Page 13 of Already His

Iwent downstairs in the morning to a sight I planned to get used to. Mia, dancing around the kitchen cooking, with music on, sunlight streaming in the windows, and an incredible smell filling the room.

“Don’t tell me you can cook as well,” I said, coming up behind her, and grabbing her around the waist, hugging her tightly against me. She laughed and swatted my hand with a spatula.

‘I’ll overcook the eggs,” she complained.

“I don’t care…” I murmured against her neck, as I picked her up and sat her on the counter, pressing her legs apart, I stood between the cradle of her hips. I wrapped my hand in her blond, tousled locks and tilted her head right back, making her mouth an offering to be devoured.

“I don’t like waking up to an empty bed,” I told her, neglecting to mention that I never invited women to stay over.

“Did you think I’d gone?”

“Yes, for a moment, and I was already crafting your punishment,” I said, nipping her neck a couple of times.

“Hey, stop it. You’ll leave a mark,” she said, pressing a hand to my sternum, and wiggling off the counter. Given the singeing smell rising from the pan on the stove, I released her.

“Good, then everyone will know,” I said, coming to stand beside her, and stealing a piece of mushroom from the pan, enjoying the salty, buttery taste.

“What? That I’m a loose woman?” Her tone was light, but her words made me pause. I captured her chin and held her face so I could see into her blue eyes.

“So everyone will know that you are mine. And you’re not a loose woman, whatever that means. We are both consenting adults. There’s nothing anyone should think about that, except for the envy they will inevitably feel for me,” I said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’m a lucky bastard.”

* * *

We ate in the garden, and Mia told me about her job and family. I heard more about her church-going parents, deceased mother, and in the closet brother. She had a whole, rambling, messy life that would usually be the least interesting thing in the world to hear about. Instead, because it was her, it was fascinating. A warm feeling had taken root in my chest. I looked at her and knew she was going to be the mother of my children, the thought made me hard enough to want to carry her upstairs and make love to her again. I forced down my lust. There’d be time for me to have Mia in every which way I desired. Just now, something niggled at me. Like the truly type-A lawyer I was, when something wreaked of injustice as Mia’s work situation did, it bothered me.

“How long have you been working at the studio?” I asked her casually. Of course, after we married, she’d never need to work again, but she was clearly passionate about her job, and I wanted her to have everything that made her happy. As long as I had her.

“A few years. I interned there in the last few years of uni, and got kept on, just because I think Stefania had taken on too many unpaid workers to do real work for too long,” she sighed, blowing a white blonde strand from her forehead.

“Your remuneration and conditions are abysmal considering the length of your employment. Have you ever considered starting your own studio?” I studied her reaction as I sipped my coffee. It was exquisite. A flare of excitement in those ocean blue depths.

“Only every day. I already have a partner who does all the parts I can’t. All we are missing is the investment.”

“How much?”

“A cool one and a half mill would cover it,” she laughed dismissively.

“Ok, let’s do it,” I said, setting down my cup, and picking up my cell.

“What! Wait, what are you doing?” she cried, as I unlocked the screen.

“Calling my finance guy,” I said. She gripped my hand.

“Stop joking around. It’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking,” I told her calmly. She stared at me a long moment and then shook her head in disbelief.

“I believe you, but you know I can’t let you do that, right?”

“Why not? I’d make the terms very favourable,” I smirked at her. She rolled her eyes, and pried my phone from my hand and set it on the table.

“You really are insane, Elliot Winter.”

“Yes, I am…about you, Mia Rossi.” I said with a smile. She was still staring at me with an incredulous look, breaking briefly away to glance at her watch.

“I’ve got to go,” she said softly. I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted to keep her inside my house until I’d won her over enough to convince her to take the money, or better yet, marry me.

“I’ll call you later,” I said instead. She nodded, but there was a distance in her eyes I didn’t care for.

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