Page 105 of Brighter Together

“You can tell me whatever you want when you’re ready.”

Ella goes very still.

Then her body relaxes against mine.

“Thank you.”

That response tells me enough to know I was right not to push.

Tomorrow, we have three architecture presentations and one of them belongs to her family.

There is clearly something there.

Whatever it is, I can wait until she chooses to tell me.

Ella takes my hand and kisses my palm.

“We should sleep,” she says through a yawn.

“We probably should,” I say, although there’s still so much more I want to know about her.

“We have work tomorrow.”

“Unfortunately.”

She smiles. “Research first, work second?”

“Nice try.”

“Worth asking.” She leans up and kisses me.

Softly.

Sleepily.

Nothing like the frantic kisses from earlier.

When she settles back against me, I wrap myself around her and close my eyes.

Manchester was supposed to tell us whether we were compatible.

The sex answered one part of that spectacularly.

But it isn’t the sex that has me lying awake for a few minutes longer, holding her.

It’s the thought of everything else I suddenly want.

Sunday mornings. Arguments. Éclairs. Climbing. Bungee jumps.

Ordinary things.

A life that extends beyond Greenview Manor’s front door.

For the first time in years, work doesn’t feel like the only thing waiting for me tomorrow.

And I really don’t want that feeling to disappear when we drive home.

Chapter 10