Page 150 of All the Forbidden Things
He smiles my favourite smile. It’s soft and has his golden eyes glowing, making me feel warm inside.
“It’s our first time out as a couple. I’m excited to have you drive me. It’ll be the first time you’ve driven me in your car since I was a kid. I’m excited to hear you introduce me to the agent as your girlfriend.”
He smiles as he brushes my hair from my face. “You fucking amaze me.”
“Why? I mean, I’m pretty fucking amazing, I know, but why in particular, right now am I amazing?”
“We’re going to look at houses valued at between three and seven-million pounds, and you don’t give a fuck about any of that. All you care about is me driving you in my car and hearing me introduce you as my girlfriend, which, B-T-W, is a totally inadequate term for what you are to me.”
“That was a beautiful speech, totally ruined by the B-T-W. Who the fuck says that?”
“Me, I say it. Just said it then.”
“Well, please don’t. Not ever again.”
“You say F-Y-I, you said it just now.”
“Sonotthe same.”
His mouth crashes down on mine, and he kisses me senseless for a minute. “Shut up and go to sleep, Bamm. I’m old, remember? I need my sleep before embarking on such a long and treacherous journey tomorrow.”
“Maybe I should drive?” I suggest.
“Not a fucking chance. I’ve seen you drive the quad, so yeah, not happening.”
I turn back onto my side so Max can spoon me. “Max?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re getting on a bit, but I love you.”
“Good to know, Bamm. I’ll sleep soundly now.”
I wait for him to tell me he loves me back. It doesn’t come. “You’re a dick, you know that, right?”
“Think we’ve established that. Go to sleep.”
I wait.
Nothing.
“Really? That’s how we’re ending our day?”
“Made you come, didn’t I?”
“Twice,” I admit.
“Don’t know what the problem is then. Perfect way to end the day if you ask me. Now go to sleep.”
We both fall silent, and just as I’m drifting off to sleep, he lifts my hair, tenderly kisses the curve of my neck, and says, “As soon as I get my divorce, I want to get married. I want the biggest, most lavish, over-the-top wedding. I want bells, doves, cake, flowery wall things, and bridesmaids, all of it. I want all of the things.”
I smile and grind my bum into him because, when he says shit like that, it makes me horny, it makes me happy, and it makes me too want all of the things.
I fall asleep thinking about ourusand all that it might bring.
Max
Iadd a couple oflogs to the fire, before crawling back into bed next to Billie and wait patiently for her to wake up. Despite giving her cot a gentle shake or three earlier, even Layla hasn’t stirred this morning. It’s after six and still dark outside, but Layla’s bottle was due half an hour ago.
