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I hesitate, and he sinks back down into his spot, turning his attention back to my stomach. “I had no idea what I’d talk to you about, so I thought books. This one was my favourite as a kid.”
Zeke reads the book, complete with animated voices, and by the time he’s done I’m in a fit of laughter, giggling uncontrollably at the story of a bunny. I wipe tears from my eyes, and when I lower my hands, he’s watching me. His gaze nearly knocks me over with its intensity.
“I like your laugh,” he says, and heat blooms across my cheeks.
“Thanks.” I bite my bottom lip to get rid of it, suddenly self-conscious about everything. My changing body, my makeup-less face, my tangled, unwashed hair.
He reaches up and runs his thumb over my lip, gently pulling it from between my teeth. “Don’t hide it.”
I kiss the pad of his thumb without thinking, still resting on my lip, and it loosens him from whatever thought he was in.
“Can I ask you something?” He inches up to be more level with me, and the rush it gives me sends a shudder through my limbs.
“Yeah.” It’s nothing more than a breath because I know the question already. I’ve asked myself this question a thousand times. It radiates from every part of him.
“Why are we still fighting this so hard?” He is genuine in his delivery, and it sends electrified bumps over every inch of skin. I feel light and heavy simultaneously as I grasp at any of the reasons in my mind. But they aren’t reasons. They’re excuses. There is no good reason we shouldn’t give in.
“I don’t know, honestly.” There’s a slight amusement to the admission.
It seems ridiculous when I think about it. We’ve never really decided we weren’t going to be together. Tabby assumed we talked about it and decided it was best not to give in. But I think I haven’t given in because of guilt. Guilt at my lies and secrets. If I wasn’t with him romantically, then this was nothing more than a business deal.
Tears spring to my eyes because this is a baby. A family. Not a deal.
“I want you, Nova. I’m sure it’s no secret I’m super into you.” Zeke’s chest expands, and he devours me with his eyes. His hand finds mine, and he lifts them between us, palms together, and laces our fingers. “You can’t deny this. It just feels right. Why does it feel so natural?”
“Fate,” I whisper almost inaudibly, shifting through the discomfort of speaking the truth. I don’t believe in fate, but he feels like fate. Or faith. Maybe they’re the same thing.
All I know is he’s right. We want each other.
“So can I ask for that kiss you promised me what seems like ages ago? Right here?” He taps his lips, and I don’t try to hide the stuttering in my heart or the grin on my lips. “A real one?”
“I guess so,” I tease him with a short shrug, but inside I’m screamingyes.
He sits up, helping me up so we’re face to face. We’ve kissed a couple times already, so I don’t know why these nerves wrap me up and squeeze so tight. Maybe because he asked me to. The other times, it just sort of happened.
He sinks into the couch, draping his arms along the back, and watches me with that aloof, smug smirk on his face while he waits for me to figure out what I’m doing. Figgy is still sitting on the back of the couch, glaring at how close Zeke dares to put his hand. The cat hisses at him, and Zeke stretches a finger to boop Figgy’s nose, which shocks both of us. I burst out laughing, but Figgy looks both disgusted and offended.
“Hush, you,” Zeke scolds the cat, which he’s never done before, then he turns to me. “As for you, I’ll just be hanging out here whenever you’re ready.”
He tips his head to rest on the cushion. His eyes slide closed, and it’s a strange sensation to realize that someone trusts you like this. Is exposing themselves like this. We’re both ready to put this to bed, literally.
I study the angles of his body openly, knowing he’s not watching me do it.
“Any time now,” he mutters. He air-kisses loudly twice, and I laugh, crawling across his lap and straddling his hips.
Zeke’s face is calm, but there’s a pulse in his chest that tells me he’s less chill than he’s coming off. His body tenses under me, his jaw twitching, his hands moving immediately to my thighs.
Figgy has finally had enough. He leaps down to the floor, retreating to the bedroom like usual.
I place my palms on Zeke’s shoulders and drag my fingers down his chest to feel his heart speed up in time with mine. Pulsing blood and shallow breaths—but the calmness is addictive. My nails bump along the muscle in his stomach, and he shudders. He grips my hips and digs into the curve of my ass, pulling us closer together, my belly pressed to his. I hover over him, and he can feel my breath, because the corner of his mouth quirks up when I pause.
“You’re really taking your time here, Forrester.”
“Shut up,” I whisper, and he makes a show of wiggling his hips and getting comfortable.
He swipes his tongue along his bottom lip. The fact that he’s waiting for me, preparing for me, makes my heart flutter. There’s no sound but the hum of the lights, the rise and fall of our chests, and the thump of our hearts.
I inhale his crisp, clean scent as I lower the final inch to softly place my lips to his. Our mouths fuse in heated perfection, and the world falls away in an instant. There’s nothing out there anymore, only this.
