Graham

I run.

I run through the city. I cruise past couples enjoying Sunday evening dates, past families turning in after a day outside in the gorgeous spring weather. I race by guys heading to office buildings to work late on a weekend.

That’s been me.

That was me just last night.

But it’s not who I am now.

I run with more energy than I had when I started this morning. She’s not far away, but walking is for guys who don’t know they’re in love.

I don’t bother heading home to shower. I don’t stop to buy flowers.

CJ doesn’t want or need flowers. This isn’t about that kind of gift. This is about something new, something different. That’s what this has been about all along. She’s the one. She’s always been the one, never been far from my thoughts, even before this week together.

This time I have to go in naked, so to speak. Venture into unfamiliar territory without my usual tool kit of gifts and goodies, of lingerie and flowers. The arsenal of seduction isn’t what I need right now, not tonight.

As soon as I reach her building, I run up the steps, powered by pure adrenaline and a mad need to make sure she knows I love her. I grab my phone and stab my finger against her name, calling her.

My breath comes in harsh pants as I wait for her to answer.

Her voice is shaky, a little surprised as she asks, “Hello?”

“I’m outside. I need to see you.”

There’s a pause. “You’re . . . outside?”

Breathless, more words come. “I’m here at your apartment. I need to see you. I need to see you now, Butterfly.”

Seconds later, the buzzer bleats, and I slam my hands against the door, pushing it open. I take the steps two by two up to the third floor. I turn at the landing and into her hall to find her standing in the doorway of her apartment, looking beautiful and vulnerable, and something else, too.

Hopeful.

I know the look because it’s how I feel. Hope fills me up and overflows.

I don’t waste time. I’m ready to give her my heart, and I pray, dirty and sweaty and empty-handed as I am, that she’ll want to keep it. I close the distance to her. “I didn’t give you a complete answer last night.”

She lifts her chin, her gaze locking with mine. “What was the question?”

“Do I think romance can last forever?”

Her eyes widen, and she nods as if she’s telling me to keep going.

“I said I didn’t know because I’ve never felt anything like that before.” I cup her cheeks. “Until you.”

A sweet, small gasp escapes her lips.

“I was asleep before you. Asleep without even any decent dreams.” I shake my head. “But now I’m wide awake. And the world is beautiful because I’m in love with you, CJ. I’m crazy in love with you. And I was wondering if you might possibly feel the same way?”

Her lips part, but for a long moment, she says nothing. My life, my heart, my future hang in the balance as I wait. It’s probably only a few seconds, but it feels like an eternity.

The moment she finally smiles up at me, love clear in every curve of her face, is better than all her orgasms. It’s her, giving me her heart to take care of.

And I will handle it with so much care.

She nods, her voice soft at first. “Yes, I might possibly feel the same way, Graham. I might possibly be so crazy in love with you that I’ve spent every moment since I left your place either in the depths of despair, or plotting ways to bring you back to me.”

A weight lifts from my shoulders, banished by her words. I tug her close, needing the connection, savoring her warmth. “I thought you only wanted me for my sexy body,” I say, laughing with relief.

She shakes her head with a huff. “I thought you only wanted a week, and I was so scared of losing your friendship. But then I decided I couldn’t let you go without a fight. I was writing down all the reasons we’re meant to be when you called.”

“I like it when you fight for me.” I stroke her cheek, smiling because I can’t stop. “I want to read your list.”

Her gaze lifts to the ceiling. “I didn’t get very far. I’d just started when this guy I really like showed up on my doorstep and said he loved me.”

“What a jerk that guy is,” I tease.

She shakes her head, playfulness vanishing. “No, he’s not a jerk. He’s a wonderful man with the kindest heart and the most generous spirit, who doesn’t care for emojis either, and who also happens to be incredible in the sack.”

I laugh, grateful for the joke. It came just in time, before I started tearing up right here in the hallway.

“He taught me how good it feels to fall in love,” she continues, running gentle hands up and down my back. “So good, I want to keep learning it over and over.”

My heart thumps hard against my chest. “Butterfly, we’ll keep learning together. You’ve already taught me so much more than I could ever have taught you. Turns out falling in love is pretty amazing.”

She swallows hard, and her eyes shine with tears. “I’m so glad it was me.”

And just like that, she reminds me again why I love her, how she opens her heart and brings me in out of the cold.

“And I’m so glad you woke me up.” I dip my mouth to hers, this kiss a promise. A vow to never take her heart for granted.

Her lips brush against mine, and everything in the world feels right and true.

When we pull apart, I glance inside her place, where Stephen King is rolling around in front of the television, gnawing on her remote control. “What do you think about ditching the seven days to seduction and turning it into an always?”

“You are my always.” She wiggles her eyebrows, tugs my sweaty shirt, and yanks me into her apartment. “And right now, I want all of you.”

“Have me, woman,” I say with a growl as the door falls shut.

In seconds, she’s locked us both in her bedroom, pulled off my shirt, pushed down my shorts, and is whispering in my ear that we can do it without protection since she’s on birth control.

I didn’t come to her home expecting a gift, but that might be the best present of all. When I slide inside, feeling all of her, I know. I know it’s only going to keep getting better.

That’s another thing she’s taught me, and it’s a lesson I can’t wait to keep learning every single day.