Keats’s mouth slants to the side as he scratches his neck, not at all concerned that he has unleashed my inner disdain that once swirled inside me before I fell hard for this guy. “This is unbelievable, to think that I made you a pie.” I shake my head in astonishment for the turn of events. My finger darts out and points at him. “You don’t deserve a pie.”
Keats charges forward, flips my wrists and holds them up, with his eyes now cutting right through me.
“Woman, calm down,” he grits out. He blows out an aggravated breath. “Of course, this would turn into an argument. It’s you.” My entire mouth gapes open, even though his tone isn’t harsh, it’s the opposite. I try and struggle out of his,admittedly, seductive move. “I’m pissed because it’s negative.”
What?
I still, and my eyes flutter, trying to ensure that I heard him right or if licking the bowl of dough earlier is causing me to think unrealistically. “W-what?” I stammer out.
His hands remain wrapped around my wrists. He should be laughing now because he’s joking. Why isn’t he doing that? “For some reason… I was disappointed that it’s negative.”
My nose lifts up because I’m still in disbelief. “Why?” He steps between my legs and walks me back to trap me between his body and the counter. The pressure of his palms is a little less, but he won’t let me go.
“Because apparently you’re the one I want to spend my future with,” he rasps as his eyes dip down to my mouth and his thumb circles my cheek with a sly look, causing goosebumps to rise on my body. “It’s clear as day now. I’m so completely in love with you. You’re everything I want in the future that I never realized how much I crave. In simple terms, Esme, I love you. I fucking love you.”
The balloon of irritation from the last few minutes pops, and my entire body sags in relief. Elation spreads through me, and my smile creeps up. “I love you too. I thought our domestic bliss was confusing me, or because we’re stuck in the same place, sometimes a routine. Maybe unable to think past the now. I was waiting for hints that it wasn’t a one-sided thing.”
“This is a big fucking hint, no?”
My mouth might hurt from how wide my lips are stretching in a long line up. “I would say so.”
Keats captures my lips and kisses me fiercely, like the many times that he has claimed me all for himself. This timeis different, it’s a permanent stamp that this is us for the long haul. I surrender my breath and lips to him as I scream with joy inside.
The slow parting of lips is only bearable because now we can speak freely.
“So yeah, I’m not angry about the test, only disappointed it’s negative, even though we are nowhere near ready to be parents, and now I’m pissed because there is a pie on the floor after months of waiting.” He grins.
I pinch his stomach at the way my man who used to be stern, grumpy, and insufferable is now lighthearted around me. “I know, it’s gooey and between my toes.”
Our eyes fall to see that somewhere during our stormy minute that I unknowingly stepped into dessert.
Keats laughs, and his answer to my predicament is to hoist me up until my behind is sitting on the counter.
“Sounds like us.” He combs strands of my hair behind my ear, and his eyes with a lust-filled gleam lock with mine. “Maybe before I left earlier in the week, I wasn’t thrilled at the reminder that you actually live next door.”
“Kind of. We seem to have mailboxes next to one another. And if you’re lucky, I might purposely not-so-accidentally send things to your address, which means you might have to deal with me more. Hope you don’t mind.” I nibble my bottom lip.
His tongue darts to the corner of his mouth. “Next door feels too far away, but I know you own the house.” He doesn’t sound enthused.
“Doesn’t mean it’s a home.” The tips of my fingers come up to touch his jaw and keep his view on me. “It’s not going to be a fast fixer-upper, and for all I know, they will tell me that I need to replace something else. Lucky for me, I have an amazing host who will let me stay, and I want tostay… for a really long time.” I place a tender kiss on his lips.
“Damn straight.”
Another kiss and another.
“Remember when we went to the field near the stream?” He nods at my words. “We talked about life just moving but missing a piece. Now, it’s very clear that I was missing you. You make it exciting, and my life feels better.”
He stares affectionately at me with his fingers tucking another strand of hair behind my ear. “Wildflowers. I thought of that moment too on the airplane. No longer my little demon, you’re the one I needed all along to be a somewhat decent man.” He smiles softly to himself.
“You are a little more than decent. I’m lucky, and you take care of me. I’m spirited and keep you on your toes. We both bring something to the table… which absolutely should not have any work papers on it.”
He drops his head forward so our foreheads bump together. “Esme.”
“I like the way you say my name. I don't think I've ever heard someone say it that way. You shouldn't be so tender. It never crossed my mind that someone can say it in a way that makes me theirs, and that's what I want."
“Youaremine.”
Then it escalates, and Keats begins to tug on my yoga pants, and my fingers fiddle with his jeans.
