Page 22 of Say You're Mine

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EROS

“Eros.” Lev stands with her hands on her hips, glaring at me as I set her bags down inside my walk-in closet. “You don’t have a spare room, really?”

“I never said that I did.”

“Oh, don’t play innocent. You conveniently left that part out. So you just think I’m going to share a bed with you?”

“Now hold on.” I smirk. “Don’t be getting any ideas. You gotta ask for it before you get it,” I remind her.

“You know what?” She narrows her eyes at me, and I relish the fact that I’m about to get a tongue-lashing from her.

“No, but I reckon you’re going to tell me, darling.”

“Don’t even lay that damn drawl of yours on me.” Her hand drops from her hips. “Fine, we can share a bed, but only because I enjoy watching movies in bed and I had a lot of fun the other night. Not to mention this bed is massive and looks like a big cloud of comfort and warmth. Those are the only reasons I’m agreeing to this.”

“I promise to make sure you have fun every night you’re in bed with me.”

“What the hell am I going to do with you?” Her words go straight to my dick. There are plenty of things I can say right now, but she’s not ready to hear them.

“Anything you want.” Lev’s smile grows brighter, giving me what I’m after. It kills me when that sadness creeps into her eyes. I’ll say and do whatever I have to to take it away. I clear the space between us.

Lev doesn’t stop me or protest when I lift her by the hips and sit her on the tall island in the center of my closet.Ourcloset now. It brings her so that she is eye level with me. I step between her thighs, getting as close to her as I can. Her lilac smell teases me.

“You want to be in here with me, or do you really want your own room?” Even though I want her in my bed more than my next breath, ultimately I need her to feel safe and comfortable. For the decision to be hers no matter what. Lev starts to speak, but I keep going. “Not what youthinkyou should want. What you truly want.” Lev presses her lips together.

“I wasn’t lying when I said I had fun the other night.”

“Then you’re staying in here.”

“I’m staying in here,” Lev agrees.

Thank fuck.I might get some sleep tonight if I have her back in my arms. Last night was pure hell.

I’m starting to see that a firm push goes a long way with Lev. It’s not about taking over because I want her with me and doing what I think is best for her. It's about involving her in the processand letting her know that it's what she wants too, and there's nothing wrong with taking what you want.

“You hungry?” I ask, trying to take my focus off of her mouth. I want to taste her again, but it’s been a long night for her.

“Starving.” Her stomach decides to let out an adorable little growl at that exact moment.

“I’ll go order us something to eat while you get settled in a bit. My house is your house. Make yourself at home.” I mean that on a much deeper level, but she’s not ready to hear any of that yet. I plan on being her one true home forever.

“It’s the middle of the night. You DoorDashing something?” she asks.

“I guess you could consider it that. But we have an in-house twenty-four-hour-a-day food service. They’ll make anything and everything your little heart desires whenever it desires it.” Her eyes light up at that.

“So what you’re saying is there are unlimited movie snacks and appetizers? Am I hearing this correctly?”

“That’s what I’m saying.” I can’t help but raise my hand to cup her cheek. I love seeing her like this. Carefree.

“If that’s the case, I may never leave this place.” I want to tell her that's the plan, but once again I hold back. The urge to kiss her rides me hard, her lips so close, her smile so bright. But even though it feels like it’s going to kill me, I resist. She needs to be the one to initiate it.

“Meet you back in the living room when you’re ready.” I lean down, placing a kiss on her forehead before I exit the closet.

I go about placing an order for a ridiculous amount of food, unsure of what exactly it is that she’ll want. In time I’ll get to know all of her likes and dislikes, but for now, I’m winging it. I make sure to get a bunch of appetizers, popcorn, movie candy, and whatever else I think will make her happy. Soon enough, Lev will see that I will go to any measures to make sure she’s taken care of.

I stand up from the couch where I've been waiting for her when I hear her come in. Lev is now in a pair of loose red sleep shorts and a shirt that matches. With her dark eyes and dark hair, everything looks sexy on her.

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