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I swallowed down the acid that rose and willed her to come closer.
The warmth of her body returned as she pressed against my side, her head back on my chest.
“I feel better.” I nuzzled her hair, and she wrapped an arm around me. “Usually the effects linger for a long time.”
“I’m glad they haven’t this time.” She’d never know just how much. I was determined to slay all her demons, one at time until they were gone.
“I like this.”
“What’s that, darlin’?”
“Being close. I needed it, even though I was scared.” Her fingers caressed my side. “And it’s getting easier.”
The wonder in her voice matched my own. When she got comfortable touching me, we’d be over a huge hurdle. Not just because I wanted her. But for times like this. There was so much to be said through an embrace without having to say a word.
“One step at a time.”
This time when she went to sleep, the nightmares didn’t return.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Muriella
“I foundthe perfect apartment in Paris.”
Stone leaned over my shoulder and peered at the laptop perched on my desk. I shivered. He’d been in my apartment over a week and a half, and his effect on me hadn’t weakened.
“Swanky.” And then he winked. “I like it.”
“I thought you were into the simple things?”
“I am, but who wouldn’t like that place?”
Light filtered into my heart. It had been a few days, and I hadn’t had another nightmare. I attributed a big part of that to him.
“It’s modern, yet keeps with the original architecture.” I scrolled to another photo. “Look at that view of the Eiffel Tower.”
“Book it.” He reached behind him and pulled out his wallet.
“Um, it’s not for rent.”
His brow furrowed. “Then how is it perfect if they can’t stay there?”
I spun my leather desk chair toward him a fraction. “We could buy it?”
He glanced at the screen and whistled again. “They sure think a lot of that view.”
“Did I mention I recently acquired a substantial amount of funds?” I fidgeted in my seat.
I’d gotten off on a tangent while searching a website with both rentals and homes for sale. As soon as I’d seen the view out the window, I’d known it was right.
“You want to buy an apartment so my brother and his family can spend a couple of weeks there?” He planted a hand on the back of the chair and turned me until our legs almost touched. “What will we do with it the rest of the time?”
My eyes drifted toward the photos of Vivian and Daniel. “We could borrow it,” I finally suggested.
“Borrow?”
I picked up a fountain pen and rolled it between my fingers. “Wouldn’t it be lovely if Mitch and Juliana could get away with the girls any time they wanted?”
