Sure, this thing between us has had its ups and downs.
I’m not delusional.
Ours isn’t the typical path to coupledom, or who knows—maybe it is.
Meeting. Fucking. Texting. Sexting. Him ghosting me. Him wooing me back. Me trying to fight him, fight this attraction, ignore this pull, and then finally giving in to it. It doesn’t make me weak. It makes me strong. And now we’re in this place that is undefined, but defined at the same time.
I’m happy with it.
With him.
And I’m going with it. I hope you get it. Understand that I really feel like I can trust him. Little tantrums like what happened our first night here aside, I just know we belong with one another.
My toes press into his side as I rise on my elbows and I let the sheet fall to reveal my naked breasts, because I know how much he likes that. “Good morning. Are we late?”
That wolfish grin shows itself. “It’s Sunday, sweetheart, remember?”
Such great news. I could jump up and down on the bed to celebrate, but I won’t. I think I’ll stay here and enjoy the view.
The week flew by. Between meetings, fashion shows, introducing Keen to my mother as more than my prospective boss, and meeting Winston—oh Winston, I rather loved him, he and my mother are perfect for each other—I forgot today is our last day here in New York. “Right. How could I forget that today is the day our little bubble is about to burst.”
His lids drop closed, and stay that way for a moment before he opens his eyes. “I hope that’s not true. I don’t think telling everyone will change a thing. Do you?”
I slowly shake my head, my words hoarse. “No, of course not. That’s not what I mean. I just mean it’s been you and me, and I like it like that.”
That sexy brow rises. “Is that going to change? Are we adding someone to the mix that I’m unaware of?”
I sit up a little higher to see him better. “Stop it. We already tried that, remember? And she liked me more than you?”
He slams his fist to his heart. “I’m wounded by the very memory.”
My lips twist and I can feel my eyes twinkle. “Keen, be serious. You know what I mean. It will just be different with you living next door, that’s all.”
“You got it all wrong, my little bedwrecker. I’m not going to be staying with Cam and Makayla when we return.”
I sit up even higher. “You’re not?”
He shakes his head. “Your mother is renting me her place. Didn’t she tell you?”
Shaking my head, I bury my smile by biting my lip. “No, she didn’t. When did you two discuss this?”
He looks at me with an amused smile. “Last night, when you and Winston walked off to have that private chat.”
I dig my toes farther into his side. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
A throaty chuckle fills the room, and he lies back on the bed, peering over at me. “Oh yeah, why?”
“That leaves me with nowhere to stay when I’m in LA.”
Keen weaves his fingers together and rests them on his chest. “I’m sure we could work something out.”
Sitting up all the way, I reach over and open the bedside drawer, pulling out a pack of condoms. “Something to do with these, perhaps?”
His blue eyes dance as they flit from the packets to my face. “About those.”
I gasp when he suddenly moves.
He twists onto his knees in a crouched position, his chin tucked and his gaze peering down at me. Predatory. As if at any second he is going to pounce and wrestle them from me. My breath catches. Tingles speed under the surface of my skin, and my stomach flips in delight. It’s so crazy what only the thought of him touching me does to me.
My hands tighten around the little foil packets. “What about these?”
His hungry eyes roam my face, absorbing my mouth, my lips, and then they move down a little lower, growing even hungrier. “Hand them over, Maggie.”
Looking right into those blazing eyes of his, I squeeze the last of what we have left in my fingers and close them tight. “No way. Let’s discuss the details of the trade first.”
Strength bunches in the muscles rippling along his shoulders as he moves a little closer.
I’m shocked when he abruptly grabs me by the ankles and drags me down to him, forcing me flat on the bed, and I scream out his name. “Keen!”
From my view down here, I am staring up at his gorgeous face as he hovers over me. Playfully, he straddles my waist, and I can’t think. He stares at me and I can’t breathe. I can only feel desire coursing through my veins and I can only hear my heart pounding in my ears.
His nose is an inch from mine, his hands resting on either side of my head, but he is everywhere, all around me, as if he’s become a part of me without me even realizing it.