“So, are you going to move in?”

Bayley was sitting in one of Nick’s comfortable chairs turned to face the wide window, her feet propped up and her computer in her lap, the sunset providing the perfect view. Her fingers stilled their pecking, halting over the keyboard. Looking over, she stared at Nick, lounging on the sofa, Mr. Lickers curled up at his side. Her gaze dropped to the cat, whose fur he was rubbing. Grinning, she asked, “Are you talking to me or Mr. Lickers?”

Matching her smile, he replied, “I kinda figured you two were a package deal.”

Nodding, she agreed, “Yeah, we are.” Sobering, she sucked in her lips. “Are you asking for real?”

“Sweetheart, we may have only known each other a short while, but have you ever known me to not be serious, especially about something that matters so much?”

Setting her computer onto the floor, she stood and walked to him, sliding onto his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, he enveloped her waist with his hands. Peering into his eyes, she said softly, “I know you said we could live anywhere, but I’ve got another two months on my apartment’s lease. Why don’t we just stay like we are for now and make up our minds when all the craziness surrounding our lives settles down.”

He said nothing for a moment, his eyes not leaving hers. “What you’re saying makes sense but I get the feeling there’s more behind those words. Come on, Bayley. Give it all to me.”

“I know how I feel about you, Nick, but you’ve seen my apartment. What if I move in and our styles clash?”

“You know how you feel about me?”

Huffing, she replied, “Yes, but that’s not the point.”

“It’s exactly the point.” He slid one of his hands over her shoulder, cupping her jaw. His thumb caressed her smooth cheek. “Tell me…because, Bayley, it’s everything.”

Heart pounding as the momentous thoughts slammed into her, she whispered, “I’m falling in love with you, Nicholas Stone…or more accurately, I’ve already fallen. I think I might have fallen in love with you the moment I saw you sitting at Neon’s bar, all stiff and out of place. And then when you walked me to my car and I looked up at you, the light from the streetlight beaming down on you, I felt struck by lightning. And I’ve never said this to anyone before.” Having spoken her thoughts, her breath left in a whoosh of exertion. Swallowing deeply, she felt the heat of blush on her face as she waited to see his response.

The edges of his lips curved slowly upward until his smile reached his eyes and was all she could see.

“I love you, too, Bayley Hanssen. I think I fell in love with you the moment you told me you named your car Prissy. And not even the streetlight could compete with the illumination from your smile shining up at me.”

Her sob caught in her throat as he pulled her in, his lips crashing into hers. She heard moaning but was unable to tell if it came from her or him. He deepened the kiss and she reveled in the feel of his tongue plunging inside, swirling with hers. Drinking him in, his distinctive taste filled her senses. Barely aware of being lifted, she wound her arms tighter as he carried her down the hall, hearing the click of the door, keeping Mr. Lickers at bay.

Setting her feet gently on the floor, Nick peered into her lust-filled eyes. “Tell me again.”

Smiling, she whispered, “I love you.”

Matching her grin, he kissed her nose before sliding his lips close to her ear and whispering back, “And I love you.” With those words, he took her mouth once more, pressing her tightly to his chest. He felt her nipples pebble and the desire to taste them was overwhelming as he snaked his hands to the bottom of her shirt. Pulling it over her head, he admired her breasts, pushed up in a black, lacy bra. His lips moved from hers, trailing kisses down her neck to the top of her breasts. Moving from one to the other, he sucked her nipples through the lace until he thought he would go mad with want. As though she had read his mind, she slid her hands from his shoulders to her chest, where she pulled the cups down, exposing the perfect, rosy-tipped mounds.

Unsnapping and tossing her bra, he greedily sucked as he backed her against the mattress, gently laying her down. Settling beside her, he filled his hands, molding the fleshy orbs, taking one nipple deeply into his mouth before giving it a gentle bite.

Writhing against his jean-clad knee, she sought the friction to relieve the need building inside her core. Pushing on his shoulders, she flipped him onto his back, straddling his hips, feeling the distinct bulge in his pants.

“I need you.” She pulled his face in for a kiss, plunging her tongue in, tasting all that was him. “Now,” she mumbled against his lips.

Moaning, he flipped her back over, standing quickly. She moved to unzip her jeans, but he took over, sliding them down her legs, taking her black, lace panties with them.

“Perfection,” he said. His hands reached for her feet and he lifted them in his hands. Sliding up her legs, he pulled them apart, exposing her pink folds. Kneeling on the floor between her legs he kissed from her knees upward until his mouth covered her folds. Sucking hard, he licked, lapping her juices until he pulled her clit into his mouth. His cock swelled painfully in his jeans, but growling against her quaking body, he was determined to ignore his own needs until she came.

