Page 159 of Wildest Forever

“Thank you,” I say as he passes me my mug and I bring it closer so I can inhale the warm liquid.

Turning to watch Pacey as he climbs back into bed and tugs the covers up his chest, his back towards the headboard as his mug buries into the duvet on his lap.

“I love you,” my lips pull into a bigger smile and his eyes glisten but his brows furrow.“What?” Panic hits me in the chest, my eyes volleying between his.

“I will never tire of hearing those three words, those eight letters, fall from your lips,”

and all panic that once set up camp in my chest slowly packs itself up and buries itself back into the deepest crevices.

A pink, crimson slips against my cheeks, a soft laugh bubbling out for me as I drop my eyes to my lap, focusing on my tea.

“Are you okay?” my hand slips from my side and moves over to him as I scoop his hand in mine.

“I am,” he gives a soft nod, but he doesn't fill me with confidence.

“What happened today?” I push for a little more and I have no idea how he will react, my heart pounds in my chest, my palms feeling a little clammy.

“I want to tell you...” he drags my hand to his lips and dusts a kiss across the back of it, “but not now... I just need to forget about everything that happened.”

“And I respect your choice,” I lean back into the headboard and let my eyes linger for a second more before I drag them away and settle them on the television and this is how we spend the next few hours before exhaustion takes us both into a deep slumber.

The vibration of a phone pulls me from a dreamless sleep and slowly I turn to where Pacey should be.

My eyes shoot open as I sit up, panic entwining through my blood but that's when I see him, standing by the window with his phone next to his ear.

The choppy waves settle to a calmness, and I hate that I feel like I am on edge and the worst bit is I have no reason to be.

“Okay, I'll be in soon,” he says quietly before cutting the call.

I watch as his shoulders lift and drop with a heavy sigh before his eyes trail over his shoulder and lock with mine.

Lips curling into a slow smirk as he turns his body and steps towards the bed.

“Morning wife,” he crawls onto the bed and lays his body over mine, his head on my stomach, arms either side of me.

“Morning handsome,” my voice is soft as my fingers brush through his hair, trailing back and forth and twisting the odd lock around them.

“Sleep okay?” he asks, not lifting his head from my chest.

“I did, did you?”

I drag my fingers up and down over his scalp and I hear a deep breath leave him.

“Mmhm,” he manages.

“Good.”

Silence creeps around the room but it's peaceful.

Soft snores soon replace that silence, and I glance down at the man who is laying on me and a warmth radiates through my whole body.

I should wake him, but I make a promise to myself to let him have ten minutes more and then I'll wake him, but right now, I am enjoying this too much and I wanted to be a little selfish, soaking this all up.

Both dressed,he walks towards me and snakes his arm around my waist as he drags me towards him, a boyish grin on his face as he kisses me goodbye.

“Have a good day,” his voice rumbles against my lips.

“I’ll try,” I smirk and place my hand on his chest. “Have a good day too,” I kiss him back.

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