“What do you expect to find out?” I rasp.
“You as you are,” she whispers.
I drag a hand down my face, groaning low in my throat. “My fucked-up mind for forgiveness?”
She bites her lip. “Perhaps.”
I’ll take her crumbs regardless.
“All of me for all of you,” I say wistfully.
“I’ve never hidden myself from you. I’ve given you my all. It’s up to you. If I am enough…”
“Enough?” Viviana fills every crevice, eases every wound. “You’re more than enough. You’re everything.”
Her hand finds mine, and she intertwines our fingers, my chest expanding with a breath of relief. Her power over me is pure magic, compelling my soul, and I give in, sleep pulling at my eyelids.
Burying my head in her neck, I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
Peacefulness washes over me as soon as I open my eyelids to notice our limbs entangled.
I would splay myself open repeatedly, just to feel her close to me.
She stirs in her sleep, but I am not ready to give up on serenity, so I tighten my grip on her, brushing my knuckles along her belly.
She pretends to sleep some more, but her alarm rings, dissipating the moment.
Shooting from my arms, she scoots up and reaches for her phone on the nightstand to stop the alarm.
Sliding out of bed, we observe each other from opposite sides of the bed, needing some time to gather ourselves.
She’s the first one to look away, as she slips into the bathroom. I don’t want to bother her, knowing she must be deep in thought, both excited and anxious for starting her first day.
She’ll do an excellent job, but my words will mean nothing until she sees that for herself.
Plucking my phone from the nightstand, I see my day is packed with meetings.
As soon as she comes out of the bathroom, she shifts on her feet, looking unsure.
This damn tiptoeing around each other maddens me to the point of wanting to punch a wall. I erase the distance between us in three long strides. “You’re going to do great.”
She worries her lip, fidgeting with her fingers. “You think so?”
That’s my woman, right there, eyeing me with eyes full of trust as if my words can fix her entire world, making me feel the proudest.
“I know so.” I grip her chin, stroking my thumb along her soft skin.
I miss her with increasing desperation. Kissing her, touching her, taking her just to feel her from the inside out and witness her abandoning herself to rapture.
She hurries inside the walk-in closet, erasing the moment as if telling me my confessions belong to the night and once day breaks in, the peace treaty expires.
After I take a shower and dress in one of my tailored suits, I find her in the kitchen, pulling stuff from the fridge.
It’s some overnight oats with blueberries, and she pushes the second cup on the marble island toward me. Two mugs of coffee steam by the espresso machine.
“I’m going to be late tonight,” I say, and her brows furrow. “The driver is waiting for you in the garage.”
She nods, and we continue to eat in silence.
