Page 62 of Fast Currents
She groaned, hiding her face against my shoulder. “Robertson, is this how it’s going to be from now on?”
“Me giving you abundant orgasms that wake the neighbors? God, I hope so.” I squeezed her into a hug, laughing when she squealed.
“No. I mean us, together.”
“Absolutely.”
Her beautiful face turned toward mine, her expression serene. “Good.”
“I love you, Lucy Millen.” Saying it made some of the rust in my chest flake away, like practice would make telling her I loved her easier every time I said it. I’d have to say it a lot.
Her eyes softened. “I love you, Clay.”
She seemed in a relatively giving mood. It wouldn’t hurt to ask. “Since I love you, and you love me, how do you feel about taking things to the next level?”
“What level comes after orgasms that wake the neighbors?” she asked, a smile flirting with her lips. “I draw the line at public nudity. We’re not bringing any of Gran’s artwork to life.”
I chuckled. “I had something slightly tamer in mind. But only if you discount Jack Reynold’s new respect for my prowess.” Lucy rolled her eyes, and I continued, “How would you feel about moving in together?”
“Your place or mine?” she asked.
I paused. For some reason I’d expected more of an argument.
“Don’t look so shocked, Robertson. I don’t want to fight all the time.”
I arched one brow. She winked. “Tomorrow, I want to be the one high-fiving Jack.”
After another round of love-making in the shower, we slipped into clothes, and I cooked breakfast for us. Lucy seemed content to sit at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee and watching me work.
“What should we do today?” I set plates of toast and scrambled eggs on the table for us. “Can I help you with packing after work?”
“I think we need to follow up with Agent Harris. I keep thinking about Chaz and the gallery.” She tugged at her bottom lip. “I don’t know what it takes for Agent Harris to get hold of Chaz’s sales records, but that’d be the first place I looked.”
“I can call him later this morning. I also need to either call Chaz or head to the gallery and get an idea of the night’s receipts.” I felt a little guilty that we hadn’t stuck around to finish the evening, but Lucy and I’d had more important things to do. I could never regret a second of last night.
Lucy nodded thoughtfully. “I need to spend a few hours at my studio and get caught up on work. Do you want to pick me up before lunch, and we can eat at one of the restaurants in Roche Harbor and head to the gallery afterward?”
“It’s a date.”
I took off for my office when Lucy left. She was already making her mark at the house. Something about that made me feel more settled than her words of love. Like she’d truly let down her guard. Let me in. Maybe she didn’t fully realize it, but I recognized how special that was. How rare. My Lucifer didn’t trust easily. Her inner circle was tight. And I was honored to claim a spot near the center.
***
Lucy was bent over a glass orb, safety glasses on, when I slipped into her studio. As if she sensed my presence, she looked up. A gentle smile suffused her features, taking my heart and melting it on the spot. I could remember a time when she only frowned at me. Being the recipient of her smiles, witnessing her obvious joy at seeing me, felt like the ultimate prize.
“Hey. Ready to go?” I asked around the lump in my throat.
“Yep. Just let me pop this in the annealing oven and wash my hands.”
A few minutes later, she followed me out to my truck. It was cold and cloudy out. Typical for early November. The true storms and threats of snow and ice usually moved in closer to December.
“Before I forget, my family is planning to visit at Thanksgiving.” I said it casually, checking her expression. “I’m hosting this year and want to make sure you’re okay with that.”
“Are they staying with us?” She shifted in her seat to face me. “Is it just your parents?”
Something in me eased at the nonchalant way she said “us.”
“They don’t have to. I know it’s going to be tight to get our households combined in only a few weeks. If having them stay in the guest room is too much, then I can get them a room at one of the B&Bs.”
