Page 77 of Line of Resistance

Eloise traced her fingers across his chest, eyes still on his. “I have a lease. It’s not up for four more months.”

That wasn’t a no.

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t care if we pay for two places for a few months.” Hell, he didn’t mind if he had to pay for two places forever. As long as she was with him. Next to him every morning when he woke up. It didn’t even matter whether Eloise offered a bright smile or one of the frowning scowls that felt like his own little secret. He loved them both.

He loved her.

Eloise hesitated, uncertainty pinching her beautiful face. “I have a lot of stuff.”

“Good, because I don’t.” Part of him had still been hesitant about moving to the townhomes. Maybe that was why he was the first one to give up his place when someone else needed it. Maybe deep down he knew it wouldn’t offer him what he was looking for. It wouldn’t give him the home he’d wanted for so long.

But Eloise would.

“You can fill it with as much stuff as you want. I don’t care.” He leaned down, teasing the tip of his nose against hers. “As long as you’re there, I don’t give a shit. You can pack the place full.”

Eloise scoffed, offering up a hint of the side of her he loved so much. “I’m not a hoarder.” Her eyes drifted around his bare-bones bedroom. “I just actually have stuff.”

“Seems perfect to me.” He teased his lips along her jaw, working his way toward her ear. “What do you think? Are you interested in bringing all your stuff to a new place?”

He was so close to having everything he’d always wanted and the next few seconds seemed to take an eternity as Eloise weighed her options.

Decided whether or not she really could trust him.

She only had three days’ worth of good information to go on after almost a year of him acting an ass. The odds probably weren’t in his favor, but he still couldn’t help but hope he’d done enough. Offered up enough of his secrets to make her see why he’d been so stupid.

Eloise’s gaze dipped to where she was tracing the line of his abs. “How many bathrooms does it have?”

Her question was unexpected, but promising. “Two and a half. One attached to the master bedroom. One for the other two bedrooms to share, and a half-bath on the main level.”

Eloise pursed her lips, working them to one side. “Are there two sinks in the master bedroom bathroom?”

These weren’t the questions of someone indifferent, or opposed, to the suggestion, and it had his heart beating faster. “Absolutely.”

“Well that’s good. I don’t want to have to share a mirror with you while you’re doing your hair every morning.” She lifted her eyes to his messy blonde locks and tipped her head. “I can’t imagine how long it takes you to brush all of it into submission.”

It took too long. Especially now that he would have other, more interesting things to do with his mornings. “I’m thinking about just letting it go. It can do what it wants.”

Eloise’s expression softened, her eyes moving over his face and hair. “I kinda like it a little wilder anyway.” Her fingers slid into his freshly shampooed strands. “And I won’t feel so bad about messing up all your hard work.”

Nate closed his eyes, enjoying her soft touch as she continued petting him. “Sounds like everything may work out then. You can have both mirrors all to yourselfandplay with my hair whenever you want.”

Eloise smiled, the tips of her fingers moving along his scalp in a touch that felt better than he could’ve ever imagined. “I guess I might not mind having a bigger place.” Her lips flattened out. “And since it’s gated, Matt won’t be able to leave any more random shit on my doorstep.”

He’d almost managed to forget about that prick and might have been more upset about the reminder if he wasn’t the one currently still inside Eloise’s body. “I can promise you the gate at the compound will be the last thing keeping him from leaving shit on our doorstep.” Nate caught her lips in a kiss, distracting both of them before he stormed out into the snow to make things a little clearer to the man who never deserved to breathe Eloise’s air, much less occupy her time.

Eloise sighed, the sound sweet and soft as her fingers locked into his hair. He wanted to stay in this moment forever. Savor it. Enjoy it. Burn it into his memory.

But Eloise needed to eat and she needed to rest.

Nate carefully eased himself away, the loss of her warmth was almost startling as he worked his body from hers. He carefully pulled down the hem of the black shirt she still wore, covering her up as he stood. “I’ll be right back with something for you to eat.”

Eloise yawned, blinking heavily. “Okay. I’ll be right here. I don’t think I could move even if I wanted to.”

The woman was definitely good at stroking his ego. Good at making him feel like he could be all she deserved. All she wanted.

And he had every intention of living up to those expectations.

After a quick pit stop in the bathroom, he went to the kitchen, loading all the things he knew she liked onto a tray Heidi left behind when she moved out of this unit. He wasn’t gone long, but Eloise’s eyes were closed when he went back to the bedroom. After three nights of being on the run, one of which they didn’t get any sleep at all, she was probably beyond exhausted. But she needed to eat.

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