“Do you have a toothbrush I can use?” she asks.
“Why? Plan on kissing someone?” I ask petulantly.
“Eventually,” she taunts. I know she’s talking about me, but still, she’s spending the next hour with another man. It’s bothering me. “I’m going out in public. I care about my personal hygiene.”
“Bathroom.” I point behind me to the door.
Ellie skips past me and my annoyance grows. Does she have to be so damn cheerful?
I drag myself out of bed and change my clothes as Ellie attends to her personal hygiene concerns. At least she agreed not to shower. I’ll bathe her later, and spank her, and fuck her, all over again.
I walk out of my closet to find Ellie checking herself in the mirror one last time. I step behind her and put one hand on her hip. In the reflection, we look like any ordinary, run of the mill couple. She, dressed casually in a light-blue sundress and sneakers, me in my favorite pair of worn jeans and black t-shirt. But appearances can be deceiving. I know that better than anyone.
We aren’t ordinary, and we aren’t run of the mill. We’re . . .us.Just like Ellie said. I never thought I’d be part of anus.I now understand why I was so easily provoked. The thought of losingusstrangles me with fear.
Ellie and I walk hand in hand down the stairs. I don’t know if it’s my paranoia or my possessive side, but something in me just doesn’t want her to go.
I try to ignore it. I tell myself I’m being overprotective and irrational. Ellie is a big girl, and big girls do what they want. Unfortunately for me.
“Can you give me the key to your apartment? I want to start having some of your things brought over,” I ask her as we reach the last stair.
“Things?”
“Yeah, things. Like clothes and whatever.”
“Am I moving in?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Ellie. You’re my fiancée, and I’m not going to spend another night without you for as long as I live.” I put my hand out for the key.
“Don’t you think you should ask Jett if it’s okay? He lives here, too, right?” She digs through her purse and pulls out a key ring.
I look at herlike don’t be ridiculous.“Jett would never say no. He’ll probably want to have a pajama party tonight.”
Ellie laughs. “You mean there’d actually be pajamas?”
“Yes, and I’m sure they’d be highly inappropriate.” Ellie hands me the key. “Is there anything in particular you want?” I place it in my pocket.
“My toothbrush.” She smiles.
“I’ll buy you a case so you never run out.”
“You spoil me.” She lifts onto her toes to kiss me.
“You have no idea.” I back her up against the wall. Ireallydon’t want her to go.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” she breathes heavily.
“Exactly sixty minutes,” I stipulate, “or I’m coming down there and dragging you home myself.”
“I might like that.”
“Ellie.” I bite her lip. “Behave.”
“Yes, Kayne.”
