“Ani, what do you believe this is?”
“It’s us being together and seeing if that works or whatever.”
“That’s what you thought I meant?”
My head nodded jerkily.
“No, babe,” he said. “What it means is, I’m with you.”
I frowned in confusion. “That’s what I said. You just repeated what I said. That clarifies nothing.”
“Yeah. But when you say it, it means having dinner on weekends and hanging out now and then, right?”
“Basically. That’s what dating is.”
“Did you really think I just asked you to dinner on a whim?”
“No,” I said. “Not a whim, exactly. But I didn’t think the meal would be served with a copy of the key to your house.”
He gazed down at me all serene. “When I make my mind up about something, it tends to stick.”
“What if the information leading to your decision changes?”
“Then I reassess. But nothing like that has happened here with us. And for the record, I don’t think it’s going to,” he said. “Ever since the night I knocked on your door and you told me you didn’t want a damn thing from me—all while not wearing a bra—I’ve started living again. You challenge me and care for me and do a whole lot more that you don’t even realize.”
“That’s nice.” I discreetly sniffled. “So what exactly does it mean when you say you’re with me, then?”
“When I say it, it means I’m with you now and that’s it for me,” he explained. “We can take it as fast or as slow as you like. But either way, we make this work because it’s what we want, right?”
“Right.”
“Because I’m with you, and I’m not doing this shit halfheartedly, I don’t mind if you move in today or in a couple of months’ time. If you’re more comfortable with that idea. Does that make sense?”
“Two days, Garrett. It’s been two days.” I waved two fingers in his face in demonstration. The man just shrugged. My mouth hung open in awe. “Wow. You’re really not afraid of commitment.”
“No.”
“No,” I agreed. “Not even a little. You’re way more used to being in a relationship than me, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
I sighed. “Right. That’s going to take some getting used to. I was kind of the lone adult in the last relationship I was in. This is very different.”
“I’d hope so.”
“Mm.”
And he continued to stand there, calm as can fucking be. “Moving in together would have come up sooner or later. Just so happens I’m fine with now and the situation seems to suit.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Babe, we good here? You taking that top off and moving in or what?”
“I don’t know. This is a lot. Shut up and kiss me.”
At this, he did grin. And it was beautiful, breathtaking, all of those things. “Whatever you want.”
His mouth covered mine, and hell yes. This was what I needed. When his fingers crept beneath the hem of my top and started tugging it up, I smiled and let him divest me of the item of clothing. He took a moment to stare at the Simone Perele molded lace bra and my breasts within. Then he reached around and undid the clasps. All while he backed me toward the nearest wall. Which wasn’t far. My bra was tossed aside and he knelt before me once again.
“You don’t want to use the bed?” I asked.
“No.” He hooked his fingers in the waistband of my panties and dragged them down my legs. “It’s too far.”
“It’s right there.”
“Yeah. Too far. Do you trust me not to freak out mid-fuck this time?”
“I think you’ll be just fine.”
“I also happened to notice you like seeing me on my knees,” he said with a certain glint in his eyes.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Your pupils get all dilated. It’s a big giveaway.” He pushed my legs apart, widening my stance a little, then he lifted one and rested it over his shoulder. “You feeling steady?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good,” he said, and stuck two of his fingers in his mouth to wet them. My insides clenched at the sight. He angled his head just so and started teasing his tongue through the lips of my sex. The way it made me shiver. With his thumbs holding me open, he used the flat of his tongue next. Lapping me from back to front, leaving no part of me unloved. I grabbed two fistfuls of his hair and just hung on for the ride.
I had found in life that certain people could be horribly halfhearted about eating a woman. Garrett was not one of those people. He eased one finger into me, then two, fucking me nice and slow. It was maddening when I wanted more. Needed more. He sucked on my labia and teased my clit all the while like a professional. The rock star French-kissed my cunt with joy, making we wet and wanting. It wasn’t long before I was riding his face. And the noise of approval and hunger he made was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.