She arched off the bed, the tantalizing sensations creating the urge to move, but he reached one large hand up and placed it on her pelvis, holding her still. She began to writhe more, her hips undulating upwards, seeking sweet relief. Slipping a finger into her core while still sucking on her clit, he watched her fall apart.

Moans escaped her as she climbed higher, finally crying out his name as the tremors overtook, shattering her into a million pieces.

He licked her juices and then rose up from the floor, placing his finger in his mouth, not wanting to miss a single taste. Jerking his t-shirt up and over his head, his hands then went to his jeans, unbuttoning them as quickly as he could.

As he shucked his jeans, her eyes traveled down from his wide shoulders to his naked chest. He was defined, with chiseled abs and a tight stomach that ended in a perfect V that traveled downwards. By the time her eyes had moved to the end of the V, his jeans and boxers were off and her eyes feasted on his cock.

He saw her expression go from sated to excited. Leaning over, he crawled up her body until his eyes peered directly into hers. “Baby, I want you to know,” he said, “I’ve never once been in love. I’ve never loved any woman. You are my one and only.” He looked deeply into her crystalline blue eyes, seeing the light that was her shining out on him.

Bayley stared into his eyes, seeing sincerity blazing from them. “I love you,” she whispered. “I’ve never lived with someone before. I’ve only had a few boyfriends, but I’ve never been in love either. I write about it all the time, but began to wonder if love was only in my books and wouldn’t ever be in my life.” Sighing, she added, “I’ve seen my parents’ love and how Blaise is with Grace. But until you, I had never experienced it.”

Laying on his side with her next to him, he began to explore every delicious curve. Bayley felt the electric shock from her nipples to her womb and down to her sex once again. As he moved his finger through her slick folds, he lifted himself over her, placing his engorged cock at her entrance.

He gently entered her, slowly, wanting to feel each delicious inch. She moaned at the fullness and the pressure that immediately began to build. With a final push, he was in all the way, pumping slowly.

“More, I need more,” she said in a whisper and that was all it took for him to begin moving faster. The friction was soon sending her over the edge again as the shock waves pulsated from her inner core outwards.

Flipping her again, she was once more on top. “Ride me, baby,” he begged.

Bayley placed her hands on his shoulders and as her orgasm flooded her senses, she raised up and down, riding his cock. He felt her inner walls grab his dick and her natural juices made the movement easier. Her breasts bounced in rhythm to her rocking and he palmed the full flesh, tweaking her nipples.

She lowered her face, whispering, “I love you,” as he took over, thrusting upward. Nick captured her lips once more, imitating the motion of his thrusting with his tongue. He could feel his balls tightening and knew that he was close. Throwing his head back, he powered through his orgasm, pulsating deep inside as her channel tightened around him again.

She crashed on top of his sweaty body, both still shaking with the intensity of the moment. Neither spoke for several minutes, the emotions of the act too overwhelming. Too important.

As they slowly recovered, the cool of the night finally penetrating the heat they had generated, Nick tucked her in tightly to his body as he jerked the covers over them. Pushing her sweaty tendrils away from her face, he grinned. “So…about moving in?”

Laughing, she said, “All right, all right. You know, Daphne said she needs a change…maybe she’d move into my place. She could have the stuff I won’t bring here. I just need to make sure I find the right spots for what I will bring so that nothing gets out of place.”

“Already told you, but I’ll keep saying it until you believe it. All I care about is you. So, bring your stuff, your clothes, your makeup and hair stuff. Bring pillows, lamps, pictures, rugs…whatever.” He kissed her, this time sweet and soulful. “I’m serious, Bayley, all I want is you and I want all of you.”

“I love it! Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

Bayley and Daphne walked around Bayley’s small apartment the next day, looking at the furniture. “I’ll leave all the big furniture,” Bayley said, eyeing what she would like to take and what to leave. “Nick’s got a few lamps but, honestly, after the sun goes down, I think his living room is kind of dark. I’ll take the two lamps from here and you can bring in your own. I’ll get my pictures down and anything that’s personal.” Turning to look at her friend, she said, “I’m so glad you are moving in!”

“Are you kidding?” Daphne replied, throwing her arms around Bayley. “My roommate is getting married and I need a place to live. Not to mention, considering Lazlo went ballistic when I said I didn’t want to see him anymore, this comes at a perfect time…it keeps him from showing up at my front door.”

“Good, well, why don’t you just plan on staying here from now on. It’s Sunday, the store’s closed, and I’m grabbing my toiletries and the rest of my clothes, stuffing them in Prissy and taking them over to Nick’s.”

“I’ll go home and get some of my things to bring over and I’ll take you up on the offer,” Daphne enthused.

Sitting in his car across the street, Lazlo watched as Daphne walked to her car and drove away. Having watched both women go into Bayley’s apartment, he knew she was now there alone. With a smile on his face, he started his car and drove away after sending a text.

Tonight.

Bayley Hanssen would be his…tonight.