Page 132 of At First Smile
Laughing, he cups my cheek. “I love you, so much.”
“As big as the moon.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
An I in Team?
Rowan
“Rowan,” Pen whimpers, her head falling back against my shoulder.
The way she says my name as she falls apart is the most addictive sound in the world. Reminiscent of a favorite song, her lyrical mules and whines sing to me.
With lazy circles, I stroke between her legs, pink shading her white skin, and a gentle shake rolling over her. Tucked against my chest, my other hand cups one plump breast, tweaking the hard peak.
“God, I love Saturdays,” I murmur and bite gently on her earlobe. “I get to take my time with you—” I pinch her nipple and apply just a little more pressure to her clit. “—to enjoy every inch of you.”
“God!” she cries, her body seizes with relief.
There’s never a moment when Pen isn’t beautiful to me. After she first wakes, her long hair tumbling from her ponytail. After yoga class with JoJo, sweat glistening on every inch of her.Lounging with GB, a pair of old leggings and one of my too-big-for-her T-shirts. A new red dress like she wore last night when she asked me to move in. Right now, a sated smile and blush painted across her cheeks, as she lays against me.
While moving in together doesn’t seem to change anything, as I’ve practically moved in over the last two months, it somehow changes everything. Now, this is our home, not Pen’s place.
This may seem crazy to anyone on the outside looking in. Technically we’ve only been together for two months. Still, this is right. The calm that settles over me with her in my arms solidifies that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.
“What are you thinking?” she whispers, caressing along my forearm.
“About us living together.”
“Are you having second thoughts?”
I kiss below her ear. “No.”
“It would make sense. It’s a huge commitment.”
“Luv, I’ve pretty much moved in already.”
“But this makes it official.” She shifts, rolling over to face me, and winces after bumping her still-injured hand. “Like what does you moving in look like?”
“I’d imagine it looks like what it currently does, but with more of my stuff here.”
“We should probably talk about household management stuff.”
“Like finances?”
“No…well, yes—” her head tilts. “I don’t know. The house is paid for, thanks to Aunt Bea, so it’s just utilities and taxes to worry about. I wouldn’t expect you to pay anything. Guess I’m thinking more about chores and how the house is set up. Things like that. I want you to feel like this isourhome.”
“First, I will contribute to the household finances.”
Her body goes rigid, tension coiling her muscles. “I don’t need you to pay for me.”
“I know that.” I kiss her temple. “But we’re a team, so fifty/fifty?”
She nods, seeming to mull that over before she agrees. “Fifty/fifty.”
“The rest we can figure out over the week. We can discuss chores and what I should bring from my condo.”
Her face scrunches. “Are you going to want to decorate with neon light beer signs?”
