I look at the door and everything in me wants to go inside. She has no idea that I’ve seen her photography. It’ll be a nicesurprise; one that I doubt I’ll be able to keep to myself for much longer.
“Small or not, that’s really cool,” I tell her and try not to let too much of my excitement show.
“I don’t use it all the time, only for certain projects. Almost everything is digital now. But I love working with film,” her words are almost shy.
Fucking adorable.
My mind starts moving through my house on the club’s land and thinking about what space she could convert. Or maybe it would be better to build her a little dark room shed out back?
“I don’t really understand the whole process,” I admit. “Beyond knowing paper gets dipped in liquids, I’m at a loss.”
Ezra laughs before one side of her mouth quirks up. “If you’re thinking I’m going to lay some sort of chemical reaction on you that requires a white board and a dry erase marker, you’re out of luck. I know what I’m doing and how I’m doing it, but I do not teach science for a reason.”
When I step closer to her, her blue eyes widen while she bites her bottom lip. I love watching her react to me. It makes my heart pump harder. Everything focuses down to her.
“You’d want a bigger darkroom if you could have it?”
“That’s the dream,” there’s a wistful quality in her voice.
I’ll do anything in my power to make it happen for her. And make sure there’s proper ventilation.
“Maybe if I knew how long I’d be staying it would help me pack,” she offers the words with a hint of trepidation.
But I think it has more to do with how close we are right now.
“Like I said,” my lips ghost over her eyebrow, “bring it all. Stay forever.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, my hands landing on her hips possessively. “But if you want a specific timetable, I can’t give it to you.”
She squints at me. “That isn’t really helpful.”
“It’s not like you’re without options,” I point out.
“All or not enough really aren’t great options,” she pouts.
“I didn’t comment on how good either was, simply that they were available.”
Ezra rolls her eyes. “You’re annoying and insufferable.” Something like pride shifts in her eyes as she looks at me. “It makes you a good leader for your club, but I’m finding it rather annoying.”
My arm snakes around her waist to pull her flush against me, closing the last remaining distance between our bodies. “Gotta say, Teach,” my words are growled, “it does something to me when you look at me with pride. Haven’t had too much of that in the way you’re offering it.”
Her hands slide over my shoulders and the look on her face changes, just enough, into a different kind of pride. This time, it’s appreciation. Along with a lot of hunger.
“I wish we had time for me to claim you in the middle of all this crafting goodness, but it’s just not possible,” the regret is obvious in my voice.
Still, I don’t let go of her. Not yet. I study her face.
“Bring as much as you want,” I tell her, my words filled with sincerity.
She glances around and worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “It’s a lot of stuff. I can’t really bring as much as I want.”
“You can,” I counter.
She huffs, exasperated, “Not really. I don’t want to overfill your room. That would just be rude.”
My lips curl into a smile. “How about something bigger than my room at the clubhouse?”
“I’m confused.”
“How about a house, Teach?”
