I looked over at Drake and saw his eyes connected with the road in front of him. His hand was still gripping mine tightly and his gaze was unwavering. He was holding something back. I knew he was.
So I figured I would have to take the first step with this.
“What if I moved some more of my things in?” I asked. “What would you think about that?”
“You really wanna know what I think?” he asked.
“Of course I do.”
“I think I should’ve hired movers to get your stuff weeks ago.”
I giggled as I scooted over in his truck and placed a kiss against his cheek.
“We could put your furniture in storage. Or redo one of the unused rooms. We could make it your own personal space. Put your television in there and your laptop. Make it your place to retreat from everything when you need it,” Drake said.
“All I need is you,” I said.
“And a place to get away from me when life becomes too much.”
“Which is code for ‘when you become a dick,’ right?”
“Hey, I ain’t perfect.”
“But you’re perfect for me,” I said.
We rolled into his driveway with my hands massaging his thigh. I wanted to feel him. To hear his need for me and feel his body against mine. He threw the truck into park and pulled me into his lap, my paunch pressing into his abdomen. My lips were all over him. His neck, his cheeks, the tip of his nose. Our tongues battled as his arms drew me closer to him. My breasts pressed into the swell of his chest and I could feel his muscles flexing for my pleasure. Showing off the strength of his body as I ground down onto his hips.
“Thank you,” I said, breathlessly.
“For what, beautiful?”
I rose up and looked into his eyes as my hand cupped the stubble on his cheek.
“For not giving up on me,” I said.
“Hon, it was you who didn’t give up on me.”
“You kept pursuing me. Even when I walked out of my own apartment and left you there, you didn’t stop. Thank you for not stopping.”
That signature grin of his crept across his cheeks as his lips reached for mine again.
“Well I’m no quitter, sweetheart. You’re stuck with this stubborn fool,” he said.
“As long as you realize I’m just as stubborn, I think we’ll be all right.”
“Our neighbors might not like us with some of our fights, but they’ll really hate us with our apologies.”
“Ooooh—is that a challenge, Mr. Blackthorn?”
“Nope.”
He cupped the back of my head and drew my lips into his, our heads tilting as our tongues intertwined once more.
“That’s a promise, soon to be Mrs. Blackthorn.”
I smiled, giggling into his lips as I drew in a deep breath. I nuzzled my nose into the crook of his neck, breathing in the scent of him. He smelled like his cologne. The earthy scent of a man coupled with his own musk that trickled through his deodorant. I buried myself into his body as he held me, rocking us side to side as his truck settled with its creaks and groans.
“When do you wanna call the movers?” I asked.