Page 22 of Loved By the Hacker

And it was an easy feeling this time around. Not something I felt the need to overthink or analyze.

When Oleg took my hand in his and I looked up at him, his deep dark eyes locked with mine, shining with something sweet and something that looked a lot like I felt. I just hoped I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.

Oleg

We had been sitting on her couch cuddled together, my hand stroking her shoulders, for the last hour as we both pretended to watch the comedy she had mentioned her sisters suggested. It wasn’t that the movie wasn’t good, but it was obvious by her silence that she was deep in thought, and I was deep in worry about where her head might be at.

At forty-two, you would think I was a man who knew his way around a relationship, but the only ones I had any kind of experience with were those with the men I worked closely with and the ones I made through different kinds of deals. Nothing like what I wanted to grow with Coral.

“You’ve been quiet since we got home,” I pointed out as we sat on her couch cuddled together.

“Have I?” she asked, turning her gaze to mine.

“Hmm,” I grunted, kissing the top of her head. “Are you upset I interrupted lunch with your sisters?” I’d been watching from my car, and when they started to ask questions, I had seen the panic and doubt start to bloom to life in mybabochka’s eyes. I couldn’t have that. Not when all I wanted was to spend the rest of my days making my girl happy.

She shook her head. “I’m actually glad you stopped by. Did that mess up any plans?”

“What?”

“I mean, were you supposed to meet someone there or?—“

“No.” I shook my head. “I was just going in to have something to eat.”

“And all you got was dessert and an interrogation.” She made a face. “Want me to go fix you something now? Are you hungry? Or?—“

“Baby, relax. Talk to me. What’s going on in your head?”

“You don’t live here,” she blurted out.

“Here in your house or?—“

“Moonlit Pines,” she cut me off and winced. “I mean, you do, but you don’t at the same time.”

“Butterfly, I told you I’m here for as long as you will have me.”

“Stay forever, then,” she teased, but I didn’t smile.

“Done.” I shrugged, and she looked at me, her eyes serious and worried before she broke into a fit of laughter. Gently pushing my shoulder, she grinned up at me.

“I’m serious,” she groaned with a playful look in her eye.

“So am I, butterfly. I can work from anywhere. If there is something that needs my personal attention, I can always travel to them. You can come with me. But my home? The place I’m at for the immediate future and hopefully long term, that is wherever you are.”

“Just like that? For me?” I nodded. My hand drew up and held her face, stroking her cheek with the pad of my thumb.

“Coral, there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for you,” I shared genuinely.

“You say that kind of stuff, and it makes me think you’re not real.”

“What?” I asked, slightly confused.

“Nothing, just… you sound like one of the heroes from the books Raven likes to read.”

“Ah, a book boyfriend?” I guessed, having heard the term on a TikTok video.

“Yeah.” She smiled, leaning into my touch. “Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course.” My tone dropped an octave.

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