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I nodded and slipped out of bed, then stopped as I glanced at the windows again. The shades were open, revealing a light flurry of snow and it hit me that next week it would be December.
“Ty,” I began, but he loomed behind me and lightly slapped my ass. “Okay, okay.”
After I got dressed and ready for the day, I came out into the room to find Ty waiting for me, lounging on the bed and grinning at his phone. I still couldn’t get over him wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
I’d gotten changed into a light sweater dress and thick tights, but now I wondered if I should’ve worn anything at all. Had Ty taken the day off to play more sweet and cruel games with me – to torture me to that impossible edge of bliss that had me begging for more? Over the past four weeks, I’d learned more and more about his kinks and my own — which were more or less the same.
Why else would Ty take a day off work?
“Come on,” Ty grabbed my hand, leading me downstairs. We wove through the house, my stomach only slightly clenching as we passed through the foyer and then he turned to me, fishing out a length of cloth. “Cover your eyes.”
“O-okay,” I said, swallowing my jangling nerves.
Even though we’d been together for a month, I still never knew what to expect from Ty. There were periods where I wouldn't see him, or if I did, it was only to have mind-blowing sex. We hadn't talked or had another date since that night out in Boston.
But right now, he seemed more filled with mischief than lust, although I’d been wrong before.
Once my eyes were covered, he took me by the shoulders and led me through the house. Despite everything, I trusted him. I knew Ty wanted to protect me, that he wanted me as much as I wanted him, that we hadsomething.
“I had to wait to be sure but I think we’re finally safe from the fallout of last month,” Ty murmured into my hair. “And then it took some time to put this together. I wanted it to be perfect.”
I nodded even though I didn’t understand. Ty made me stop before pulling the cloth from my eyes. Blinking in the bright light, at first, I didn’t understand. Then a ragged sound of shock and amazement came straight from my chest.
“This is…” I stepped up to an easel and touched it with shaking fingers.
“Best there is,” Ty said from behind me. “Who knew this art shit was expensive? Not that I mind or anything.”
I couldn't turn around, I couldn't look at him; because every part of me had to focus on fighting back my tears. Then I began tolook around, and I started to lose the battle, tears slipping free. First, the light in this room was perfect.
I’d stumbled on the door to this room a few weeks ago and found it locked. Flora had told me to stay away, that it was Ty’s private space and I’d obeyed. Now, I understood she’d been instructed to keep me away so Ty could turn it into an art studio.
It was filled with three gorgeous easels, an art bench, two new stools and piles of supplies on two long tables. I saw boxes labeled with my name underneath, and when I stepped forward, crouching down, I saw that it was stuff from my apartment.
“That took some doing, too,” Ty said as I rose to my feet. “We wanted help from a professional. The rest of your stuff is in the guest room. You can move it into our room whenever.” He paused, and I pressed my shaking hands to my face. “Lia?”
I turned back to him. Ty’s face briefly became stricken, then he strode over to me and pressed my face into his shoulder. Clutching at his shirt, I knew I was in deeper than deep. There was no coming back from this.
I’m falling for you.
“I’ll give you everything you could ask for,” Ty said into my hair. “All I ask is that you stay by my side.”
Gently pushing away, I looked up at him and tried to speak but failed. A smile broke across my face as more tears fell, but I didn’t think I’d ever been this happy in my entire life.
“Ty,” I whispered. “Thank you.”
“Stop crying, geez,” he muttered. I saw color rising in his cheeks and my grin widened, only for Ty to tug me back to his chest, holding my head in place so I couldn’t see my big, tough Mafia guy blush. “And I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Take it,” I said and wrapped my arms around his torso.
“There’s somethin’ else,” Ty said a few moments later, and he stepped back, making some clumsy attempts to brush off my face. “The professional who helped us pack. Although, she almost broke Danny’s nose the first time he tried to talk to her.”
My brain seemed to zing with hope and happiness, watching Ty go to the door and yell to someone to bring this mystery woman in.
A gasp escaped me as Sara flew into the room, the two of us colliding and embracing, her familiar perfume in my nose as her slim arms locked around me.
I kissed her cheek and pulled back, laughing as Sara blubbered. “Bet you thought you’d never see me again,” I teased.
“Youasshole,” Sara said and hugged me again. “Don’t you ever do that again.”
