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"Probably. But you're not allowed." I poked her nose when I said it. "That's the rule."

"I want to break it." She pouted at me. "Please?"

"Nope. Not gonna work on me today." My amusement hit the roof. I adored when she played with me, when she teased, and talked, and emoted in such adorable ways. It made me want to give in to her so bad, but the teasing and denial were too much fun.

"One day it will work." She settled on rubbing my stomach again in slow circles. "Also, your abs are insane. Did I ever tell you? Do you have any fat on your body?"

"Not much." I chuckled, shaking my head at her. "I've always been a lean green bean. Even though I eat oppositely."

"I can tell." She smiled and rested her chin on my chest while gazing up at me. "I don't hate it."

"Well, that earns me some points then."

"You have a lot of points with me…"

"Only because I fucked you so good last night." I grinned and leaned up to kiss her forehead again.

"If we only fucked once a year on my birthday for the rest of our lives, I would be happy…" she said, adding a level of heaviness to the conversation that I didn't expect.

"As long as neither of us are in other relationships and as long as we can keep ourselves in check, I wouldn't be opposed to that arrangement," I said in earnest. "It sets clear boundaries and limits."

"Yeah." She let out a slow breath. "It does."

"We'll leave it at that for now."

"If we weren't working together in the manner that we are, would you want to be in a relationship with me?" she asked, her voice soft as if fearing my response.

"The problem isn't the wanting, Nor. The problem is the working."

Her brow furrowed and she tilted her head when she attempted to comprehend what I said. I waited her out, to see where she'd go with it.

"Wait, so you want to be with me?"

I didn't expect such a direct question. Didn't expect it at all. Even if I lied, she'd be able to tell and so I just went with…

"Of course. Why do you think this is so hard?"

Her eyes welled up immediately, brimming her deep emeralds. "I just thought…"

"What?"

"I just didn't think you wanted that…" She sniffled and I swiped at the lone tear that managed to escape.

"Do you want that?" My brow furrowed at the sudden spiral of our conversation.

"Yes," she said, but the confession didn't bring happiness with it. "But we can't…"

"No. We can't."

Her gaze wandered and she returned to resting her head on my chest. I could tell she listened to my heartbeat while lying there. Her eyes opened and closed slowly, in time with her sleep-ready breathing.

"Tell me why I can't touch you," she implored, her tone firm. "I want to know."

"It will make you upset."

"I'm already upset."

"It will make you more upset," I said, brushing her feathery hair from both my face and hers so I could look at her. "And you'll see me differently."