“Keep doing that, and I won’t go anywhere.” I giggled as I buried my head in his neck.
“Then, don’t go. Stay with me.” I froze, realizing that without realizing it, I just asked Lucas to move in.
Lucas pulled back and looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“Did you just ask me what I think you did? Stay with you, meaning live here with you?”
The adrenaline coursing through my veins woke me right up. After all that happened between us over the past day, I was certain Lucas and I were permanent. He pretty much lived here anyway. We spent maybe two nights per week apart, if that. But, maybe making it official by actually moving in was rushing it a bit.
“Yes … I mean no.” I sat up and put my face in my hands. Lucas squinted at me, confusion all over his face.
“What I meant was that I love having you here. I love sleeping in your arms and waking up with you, and want this to be your home so you never have to leave. But, if you aren’t ready for it or don’t think it was a good idea, it’s all right. I’m not mad or anything, I just thought—” Lucas put his finger on my lips and laughed.
“Do you have any idea how adorable you are when you ramble? I would love to move in. I hate being away from you. I never suggested it because I thought you weren’t ready for it. I’m all in. You’re it for me. I never want to wake up again without you next to me.”
I felt like standing on my bed and jumping up and down but figured I had enough bruises from falling this week. Instead, I jumped on top of Lucas and attacked his mouth. He chuckled against my lips and flipped me over, so he was on top of me. His expression was serious.
“I love you so much.” Lucas weaved his fingers through my hair and pulled me back into a kiss. Things got heated quickly as he kissed a path from my neck, down my collarbone and stopping at my breasts. He gave me a hungry stare as he bit my nipple and then sucked it into his mouth.
“Mmm, Lucas. I think we need to get out of this bed, or we’ll never leave.”
Lucas smirked at me and cocked an eyebrow.
“I don’t like to go anywhere until I eat breakfast.” His mouth continued its descent down my body until he got to the apex of my thighs. My head fell back, and I figured a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.
Mornings were going to be awesome from now on.
* * *
“Breakfast”lasted longer than I thought. We didn’t make it to Marc’s parents’ house until noon. I was a little apprehensive picking Bella up knowing Marc was probably there. We ended things as amicably as we could, but this was the first time I’d see him after officially ending our marriage.
When Jeannie answered the door, she gave me a look I couldn’t quite describe, but it made me uneasy. Maybe she was like her son and thought I was just having a tantrum and never truly believed I would go through with the divorce. Whatever the case, we were over—and now everyone knew it and had to deal with it.
“Hey, Jeannie! Is Bella ready to go?”
“Yes, she’s been packed since this morning. I’m surprised you’re here so late.” Jeannie never complained if I was late picking up Bella, so the curt tone in her voice was odd.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you needed me to pick her up by a certain time.”
“No, it’s fine. I guess you were with your new boyfriend—Lucas, is it? Bella has been talking about him since Saturday and kept asking when you were coming to pick her up so she could see him before he goes home.”
Usually, when Bella stayed with her grandparents, Lucas wasn’t at the house. I stayed with him at his apartment. So I supposed knowing Lucas was there, Bella wanted to get home to see him. This was probably the reason for the cold shoulder I was getting from my soon-to-beformermother-in-law.
“Mommy!” Bella came running out from behind her grandmother and almost knocked me over.
“Hey, baby! Did you have fun with Grandma and Grandpa?’
“Yep! We went to the movies yesterday. Daddy said he was tired, and he had a headache so we couldn’t make too much noise in the house.” Marc’s swinging bachelor life continued. I had hoped he’d spend at leastsometime with Bella. Even to sit and talk to her for a minute. He was still a big child, but he wasn’t my problem anymore.
“Is Lucas in the car?” I caught Bella by the hand as she almost took off to run to the curb. Lucas must’ve seen her; he got out of the car and met her on the sidewalk.
“Hey, Butterfly! I missed you!” She ran into Lucas’s open arms, and he scooped her up.
“Do you have to go home yet?” Bella clung to Lucas’s neck as he kissed her forehead.
“Nope. I can stay with you as long as you want.” Lucas looked over at me and smiled. I wasn’t the only one who would love Lucas officially living with us.
“Yay! I saw a movie yesterday; can you take me to one today?”
