Chapter 58

Ifinished my workout at the gym in the building. I wiped away the sweat from my brow and headed for the elevator. I was looking forward to having my own gym and equipment along with privacy. I could enjoy our own pool and the hot tub.

The elevator ride was swift and silent, my mind still reeling from the intoxicating dream I'd had about her. It was so vivid, so real, that I could still taste her lips, feel the heat of her skin against mine. It was pure torture.

The workout that morning was out of sheer necessity. I had so much pent-up frustration. She would be coming over soon. This morning, she texted and let me know Sloane had a birthday party she would be going to. That meant we were going to be alone. Being alone with her was dangerous.

I stripped out of my sweaty gym clothes and walked into the shower, turning the water just a little colder than usual. The sting of the cold droplets was a welcome distraction. Under the stream of water, I tried to wash away the memories of the dream, but her image was persistent. I could almost feel her soft hands running down my back and her warm lips against mine. The intensity of my desire for her was overpowering and undeniable.

I quickly showered and dressed before going to the kitchen to grab one of the smoothie drinks from the fridge. It had been far too long since we'd had a moment alone together, and the thought of finally being able to hold her in my arms sent a thrill of excitement through me. I wasn't sure how willing she would be, but the kiss last night said she was definitely thawing. She didn't hate me. We were on our way back to where we were before her father's bombshell tore us apart.

I had ordered a snack tray, hoping to feed her and maybe convince her to stay a little longer than was entirely necessary to decide whether she liked my couch or not.

I heard the buzzer and jumped up to let her up. I waited for her at the elevator.

"Sorry," she said when she stepped out. "Sloane begged me to let her stay the night with her friend. All the girls were. I told her it was fine. I forgot it's a three-day weekend."

"She's staying the night at a friend's?" I asked.

"Yes."

"So, you're free for dinner?" I grinned.

"I suppose I am."

A victorious smile danced on my lips. "I put out a snack tray, but if we're going to have dinner, I'll order something in."

"We need to get down to business first," she said.

"I thought you would never ask," I said and reached for her.

"Stop it," she said with a laugh. "You know what I mean. I want to talk about the logistics of the move. I meet with my realtor this week to get the apartment listed. I don't know if I'll have the money in time to transfer?—"

I stopped her. "We're not talking about money. It isn't necessary. I told you, we'll figure it all out later. We need to talk furnishings. Do you want to paint? Any changes you want made, I was thinking it might be best to do them before we move in."

"I thought the house was beautiful as-is." She shrugged. "Sloane might have an opinion about her room, but I'm fine. We should probably decide who gets what room."

I groaned but didn't dare protest too much. This was her rodeo.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just don't want to move in there with the assumption we're sharing a bed."

"You know what, we have time," I said. "We can figure that out later as well."

"Thank you." She smiled. "I keep saying I'm worried about all the changes for Sloane, but I'm thinking it might be me that's freaking out a little."

"No reason to freak out. But I get it. Moving is a big change. It's one of the most stressful things a person can do."

We wasted no time diving into the task at hand, going through every corner of my apartment to decide on what items we wanted to keep and what we wanted to replace. It quickly became apparent that we had very different tastes when it came to décor. Isadora favored a more classic, elegant style while I leaned toward a more modern, minimalist look.

"Can I please suggest we just buy new stuff that we both like?" I asked. "I'm not a decorator but I think it would be better if we started with stuff that was a combination of both our tastes instead of trying to force my couch to match your chair and so on."

Isadora hesitated. "I'm reluctant to spend money on something that isn't necessary."

"I'm not," I said. "This will be my first house. I'm counting on your decorating style to make it beautiful. We want to entertain and feel confident in our home. I don't want to tell the guys, that's my couch and that's her kitchen table. You know what I mean?"

She seemed to absorb this, lips slightly pursed as she considered it. "Yes, I see your point. That's fine, but I am going to be paying for half."

"I promise you, we won't break the bank. We'll shop wisely. But we will shop together."

A small chuckle escaped her, lightening the mood further. "God help us."

I laughed too. "Oh, it will be an adventure, for sure."

As the night wore on, we settled in on the couch, both of us with our phones in hand browsing interior designs and furniture. Neither of us were experts in this field, but we were adamant about doing it ourselves. I offered to hire a decorator, but Isadora shot it down in a hurry.

"Do you think we need a rug for the living room?" Isadora asked, shuffling through a catalogue.

"Depends on the floor," I said. "What's the flooring again?"

"Hardwood. Dark oak."

