Page 72 of Anything for You
“Not all of us can look like models,” Beast said, then pulled his keys from his pocket. “Gotta get home to the family, but I’ll see you tomorrow. Talk to your woman.” He pointed at me like I’d have to answer to him if I didn’t.
The others followed suit, and I took the chance to go before anyone else popped up ready to chat. It was unlikely, but I wanted to ride this good feeling for a minute and not sink back down into the concerns that’d been tightening around my ribs before we started talking about Dove.
After a stop to pick up some groceries and my holds from the library, I made it home right as Dove was pulling in. Seeing her car was exhilarating in a way that hardly made sense, except that I was in love with her so of course it did.
I… I mean, obviously, I was in love with her.
I could’ve laughed just from thinking it.
Anything having to do with the woman gave me a burst of happiness.
“Hey there, Dorian Q. How was your day?” she asked, smiling so brightly she practically glowed. She didn’t stopcoming until her arms were wrapped around me and mine her.
Holding her was heaven. After the riot of feelings, then the swing of joy telling my friends about where we stood, then holding those nagging worries at bay, breathing in her warm, soft scent and feeling her in my arms was like taking my first breath of air after being under water as I kicked to reach the surface.
“I’m glad to see you.” The words were so feeble, they sounded ridiculous to my ears. But it was too soon to tell her just how much this moment meant to me.
She pulled back, examining my face. The sun had started setting as I’d left work and now the dusky light made it hard to see her quite as vividly as I’d like.
“Are you okay?” Her hands rose to cup my face, nails scratching against the thick, too-long hairs of my beard.
“I am now.” I sighed, loosening a bit more by the second. “But I have to get a haircut for tomorrow.”
Her hands stilled. “You do? Why?”
What did it say about me that I liked her response? That instead of, “yeah, you’re overdue,” she seemed almost dismayed.
“I’m working the film fest. I’m unlikely to do anything public-facing, but it’s time. I could look a little more put together.” No doubt my cheeks were burning with a blush, but she wouldn’t see that very well between the aforementioned beard and the dimming daylight.
“I’m not just saying this because you’re my boyfriend. I’m—” She tucked her lips between her teeth and her lashes fluttered.
My grin exploded across my face. “I’m your boyfriend, huh?”
Her hands dropped to my shoulders and she shoved meaway a little. Only enough to rock me back, and I caught her hands and pressed her palms to my heart. “Does that mean you’re my girlfriend?”
Her gaze dropped down to her toes, and she kicked at nothing. “Well, I’m not anyone else’s, that’s for sure.”
Gathering her to me, I tilted her chin up, relishing the slightly anxious and yet playful gleam in her eye.
“I’m yours, that’s for sure. And as long as you’re good with it, you’re mine.”
“I’m good with it,” she whispered, then leaned into me as she rose on her toes and pressed her lips to mine.
I could get lost in her kiss, in the supple feel of her body against mine and the way the ends of her hair brushed my bare wrists where they wrapped around her. I would’ve lost all sense of time if she hadn’t ended the kiss by pulling back and laughing.
“Alright then, that’s settled.”
I nodded.
“And now, let’s eat some dinner and, if you trust me, I can help you with that haircut.”
Nuzzling into her neck, a mixture of relief, desire, and something unidentifiable and bittersweet crept into my chest. We’d spend time together—relief. I wanted her as much as I wanted my next breath—desire. And whatever else it was, I didn’t want it right now.
“I trust you,” I whispered into her skin, amazed and delighted to mean it.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Dove
