Page 95 of Where We Bloom

“Never bloody better,” I murmur before pressing my lips against her collarbone and chin. “Why?”

“I don’t know if I’ve seen you quite that … intense.” Her face softens in a smile, and her fingers ghost down my cheek. “And I feel guilty as fuck.”

“Why?”

“Because I was supposed to be thankingyoufor bringing my parents to me, and instead, I’m the one who had three orgasms.”

“You deserved three orgasms,” I inform her before rolling off her and pulling her against me.

“We’re a mess, Connor.”

“Don’t care.” I kiss her temple, hugging her close, and I grin as she links her legs with mine.

Billie wasn’t kidding when she said she likes to be touched. But more than that, she likes to beheld.Cuddled.

And I’m more than happy to oblige her any chance I get.

“We need to talk, bumble.”

She moves back far enough to look up at me. “Am I in trouble?”

I keep the smile off my face as my fingertip drifts down the bridge of her perfect nose. “I don’t know, what did you do?”

“Oh, the list is vast.” She draws shapes on my chest and narrows her pretty eyes as if she’s thinking it over. “My car is due for an oil change, but don’t tell Brooks because he’ll yell at me. Actually, it’s probably also due for new brakes.”

I scowl at her. “What the fuck do you mean, it needs new brakes?”

“They squeak now and then.” She shrugs. “I don’t go very far, so it’s not a big deal.”

“Brakes are a big deal.” Fuck, I’ll just buy her a new car and have it delivered tomorrow. “What else?”

“I’ve been busy and forgot to change the filter in my furnace for about two years. I mean, who can even remember that there are filters in furnaces?”

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.

She’s going to be the end of me.

“Baby, your house could burn down.”

“My brother’s a fireman, so at least I know someone who can put it out.”

“Billie.”

She chuckles and kisses my chest. “Kidding. Anyway, the furnace is under the house, in a crawl space. Do you know how many spiders are down there?”

“You’re moving in here. With me. Immediately.”

Billie laughs, and when I don’t laugh with her, she blinks at me. “You’re not joking.”

“I don’t find the idea of you living here with me funny, bumble.”

“It’s just a furnace filter.”

I roll her onto her back and cage her in, my elbows on either side of her head. “It’s not about the filter. I just want you here. I’m a selfish man, and we’re already busy enough with our own businesses. I don’t want to have a conversation every day about whose house we’re going to stay at. I want youhere.Every night after work. Every morning. Every goddamn minute that I can have you.”

Her gaze drops to my lips, then flicks back to my eyes, and she rubs her lips together.

“What would I do with my house?”

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