"I think so." I took a drink of the cold beer I had delivered along with a ridiculous order of tacos from my favorite Mexican restaurant. We had kicked off our shoes, stuffed our faces, and drank beer while we did our online shopping.

I couldn't remember ever having so much fun.

"Curtains?" she continued, squinting at her phone.

I glanced over, trying to make out the image on her screen. "What do you think?"

"I think with the high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling curtains could be awesome."

I nodded, attempting to visualize it. "Sounds beautiful. Shit! We need pool furniture! We have a whole patio to outfit. I've never bought outdoor furniture."

"I have the set on my rooftop terrace," she offered.

I wrinkled my nose. "But aren't we buying something we both like?"

She giggled and hit me with a pillow. "You don't like it?"

"It's alright." I shrugged.

She hit me again. "I love that stuff."

"Babe, we've got two acres of outdoors. We can put your stuff on the balcony off the master or put it on the side patio. We've got a lot of space."

Her face lit up. "I cannot believe we're buying a house!"

"You know this is a big step," I said.

"Are you getting cold feet?"

"Not even a little," I replied. "But are you ready to talk about us, yet?"

Her smile fell away. "Not yet. I don't want to complicate things."

"They're already complicated. Why not at least enjoy ourselves? We're moving in together. Do you really think the sexual tension between us is going to go away? I love you, Isadora. I will wait as long as you want me to, but I love you. That doesn't change."

Isadora's eyes fell onto her screen again. "I know," she finally said. She glanced at me after a few moments of silence, our eyes meeting in a way that made my heart pound faster than ever. "I love you too."

"I won't push. We don't have to tell Sloane, but dammit, Isadora, I want you."

"I want you too," she confessed, the vulnerability in her eyes making my heart ache. "But there are so many things to consider," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper.

I laced our fingers together and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We have all the time in the world, Isadora. Let's focus on this house, make it ours. We're making a home for our daughter."

"I like that."

I didn't let go of her hand. Instead, I pulled her closer until she was straddling my lap. Her hands brushed through my hair as she looked down at me. "Are we really doing this?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety. "Living together, creating a home?"

"I think we've just about crossed that line, don't you?" I replied with a smirk, my hand coming up to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "We might as well jump, feet first."

She chuckled at that, shaking her head in disbelief. "You make everything sound so simple."

"That's because it is simple, babe," I whispered, my thumb gently brushing against her cheek. "With you everything is simple."

She lowered her mouth to mine in a soft kiss that left me breathless and wanting more.

"Do you think we should get a dog?" she asked, breaking the silence that had enveloped us.

I laughed at her abrupt change of topic and shrugged. "Sure, why not? A big ol' golden retriever bounding around the house might be just what we need."

Isadora's eyes sparkled at the thought. "Or maybe a couple of kittens to curl up by the fireplace?"

I grimaced. "Maybe. Anything else to add to our domestic fantasy?"

She leaned in close, her lips brushing against my earlobe. She knew that drove me wild. I had to taste her. I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her mouth to mine. My tongue swept inside her mouth, our breaths becoming one. She tasted like the beer we had been drinking and something else—something unmistakably Isadora. My hands traced the delicate fabric of her blouse as I pulled her closer still.

She pulled away just enough to whisper, "Maybe a vegetable garden."

I chuckled against her lips. "A garden? Sure, why not?"

Her fingers found their way under my shirt. "And lots of flowers."

"Absolutely," I murmured, losing myself to the feel of her hands on my chest. "Anything else on your wish list?"

"I'm still thinking."

"I think I'm being taken advantage of," I groaned when her tongue lapped over my other ear. "Right now, I would buy you Hawaii if you asked for it."

"Maybe not all of Hawaii." She giggled.

She pushed my shirt over my head and tossed it off the couch. Her nails scraped down my chest and quickly unfastened my jeans. She slipped her hand inside, fondling my cock that was begging to be touched. She scooted back on my lap, sliding to the floor until she was kneeling between my legs. Her hand pulled my cock free of my jeans. I nearly gasped at the sudden contact, my eyes meeting hers in a heated stare.

Her hands expertly traced up and down with a tantalizing slowness. "You're really okay with all of this? The dog, the kittens, our daughter, and the vegetable garden?" she asked, her voice teasing as she looked up at me.

"Isadora," I whispered, unable to think straight as waves of pleasure surged through me. "Right now, you could suggest a pet giraffe and I'd probably say yes."

She laughed. "A giraffe?" she echoed. "Now that's an idea."

"Anything for you, babe," I managed to grit out, my grip around her hair tightening as I lost myself in her touch.

Her mouth dropped down and the next moment I was swallowed up in pure ecstasy.