Page 83 of It Must Be Love

"No."

"Then why the fuck would you say it to yourself? Cut this shit out, okay? It's pissing me off."

But every time he got annoyed about it, hope bloomed inside me that this relationship was real, that we were a real couple. But I knew the cocoon would burst—his friends, his family, someone would enter, and then what? Would we be over? Would he then see how unsuitable I was for him?

"I miss you," I pouted.

He smiled, and I could see he was tired. He worked relentlessly as always. But he had started to take more time for himself, he told me, by spending it with me. However, when he was traveling like right now, he worked long hours "so I can come back home to you soon."

"I miss you too, Little Warrior. I'm back tomorrow, and I wanted to ask if you'd like to have dinner with Hayes and Darren at my place this Saturday."

All the joy drained out of me. He was missing other people. Of course he was. He wasn't an introvert like me.

"Stop it," he said sharply.

"What?" I tried to sound nonchalant.

"Hayes accused me of hiding you and said he had a right to spend time with my girl, especially since he likes you. According to him, I have a lot to make up for because he'd had to spend time with Ann, who he, in his words, fucking couldn't stand. And I thought it would be nice to let Darren see that he doesn't need to beat the shit out of me, which he tells me every week when I come to the institute."

Amias had started to pick me up and drop me off everywhere; telling me that as soon as the weather got better he'd let me bicycle again. He also dropped me off at work in the morning and picked me up as well. He tried to buy me a car, and that didn't go well. We fought. I yelled. He yelled. We had very good makeup sex.

"At your place?"

"Yes, Naya. Please? I want you to get comfortable in my apartment."

"Okay."

"Any restaurant you want to order food from for that dinner?"

"No," I protested. "I'll cook. No need to waste money on—"

"Naya," he cut me off.

"I like to cook," I offered apologetically.

Money was still a sore subject between us. He wanted to spend some on me, and I was determined to not let him. It felt wrong. The women he'd dated in the past had their own money, but I knew that Amias bought them things: jewelry, expensive vacations, spa days…whatever. Maybe it was okay for him to do that for them because they could return the favor. I knew he had diamond cufflinks that Ann bought him and expensive ties. I couldn't afford that. I couldn't take from him what I couldn't give.

He'd put his foot down when it came to going to restaurants, and I let him because I knew he loved homemade food, and I cooked most nights when we were together.

"But we both go grocery shopping, and you don't pay," he countered.

"Deal," I agreed.

"I get back tomorrow late," he said. "Would you mind very much staying at my place tomorrow night so I can be with you?"

I wanted to say no. But he had just enough hope in his eyes that I nodded. "Yes."

"Use your key fob," he instructed.

"What time will you be back? Should I cook dinner?"

He grinned. "Not tomorrow night, baby, I'll be in late. I love how you take care of me. I love…everything we do together. I'm going to look forward to finding you in my bed naked. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes." Arousal was instant with Amias—and he told me it was the same for him.

"I feel it's been forever since I've been inside you."

"It's been three nights," I teased.

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