Page 121 of Unwritten Rules

My arms wrap around her without conscious thought, this connection between us as natural as day turning to night. She places her palms flat on my chest as she pierces me with her feline stare.

“You are not allowed to feel guilt for how you feel for me. About how we feel for each other! I won’t have it. I won’t allow anyone to take it from us. No one! Not even you, Nathaniel Hawthorne, you hear me?”

I pull her closer, pressing a hard kiss against her forehead as my love for the inimitable fireball in my embrace grows exponentially.

“I love you.” My words are mumbled against her forehead as she wraps her arms around my waist, dropping a kiss right over my heart.

“I love you too, you silly old man.”

Snorting, I push all thoughts of guilt out of my mind and rest my head upon Mila’s as we let the rapidly cooling shower wash away the evidence of our lovemaking.

Mila’s vanilla body wash, courtesy of Wetherby’s care package, cleans us of the day’s activities as we unhurriedly soap one another up.

“I could get used to this.”

Mila smirks at me, popping a delicate, dark brow. “You’d better. Because I’m making this a new daily habit.”

A phone rings loudly in the living room, breaking through the bliss of our moment, and Mila bolts immediately.

“I just plugged in my phone after fetching it from the car.” She looks up at me, all sheepish. “I’d forgotten all about it after the ball. People will no doubt be wondering where I’ve run off to.”

“Oh, I totally forgot.” I palm my forehead as Mila wraps a towel around her chest. “Your mother—”

I stop when she winces openly.

Then, blowing out a heavy sigh, she meets my eyes again. “Okay, spit it out then.”

I switch off the now-cold shower and loop a towel around my waist. “She asked that I tell you to check your phone.”

Mila throws her hands up in exasperation. “Now you tell me.”

“We were a little busy…” I can’t help shrugging; my turn to be the sheepish one.

She nods in assent. “True.”

And, striding out to the living area, she plucks her phone from the counter where it’s been charging.

Initially looking almost scared, her face turns to delight as she jumps on the spot, waving her phone in the air. “Oh, thank Christ for that! Look, look what she said.”

She passes me the phone and claps her hands in unencumbered glee.

MUM

Darling, I didn’t mean to shock you. I wanted your opinion.

Taylor wants kids of his own, that’s all.

I’m guessing you don’t like the idea…

Good thing I’m not already pregnant then, darling, isn’t it?

I’ve spoken to Nate. Please call when you get this. Love you. xo

I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding. “Thank God, Hellcat. Will you tell her now?”

She pouts, then nibbles on her full bottom lip for a long beat before sliding the phone from my grasp.

MILA