Dean laughed.
I scowled. “That is not an answer.”
“Experience. That’s all.”
I buried my face against his shoulder. “Then you are not angry?”
Dean’s laugh was soft with exhaustion. “Baby, I can barely remember my own name right now. Angry isn’t really on the list.”
Relief washed through me.
He shifted onto his side and tucked me closer against him, brushing his lips against my hair. “You okay?”
The answer came easily. “Yes.”
Dean smiled. “Good.”
I hesitated. “There is something I should probably admit.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“It is possible that I prefer things the way we usually do them.”
For a second he was silent. Then his grin appeared. “Yeah?”
Heat crept into my face. “Yes.”
“Thank God.”
I blinked.
Dean laughed. “Luka, I was trying very hard to be supportive and open-minded, but I was also hoping that might be the outcome.” He coughed. “Although… I really liked the first half.”
I laughed. “Yes, me too.” He pulled me closer to him, and I snuggled into his warmth. “Then we are good?”
“We’re good.” His eyes sparkled. “Actually? Good is really selling us short.” His hand settled at the small of my back. “You know what I want now?”
“What?”
“To stay exactly like this for a while.”
I rested my forehead against his. “That sounds optimal.”
Dean immediately started laughing. “Andthere’smy Luka.”
“And now you are making fun of me.”
“No.” He kissed me gently. “This is me loving you.”
I swallowed. “I love you too.”
This time I didn’t cling to the words.
I believed them.
Chapter Forty
February 17
