“Faith?”
She doesn’t answer me.
Instead of grilling her about what’s going on, I turn to the closet and pull out my own suitcase before grabbing clothes from the dresser.
I turn to face her when I feel her eyes burning into me.
“I found an apartment,” she finally discloses.
I nod before turning back to the dresser to grab more clothes.
“What are you doing? I just told you I found a place to live.”
“That’s great.”
She’s still standing in the middle of the room when I enter the closet and return with another armload of clothes.
“I’m moving.”
“We’re moving,” I clarify.
“What?” I can hear the confusion in her voice.
I drop the clothes haphazardly on the open suitcase, my clothes now mingling with hers.
“I need you to tell me what you paid so I can pay at least half. I’d prefer to pay for all of it, but I know you’ll argue about it. I know how independent you are.”
“You’re not paying for my apartment, Ethan.” Agitation fills her tone.
“Then I’ll be responsible for utilities and groceries. We can discuss the finer points another time.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Do you really think I’m going to let you leave without me?”
A harsh breath rushes past her lips, drawing most of my attention, and it’s a testament to just how much this woman is able to crawl inside of me.
“Felding has been arrested. I’m no longer in danger.”
I shake my head automatically. “I’m not going with you because I think you’re unsafe.”
She stands there glaring at me.
“Woman, are you having a stroke? In what world do you think I’d let my girlfriend get a place on her own? I wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink unless you were by my side. I’ve gotten too used to holding you in my arms all night long. Now, I’m fine with not living at the clubhouse, but I would like you to consider staying here when I’m gone for work, at least for my own peace of mind. I know I haven’t had to leave since we started dating, but it’s going to happen, eventually.”
“Dating?” she scoffs. “We aren’t dating.”
“What the hell do you call it then? We’re together constantly, and as crude as it sounds, you can’t stay off my dick. My mouth waters for a taste every time I think about that sweet, greedy pussy of yours. We’re together, Faith. Dating. Are you seriously telling me you didn’t know that?”
She shakes her head, tears starting to pool in her eyes. “I thought we were just having fun. I thought you’d be done with me and move on once everything was settled. You’ve hinted more than once about things going back to normal, that you were ready for me to have my own space again.”
“Ridiculous,” I say as I start to pack again. “I’ve heard stories about women thinking off-the-wall shit, but this takes the cake. I can’t believe—”
I turn back around to face her when she just stands there, unmoving.
“Is this what you really want?” she asks, swiping at tears as they roll down her pretty face.
“To live with the woman I love? Fuck yeah, it’s what I want.”
“You love me?”
The uncertainty has me forgetting the clothes and walking right up to her.
“With every part of me, Faith.”
I press my lips to hers, a soft reassuring kiss. Is this why she’s been distant, having sex with me and then being unable to look me in the eyes? Are her doubts about where we were heading what made her leave the clubhouse yesterday without someone with her?
“I love you, too,” she whispers against my lips.
I hold her tighter, backing off when she hisses in pain.
“Fuck, I’m sorry. I’ve been so afraid to touch you. I don’t want to hurt you any more than you already are.”
Sobs escape her throat as her fingers tangle in my shirt. “I thought you were avoiding me because you were done with me.”
“Done? I’ll never be done. I saw you wince in pain during your exam every time the doctor touched you. I felt like a complete asshole for insisting on holding you in the ambulance. I hate to think what I thought was helping was actually torture for you.”
She shakes her head as she looks up at me, eyes filled with tears but also the hint of something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. She adores me. She wants what we’re building as much as I want it.
Brushing my hand down her cheeks, I look into her eyes.
“You really thought I didn’t want you?”
She nods, sniffling, but she doesn’t try to look away like she’s done so many times the last couple of days.
“I never expected this.”
“And I never expected you.” I watch her face, loving how her head tilts the slightest amount to get more from my touch on her cheek. “I haven’t fought the idea of you and me since I kissed you for the first time. I hate that I’ve said anything or acted in a way that made you doubt what I was feeling.”