Page 75 of More Than My Hometown

“Ewan,” she whispers, sitting up. A single tear snakes down her cheek, and my heart drops.

“What’s the matter?”

She shakes her head, giggling as she swipes away the tear. “I love you.”

“I love you. But why the tears?”

“That was just…intense? A good intense, but…still intense. Happy tears are a totally normal physiological response to being overwhelmed and/or intensely happy.”

Overwhelmed and intensely happy. I’ll take it.

I press my lips to her forehead gently, not wanting to overwhelm her more, but to reinforce that I’m here. That I mean it when I tell her I love her. That she’s my future.

“Thank you for not laughing.”

Okay, now I’m confused. I lift an eyebrow, trying to figure out what she’s getting at.

“What was there to laugh at?”

“My request.” She blushes again, looking down at her hands and then back up at me. “I realize it’s not very high on the list of kinkiest things ever—in fact, it’s pretty mild. I mean, ER nurse, I’ve seen some shit, but…we hadn’t talked about it and I wasn’t sure how you feel about talking to me that way, and since this is all so new to both of us…well, thank you for not laughing.”

“I meant it, Mais. Whatever you want to try, I’m down. Especially if you actually want to dress as a slutty nurse.”

She quirks an eyebrow at me. “Really? Whatever I want? You’re open to anything?”

“Okay, there will be some things I draw the line at.”

She’s got me there.

I tickle her sides, drawing a laugh out of her.

“I should get us cleaned up and figure out dinner. Then I want part two of my payment.”

Errr…what?!

“There’s a part two?”

Climbing out of my lap, she gathers her clothes and leans back down to kiss me.

“Yup. Movie night snuggled on the couch. I’ll let you pick the movie. But I’m picking the snack.”

I laugh, unable to control myself. Fuck, I love her.

“Deal.”