes from his day, showing her the small things he noticed about life and how he imagined them together in the future. Mary listened, laughing, sighing, and occasionally sharing her own thoughts, dreams, and worries. She realized that even without physical proximity, she felt deeply connected to him—emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually.

By the time she finally set her phone aside for the night, Mary’s heart was full, her mind buzzing with anticipation. She knew she could trust Matthew completely, and the thought of finally meeting him one day made her chest flutter with excitement.

Meanwhile, Matthew stared at the screen, replaying her laughter, her shy smiles, and the little ways she reassured him. He was already planning small surprises for her, ways to make her feel cherished the moment they finally met. He wanted her to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that every gift, every gesture, every word was intentional—and that his heart belonged wholly to her.

Somewhere in the quiet of their separate rooms, miles apart, a connection was deepening—careful, protective, loyal, and utterly electric—a love that was waiting for its first real meeting to finally become undeniable.