Page 80 of The Carver

“For other people, but not us.” His answer was so quick, it was like a bullet waiting in the chamber. “It’s been fast because it’s been right.”

It had felt right with Adrien, and then he turned into someone I didn’t know. I was an idiot to think it would be different with Bastien, but I believed it, nonetheless. Sometimes I told myself this was too good to be true, that this drop-dead sexy, committed man was playing a cruel trick—and I’d fallen for it. “You said you would take this slow?—”

“I’ve been taking this slow.” His eyes throbbed with desperate intensity, pulling me deep into his soul. “If it were up to me, you would have moved in with me months ago. If it were up to me, a lot of things would be different right now. But I’ve been patient like a goddamn saint—and I can’t do it anymore. I want to come home to you every day. I want you in my bed every night. I want you soaking in the tub while I watch Manchester lose another fucking game on the couch. That’s what I want—and you want it too. So, don’t give me that shit that you aren’t technically divorced yet and it’s too soon and all that other nonsense, because what we have is fucking real.”

We’d been lying together in the peaceful quiet while listening to the rain on the rooftop, and now it was contentious. When he’d come to me in the middle of the night, I was so happy at the sight of him, at the touch of his skin and the kiss of his lips. Sleeping alone wasn’t hard after I left Adrien, but it was unbearable now that I was with Bastien.

His brilliant eyes continued to drill into my face. “It’s a safe neighborhood and a nice building, but I don’t want you here by yourself. I want to give you my palace and my security and everything you could possibly want—so let me do that.”

“I don’t want those things, Bastien. All I want is you?—”

“Then move in with me.”

He overpowered me in every conversation we had, the greatest salesman who ever lived. There was no pitch I could reject. I was scared to move in and get settled as his woman—and have him leave me for someone else…and then I would be back in an apartment just like this. Heartbroken and alone and broke. But I wouldn’t bounce back, not like I had after Adrien.

He continued to silently demand an answer.

But I believed Bastien was different from Adrien. I believed in his honesty and integrity. And even though it was still hard to believe that a man so goddamn perfect could ever want me, I knew what I meant to him. “Okay.”

The hardness in his stare immediately vanished, like he couldn’t believe I actually agreed to it. “Is that a yes?” The confusion faded when he knew he didn’t misunderstand my response, and then that handsome smile came through.

“Yes.”

He smiled so bright, the smile was visible in his eyes. “Attagirl.” He squeezed me against him, and he gripped my ass as he rolled me over onto my back, his hand digging into my hair as his kisses smothered my neck. He pressed his mouth against mine, and he kissed me hard as he positioned himself between my thighs and sank deep inside me.

My gasp was muffled by his kiss. I gripped his back and felt the muscles harden underneath the skin. He rocked into me slowly, just the way he’d taken me earlier, the rain pounding the roof in the storm and streaking down the windows hidden behind the curtains. I used to hate the rain before Bastien.

But now, I loved it.

I came home from work and started to pack my things.

I didn’t have a lot of stuff, but it seemed like I’d just unpacked everything and now I had to pack up again. My destination wasa major upgrade and, if I was lucky, would be my forever home, but it was still hard to find the motivation to box everything up again.

I opened a bottle of wine, turned on some music, and got to work.

Bastien texted me.Are you done?

The smile that moved over my face was instantaneous.It’s gonna take me at least a couple days.

Why?

Because I have a job.

Okay, then you’re fired.

“This man…”Then it’s going to take even longer because now I have to find another job.

What do you need a job for?

Food, clothing, essentials…

That’s what I’m for, sweetheart.

Thank you, but I can get my own stuff, babe.

There was a pause before his three dots appeared again.I love it when you call me that.

The first time I said it the other night, it just flew out like the words had a pair of wings. I didn’t know where it came from. I’d never called Adrien that, nor any other man in my life. I’d never used a nickname.

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