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Her eyes are filled with a sparkle that’s half excitement and half nervousness, and looking at them is like main-lining pleasure straight into my veins.
Her soft purple shirt…
I swallow.
She’s so pretty. So fucking beautiful.
And I know I’ve done nothing to deserve her. But I’m keeping her all the same.
“Hi.” Payton raises her hand in an awkward little wave, and I smile.
I honest-to-god smile.
Not a grin. Not a smirk or a sneer. A smile.
Her lips pull up to match my expression. “That coffee?” She tips her head toward my hands.
“Yeah.” My feet unfreeze from the floor, and I cut the distance between us and hold up the mugs for her to take one.
Her nose crinkles in displeasure when she slides the handle off my finger.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Her brows shoot up. “What? Oh, nothing.”
“Payton.” It’s just her name, but she knows what it means. It meanstell me the truth.
“It’s really nothing, I promise. It’s just…” Her cheeks pinken. “These cups are boring.”
My eyes drop to the mug in her hand and then to the one in mine. “They’re coffee mugs.”
She huffs. “Exactly. Plain, boring, white mugs.”
“As opposed to…?” It’s been a long time since someone has dared to look at me like I’m an idiot, but that’s exactly the look Payton is giving me. “What?”
“You’re sending people to get all my stuff, right?”
I nod.
“Good, then I’ll have something to contribute to the household.” When I open my mouth to chastise her, wanting to tell her that she adds more than enough by just being here, Payton shakes her head. “I know what you’re going to say, but just let me have this one. I’ll feel good about sharing them with you.”
“Fine.” I lift the pot to chest level. “Still want some coffee, or do my boring mugs ruin it?”
Payton smirks. “I guess I’ll survive.”
Carefully, so I don’t splash any hot liquid on her hands, I fill our cups then set the pot on the side table. “I thought you might be sleeping and would like coffee in bed.”
“I was thinking about going back to bed after my shower, but then I got sidetracked putting my clothes away.” She cups her hands around the bottom of the mug, holding it close to her face. “I hope that’s alright.”
“Baby, you can do whatever you want here. It’s your home now.”
She chews on her lower lip for a second, and just when I think she might say something infuriating, likewe’re moving too fast, she surprises me by not arguing at all. “I’m excited to see the rest of it. It’s a pretty great home. Especially the shower.” She lifts one of her braids to her nose. “I don’t know when you had time to buy all that shampoo and stuff, but they smell amazing.”
Shampoo is a stupid thing to feel pride over, but I feel it anyway. “I’ve been collecting them since the night you gave me your virginity. I figured you’d eventually be here to use it. And I was right.”
“Oh.” Payton’s earlier blush intensifies. “I thought about you a lot, too.”
Every time this woman speaks, she sparks new emotions to life inside me.
