Page 161 of Between the Lines

My own swells, picturing his growing three sizes bigger with those three gestures toward our future. I grin, shaking my head as I clutch the lapels of his jacket.

“In the name of not having to guess, is this you asking me to move in with you?”

“When you’re ready. I’m not fit for games, and I know what I want. You can stay with Penelope as long as you’d like, but our bed will be waiting when you’re tired of going home at night.”

Our bed? Oh, fucking swoon.

I swallow around the ball in my throat, licking my lips as I try to fendoff the tears.

“Nathan Harding…” I shake my head, unable to tamp down my smile. “Did you fake sick for me?”

He only smiles, shaking his head as if I don’t quite get it just yet. Cupping the side of my face in his big, strong hand, he says, “I’ll give you the world if you’ll let me, Claire Benson.”

I can’t hold back any longer. I press up on my toes and I kiss the man I’ve fallen in love with.

Kissing Nathan feels like coming home. Our mouths move lazily but hungrily, like we’ve missed each other, but we know we have all the time in the world left to make up for it. We part after what feels like days, and he rests his head against mine.

“I love you, too,” I breathe, against his smile, for only us to hear. “I love you, Nathan. We’ll take on whatever comes next together. Please keep talking to me, though. Don’t get lost by yourself inside your head again.”

“Together,” he echoes, exhaling in relief. “As long as I have you to pull me out onto the other side, we’ll always find our way. I love you.”

He takes me back to his place, and we don’t stop making up for lost time between our bodies until the sun is peeking over the horizon. My head rests on his chest, my fingers drawing absentmindedly through his chest hair. Suddenly, he picks up my hand and inspects it.

“Your nails aren’t painted.”

“The polish came off, and I didn’t have the heart to fix it myself.”

He kisses every one of my fingertips, and though I’m much too sore and exhausted to go another round, I can’t deny the heat in my bones at the gesture.

“Pick out a new color, and we’ll get this fixed tomorrow.”

“My hero,” I sigh, propping myself up on my free elbow to cup his cheek and kiss the bridge of his nose where his glasses would be if he hadn’t discarded them before demanding that I sit on his face a little after midnight.

“I’m really going to miss this place,” I sigh, taking my spot against his chest again.

“I am too. But it’s not the walls I’ll miss. It’s the memories. And I’m more excited about the new ones we’ll make together than the old ones here.”

“Okay, sappy sentimentalist. I’mdefinitelygoing to miss the library!”

I sit up, tugging the sheet over my torso as I go. He follows, laughing with that brilliant, carefree smile. The one I hope sticks around for the years to come.

“I already told you, it’s a custom build. They’ll give you anything you want.”

“Anything?”

“Try me.”

“Rolling ladder?”

“Done.”

“Window seat?”

“I already added one to the list—along with a fireplace.”

I smirk, adding my last amendment.

“Okay, big shot: One bookshelf at belt height, wide enough for me to sit on, that’s specifically for you to fuck me on?”

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