"I'll take mine unsweetened. Sugar ruins it." Giving him a gentle smile as I attempt to act normal, I twist around and search for his room.
It's an easy find, but I don't take extra time snooping around. Instead, I steal a shirt that goes to my hips, borrow a pair of his boxers, and leave before he can get too lost in his head again.
We move our tea to his living room. He settles on his couch, a three-seater, and suggests putting on something to watch to pass the time.
When I join him, I don't bother with the rest of the couch. I'm too busy settling on his lap to care what he picks.
Smoke sputters and almost spills his drink, forced to set it down next to us to wrap an arm around me. Once I'm comfortable, he seems to relax a little. Hugging me tighter, his mouth moves against my hair.
"You're sure this is fine?" His arm tightens around me despite his attempt to offer me space.
Drinking from my mug, I nod and wiggle to get more comfy, earning a low groan from him. "This is perfect."
Really, it is. After what happened, I can't imagine feeling possibly safer. Right here, I feel untouchable.
Smoke was onto something with that sick leave idea of his. I can't remember the last time I've taken so many days off in a row. Despite all the time being spent here in his apartment, it feels like a real vacation.
Is it bad that I never want it to end?
Three days in, and I know I'm going to have to return to normal life sometime. But first, I've got to plant a seed.
Smoke's been getting comfortable, too. He's only left twice—said it was club business—but both times he came back in a rush, like any minute away from me was a minute wasted.
It's cute. I love it—love him.
I really don't want this to end.
"You know..." I pop my lips, nudge his thigh with my foot. We're on the couch, and he's let me use his lap as a footrest for the better part of an hour. "I've been thinking about how nice your place is. Pretty good upgrade from mine."
He rumbles something noncommittal and keeps stroking my ankles with his thumbs like he's not even aware he's doing it.
"I've been working really hard to save up for a nicer place. Something like this." I let the words hang. "Do you think this building has any units available?"
His thumbs stop, and he blinks before turning to look at me. His brows pinch together in that way they do when he's trying to figure out if I'm joking. "If you like my place, why don't you just save your money and move in here?"
My mouth curves. I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. "That is such a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?" I tap my chin like I'm considering it. "You think you have enough space for me?"
It's not a huge place, not like one I've dreamed about saving up for. But when it comes to Smoke, I don't need space. I just need him.
He tears his eyes away, leans back into the couch, and nods like he's already running the logistics in his head. "Yeah. For us. For now." His thumbs start moving again, slower this time, more thoughtful than before. "But for future planning, maybe I should upgrade to something bigger. Ace got himself a house for his girlfriend and her daughter. Nice place. White picket fence and everything. For a family."
Future planning?
Something funny happens to my stomach. Butterflies. The kind I haven't felt in years. Ten years younger, and I'd excuse it as a crush. Now it just warms my cheeks.
"You're already thinking that far ahead?"
Before this week, I never imagined my crush on this man getting further than longing glances across the casino floor.
He nods and clears his throat. "Thought about it a lot. Marriage, kids. The whole thing."
My head spins. Without realizing it, my hand drifts to my stomach. I've fantasized about an endgame with this man. Dreamed of two kids with matching blonde hair, both with my smile. There was a dog in that dream, too.
Growing older, I kind of assumed that door had closed because this man had always seemed out of my reach.
In my silence, he looks over. His brows pinch when he catches me with heated cheeks and my hand resting low on my belly.
"Instead of thinking that far ahead," I say, pulling one foot free from his grasp, "you should be thinking about right now."
