“What’s with that look?”
“What look?”
“That look.”
She pulled her lips into her mouth.
“Of adoration? Of contentment? Or admiration? Or obsession? Or utter allurement? Which one? Or are they all obvious?”
“Is that how you feel, Royce?”
She lifted her chin and then dropped it.
“It is.”
“Penny for your thoughts.”
The way her attention was undivided when I spoke drove me to the point of no return. Everyone around us vanished.
“I’m listening,my baby.”
I felt my cheeks rise and my smile attempt to touch my ears.
“I’m my baby, now?”
I loved to hear it roll off her tongue.
“Um hm.”
I sipped from my glass, choosing my words carefully. Once upon a time, I hadn’t been a man of many. But, between Royce and the race, I had been vomiting at the mouth for months.
“Are you happy?With me?”
I watched her inhale deeply. She released a shaky breath before swallowing.
“I’m my happiest with you.”
She paused, placing a hand on my cheek.
“I was lost, Ish. I knew I wanted something… someone. I just– I just didn’t know what or who. I’m no regular girl. I struggled with the idea of someone being able to handle me. I’m so accustomed to handling everything and everybody else. Then you came. My connection to you was instant. What I did for you the first night we met, I don’t–”
She shook her head.
“I’ve never done that for anyone. Not without payment first. Not unless they were kin to me. Not unless I loved them. And, since that night, I’ve been wondering how it happened so fast. How my heart knew you were worthy of my love? How I knew that you were someone special to me? I haven’t found the answers, so I’ve decided to stop searching. I don’t need an explanation for falling for the perfect stranger. It was meant to be. That’s it. Nothing more.”
“You’ve got my shit all fucked up, up here.”
I pointed to my chest.
“Nothing ever hurt and healed me at the same time like this.”
I cleared my throat, moving closer.
“You make me consider things I’ve never considered. Want things I’ve never wanted.”
“Care to elaborate?”
I hesitated, unsure if it was my heart or my head influencing me most.
