Page 75 of Untethered Heart
I press a kiss to Lex’s head, her soft hair spilling over my chest. It feels like sparklers popping in my stomach, holding her this close to me. Holding her like she’s mine. Because she is. Of all the things I’ve achieved in life, nothing compares to the high of calling Lex my girl.
I should try to sleep a little more, but I’m too anxious for later today. I asked Riley for suggestions on a nice beach where I could take Lex for a picnic. I didn’t want to take her to some fancy restaurant like I would any other date. Lex is special. She deserves something that’s uniquely her. And I want her to know just how much she’s on my mind. How I want to make her happy.
I checked out the spot earlier in the week to make sure it would work for what I was planning. It would have been better to do it yesterday, but with Lex’s work schedule, I had to make it today instead. Which means I’ll be missing the weekly Heart family dinner for the first time in I don’t even know how long. Maybe ever. That also means my family will have questions.
I don’t mind telling them about Lex. In fact, I’d love to shout it from the rooftops, but I want to make sure Lex and I have a clear discussion about our relationship before I get ahead of myself.
My phone beeps on the bedside table. I look down at Lex, who seems heavy in sleep, not a line of worry on her pretty face. I ease my arm over and snatch up my phone, turning it in my palm to see who could be messaging me so early.
MIA: Hey, baby! I just flew in from Queens Coast. You busy? We should hook up…
A cold sweat covers my skin, making me feel nauseous. Mia is a model I hooked up with once. She doesn’t live in Heart City, but she travels around the country a lot for work, so we often cross paths at events.
Ughh, I don’t want to respond to her. I don’t want to engage with any other woman. I wouldn’t want Lex to misconstrue anything, and I don’t want the idea that random women always message me to fester in her head, either.
I navigate to Mia’s contact info and block the number, then delete the message thread. I spend the next half hour blocking and deleting numbers from my contact list. Then I clear the DMs sitting in my Instagram inbox and photos on my feed that don’t directly relate to my family or work.
I hover over the edit profile button for a moment before tapping it. My business, Heart Assets, as well as H&H Mining, The Wayside, and Two Hearts Homes, are all tagged in my bio. I drag the cursor to the start and add a heart emoji with LM to the first line.
I know gossip columns and social stalkers will pick up on the change before I even finish my morning coffee, but I like the way my chest settles with the declaration. Since we were teens, people have tried to attach themselves to me and my siblings, to gain our favour, whether to declare themselves as a romantic interest or even a close friend. The four of us have never placed much weight on settling down, all cursed with being notorious workaholics.
But as of today, this Heart is no longer on the market.
Metaphorically clearing myself of the past and locking in the future has my body feeling like I can relax and settle into a space where I’m not searching for the next big thing. Lex shifts in my arms, nuzzling against my chest, and I squeeze her tighter before I let that peace pull me under with her.
***
“Do I get to know where we’re going?” Lex asks me a few hours later.
I woke up with her still clutched to my body, so I fucked her slow before dragging both our arses into the shower. She looked at me with a dark, raised eyebrow when she spotted the same coconut bath products in my shower that she has in hers.
She was more surprised afterwards when I pulled open a drawer in my walk-in closet that was filled with clothes in her size. Activewear, soft cotton T-shirts and denim shorts, matching the comfortable and feminine style I always see her in, that I love seeing her in.
So, I may have gotten carried away when I went shopping for the bath products. I got too excited imagining her in my space and didn’t want her to be without anything. I mean, it’s not a crime to spoil the one you… really, really like.
She put on a pale lilac set along with a pair of white Converse. I may have bought myself a matching pair that I threw on with my camel chino shorts and a beige, short-sleeved linen shirt.
I run a hand through my still-damp hair, pushing the curls back. They tend to be less chaotic when they’re dry, especially if I put some product in them, but I’m not feeling as inclined to put myself together today. I like how relaxed I feel in Lex’s presence.
She pulls a hair band off her wrist and wraps her red hair in a knot on top of her head. A few loose strands shape her face, and it makes the grey of her eyes brighten, reminding me of moonstones. I cross the space to stand before her, gently brushing the loose curls from her face and tucking them behind her ear.
“No. It’s a surprise.” And then I drop a quick kiss against the pout she gives me. “Are you ready?”
She looks up at me with sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. The sweetest fucking thing I have ever seen. When she winds her hand into mine and interlaces our fingers, I feel my heart plummet just a little further. Further into the existence of loving her.
“I’m ready.”
Chapter thirty-seven
When we left my penthouse earlier, a picnic basket was waiting outside the door, as promised. I scooped it up with one hand, keeping the other firmly in Lex’s, and we rode down the elevator to the basement car park.
I normally drive my Lamborghini, so Lex starts to pull away from me as we approach the charcoal sports car, heading for the passenger side. I tug her back and walk us over to the white Corvette parked next to it.
“Do you have a Batmobile as well?” She smiles.
“Actually, Bruce Wayne does drive a Corvette,” I say, opening the door for her. “But his is black.”
“You do seem to have a lot in common, though. Mr Heart, are you keeping secrets from me?” she whispers. “Do you like to moonlight as a vigilante in spandex too?”
