She smiles. “With our history, I didn’t want to assume anything.”
“I’d like to think you feel my love in the way I treat you.”
“I do. It’s just a little scary when you love someone as much as I love you.”
Fuck, I don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear those words but it’s like they send direct messages to both my heart and my dick, in equal measure. I tug her back on top of me and kiss her as deeply as I ever have. Tongues and lips move in tandem, bodies press close together, and everything spirals into a cocoon of passion and love.
When we can finally breathe again, she sighs with what can only be described as contentment. She’s soft and warm and her body molds to mine.
This should be our life every day.
I need her here with me full-time. I just don’t know how to convince her that it’s the right time. Her father is either going to accept my place in her life or he won’t—I don’t think giving him a period of time to come to terms with it is going to help.
But if I love her, and I do, I promised to be patient.
So instead of pointing out how good it is when we’re together, and how much better it would be if I didn’t have to take her home, I just kiss the tip of her nose and ask if she wants to order takeout.
“I could eat,” she says, sitting up.
“Chinese?” I ask.
“Sure.”
I order food and then we freshen up in the bathroom. She touches up her makeup and hair and by the time the food arrives, there’s no sign that I just ravaged her body. Except for the twinkle in her eye.
“Are you going to the children’s hospital on Thursday?” she asks as we share moo goo gai pan and General Tso’s chicken.
“Yeah.” I nod. “You’re going to help out too, right?”
“Yes. Juliet asked me to help her with the cupcakes for the kids. I’m going to meet her at her house and we’ll drive over together so I can help her load and unload the car.”
“If you want, I can take you over there to help, and we can all go together in my SUV.”
“I’ll text her, but I’m sure that’s fine.” She pushes her plate away. “I’m stuffed.”
“We love the food at this place.”
“It’s really good.” She glances at the time on her phone and sighs. It’s almost ten o’clock and it’s obvious she’s worried.
“You want me to take you home?” I ask quietly.
“I think it’ll be better if we don’t push any boundaries if we don’t have to. The more I show my dad that we’re serious about each other and being respectful of his rules, the more willing he’ll be to give you a chance.”
I disagree, because I don’t think her father wants her to be with anyone, much less me. But I don’t say so. I just nod and finish my plate.
“We can get going whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you.” She gets up and starts wiping down the counter since we’re eating at the kitchen island.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say.
“I don’t mind.” She wipes up everything. “Do you want to save the leftovers?”
“Sure.”
We package up what’s left and I put it in the fridge.
“Tonight was fun,” she says quietly, turning a soft gaze on me.
