“Why are you even here, D? You should be with him!” Emma exclaims the minute she walks into the kitchen and finds me making a sandwich.

I haven’t been back to Antonio’s since I came back home Sunday, and I guess Emma is finding an issue with that. She has been hinting all along I need to go be with him. I suppose now she’s a little more emphatic about it. Honestly, I do miss spending intimate time with him. At the office, we have been able to keep it super-professional. And he’s been working late, so I’ve just been coming home.

“Calm down there, girlie,” I joke. “I am going to be with him. He had some errands to run and I wanted to pack some stuff.”

She plops down onto the barstool with her arms folded. “Well, good then; you’d be a fool not to be spending time with him.”

I lean into the counter and take a bite of my sandwich. “I know, right? He is quite dreamy.”

Emma flutters her long lashes and lets out a whimsical sigh. “It’s so romantic. I think he’s in love with you.”

“Don’t try to analyze my love life, little girl. Would you like a sandwich?”

“No thank you. I had pizza with Julian after school.”

“Julian?”

“Yes. The guy I met. The one who’s gonna take me to prom.” She hops off the barstool and walks over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

“Oh, his name is Julian? Sounds sophisticated,” I say through bites of my sandwich.

“He’s really sweet, D. I want you to meet him.”

“I will, babe. But for now, I’ve gotta go pack. Antonio will be here soon.”

* * *

Antonio picks me up and takes me back to his house with plans for us to cook dinner together.

“Are you sure we’ll be able to cook in here without ending up naked on the counter?” I ask playfully.

“As long as you don’t strip down to your glorious nakedness, like you did before.” Antonio pulls me close and kisses my forehead. “Because once I see you naked, all bets are off.”

“Mmm-hmm,” I say looking up at him. “Well, don’t be flaunting any of your sexy-ass smirks that make me want to strip down to my nakedness.”

“I’ll try not to. But it’s good to know that’s all I have to do to get you naked.”

We prepared what has become our favorite meal together—pizza, loaded with mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, and pepperoni, and gulped it down with a glass of red wine as we lounged in the living room and watched the movie he’s never watched before—The Godfather.

“So, what did you think?” I ask once the movie is over.

He raises a skeptical eyebrow. “Well, besides the fact it was long, I admit it’s good. I’m glad you made me watch it.” He smirks.

I lean in close to him and brush my lips against his. “Antonio, is that a smirk I see on your face?”

He pulls me on top of him on the couch. “You’re very observant. Why aren’t you naked yet?”

I lift myself off him. “That, was not your sexy smirk.” I laugh and run up the stairs toward his bedroom and then into his room.

And when he catches up to me, he says, “I’ve got an idea. How about we step into the jacuzzi.”

“It’s cold.”

“Not in the jacuzzi.”

I don’t even hesitate. “Fine. After you.”

I strip down and slip into Antonio’s bathrobe as he jets up the jacuzzi and then I watch him undress and get in to test the temperature before I remove the robe and join him.

“The water feels nice,” I say, inching my way over to him.

I sit down and he scoots over to me, nestling between my legs.

He kisses my neck and rubs my breasts and then moves his mouth to mine. “Move in with me,” he murmurs as his lips tease mine.

“Move in with you?” I say, my legs trembling as his hand moves from my breast down my belly, his finger softly grazing my essence.

“Yes, baby. Move in with me. As in, live here.”

I tremble as his fingers continue to tease my spot. “That’s a serious step,” I say through quickened breaths.

“And, I’m quite serious about you.”

I close my eyes, basking in the pleasure of his hand and fingers performing their magic under the warm jet-induced bubbles as I feel myself lose control. “Yes, baby, yes,” I shout as I give in to the pleasure.

He holds onto me as the orgasm moves through me and kisses me softly. “Was that a yes?”

I open my eyes and look up at him. “Yes. Antonio. I will move in with you.”

* * *

The next morning, while in the shower, Antonio is quiet and seems deep in thought. He sticks his arm out to reach for something and tucks his arm behind his back.

Before I even have the time to ask him what he’s up to, Antonio Michaels gets down on one knee and presents a black box. He then slowly opens the box and I nearly pass out.

Inside the box is a huge ring, maybe ten carats. “Daniella Belle. Don’t think I’m the type of man who would ask a woman to move in just for the hell of it. I freaking adore the hell out of you. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

And before I know it, I reply, “Fuck yes!”