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She moans, cries out my name, and as she comes, I dive into the deep end of her heavenliness, joining her as I orgasm. God, this woman .

Even sated, I can’t wait for more of her.

She curls around my side, her breath still uneven. But something makes her giggle, and she says, “I had no clue it could be this good.”

I run my thumb over her cheek and lower to her neck to feel the rapidly thumping beat of her pulse. “Same, baby. Same.”

And seeing her gentle smile, I feel content for the first time.

“I want to get married.”

So much for the contentedness . . .

Maybe my reaction—eyes bulging like a cartoon character—isn’t as controlled as I would have liked. But what the hell?

She wants to talk about marriage?

With her hands already thrown up in surrender, she sits up. “One day. I mean one day. Not today. Oh, God .” She covers her eyes with her hands. “I totally blew this amazing sex moment?—”

“It was more than a moment. I mean, it wasn’t that fast.” No need to base skill or prowess on how fast or slow things take. She turns me on. That’s the bottom line.

“I shouldn’t have said anything.” She won’t even look at me, yet I can’t stop staring at her—probably still bug-eyed. I can’t lose my cool. She’s not the opposing side. She’s my girlfriend.

Why did I bristle at the mention of marriage ? Is it because I’m not ready—that seems logical. It’s also fast. We’ve only dated a short time. Granted, I’ve already been with Tealey longer than most women in my past.

Taking a seriously deep breath, I pull her hands from her face and am greeted with mortification. There’s nothing I hate more about Tealey Bell than seeing pain or shame in her expression. I swore I’d never be the cause of it, and I stand by that.

Before I have a chance to say anything, she says, “I’m not embarrassed that I just blurted that out, but I am embarrassed at how you’re looking at me.”

She shifts her weight like she’s going to get off me, but I hold her hips with my hands.

I’m not sure what to say—my mind is still reeling from her unexpected admission. I just need a moment to get myself together because I need to choose my words wisely from this point forward.

“I didn’t mean to ruin things,” she says, swallowing hard. Her gaze falls from me while her fingers torture the sheets by twisting them.

My heart both aches and swells. I hate that she thinks she just ruined things.

But at least I can fix that. “Look at me, Tealey.” When she finally works her gaze back to me, I add, “We made love last night and just had pretty intense sex. Emotions are running high because we’re still undefined.

You don’t need to question my intentions.

I’ll tell you where I stand. I’m right here with you.

I . . . I’m not quite ready to talk life plans, but .

. .” I swallow down any jaded feelings and look at this woman on top of me.

This is like a daydream and a nightmare all rolled into one.

Tealey’s admission is a game changer—a life changer, actually.

It’s the one thing I didn’t think I’d ever hear her say, nor is it anything I ever thought I’d consider.

It doesn’t feel wrong, not at all, just quick.

And with so many things between us undecided—Marlow, my promotion, Cammie and Cade’s wedding shenanigans, and the newness of this whole damn thing—I just feel unprepared.

And being unprepared is the worst sin in my book.

Still, losing her isn’t an option, even if I’m not sure what the endgame is.

I stroke her hip with my thumb.

“I want to be your boyfriend,” I tell her, “for now, until we get our feet under us and figure this out. What do you say to that, Tealey Bell? Will you be my girlfriend?”

The morning sun has wrangled free from the clouds, and the rays through the glass halo her soft, blond hair. Although her face is shadowed, I see embarrassment slipping away from her delicate features. “Do you mean that?”

“I mean it. I have no doubts whatsoever. You make me happy, and I want to do the same for you.” I sit up and caress her shoulders before leaning in and kissing her.

She licks her lips when we part, and then says, “I don’t question your intentions.”

“I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t trust me. I know you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.” I can see the questions mounting in her expression, and fuck, if she needs to get things off her chest, I’ll let her. “But you’re wanting to know how I see things in the long term?”

“Not just with me but in life. How do you see your life? Where do I fit in? How do I fit in your life, in your home? And to throw more honesty your way . . . I stopped returning my real estate agent’s calls last week.

I’ve felt guilty for that, but I needed a break from the disappointment of not feeling I could afford something that you’d approve of.

I haven’t told you because I thought you might get mad. ”

“There’s no expiration date on you staying here.

And here’s some honesty for you,” I say, tapping her nose.

“I like you being here, so don’t settle for a place because you feel there’s an imaginary deadline or you think you’re in the way.

You’re not.” The softness of her skin beckons me, and I rub along her leg, resting my hand where it meets her waist. “I want you to find a place that feels like home.”

Like my place. I leave that unspoken between us. It may be how I feel, but I need to hold on to logic, not emotions.

“That means more to me than you know. Thank you.” She buries herself in my arms.

“As for marriage,” I start, but my throat clogs around the last word, and I have to cough to dislodge it.

Understanding her need to know what we are and what we’re doing is relatable.

It’s something I think about and have fallen back on just friends as a means to an end.

But it’s not an answer to the question. It’s an opportunity to think beyond today.

“We’ve been friends for a long time now, and even though it does seem premature to have this talk in some respects, I understand why we might need to.

We’re not new to each other. We’re in the dead center of the marrying age.

It’s all around us and even closer because of Cammie and Cade. ”

Her eyes are intent on me, not wanting to miss a word.

I continue, “My parents’ marriage didn’t work out.

I’m faced with the ugliness of divorce every day.

” I glance outside before returning to her, wanting to give her what she needs to hear while being honest about my own feelings.

That’s just it. I can be honest with her, and there’s no judgment.

“When I think about the future, I’m not spending my life alone.

I’m not opposed to marriage. I respect the institution too much to damage it with my baggage, so it’s always seemed unattainable for someone like me. ”

When I see her eyes glass over, I lie down and hold my arm open wide. She snuggles against me, and I wrap my arm around her. I say, “You want to get married one day. You’ve always been a romantic while I’m a cynic.”

She shakes her head, angling it my way. “You want it to last forever. We’re alike that way. Deep down, you’re a romantic just like me, Rad.”

“I don’t want to disappoint you.” I lose her blues to the far wall as we explore this new territory of sharing our deepest desires and worries.

“All I can do is tell you how I feel right now. I’ve never been happier, and that’s because of you.

Despite what you think, the idea of being with you doesn’t scare me. ”

“What scares you?”

The idea of being with anyone is new. It’s been a long time since I dabbled in having a steady girlfriend. The strength of her hold on me hasn’t lessened, the way her hands hold mine, and the way my heart holds hers.

“I was never scared to be with you. It’s the thought of living without you that scares me.”