My heart slams into my chest when she agrees that readily—no argument, no pro/con list necessary, and no questions. It gives me hope that when I ask her to marry me, she'll say yes.
"So yes?" I ask, just because it all feels too easy.
"Yes," she says with an adorable little lilt.
I pull her to me and push my lips hard against hers as I drop back to the bed. She climbs on top of me, pressing her bare skin against mine with the promise that life is going to be amazing.
Her breath comes out in a moaning exhale as she slides down on me, sheathing me tightly inside her, and I watch her hips rise and fall as she takes all the control. If anything has ever felt better, I can't remember it.
My hands slide around her body slowly, worshiping her as though this is the only time I'll ever have her this way. Her slow, tantalizing rhythm quickens, and the torrid sounds grow louder and needier as we both climb.
Rain's head drops back as she cries out, and my release is almost painful when it comes out too powerfully. She's still rocking her hips even as we both come down from our highs, but she finally collapses to my body, breathless and spent.
"If I move in, will we ever get anything done?" she muses, laughing breathily as she rests her head against my chest.
"Probably not, but I'm willing to live in bed if you are."
She giggles, and I hold her to me. I've never been this happy in all my life.
***
RAIN
Two incredible days have passed since Dane asked me to move in. I'm surprised I didn't do something incredibly embarrassing like squeal or dance around like a fool.
"Have you read Dane's interview?" Tria asks as she goes for a cup of coffee.
It's weird how comfortable we've suddenly gotten with each other. Dane's explanation of their friendship squashed the last of my reservations about her.
"They've already printed it? She just interviewed him yesterday morning," I murmur, reaching for the paper beside her.
"I haven't read it yet, but Mom said there was a lot about you in it," she sings.
My stomach flutters as I start flipping the pages, eager to find out what all he's said. When my eyes land on his interview, I almost go completely stiff with suspense.
Most of the questions are directed toward the clinic and all of its awesomeness, but the longer the interview, the more personal it gets.
Lisa: Is it true you're dating Rain Noles?
Dane: Actually, we're living together now, so I consider it to be more serious than just dating.
Yep. I love the hell out of him. I can picture her pouting when Dane squashed her with that answer. The girl was drooling all over him at the clinic opening.
Lisa: Is it true the two of you dated but broke up in high school?
Dane: No. Rain and I were only ever friends when we were kids. Now we're making up for lost time.
Lisa: Is another one of Sterling Shore's sexiest bachelors about to be off the market for good?
I'm almost too scared to read his answer. And I really want to go smack that bitch for this interrogation.
Dane: I've been off the market since the day I met Rain Noles.
I blame the shoddy craftsmanship of today's carpenters when I fall off the stool, because I refuse to admit that his answer shocked me that much.
As I thud to the ground, causing a chain reaction of the other two stools to fall, Tria screeches and jumps to avoid getting slammed into. I curse the stupid stool before kicking it, and I grab the newspaper back.
"What the hell just happened?" Tria gasps, grabbing her heart.
I ignore her and continue reading.
Lisa: So Dane Sterling has been tamed. She's a lucky girl. I never thought I'd see the day when you were saddled. But then again, Tag Masters beat you to it and even became a father.
Dane: I was surprised by that, too, but Tag is an amazing dad and husband.
Lisa: What about you? Any children on the horizon?
I shouldn't read this. I haven't talked to Dane about my surgery yet, so no matter what his answer is... Well, I need to talk to him and stop reading.
The things we should do and the things we actually do are always very different.
Dane: I'd love nothing more than to have a houseful of children. That's actually something I've given a lot of thought to for the past few years.
No dream on the face of the earth has ever died quicker than mine does in this moment. He doesn't just want children; he wants a houseful. He wants the ideal family that I can't give him.
"Rain, what's wrong? You look sick," Tria prompts.
I slide the paper over, unable to form words. He wants a houseful of children. His dream is a large family. Fate couldn't be crueler than it's being in this moment.
Tria starts skimming the article and shaking her head, narrowing her eyes as she searches for the bomb that just decimated my world.