Page 120 of CHOICE Lover
He takes a deep inhale. “You smell so good. It’s funny the things you miss when someone is gone.”
“I’m not gone,” she says. “I’m right here.”
“Where are we?” He glances around, taking in the forest clearing in the simulation chamber.
“It’s from a scene in one of my favorite books. It’s the place where the hero first sees the heroine bathing in moonlight. She’s using her power, which he doesn’t realize because he’s so smitten.”
“Is that what you’re doing?” He asks.
“Huh?” She glances back at him.
He tugs her hand, pulling her close. “Using your power on me.”
She laughs. “I wish. You would be much easier to manage.”
“If you could manage me, what would you have me do?”
She can think of a few things—kissing her being at the top of the list. They should probably talk things through first. “Lay the blanket out on the moss there.” She points to a bright patch of green moss, watching as he does as she instructed. “Now we should lay down. I ordered a meteor shower.”
They settle on the blanket, lying side by side. He takes her hand, threading their fingers together.
Unable to let the silence linger, she says, “I got your letter.”
“I figured.” He leans up onto an elbow, angling toward her. “Does this mean you forgive me?”
“Yes. Do you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” He reaches out and brushes a hair away from her temple.
“That’s not true. I shouldn’t have left you the way I did. Knowing your history, that was cruel. I’ll never do that again. I promise.”
He cups her cheeks. “I forgive you, then.”
She leans into his touch. But before she melts into him completely, she jabs a finger into his chest. “Here’s how this is going to go.”
Res6 blinks.
“We’re doing this, okay?”
His throat bobs. “Yes, please.”
She huffs a laugh. “You sound like a manupartner.”
He offers a small grin. “Whatever you like.”
It earns him an eye roll. “New rules. No more lying, for starters.”
“No lying,” he agrees.
“No manupartners.”
He nods. “Who needs one when I have you? Where will you live?”
She shrugs, glancing away. “I could still get my own place?”
He frowns. “Why?”
“I don’t know. Are we moving too fast?”
