“Of course I’ll miss you most.” She paused to meet my gaze. “But I’m talking about design. It’s a different vibe there. Modern. Sophisticated. It’s cool and chic and I love it, but my heart is truly in this sort of old-world style with lots of history and character pieces.”
So then don’t leave.
It wasn’t a crime to think it. It was a crime to say it out loud.
But I could think it as much as I wanted to.
“You’ll be fine. You’ll be the queen of sophisticated design.”
“I can adapt to any type of design. But designing a style that you connect with is always the most fun. That was the whole point of owning my own business when I moved to Paris. I could take on my own style, you know? But this is the next-best thing, so it’s a step in the right direction.” She reached for a mask on the table, and she glanced around to make sure no one was looking.
I chuckled. Obviously no one was looking, because we were the only people in the place, aside from Wanda, who was currently out front taking a smoke break.
She pulled the mask over her eyes, and I kid you not, my dick went rock hard at the sight of Gracie wearing a sexy-as-shit black cat mask.
She picked up the whip beside it and swung it around.
“What kind of antiques store is this?” she asked with a wicked grin on her face.
“The kind I actually like. In fact, let’s take two to go. This is my new favorite store.” I tugged her close and rubbed my scruff on her neck as her head fell back in a fit of laughter.
She peeled the cat mask away and set it on the table before putting the whip beside it.
“I actually wanted to talk to you about something,” she said as she bit her bottom lip.
I took the hat off my head and set it on the table. “What’s up?”
“Well, I’m leaving at the end of September, right?”
Don’t fucking remind me.
“Yes. I’m excited for you.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Are you excited to get your house back to yourself?”
“You know I love having you there.” I kept my voice even, making sure I hid all the things I was feeling about her plans to go to New York.
“So, here’s the thing, Bear.” She stepped closer. “You’re in a weird place, right? It may or may not have something to do with me shacking up with you and making you uncomfortable to bring women home, but either way, you haven’t been dating or seeing anyone.”
“Correct. And I’m good with that.”
“Well, I had all these plans for a fling, but there just isn’t anyone I’m interested in.”
Ouch. Tell me how you really feel.
“Slim pickings here, huh?”
“I mean, I told you that night on the boat that no one else makes me feel anything, outside of you. You know, because of our connection.”
“Right. It’s a strong connection,” I reminded her.
“And I’m leaving in a few months, and this was sort of my time to, hmmm…explore things.” She cleared her throat.
“And so far you haven’t gotten to explore more than my lips between your thighs,” I said, my voice teasing.
Her eyes went wide once again, and I fucking loved how easy it was to get her all flustered.
“Be serious, Bear.” She swiped her tongue out along her bottom lip, and I couldn’t help but stare at her mouth.
