It wouldn’t matter what they do, as Keats and I are both pulling on an invisible rope for a game of tug-of-war.
“I don’t think you want to stay with Hailey.”
My nose tips up, not sure what words just hit my ear. “W-what?”
“Stay here.” Is he offering or demanding? Either way, determination runs strong, and it feels like a giant safety net wrapping around me.
“Again, what?” My eyes flutter in astonishment that he is persistent.
Keats steps closer, heat building between us. “You can stay here, and I don’t think you want to leave.”
“You have some audacity to assume.” I think I’veunconsciously added a dare underneath that sentence. A challenge to him to debate this because I fear that I want to walk into his arms, breathe him in, and surrender to his demand.
He smirks, and his thumb brings my lips together before his fingerprint caresses my lips. “Stay.” The man seems unaffected by everything I say.
“Look.” I step back to break our contact. “Thank you for last night, really. You were a comfort or are or… but one night in your bed doesn’t mean that I can just move in. That’s crazy.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Is it, though? You’ll be able to check in next door whenever you want.”
“I’ll be stuck with you,” I deadpan, and my body begins to let a molecule-sized smile form.
“The guy you’ve been kind of liking lately.”
My eyes enlarge at the reminder. “Moving in is a little more than how a normal second date should go.”
Keats lets out a sinister scoff. “I don’t think it’s our second. Are we counting last night? Every time we were together before?”
Now I beam. “See? That’s the reminder that hate sex was kind of our thing. We’ll argue a lot.”
Keats closes our distance to grip my lower arms and raise them up slightly. “I’m up for the challenge, are you?”
Am I thinking clearly? Or does Keats see right through me and presses the button of my honesty? Because I’m intrigued by his offer. It’s crazy and exciting.
Time to be practical, though. “I can’t inconvenience you, and besides, I really need to remind us one more time that we were insufferable with one another. Granted…” My brows furrow. “The tide has been changing?—”
“I’m not worried. Stay.” It’s a repeated request but also subconsciously prods the truth of what I might want.
I squint as I study his endearing face. Geez, is this what people have to deal with when he’s negotiating a contract? My sight draws down to his hands holding me firm. I recall everything he’s already done.
I can’t help but wonder. “Why do you care so much?” I ask in a rasp, hopeful of his answer.
The corner of his mouth snags tight. “Everyone deserves someone, no matter their history. Turns out you’re my someone, and maybe I’m your someone too.”
His answer steals my words, leaving me speechless. Why does it feel profound and promising?
Trapping my bottom lip with my teeth, I decide not to prolong the discussion and instead fold his proclamation and tuck it down into my body for a later time.
My grimace returns when I think of a point that I should highlight if I’m agreeing to this scenario. “This doesn’t mean we’ll be having sex all the time.” A total lie just flew out of my mouth, but I attempt to simmer down our thoughts that probably have floated in once or twice in this conversation.
Keats licks his bottom lip, tenacious yet clearly not bothered by my words. “Huh,” is all he says, and it’s unnerving. “Esme, you’re not going anywhere, just accept that. Besides, I don’t think you want to leave.”
“That’s clearly a mandate.” I blow out a breath that transforms my desire to dispute into approval. Ah, what the hell. My house is in rubble, and I could use an adventure. I nod subtly in agreement. “You’re right.” Satisfied, he drops my arms in turn for his hand cupping my cheek. “I don’t think I want to leave.”
“Then don’t.”
Poof. Any signs of the brief tense conversation we had vanishes.
He kisses me, wrapping me around his finger, as maybeI’m too submissive, but honestly, there are no doubts inside me. In fact, I’m awakening.
