“I’ve never been more serious. You said that I needed to prove that this was what I wanted. Well, this is what I want.” He gestured around the space. “I don’t need another woman in my life. I don’t want you second-guessing our relationship. I don’t want you worried about anything. I just want us together.”

“You don’t…you don’t think this is too soon?” she asked.

“Maybe it is,” he said with an easy shrug. “Maybe we’re moving too fast, but we spent so much time at a standstill that I don’t want to do it anymore.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, and a smile spread across her face. “So, this really isn’t a new bachelor pad for you?” she joked through a hiccup.

“No, it’s really not,” he told her with a kiss to her stunned lips. “Move in with me. I want to come home from a long day at work to find you sprawled in our bed. I want to wake up every morning with your body curled around me. I want us to share a space, as I have shared my life with you. I want you here. With me. Always.”

“Clay,” she gasped. “I…I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Believe it. I want to get rid of our apartments and sell the house.” He drew her even closer. “Make new memories, happy memories, here with me.”

“Okay,” she said finally as if she had finally realized that he was completely serious.

“Is that a yes?” he joked.

She stretched up onto her tiptoes and kissed him full on the mouth. “Yes, I’ll move in with you. There’s nothing else I want more in the world. Let’s do it.”

Chapter 27

THE ISLAND

“No! No! Be careful with that!” Andrea shrieked. “Do you know how much that cost? I’ll sue you for everything you’re worth if you drop that.”

The mover stared at her, as if she were insane. Clay just chuckled. Andrea was a little obsessive when it came to moving.

“Now, put it over there.” She flung her hand to the side and pointed at the wall. “And hang it neatly, please.”

The guy trudged into the room, and Clay followed him as Andrea flounced back out to harass the rest of the movers.

“Hey, man, sorry about that. She’s just really particular,” Clay said after the man had settled the artwork down on the floor, as if it were the most precious thing he’d ever held.

“No offense, but your wife is a little crazy,” the guy said.

Clay smiled and didn’t correct him. “That she is. But we all love them that way, don’t we?”

The mover shrugged and nodded. “Sure. Makes them good in bed.”

Clay pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and passed it to the man. “Just do whatever she says.”

“Sure thing. Priceless artwork hanging on the wall—neatly.”

“Thanks, man.”

When Andrea set her mind to something, everything had to be done exactly the way she wanted. He’d known as soon as she had agreed to move into their new place together that the move-in job was going to be one hell of a ride. She couldn’t even go to sleep unless all of her artwork was unpacked and hanging on the walls.

It didn’t help matters that she’d decided they needed to move in within the week. Nor did it help that he’d been so swamped at work that he couldn’t be there to pack. She’d hired someone to do most of the work, of course, but she also didn’t trust anyone with half of the things in her house, so she’d stormed around in a rampage, making sure people were properly storing everything in sight.

Most people would find it annoying.

He found it adorable.

They spent the better part of the day arranging, rearranging, and unpacking. It was grueling but worth it. When he surveyed the place at the end of the long day, he saw how it had transformed from a house to a home before his eyes.

“What do you think?” he asked.

Andrea was coming down the stairs in nothing but a pair of skintight workout shorts and a tank top with the hem tied under her tits. Her hair was in a messy bun at the top of her head with wisps floating all around her face. At that moment, he’d do anything to get his hands on her.

“It’s a work in progress.” She stopped at the foot of the stairs. “But it’s ours.”

“Very fitting then. I’d say we’re a work in progress.” He reached out and pulled her into his arms.

“Ugh! I’m so sweaty and grimy.” She tried to wrestle away, but he just lowered his lips to the crook of her neck and licked up her skin. She shivered in his arms, and he watched her pupils dilate with desire.

“Perfect then.”

“You’re ridiculous. We should go shower.”

“Oh, we will.” He gave her a mischievous look. “After we christen that kitchen island you’ve been teasing me with all week.”

She arched an eyebrow, but he didn’t wait for her to respond. He hoisted her up into his arms and carried her into their kitchen. Their kitchen. He deposited her on her ass onto the kitchen island. Their kitchen island. His fingers brushed across her knees, spreading her legs open as far as they’d go.

“I hate to break it to you, lover,” she whispered, her voice breathy, “but I’m actually wearing something under this.”

“Well, I’ll just have to fix that, won’t I?”

She grabbed him by the collar of his T-shirt and yanked him toward her. She’d been right. The island was the perfect height. He pressed himself hard up against the front of her shorts and was rewarded with a moan of pleasure from Andrea. He pushed her back flat against the kitchen island and then buried his face into her thin workout shorts. He breathed heavily against the material until she was squirming against his face.

“We’re going to need to get rid of these.”

“Definitely.”

She hopped off the counter and removed all her clothes at once. Then, without warning, she grabbed his shorts and dropped to her knees, dragging his shorts to his ankles. Her hand grasped his dick, and he had to reach forward to hold on to the counter as she massaged him up and down.

Her tongue licked around the head of his cock, and he closed his eyes to keep from coming all over her face. She lavished his cock, wetting the entire head, before popping it into her mouth and playing with it, as if it were a Popsicle. His jaw clenched as he strained for control.