We headed to his bathroom for a thorough bath that went on long enough for my fingers to prune and had a lot less to do with getting clean than it did with making up for lost time, which required a shower after.
In Hunter’s bed, I rested my cheek against his chest, listening to his heart beating strong and steady. I traced my finger up and down the peaks and valleys of his muscled body, still not quite believing I was here with him.
“The whole ‘me leaving and coming back’ thing will probably be easier next month.” Swallowing, I burrowed a little deeper against him. “I need to sign the lease for my new place.” I’d started searching over Thanksgiving and finally found a place.
He shot up, his arm tightening around me. “What new place?”
“My new apartment. I contacted them when they had a sale with two months free, which would keep it in my price range with the new work I have coming in. I snagged the last one at the price, so it’s perfect. And with the invoices that were finally paid, I have money for the security deposit.”
He stared at me with confusion filling his gaze. “Why would you be looking for a new apartment?”
I ran my hands over the sheets covering my lap. “Because I always said this was temporary. I told you from the beginning I’d move out after New Year’s. I didn’t want to just assume.” I peeked up at him before dropping my gaze back to the navy sheets.
He grasped my chin, turned my head, then threaded his fingers into my hair.
My heartbeat skipped, my skin flooding with heat at the tender look in his eyes.
“Then I’ll make it official. Will you move in with me, Sabrina?”
A small gasp sneaked past my lips, and I broke out into a wide grin, shaking his fingers loose from mine and flinging my arms around his neck, squeezing him tight enough to pull a grunt and laugh from him.
“Well, what do you say?”
34
Hunter
It was official. Sabrina and I were living together and together-together. It was both scarier and less scary than I’d expected.
Things continued on just as they had before. I cleared out drawers and closet space for her.
She moved her clothes and toiletries into my bedroom. While she could’ve kept using her bedroom, I liked having her in my space. I liked making it our space.
Her former bedroom became her full-time studio.
“How many contracts have you gotten so far?”
She worked her fingers through her hair, smoothing it out and working it into two braids. “At least five for product photography, but I have three meetings for my design work. I had to turn down a few of the photography jobs.”
Pride filled my chest.
She’d take the world by storm, no matter what she did. “That means your rates are too affordable and you need to raise them.” It was what we’d had to do once the ninety-hour work weeks started wrecking everyone at SWANK.
“Then I’ll lose clients.”
I tapped my finger on the end of her nose. “Exactly, but the ones you get will be even more profitable, especially if you want to clear more time for design work.”
Her nose scrunched up as she put the finishing touches on her braids. “You’re infuriatingly right.” Her gaze narrowed playfully.
I tugged on the braids, drawing her closer. “I know. Get used to it.”
Laughing, she grabbed her coat and slipped her boots on.
Inside the closet, our coats hung together and our shoes were side by side on the floor. It was everything I’d sworn I’d never do, but with Sabrina it had happened naturally. We’d flowed from reluctant roommates to friends to two people who couldn’t get enough of each other. My late nights at work were more of an annoyance than fun. I went for as long as I needed to, and wanted to talk to the guys about transitioning my work to different events. Maybe concert series like the New Year’s Eve gig. It was still at night, but not every night. Bigger events, maybe a music festival like Coachella or Bonnaroo. More risk, more reward, and a hell of a lot more nights with Sabrina curled up beside me on the couch.
We walked out of the building. Snow fell from the sky, dancing through the air, and landed on her knit hat and cheeks before melting. She waved to the doorman, and I couldn’t stop looking at her.
My chest clenched, squeezing my lungs so tightly the puffs of air seemed to trail off into nothing.
Tucking her scarf into the opening at the top of her coat, she glanced up at me. Her head tilted, and she reached out to me. “What’s up? Are you okay?” Concern flooded her words.
“I love you.” It scared me how easy it had been. How naturally the words had left my mouth without a second thought. I was struck by what it meant and how deeply I felt it.
Her hand rubbing down my arm stilled and her eyes shot open and her lips parted before curving. “I love you too.” She slipped her arm through mine. “That was a nice early Christmas present.” Her skin glowed under the snow and streetlights.
The words had rocked me to my core much more strongly than they seemed to have rocked her, like it had seemed inevitable to Sabrina, and I was the idiot for only realizing it now. I had been. I’d thought what we had could continue on as it was, that she hadn’t become sewn into the very fabric of the life I’d envisioned for myself, of the only life I thought I’d live. “You’ve been the present I didn’t know I needed.”
And again the words tumbled out without me being able to hold them back.
She beamed at me and pressed her lips against mine in a chaste kiss, nothing like the ones I’d laid on her earlier today and would again once we got back to the apartment. Whose idea was this date-night dinner again?
“I know. I’m awesome like that.” She winked and laughed. “How many blocks is this place? It’s freezing.” She gripped my arm even tighter when her feet slipped on a little ice patch.
“Three blocks. Can you make it, or do I need to go get some ice skates?”
“How are you not having any trouble walking on this?” She held on tighter, and I didn’t hate how it felt to be the one to keep her steady.
“There’s a crazy thing called boots.”
“You’re trying to blame me for the bullshit differences in industry standards for men’s and women’s winter footwear?”
“I’m not complaining if it means I get to have you on my arm when it’s snowy out.”
“Bravo, Mr. Saxton. You sure know how to take the wind out of a woman’s indignant sails with lines like those.”
My grin widened. The winter wind battered my skin, but she made me feel like we were walking on a sandy beach somewhere. “It’s true.”
“Stop before I make you turn around and go back upstairs.” It was her tease every week when I took her out for date night.
I didn’t mind butting heads with her, especially when I knew how it would all turn out when we got back home. This would be a solid two hours of foreplay over a great meal, even better drinks, and the perfect company.
“Not happening. You’re not getting out of our date night.”
“Fine.” She moped with a smile twitching on her lips.
The sidewalks weren’t busy, but there were enough people out finishing up their Christmas shopping that it felt lively. Despite the freezing winter air and wind, I wanted to walk with Sabrina like this all night, talking, laughing, teasing, her holding tight to me.