Sinking back into the sofa, I cross my arms, but he rests his hands on my thighs and it’s rewiring my body. A pulsing sensation forms between my legs, too.
“Gracie, we have a hell of a lot to figure out, but our time and schedule are not on our side. We need to be ready. Live with me, and then it is easier to get to know one another more and prepare for the baby. I have plenty of space. Plus, over my dead body are you staying in your apartment where you keep a key under a plant.”
“Okay, I just move in and then…” He looks at me as though I’m asking a stupid question. I feel the need to clarify. “I sleep…” It draws out of me, as I’m hoping he finishes the sentence.
“In my bed.”
I swallow because he’s blunt, and I am not complaining about that answer, even if it probably isn’tthat smart.
He bounces his shoulders. “It’s not crazy. We made a baby.”
But are we together or is it just physical or am I literally sleeping in a bed? Questions, questions, questions.
His hands squeeze my thighs near my knees, and it’s firmness that causes a sensitive sensation to run up my spine to my nipples.
“Gracie, it’s better to navigate this closer together. You know I’m right.”
Logic floats into my brain for a second, and it makes sense. “I get it.”
“Before we know it, hiding a baby secret won’t work. Let’s not make it more complicated.”
My lips purse, and I try to steady my breathing because he is taking over my body and he has no clue.
My nose tips up as I look at him with skepticism. “We only know one another’s body. We barely know one another.”
His lips are terse and his face turns neutral. “Fine. Ask me some questions.”
I drop my arms. “Thoughts on hot chocolate?”Yeah,because that’s very critical info right now. Geez.
“Disgusting.” But a good answer.
“Mistletoe?” Not exactlynotbody related.
“Not needed unless used as foreplay when I already have you naked and we are going into another round,” he volleys back.
I attempt to shake away the image, but my body is already liquid. “Soup?”
“For weaklings. Cheesy popcorn?” he counters.
We both shudder from the thought.
“Fine. We have the basics. What about something with substance. We both have ambition, that we have in common.But for me, I’m not on the road nor have an agonizing schedule. How did you see yourself in a year before all of this and how do you see it now?”
He sighs and glances to the side before driving his sight back to me. I sense that he wants to answer with only honesty. “I’ll adapt. Maybe this is a challenge, but we have to be in it together. We are more alike than we think, and we don’t say anything because it’s obvious.”
“So navigating is something we can agree on, right?”
“It is,” he promises.
I tap my nails on the sofa cushion as a few thoughts float in and out of my head. I’m invested in learning about him. “For my research purposes. After a bad game, do you need space, someone to listen, or need a distraction?”
A smirk begins to draw on his face. “You forgot an option.” My brows knit together, as I’m clueless. “I’m always thinking about the next one. I’m driven by the future. And I’m beginning to realize in the last few days that my drive to thrive also applies to this kid. When it comes to us…” My body straightens, and I think it is due to the anticipation of the end of that sentence. “I’m not yet sure my response method when it comes to us. You throw me off. Not necessarily in a bad way.”
The corner of my mouth pulls into a warm smile. All of his words would ace a test if I had one. “Fine. I’ll start moving things in after Christmas and Hanukkah. It’s already going to be eight crazy nights, so let’s not add a move to the equation.”
His smirk is full of satisfaction that he won.
And I’m totally screwed because he swoops up my wrist and his thumb is now brushing along my pulse point, while his eyespull me in.
