He raised an eyebrow. He really was going to make me be the one to do this.
“Us,” I repeated, firmer. “Our schedules for being together.”
“What do you suggest?”
I smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “Do I have to spell it out?”
“Um, I don’t know. Are we thinking the same thing?”
“I hope so.” I smacked him again. “Damn it, I’m saying I want you to move in. Here.” I cleared my throat when he didn’t immediately respond. “With me.”
He glanced about the room. “Hmm, I do love this bedroom.” He slid his hand along the top of the comforter. “And this bed.”
“Stop it. You know I’ve been wanting this. Now you’re just pretending you haven’t already made your decision.”
He gripped me, lifting my upper body over him so I was on top of his chest. Our lips met. He spoke against my mouth. “There’s no decision to make.”
He kissed me again, harder. Then said, breathing fast, “I mean, if it means we will be together every night instead of just weekends, what more can I say?”
I nipped at his lower lip. “You can say yes, you tease.”
He grinned. “Yes. I’ll start packing tonight.”
We worked out the logistics over breakfast. Dale would get a rental company to rent out his condo and be moved in by the weekend.
“Too fast?” he asked.
“Not at all. I’m impressed.”
“I can rent it furnished. That’ll leave my clothes and other personal items to pack. It may take a couple trips in my car.”
“I have a car, too. I’ll help.”
“If work allows. You’re the lawyer. You have far worse hours than I do.”
“I also have paralegals as assistants. You know that part very well.”
“Yep. Leave the grunt work to us paralegals. I take work home too often. But it also lets me log in more pay hours.”
“You won’t need more money if we live together. You’ll get rent from your condo and you won’t have to pay rent here. My salary covers all of that.”
Dale frowned. “I would insist on paying half.”
I mimicked his frown right back at him. “Why?”
“Because isn’t that what’s done?”
“Between mates?” I laughed. “We’re bonded, my love. We’re together on everything.” I leaned back. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“No. I want to. So you mean we’re treating this like—like a marriage?”
“Exactly.”
His eyes lit up. “We need rings. Hey, let’s go ring shopping. I want to propose to you with a real ring.”
“I think I just proposed to you without one.”
“I don’t care. I want matching rings with you.”
