Hopefully, he never is.
CHAPTER 21
RHODES
The scent of bacon and coffee has me popping open my eyes and I’m confused for a moment. It’s not until I reach for Helen and find her side of the bed empty and I realize what is going on. I give myself a moment and lay back in bed with a huge grin on my face.
I can’t believe my best friends ambushed us last night at dinner. Well, I guess I can believe it, but they didn’t have to basically dive bomb us. Most people hold back at first.
Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised they didn’t. Trial by fire is sometimes the way to go.
The longer I’m awake, the more I want to see my woman. I don’t know how I’m going to hold back from telling her how I feel about her and call it love, but I’m not sure she’s ready for those words. Not quite yet.
I jump out of bed and get ready for the day before striding into the kitchen. I can’t help but stand in the doorway and admire my woman. She’s singing softly to herself while swaying gently as she scrambles some eggs.
Seeing her here—in my kitchen, wearing my shirt, and in the home that I want to share with her—always feels special. But it’s also right. I never want to get used to it or take it for granted.
My footsteps are silent as I slide into place behind her without stopping her movement and swaying with her. Our bodies fit together in a way which has peace settling around me.
Just having her near is all I need.
“Morning,” I murmur as my lips skate along the curve of her neck. “I’ve gotta admit,” my voice goes soft, “I don’t like waking up without you in bed with me, Sweetheart.”
“I woke up and saw an opportunity to make breakfast for you.” She turns in my arms, her head tipping up until her brown eyes bore into me. “You’re always taking care of me, but you deserve the same.”
“You aren’t going to be able to make me into a passenger princess,” I tease her.
She chuckles while shaking her head and starts to turn back toward the stove. When I grip her hip and hold her in place, she gives me a startled look.
“You’re forgetting something,” my voice is husky and it has nothing to do with me still waking up.
Her eyebrows furrow before I see recognition dawn and she tips up and kisses me softly. She pulls away far too quickly and I let out a growl of annoyance. All she does is giggle and go right back to her eggs which she immediately pulls off the burner and turns it off.
“You almost distracted me into ruining the eggs,” she pouts.
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have gotten out of bed without me. I will not be chastised for kisses,” I tease her.
Even though she tries to hide her smile, I see it. I kiss the side of her head before getting a cup of coffee for myself while glaring at the iced coffee my woman is already drinking.
I watch her plate up our breakfast, and it feels so damn right to have her here. I’m barely holding back from asking her to move in with me right now.
Would she say yes? I’m not sure. I want to take things slow for her if it’s what she needs. I’ll never rush her even though I wish I could.
Because I know what this is.
She’s mine.
I’m hers.
We’re forever.
We sit side by side at the island and steal little glances at each other the entire time. There’s something sweet about this moment which I desperately want to protect.
I gently hit my shoulder against hers, my voice thick with all the emotions I’m trying to hold back because I don’t want to scare her, “Thanks for making breakfast, Sweetheart.”
The smile that blooms across her face is blinding and I almost want to look away. It feels kind of like looking into an eclipse. I find myself taking the risk and soaking in just how splendid she is.
“You’re welcome,” she whispers with pink cheeks and her eyes shining with the words we haven’t spoken yet.
