Eli’s arm tightened around me, a sly smile rising. “Wherever you want. I’ve just been reminded in no uncertain terms that I’m not the one in charge here.”
Ignoring that remark, I gazed up at him with warmth blooming in my chest. “Your bungalow. I’m starting to prefer it.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Really? I thought you said it was… What was it? A chaotic bachelor pad?”
I smiled, remembering my initial reaction to his laid-back living space. “Your bungalow has grown on me. It has more privacy than my townhouse and loads more character. It feels…” I paused, searching for the right word. “It feels like you.”
Eli’s eyes softened, and he pulled me closer. “Well, I gotta admit, it feels a whole lot brighter with you in it. Maybe we can make it feel more like us. I want you there as often as possible, Jules.”
My heart skipped a beat. We’d come so far from where we started, and every day seemed to bring us closer. I leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, mindful of our family around us.
“Then take me home, Coleridge.”
Sunlight filteredthrough the gauzy curtains of Eli’s bedroom, painting patterns across the rumpled sheets. I blinked awake, feeling Eli’s warmth against my back, his arm draped over my waist. I rolled over to face him, drinking in the sight of his messy hair and sleepy smile.
“Morning, beautiful,” he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
“Morning yourself, handsome. What’s on your schedule today?”
Eli stretched, his stomach muscles rippling in a way that momentarily distracted me. “Leading a morning dive trip. Should be a nice change of pace. I’ve been teaching a lot lately.”
“But you’re such a good teacher,” I said, tracingpatterns on his chest. “Your students are lucky to have you.”
He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. “You’re biased.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
Eli laughed, pulling me closer. “I love both, honestly. Teaching newbies, seeing that moment when it all clicks for them, is the best. But there’s something special about leading experienced divers too. Sharing the beauty down there with people who really get it.”
I nodded, understanding the passion in his voice. It was one of the things I loved most about him—his ability to find joy in his work, whether he was teaching or exploring.
“What about you?” His fingers played with a strand of my hair. “Big plans for the day?”
I propped myself up on one elbow, my tresses falling in a tumbled cascade over my shoulder. “Actually, I’m kind of excited about today’s workload. I know, I know”—I held up a hand as Eli’s eyebrows shot up—“but hear me out. I’m starting the new fiscal year quarterly budget projections, and for once, I get to incorporate some exciting figures.”
“Exciting figures?” Eli’s lips rose in a teasing smile. “Hon, your idea of excitement never ceases to amaze me.”
“I’m serious! Chase’s renovation plans are going to breathe new life into the place. The potential change in the figures, not to mention the ROI…” I trailed off, catching the amused glint in Eli’s eye. “And I’ve lost you, haven’t I?”
Eli laughed, pulling me back down beside him. “Not at all. I love seeing you all fired up about spreadsheets and ROIs. It’s adorable.”
“Adorable?”
“Yes, and impressive too,” Eli said, his tone softening. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
Warmth spread through my chest at his words. “We make a good team, you and I. Your charm and my practicality.”
“More like your brilliance and my bumbling attempts to keep up.”
I tilted my head to look at him. “Hey. We complement each other perfectly. Our differences aren’t weaknesses, Eli. They’re what make us strong together.”
“Wow, now I’m getting all flustered over here.” He scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish smile breaking through. “I guess I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that you love me. You’re so far above my pay grade it’s not even funny.”
“Stop saying that and believe it,” I replied firmly. “You showed me how to embrace life instead of analyzing every little detail. That means more than you’ll ever know. I love you, board shorts, scuba tanks, and all.”
Eli’s lips curved into that devastating smile of his, the one that made my stomach flutter wildly. “Well, if you love my scuba tanks so much,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, “how about we explore some… deeper waters?”
I screwed my eyes shut and groaned as I bit back a grin. “That was terrible, even for you.”
“Got you to smile, though, didn’t it?” His fingers trailed up my arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake. “Come on. Let me distract you from all those numbers swirling in that beautiful head of yours.”
His touch ignited an ember that had become beautifully familiar. I leaned into him, my body already responding. “Hmm, and how do you propose to do that?”
Eli’s answer came not in words, but in the gentle press of his lips against my neck, just below my ear. I shivered, my eyes fluttering closed.
“Like this,” he murmured against my skin. “And this.”
His lips traced a path down to my collarbone, and I found myself melting into his embrace. I turned in his arms, capturing his lips with mine. To hell with morning breath. As we lost ourselves in each other, I caught a glimpse of our future—mornings filled with laughter, evenings spent by the water, a lifetime of adventures both big and small. And at the center of it all was this man who had stolen my heart and given me his in return.
