“I don’t want to move.”
“You have to.” I poke him in the side, causing him to squirm.
“You have plans tonight?”
“Nope, just picking P up from Mom’s after my shift.”
“Will you come back here? I can make us dinner. P can swim.”
“We can do that,” I say, kissing his chin.
“Pack a bag for both of you.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
He pulls away so he can see me. “What? Why not?”
“I don’t want Paisley to get the wrong idea. She’s already attached to you. I don’t need her to see us sleeping in the same bed.”
“She’s already seen it,” he counters.
“That was a nap in the middle of the day. Not at night.”
“I want you here, both of you.”
“We’ll come for a visit, but we’re going back to our place.”
“For now,” he concedes. “You’ll see this isn’t a game to me. I get that it’s more than just you and me that is going to be affected by our actions, by the decisions that we make. I lived that. I’ve been on your side of the fence. I’m not going into this lightly.”
“I know that.” Reaching up, I run my fingers through his hair. “I know, but I just need some time. Okay. I’m yours,” I rush to tell him. “I meant what I said last night, but I need some time to get used to the idea. To warm Paisley up to the idea.”
“She loves me.” He grins, looking cocksure and adorable.
“I know she does. I just don’t want her heart to be broken if this doesn’t work out.”
“Oh, it’s going to work out.” He lowers his mouth to mine, tracing my lips with his tongue. “It’s going to more than work out.” He kisses me, deep and slow. His lips soft yet firm against my own. “I’ll give you some time to catch up to where I am. I want you.” He kisses my nose. “I want Paisley.” H
e kisses my forehead. “I want us.” He kisses my lips. Just a soft peck, but the emotion behind it, the words before it makes it seem so much more.
“Shower,” I mumble against his lips. “I won’t be the reason you’re in hot water for being late to practice.”
“You’re worth it,” he says, kissing down my column of my neck.
“I can’t be late for work.”
“Fine,” he grumbles good-naturedly. He climbs out of bed and before I realize what’s going on, he has me thrown over his shoulder and stalking toward the bathroom.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I ask, laughing.
“We’re taking a shower.”
“We both know we’ll be late if we take a shower together.”
“I promise to be on my best behavior.” He sets me on the counter. “I just want you with me.” He shrugs casually, as if his words don’t take my breath away.
I watch him as he starts the shower, tests the temperature of the water, then turns and holds his hand out for me. I take it, hopping off the counter and stepping in behind him. His shower is huge, so much so it makes me think of that Nickelback song where they talk about a bathroom you can play baseball in, and laugh.
“What’s so funny?”