“I want to show you something in my bedroom.”
They hadn’t been in there together since he’d helped her assemble the Ikea dresser.Each time they’d made love at her house, it had always been in the spare room, and Nick had never asked about using her own bed.He’d understood it was a no-fly zone, so to speak.It had bothered her.She’d wanted to feel good about touching Nick in her own bed, in her own sheets.
But she’d realized she needed to make a change first.
She opened the door into her bedroom and turned on the lights.“After you.”
He walked in, and his jaw dropped.He took in the entire empty room, slowly spinning.A slight frown marred his brow, the same frown he always got when he was concentrating.Or worrying.“You’ve stripped it.Are you redecorating?”
“Yeah.The whole nine yards.”She marveled at her own progress.She’d already painted over the old color, and the walls were now covered in white primer.She just needed to choose a new paint color, and was hoping Nick would help her with the decision.
“But how did you get the bed and furniture out of here?”
“I asked Michael and Eli to help me shift a few things when you were at one of your meetings with the network.They were really helpful.Eli even offered to take the old bed to the charity shop for me.I’ve ordered up a new bed and side tables.They should be here soon.”
He touched the wall.“You’ve even removed all the switch plates.”
“They hadn’t been replaced in years.It was time.By the time I’m done, it’ll be a brand-new room.”
Curiosity warmed his gaze.“Why the change?”
“Because I want to be able to use it with you.I want you to be comfortable in my bedroom.I don’t want you to feel relegated to the spare room.You’re too important for that.”
“Oh, Claire, I don’t want you to feel like you have to remove every trace of Arthur in your house.He was your husband.I never expected to come into a blank slate.”
“I know, and he’ll always be in my heart.”She grabbed his hand and placed it over her chest.“But you’ve taken over my heart too.Do you feel that?”
She heard his swallow.“It’s beating hard.”
“For you,” she said.“Every time you walk into the room, my heart goes wild.It’s yours, Nick.It belongs to you.”
His frown deepened, but she knew it wasn’t out of anger.“C’mere.”He wrapped her in his arms and held her tight.“My heart belongs to you.”
When they started kissing, right there among the empty primer cans and dry paint brushes, Claire almost forgot her roast beef dinner.It was so easy to forget the world when Nick kissed her.However, she knew they had a bit of time.She managed to drag herself away from his lips, just for a moment.“I have one more thing to show you.”
His grateful smile was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.“I’m not sure I can handle it.”
“Sure, you can.”Still holding his hand, she led him to the spare bedroom.“Obviously, until the new furniture arrives, we still have to use this room.But I wanted to make it homier for you.”She had moved the Ikea dresser into this room, and she walked over to it now and opened two drawers.“These are for your things.You know, for when you stay over, so you don’t always have to pack a bag or put your old clothes back on.You could just keep some stuff here, instead.”
“My own drawers?”
“Yeah…if you’d like them.”
He caressed her cheek.“I can’t think of anything I’d like more.Claire, thank you.This means the world to me.”
She smiled as butterflies took flight in her chest.“I’m glad.”
“We’re going to have to put some of your clothes in my drawers now.”He drew close for another kiss, and flicked his tongue against the corner of her mouth.
Sighing, she threw her arms about his neck and welcomed his tongue against her own.
When he eased her onto the bed, and slid one dress strap from her shoulder, he said, “I don’t want to ruin your dinner.”
She considered her timing.“Dinner’s fine.Like I said, we have a few minutes.”
He knelt at the side of the bed, and pushed her skirt up toward her waist.With one eyebrow arched, he removed her panties.He lowered his head.“A few minutes is all I need.For now.”
Claire closed her eyes and happily lost track of the time.
