I turned onto my side carefully, watching him. His hair was a little messy, his lips parted just slightly, the kind of peace you only ever get to see when someone trusts you enough to be vulnerable in their sleep. I’dnever seen him like this, soft. He stirred a little, and his eyes opened, slow and lazy. “Morning,” he said, voice raspy and barely awake.
“Morning,” I whispered back, smiling. He tightened his arm around me, burying his face in my neck. “What time is it?” I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “Not even seven. We’ve got time.”
“Mmm.” He kissed the curve of my shoulder. “Stay.” His thumb traced small circles against my hip under the blanket. My leg hooked over his. Every now and then, one of us would smile for no reason at all. Eventually, he whispered, “I like waking up like this.”
“Like what?”
“With you here. In my bed. In my arms.”
My heart fluttered. “Yeah. Me too.”
“Let’s make it a habit.” I laughed softly. “Careful, Mr. Jones, that sounds dangerously close to you wanting a long-term commitment.”
He smirked. “I’m not afraid of that. Not with you.” He kissed my forehead, then my cheek, lingering for a breath longer than usual. I felt the smile still on my lips, the warmth between us undisturbed, cocooned in sheets, and something more than comfort. His voice was quiet when he said it, but steady. “Move in with me.”
My smile faltered, eyes blinking open. “What?” He propped himself up on one elbow, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
“I’m serious, Sam.” I sat up slightly, heart skipping once, maybe twice.
“We just made this official like five minutes ago.”
“Well, that was you. I made it official when I saw you enter the building and figured out I had feelings for you,” he said so effortlessly.
“Last night wasn’t just about sex. Not for me. And this, waking up to you, it’s not something I want to keep doing part-time.” I stared at him, searching for the catch. The edge. The control. But there wasn’t any. Just honesty.
“I know it’s fast,” he added, softer now. “And I don’t expect an answer right this second. But I meant what I said last night, I’m not playing games. I want you here. In this bed. In this life. By my side.”
I reached out, fingers tangling gently in his. “I didn’t take you for a romantic man, but you have surprised me.” That earned a crooked grin.
“And you,” I whispered, pulling him in for a kiss, “are very good at ruining my plans for emotional detachment.”
He kissed me back, and we got ready for the day.
“Wait. Back up.” Rose dropped the half-folded sweater she was holding and turned toward me, eyes wide.
“He said what?” I flopped dramatically onto her bed. “Move in with me.”
“No. No, no, no. You don’t just drop that into conversation like it’s ‘pass the salt.’ Are you kidding me? He asked you to move in? As in… toothbrush in the same cup? Shared laundry baskets? Groceries together?”
“Okay, calm down,” I said, staring up at the ceiling like it might offer answers. “It wasn’t like a big, dramatic proposal. We were literally in bed, and he just kind of… said it.”
“Naked in bed after amazing sex the previous night is the worst time to make real estate decisions, Sam.” I laughed. “You sound like my subconscious.” She grabbed a throw pillow and smacked me with it. “I’m your subconscious. So? What did you say?”
“I didn’t say yes,” I admitted. “But I didn’t say no either.” Rose stared at me for a beat, then sat beside me, folding her legs up.
“Do you want to?” I sighed, tugging the pillow under my arm. “That’s the part that’s freaking me out. Because… yeah. I think I do.”
“Oh my god.”
“I know.”
“You are in love with him,” she said in a teasing singsong voice. I groaned. “That’s terrifying, but yeah, I think I am.”
“Samantha Hayes,” she said, holding up a finger. “You are in love with a man who cooks you dinner, makes you laugh, and makes you come so hard you forget your name.” I gave her a look. “Thanks for the poetic recap.”
“I’m just saying,” she added more gently, “sometimes the best decisions don’t come with a five-year plan. Sometimes it’s just about the person. And if he’s the kind of man who makes you feel safe when everything else is not, maybe it’s worth saying yes.” I blinked at her. “When did you get so wise?”
She shrugged. “Somewhere between tequila shots and dating emotionally unavailable DJs.” We both laughed, and I lay my head on her shoulder.
