“Punctual?” He’s rolling his eyes now, and I smirk at him, shift my hands to his shoulders to push him back against the couch cushions, and swing a leg up and over to straddle his thighs.
“Mmm. You’re also gorgeous. Sexy as hell.”
He narrows his eyes at me as his hands find my hips. “I fail tosee how being ‘gorgeous’ and ‘sexy as hell’ would make me a good employee.”
“Ah, but you’re not denying that you are in fact gorgeous,” I counter.
“And sexy.”
“Definitely sexy.”
He huffs a small laugh, but then closes his eyes again and dips his chin, even as his fingers flex into my hips. “Alex, what if...” He trails off as I slip my hands around to the nape of his neck, my fingers teasing in his hair.
“What if weareable to find something for you? A good job, with benefits. One that pays well and works around or evenwithyour limitations? What if...” I graze my fingertips along the smooth skin of his jawline and then tilt his chin up so I can see his beautiful green eyes. “What if weareable to find you a small studio apartment to rent that’s reasonably priced? Maybe even close to wherever you’re working so you don’t have to spend so much on gas?” I pause again and then brush my thumb along his cheek and murmur, “What if... everything works out?”
His expression is pinched. Tense. Unsure. And he studies me for a few seconds, his uncertainty morphing into something rougher. I can almost hear the negative thoughts that must be running through his head.
What if I can’t? What if it doesn’t? What then?
I shake my head just once, then bend down and kiss his lips softly but with purpose.
“What if everything works out?” I repeat. This time, he shudders, and his arms wrap around my waist as he pulls me into him. I find his mouth again, and I hope this kiss conveys everything I need it to—my conviction, my support. My love.
He clings to me as he kisses me back, his lips needy and insistent, and when I pull back after a few deeper kisses, he makes a smallsound that rips through me. It’s full of uncertainty and need. He leans his head forward into my chest, shaking, and I bury my face in his hair and kiss the top of his head.
“We can make it work. We can figure out a way,” I tell him, and I kiss his hair again. “We can have this. Us.”
“I want it.”
“Me too.” I shift back a few inches, and he takes a deep breath and then lifts his chin. His eyes are intense now, stormy, and he shakes his head almost imperceptibly. “We can make it work, Nico,” I promise.
He stares at me, still fighting that battle in his mind. I give him what I can—a gentle smile, a touch of my fingers to his jaw—and then I press my lips to his forehead and whisper, “Please, just say you’ll give it a chance.”
After what feels like a long hesitation, he swallows and nods. “Yeah. Yeah, okay.”
Warmth bursts to life in my chest, and I’m pretty sure I’m smiling like an idiot as my hands frame his face. “You’re sure? Really?”
He rolls his eyes at me, though there’s a barely contained smile tugging at his lips. “I said yes, didn’t I? Don’t push your luck—”
I cut him off with another kiss, and he laughs against my lips before kissing me back. It’s long and deep and slow, and his arms wrap around me tightly, holding me to him.
It’s perfect, just like this, and as we kiss over and over, all I can think is how I never want this to end.
Mom (10:13 p.m.):Tammy and I are heading north for a couple of days to hike some trails in Preparation Canyon State Park. I’ll send you the location. Might not have cell reception some of the time. We leave tomorrow morning. You two doing okay there? Did you talk? ;)
Alex (10:15 p.m.):yeah, some
Alex (10.15 p.m.):we’re ok not sure the leftovers will be gone before you get back tho
Mom (10:20 p.m.):Glad to hear you talked. Keep talking, keep working on things, keep communicating. That’s really important.
Alex (10:21 p.m.):i know mom
Mom (10:22 p.m.):=P I love you!
Alex (10:23 p.m.):luv u too
Alex (10:23 p.m.):when will u be home
