Page 34 of Stay With Me

“Oh?” His voice is full of humor.

“I can barely move and I already want you inside me again.” Lifting my head, I eye him hungrily. I’ve never been so insatiable, but I can’t get enough.

He laughs. “I think I can make that happen.”

Chapter Fifteen

Elise

YoungJaebrushesmyhair behind my ear. “I love waking up next to you every day.” His voice rumbles, still raspy from sleep.

Snuggling in, I kiss his chest. Taking a deep breath, I look up at him. “I love you.”

He smiles, his hand cupping my cheek. “Saranghae.”

The Korean for I love you caresses me. I can feel myself beaming at him.

“So, I was thinking, we need to move the rest of your stuff in here. You still go into the spare room to grab fresh clothes every day.”

Laughing, I point at his closet. “That’s because you have as many clothes as I do. Where am I supposed to put them?”

He props himself up onto his elbow. “You have forgotten I’m an architect. I was thinking we should do some minor renos, making the closet bigger. This room is unnecessarily huge, and we have the space.”

I can’t stop the smile that forms. “Let’s plan it.”

Young Jae twines his fingers with mine, falling serious. “I do have one thing I’ve been thinking. I heard Rae tell Adeline she thinks we would have cute kids. I’ve never really seen a future with children. I just realized I don’t know your thoughts on that.”

Stroking my thumb over his hand, I can feel the apprehension in his body. This is a deal breaker for so many couples.

“I’ve always been neutral about having kids. I’m happy with how our life is and wouldn’t feel like I’m missing out on anything by not having children. It’s why I got the IUD.”

“So you would be okay if we didn’t have children? I don’t want them. I love our life as it is, but we need to be on the same page.” Young Jae’s voice is firm. He needs an answer. A clear one.

“I am fine not having children. Besides, we have Kimchi. She’s enough.” I give him a gentle smile. I mean it. I don’t need to have children. As long as we have each other.

He relaxes, moving on to some other ideas he has to make the house ours rather than his house that I’ve moved into. As we talk, I am so grateful for how thoughtful he always is. He hasn’t changed how he is or who he is as we develop our relationship, still the same kind and considerate man I knew as a friend, but even more so.

Kimchi shoves herself between us, annoyed at the lack of attention she’s getting. Laughing, I pet her and coo at her.

Young Jae’s phone rings, unusual considering it’s before working hours, so he peeks at it. “It’s my mom.”

He answers in Korean, I can’t hear what she’s saying, but my name comes through the speaker and she’s talking faster than normal, which means she’s mad or excited.

They talk back and forth for a while, and I hear enough of the conversation to pick up that his mom is disappointed he didn’t tell her about us and she wants us to come for a family dinner on Saturday after I’m done work.

Young Jae looks at me, questioning. Nodding, I smile as he confirms and then hangs up.

“Well, my mom is happy I’m finally settling down and not wasting my time and ‘good looks’ being alone.” He shakes his head.

Laughing, I roll onto my stomach and run my fingers over his chest. “I’m just glad she’s happy.”

“Are you kidding? She’s your biggest fan. I had no doubt she would be happy.” He reaches for me, but his alarm goes off. Groaning, he silences it. “Well, I guess that’s a no for a morning quickie.”

Jumping out of bed, I tease, “Since it’s my day off, maybe I will just walk around the house naked. Taunt you all day.”

He throws a pillow at me but grins. “Try it, see what happens.”

We finish getting ready, eating a quick breakfast before he heads into a busy day. The grain elevator rebuild is in full swing and he is constantly assessing his plans to ensure nothing needs tweaking.

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