Page 85 of Falcon

When we enter his apartment, I’m instantly comfortable.

It’s so...him.

The walls are an eggshell, matte color and the floors are a dark gray birchwood. It’s a stunning combination.

Directly ahead of us is a staircase that curves up to the left, which I’m assuming is where the bedrooms are.

To my immediate left is a living room with white sofas dotted with gray pillows. He has black accent chairs on either side of a glass coffee table and lamps placed here and there.

“Home sweet home.” He closes and locks the door behind us.

“This is so nice, Falcon. Really.” I step farther in to take a better look around.

“Thank you. Let’s get your stuff upstairs, then I’ll give you the official tour.”

Falcon

I underestimated how much having her here, in my space, would affect me. I thought it would be like having any other female here, but I couldn’t have been more incorrect about that.

As soon as the door closed, sealing us in together, the energy shifted and electrified.

If it could be seen, it would have been vibrating in waves like a pavement on a scalding hot summer day.

I have to make an actual effort to not drop my bag and slam her up against the wall and take her over every single flat surface in my entire apartment.

“Lead the way,” she says, motioning toward the stairs.

I take her bag before she can even fight me on it and I carry it, along with mine, up the stairs.

“I’m not going to force you to stay in my bedroom. I want you to, obviously, but I won’t pressure you into that. I have a guest room, if that will make you more comfortable.”

She grabs my arm to stop me, pushes up on her toes to cut me off with a kiss, then pulls away just enough to look me in the eyes.

“I want to be with you. In your room. In your space. In your bed.”

“Christ, you have no idea how happy that makes me.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised you even asked. I thought it was a given, considering you’ve been inside of me more times than I can count since we met.” She giggles.

“And I plan to be again and again, but I just needed to make sure you’re going to be comfortable while we are here. We’ll be in hotels a lot once the traveling starts, but...I don’t know. I just wanted to make sure.” I shrug.

Ever since she told me what happened to her, I feel this deep need to make sure she is okay at all times. Even if that means putting myself in a vulnerable spot. Even if it means hearing things I don’t want to.

“From now on, unless I say I’m uncomfortable, just assume I’m not, okay? I’ve learned over time that honesty is the best way to go, and I will always say something. Do you trust me?”

“You’re in my home, in a place you’ve never been before, with someone you have only known for a few weeks, and you’re asking me if I trust you? I should be asking you that.”

“I do trust you. With everything I am.”

Those words, words I truly haven’t earned, from someone who doesn’t freely give them, mean more than I can tell her.

“I won’t make you regret that.” I drop my bag and wrap my arms around her. “Thank you for coming with me.”

“What did I say about thanking me?”

“Fine. I won’t thank you with words...”

“Then how will you?” She presses herself against me.

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