“Okay.”
He spun away toward a hallway and disappeared around the corner. Charma remained against the wall where he’d put her and drew in a shaky breath.
Hot tears threatened to spill again. She stood inside Brand’s home. She’d dreamed of seeking him out but never thought she’d see the day. Her gaze roamed the room. She wouldn’t change a thing. Her arms hugged her waist as she smiled.
“Home,” she whispered.
Chapter Three
Charma sensed Brand behind her and inhaled, his scent flooding her senses. She slowly turned away from the kitchen and found him standing inside the doorway watching her.
“I was exploring. I love your home.”
“Ours,” he corrected. “Yours and mine.” He took a hesitant step forward. “I keep expecting to wake up and realize this is just a dream.” His hand lifted. “Come here, hon.”
She went to him without hesitation. Her hand clasped his larger one and he pulled her into a hug. His face burrowed into her hair. He seemed content to just hold her. She rested against him. He’d never left her thoughts and at night while she’d lain in her bed, she’d relived their months together. It had kept her sane.
She remembered the day Brand had arrived at her apartment in Texas with a blindfold…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“You have to wear this and just come with me.”
She laughed, sure it was some kind of joke. It wasn’t. He insisted on covering her eyes after she got into the cab of his truck. Charma had a tough time resisting the urge to reach up and remove the blindfold. “Where are you taking me?”
“We’re almost there.”
“Is this some kind of romantic picnic? I can smell the trees but there’s no exhaust from other cars. We’re somewhere out of the city.”
“Stop sniffing.” He chuckled.
“You know I hate surprises.”
“You’ll like this one.” He paused and she had to strain to make out what he said next. “At least I hope so.”
“I heard that.”
“We’re here. Don’t move.”
The truck stopped and the engine died. She waited impatiently until he got out and opened her door. His fingers curled around her upper arm as she unfastened her seat belt. He led her about ten steps before stopping and positioning himself behind her. One arm wrapped around her waist as he leaned down to press his lips to her ear.
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
Warmth spread through her “Yes. I love you too. May I look now?”
“Not yet. My roommates are a bunch of idiots and I might have to kill them if I catch them checking out your ass one more time when you stay with me. You’re living with the world’s biggest grump. It’s getting tougher to leave your apartment in the mornings but it’s worse on the nights we can’t spend together. I want to be with you all the time.”
Her heart rate increased as his words and their possible meaning sank in. His fingers touched her face and the blindfold came free. She blinked a few times to adjust to the sunshine. The first thing that came into focus was a rustic cabin in the woods. It was a cute single-story A-frame. She forgot to breathe.
“I hope you aren’t angry.” He dropped the blindfold and wrapped his other arm around her waist to hug her tightly. “I signed a lease. It’s ours, Charma.”
She latched on to his arms to keep upright when her legs threatened to buckle. She was stunned.
“I know I should have asked you first,” he rushed on, “but listen to me before you make up your mind. I can pay the rent so don’t worry about the price. It’s not exactly a dream home but it’s cozy inside and it’s remote enough to give us as much privacy as we want. You might be worried about your car breaking down on the drive out here but I changed a few of my classes to fit with your schedule. I’ll drive us to the campus. We won’t have to sleep apart anymore or worry about your roommate hearing us have sex.”
She recovered from the shock and turned in his arms. The look of anxiety in his expression was clear. “Brand…”
Lines appeared next to his mouth. “I think I thought of everything. I talked to your roommate. I know your pride pays your rent. She swore to say you’re still living there if anyone asks. Hell, she was thrilled with the prospect of getting half the rent paid without having to deal with an actual roommate. It was motivation enough for her and your family won’t find out you’re living with a werewolf.”
Hope was the next emotion that sprang up. “Really?”
Brand grinned. “Yeah.”
She turned her head, stared at the cabin. “It’s so adorable.”