Page 23 of True Soil-Mates

Her eyes widen at how loudly I laugh. “I’mnotthat much of a germaphobe, I swear.”

She returns to my arms and winks. “I also didn’t want to sleep in a wet spot.”

I kiss the top of her hair, then wrap the blankets around us. “Baby, that was…” She laughs again at my loud sigh. “Apparently I’ve lost the ability to make words. How aboutamazing?”

She nods against my shoulder. “Amazing. Awesome. Intense.”

“Yeah.” I dip my chin and kiss the tip of her nose. “That’s because you are amazing and awesome. I like that you’re not intense.”

“I like that you are willing to become slightly less stressed,” she says softly.

“Who wouldn’t, with the world’s best woman right here?” My arms tighten around her for a soft squish, then we relax into each other, our breath softening.

Then I fall asleep, knowing without a doubt that Jasmine and I belong together.

15

JASMINE

I’ve read about people saying that their chest aches if their heart is broken. Or if they feel lonely. Or if something terrible happens.

Somehow, my heart feels like it has erupted like a volcano, sending rivers of lava cascading through the rest of my body. Last night was a highlight of my life, and I don’t want the feeling ever to end.

The adrenaline rush just from puttering around Alex’s kitchen is making me giggle to myself. And not just because his coffee maker plays a cheerful techno song when you switch it on.

Being so intimate with Alex was incredible. If that was what it was like for just our first time, how am I going to hold it together on our tenth time? Our fiftieth? Because I definitely feel this relationship is going to have staying power.

I’m no expert on these things, but I’m going to go with my gut and believe it. Why not? Alex is everything I didn’t know I wanted in a man. He’s both incredibly sexy and slightly nerdy. Smart and powerful. Quirky and kind and…okay,particularabout some things, but that’s fine.

As I whisk the ingredients for omelets together, I hope I’m not getting ahead of myself. Just because we have buckets of potential doesn’t mean we’re going to ride off into the sunset together. Even though I’m almost positive we will.

I pull out mugs and plates, appreciating how organized and logical this huge kitchen is. Everything about Alex is logical. It makes him easier to figure out overall.

The way he held me so snugly in his arms all night long tells me he is seriously into me. Which feels… I don’t know. Like I won some kind of romantic lottery. Like I accidentally found all my deepest desires along with an instruction manual on how to navigate them.

There’s a shuffle in the doorway behind me just as I’m flipping the omelets. “I’m sneaking up behind you.” Oh wow. His voice is deep and rough first thing in the morning. It sends rumbles through my core.

His thick arms circle my waist from behind, and he presses his chest to my back while nuzzling my neck. “I like it that you’re making yourself comfortable here. Maybe you can spend the weekend? I get groceries delivered on Friday afternoons. I’ll give you the login code and you can add anything you like to the list. I want to be sure that I have your favorite coffee, tea, fizzy fruit water. Whatever.”

I turn off the heat and pull the pan off the burner, then spin in his arms. It’s impossible to resist burying my nose into his chest, which is covered with a soft, worn t-shirt. “You want me to get all comfy cozy right here in your space?” His hands slide down to grip my ass while he nods. I feel like my entire body is turning pink.

“Yup. That would make me extremely happy.”

“You don’t think it’s a little quick for that?”

His forehead meets mine, so when he shakes his head, I’m dragged along with him. “Not at all. We both know this is right.”His head dips to trail kisses down the column of my throat. “I’m an expert in reading data, remember?”

“Yeah? What data are you gathering right now?”

“That you’re slightly irritated I’m interrupting your cooking.”

We both laugh, then I try to turn back to the stove, but he stops me by grabbing my hips.

“Jasmine.” The way he says my voice ignites every nerve ending nestled inside his boxers that I’m wearing as shorts. “I want you to understand one very important data point.” His thumb drifts across my forehead, pushing my hair away. “I already love you. I’m envisioning the future with you. The whole long-term, forever kind of future.”

The spatula drops from my hand, and he catches it just before it hits the floor. “I?—”

His finger lands on my lips. “It’s okay, baby. I know I’m probably way ahead of you. This is going super-fast, and I don’t want to scare you. I want you to be completely comfortable every single moment of every single day. All right?”

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