Page 106 of Liam

I looked at Jamal. He was even more beautiful when he slept. I wanted to reach out and stroke his cheek, but I refrained. I lay my head on my pillow and kept watching him.

His soft breathing.

His stunning lashes.

His lips that felt like velvet.

His love for me.

My heart stitched a few more traumatic tears back together. Being with Jamal had started it on the road to healing. Every day with him brought me closer to being whole.

Aside from theSalish Sea Society, he was the only family I needed in my life.

Chapter Twenty-Two | Jamal

I wheeled into the apartment space. The building manager had left me alone to look around. The first thing I noticed was the doorway was wide enough to easily accommodate my chair. The second was the flooring. It was embossed vinyl which was non-slip and easy to roll on.

Directly inside the front door, a light switch at the correct height for me. I took a turn into the kitchen. I could roll straight through it rather than get stuck at the end of a galley and be forced to turn around, and it was wide enough to give me lots of room. The countertops were low and level with the sink and cooktop, all with room underneath for my knees and chair. The fridge had a freezer at the bottom, and the upper part wasn't full-sized. I could reach everything in it.

Again, all the light switches and outlets were at my level. I headed for the bathroom next. It was bigger than my bathroom at home. Lots of room to turn around. Plenty of space beside the toilet for my chair, and the counter was at my height with space for my knees under the sink. It had a similar shower to what I was used to. I could easily transfer onto a bench and there were grab bars all over the shower walls and bathroom to assist me. To the side of the shower in an alcove was a front-loading, all-in-one washer and dryer I could easily use.

It was then that I noticed a guide rail on the ceiling that ran through the door from the bedroom over the toilet and ended at the shower. There might come a time when I was unable to transfer on my own due to age. The rail was for a liftsystem so I could be transported from my bed to the bathroom. I moved into the bedroom. The same vinyl flooring was under my wheels. Not very warm but functional. There was a closet along one wall, no doors, and a hanging rail at my level.

I proceeded to the living room. It was sufficient and had an attached eating area, then down the hall on the other side of the apartment was the second bedroom. It was much like the main bedroom but without the rail system. It would be perfect for a child.

"Jamal?"

I hadn't heard the door open. "I'm down in the bedroom to the right." Liam's hands came to rest on my shoulders once he entered the room. I had invited him to join me.

"Are you thinking of moving in here?"

"It better suits my needs. Everything is at my level and has room for my knees."

"It would make a big difference. You'd be able to do more on your own." He patted my shoulders. "I'm going to take a look around."

"Take your time." My chest tightened even though my heart pounded hard to make room for the nervousness I was feeling. Even my hands were sweating. Liam and I had known each other for less than three months. Our love had run us over like a steam train on a tight schedule.

My heart told me it was time.

I rolled back into the hallway. Liam was in the bathroom. I rolled through the kitchen to the other side. Off the front door, there was an open den that would make a great office. It would also serve as a perfect space for Liam to study and do his homework if he went back to school.

Liam strode toward me, a huge smile on his face. "This is great. I can see you here."

I swallowed hard. "Can you seeyouhere?"

There, I'd said it. I'd asked the love of my life to move in with me.

Liam's eyebrows rose. "You want me to move in with you?"

"Is it too fast?"

He took a second then straddled my knees and cupped my face. "No. It's not too fast. It's just perfect. You're perfect. I love you. I can't wait to live here with you."

Liam leaned down and kissed me, and I could see our entire future together. This was the beginning of something profound. We were going to do this. Live a life. Start a family with children. Grow old together. Be with one another until the end. Tears welled in my eyes.

"I don't think I've ever been this happy," I said.

Liam smiled at me. "Then I have my work cut out for me because it is my mission to make you happy every single day. From morning until night … total bliss."

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