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Gabriella

“You better put me down.” I giggle as Brad nuzzles into my neck, breathless from where he just fucked me in the shower—my new favorite way to start the day.

“No,” he teases, grazing his teeth along my sensitive skin, stirring something up inside of me that will be hard to suppress if he keeps it up.

“I have classes to teach.” He lifts his head and runs his tongue along his bottom lip.

“Cancel them.”

I shake my head and laugh. “I can’t, plus I need to swing by my apartment. I’m running out of underwear.”

“I’m good with you not wearing any.”

“I bet.” My smile is so wide I can feel it reaching my eyes. I love this playful side of him, and I’d love nothing more than to stay in this bubble, just me and him.

He presses a tender kiss to my lips, then brushes his nose with mine.

“I don’t want to go but, I really need to.” I huff, not wanting to end our morning.

He lets out a disgruntled groan. “Fine, just make sure you bring enough stuff for the next month back from your apartment.”

I lift my head, my body stiffening. “A month?” I question.

He shrugs. “Yeah, bring it all if you want.”

My mouth feels dry as I swallow, trying to understand what he’s saying.

“Are... are you asking me to move in?” I ask hesitantly, scared I’m wrong and I’ve now made it weird.

He grins in that way that has me willing to give this man just about anything he wanted

“I don’t know. Do you want to move in?” There’s a hint of a teasing tone and it creates little flutters in the pit of my stomach.

“I, um, well, I mean, yeah, sure, but you know it’s quite soon and you might regret it, and then what if you get sick of me because I can be messy and you are like super clean and—” He cuts off my rambling with a rough kiss that has me whimpering.

My fingers push into his hair as he thrusts his tongue into my mouth, and I welcome it. It’s as if he’s kissing away my fears.

He breaks the kiss, leaning his forehead against mine.

“We can live here, live at your apartment, live between the two or buy somewhere new. I just want to be with you, Gabriella, in any way you want to be. If it’s too soon I get it, but, I want this. I want you. I know we have a lot of shit to figure out, but we can do it together.”

My limbs feel light, my body weightless as his words sink in. He wants me, he wants this, every day.

“Okay. Yes, let’s do it. Let’s figure it out together.” I beam, dusting my lips over his and kiss him fiercely holding on to him so tightly, like it’s the last time I ever will.

Chapter Fifty Six

Brad

It’s been nearly a week since everyone found out about me and Gabriella. She spent the weekend at my place, and it was the first time in months I slept well and felt content. We worked out together, ate together, watched her show that she loves to watch, and if this is what love feels like, sign me up forever. I don’t want to go another day without her. But first, there are some loose ends we need to tie up before we can truly move on from all the crap we have been through.

We are in a New York diner across the street from a restaurant that Patrick and some blonde entered an hour ago. I told Gabriella I would deal with him and I meant him. I want to kill him with my bare hands. Tear him apart limb from limb, but I know that won’t help Gabriella; or me.

I sip on my bitter black coffee, wincing when the taste hits my tongue. “God, this coffee takes like shit.”

“I like it,” Harry says, shoveling a forkful of pancakes into his mouth.

“It’s two in the afternoon, why are you eating pancakes?” Jack asks. Harry was the only one who ordered food.