“I think we are good taking our time.”
Soft kisses trailed from her arm up toward her shoulders. “Take all of the time you need, my love. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
The touch of his lips against her skin was enough to make her want to stay there in bed with him all day.
“You are trying to distract me and make me stay here in bed with you all day.”
Those steel blue eyes stared at her. “Is it working?” he asked with a sly grin.
Biting her bottom lip, she considered doing so. “Almost. I would love to, but I need to get to work at the boutique this afternoon.”
Bruce crawled slowly over her body. “Are you sure that there is nothing I can do to convince you to stay with me just a little longer?”
It was damn near impossible to resist the man. His fingers left a trail of fire on her skin, making her want him more and more.
Kisses set her body off, and she could no longer resist his advances. He nuzzled his lips in the cradle of her neck, the very spot he knew would encourage her to give in to him. Her legs spread involuntarily and he knew just when she was ready to accept him.
She shifted her hips, making sure Bruce had full access to enter her. When he did, a feeling of bliss settled over Kate. Feeling his hard body against hers was a complete turn on.
“How does that feel?” he asked as he slowly stroked her.
Kate silently nodded, unable to verbally respond as she felt him plunge deeper and deeper inside of her. He gripped her, pulling her closer and closer into his embrace. It felt as if he wanted to melt in to her.
Their bodies made their own music, sweet melodies of love. Kate was completely lost in the moment as Bruce patiently commanded all of her moods and emotions. Just as she was coming close to climax, it felt like he was reading her body’s language and he worked harder to bring her to her release.
The quick interlude was exactly what she needed to start her day. With a stretch, she rolled over, completely satisfied from her lover. She kissed him on the lips.
“I now think that I have the energy to start my day,” Kate teased.
“Oh really?” Bruce asked.
“We should make it a point to do that every morning.”
An eyebrow raised, Bruce opened his mouth to speak, then stopped abruptly.
“Go ahead, you look like you have something to say,” Kate prompted.
“We can,” he blurted out.
“We can, what?”
“We can do this every morning. We can, if you move in with me. Or we can find a place together. I just want to make sure that I wake up to you every morning, Kate.”
Now it was Kate that was stalling for the right words to say.
“Kate, move in with me.”
*****
Heart racing, Kate was unsure of whether she should answer immediately or give Bruce’s question some thought.
His gaze penetrated her, and she knew that she would have to give him a response very soon.
“Come on, Kate. For once, just do what is in your heart. Stop thinking so hard.” Bruce took her by the hand.
“Close your eyes.”
She paused, wondering where he was going with the conversation.
“Seriously, Kate. Close your eyes.”
She sighed, doing as he asked.
“Okay, now. Kate Walker, let’s move in together.”
She could feel him squeezing her hand, and that, along with his comforting presence, was reassuring.
Her heart swirled and her mind was fighting, forcing a tug of war between the two. Bruce was right. She needed to stop over analyzing each situation and just go for what she wanted.
“Yes.”
“Yes?” Bruce’s response was more of a question to reassure that he heard her correctly.
“Let’s move in together.” It was worth repeating so that Bruce knew that she meant what she said.
“You have just made me the happiest man in the world, Kate.”
She relaxed in his embrace, knowing that she had made the right decision. He was the right man for her and there was no reason why they could not take their relationship one step further.
Bruce planted soft, feathery kisses on her neck, still holding her close. “This is so right, Kate. We are perfect for each other.”
“I know,” she replied. “You and I are perfect together. Thank you for being so patient with me.”
“I told you that I would wait forever for you.”
Kate heard the words, but she was not sure that in reality, the man of her dreams would wait an eternity for her to accept his proposals.
“I think you have kept me in bed too long. It’s time for me to get dressed for work.”
“Fine. I guess I have to let you go.” He leaned in for a kiss, and she accepted.
“I have money to make today, thank you very much.”
“Hmm.”
She rolled out of bed, without a stitch of clothing on, knowing that Bruce’s eyes would be glued to her.
The hot shower felt wonderful, and it gave her time to think. Moving in together would not be such a bad thing. The two of them spent so much time with one another, that it only made sense. If he was not staying over at her home, she was staying over at his apartment. They spent the majority of their free time together and woke up next to one another every day that they were in town together. In the past year, they had created a comfortable rhythm that worked.
Making things between them more official was going to be great for their relationship. The more she thought about it, the better it felt.
By the time she stepped out of the shower, the scent of bacon and coffee floated into the bedroom. Bruce was a great cook and he always made sure she was well fed. It was a great compliment to the fact that she was no kind of cook at all. The kitchen was not her domain and she never claimed it to be.
She scanned her closet, never feeling like she had anything to wear. It was a casual day today; three consultations and she would spend the rest of the day at the boutique. Kate settled on a pair of vintage denim pants and a white button down collared shirt.
The smell of breakfast pulled her out into the front room.
“What did you cook for breakfast? It smells amazing.”
“Pancakes, bacon, and a little coffee.”