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A new fear wormed its way into her chest. “Oh, God. Does that mean you want to get married?”

Some people might have been offended at Natalia’s response, but Sam tossed her head back and laughed. Laughed hard.

“Absolutely not. We’ll live in sin until we’re wrinkled old ladies.”

Natalia chuckled, completely exhilarated. “Professor, it’s almost like you don’t understand how Botox and fillers work.”

Pulling her close, Sam kissed her. Kissed her until Natalia couldn’t breathe. Until she forgot where they were. Until she forgot to be scared of the comedown. There was room for Sam and Dominion and herself.

CHAPTER 58

Sam was buzzing from the electric high of possibility when she unlocked her front door. She held it open for Natalia, who looked equal parts exhausted and energized. Constant planning had paid off in ways Sam couldn’t have imagined months ago.

Her place was still a mess of spiral bound agendas and temporary whiteboard paper clinging to her living room walls. Natalia kicked off her heels in the foyer the way she had for the last three months in a row.

They’d never talked about moving in together, but Natalia had slowly brought over more and more of her things until she’d taken over the spare bedroom closet. Sam’s feelings had grown with every article of clothing that had arrived and never departed.

“I guess it’s a good time to tell you that Sofia’s scholarship is a done deal,” Natalia said from where she’d landed sideways on the couch.

Sam sat on the ottoman, her chest ready to crack open and unleash a torrent of red heart balloons and rainbow emojis. “I still can’t believe you did that.”

Natalia closed her eyes, looking ready to drift off to sleep. “She’s a part of you, so she’s a part of me.” She said it like rattling off an unimportant musing. Said it like it didn’t make Sam fall ever more in love with her.

After a few moments, Sam stood, guessing that Natalia had fallen asleep or was near enough that she didn’t want to bother her. Natalia hadn’t done more than taken a glorified nap in the last month. Even the great Natalia Flores still had basic human needs.

She was halfway to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water to take upstairs with them when Natalia spoke again.

“Do you expect to move in together?”

Turning toward the question, she spotted Natalia with one eye open like an adorable scoundrel. Sam laughed.

“Do you want to move in together?” Sam returned the question unopened.

Natalia made a noise in her throat. “Not in my house, and your closets are for shit. There’s a load-bearing wall between your room and the spare. I can’t build a closet.”

Instead of sitting again, Sam slipped between Natalia’s thighs, who turned onto her back to accommodate her. “How the hell do you know about my home’s infrastructure?”

“Closets, Reyes. We’re talking about closets.” She gave a playful roll of her irritated, sleep-starved eyes.

“We could always take our time finding something that’s ours together. Something with plenty of closet space.”

Natalia narrowed her gaze, but her lips were already giving away her smile. “Joint tenancy, Professor? That’s a big step.”

“Pretty sure I told you I loved you like four hours ago?—”

Natalia cut her off with a kiss like she’d caught a second wind and used it to reach her. Her lips were so soft, no matter how many times Sam kissed them, she could never get enough.

“I love you, too,” Natalia whispered against her mouth before wrapping her legs around her and pulling Sam’s full weight on top of her.

“I know,” Sam joked before kissing her again.

Sam had fallen hard and fast for the formidable agent. Being with Natalia challenged and thrilled her. Yet there were still moments when she felt unsure, sensing Natalia’s lingering hesitance to be emotionally vulnerable.

But this... this changed everything. Natalia was all in, just like Sam. The love shining undeniably from her partner’s eyes left Sam feeling so full there was no space for her lungs to expand.

“You know the rules,” Natalia reminded her, lips brushing against hers.

“The moment I start snoring I’m getting my own room,” Sam guessed.