Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Silas
Scout's been quiet since we got home from the arena. She's curled up on the couch with her laptop, working on something that has her brow furrowed in concentration. I've been watching her for the past twenty minutes, trying to figure out what's wrong.
"Okay," I finally say. "What's going on?"
She looks up, startled. "What?"
"You've been weird all day. Talk to me."
Her fingers still on the keyboard. She chews her bottom lip, that tell she has when she's trying to figure out how to say something difficult.
"I've been thinking about the mobility studio," she says finally.
"Yeah? Juliet said she's ready to move forward with the proposal. You excited?"
"I am. But..." She closes the laptop and sets it aside. "Juliet mentioned you offered to help fund it."
"I did. Is that a problem?"
"Kind of." She pulls her knees up to her chest, looking small and uncertain. "Silas, I don't want you paying for everything. The studio, this condo, groceries, dinners out. I know you say it's fine, but it makes me uncomfortable."
"Why?" I move to sit beside her. "I can afford it, Scout. It's not a big deal."
"It is to me." Her voice gets firmer. "Enzo took care of everything too. He paid for the apartment, the car, everything I needed. And it felt nice at first. But then it became this thing where I owed him. Then I couldn't leave because I didn't have my own money or my own place or my own anything."
Understanding hits me like a body check. "You think I'm doing the same thing."
"I don't think you're doing it on purpose. But the pattern's the same, Silas. You're taking care of me and I'm letting you and eventually I'll wake up and realize I'm trapped again."
"You're not trapped." I reach for her hand. "Scout, look at me."
She does, those green eyes full of worry and something that looks like fear.
"Enzo made you dependent on him," I say. "That's not what this is. You have your own job, your own income. You could leave tomorrow if you wanted to."
"Could I? I'm living in your condo rent-free. You pay for everything."
"Because I want to, not because I'm trying to control you." I squeeze her hand. "Do you know how much Enzo made me in endorsements this year?"
She blinks at the subject change. "What?"
"One point two million dollars. That's just endorsements.
My actual salary is eleven million a year.
Most of which I save because I don't know what else to do with it.
" I pull out my phone, open my banking app, and show her the balance.
"This is my checking account. I could buy you ten mobility studios and not notice the dent. "
Her eyes go wide. "Silas, that's..."
"A stupid amount of money, I know. But here's the thing, Pretty Girl.
I'm going to keep making money whether you let me spend it on you or not.
I'd rather spend it on things that matter.
Things like your studio. And our life together.
I love making sure you don't have to worry about rent or groceries or any of that bullshit. "
"But I don't want to be taken care of."
"That's not what I'm doing." I turn to face her fully. "Taking care of you would be paying your bills without telling you, and making decisions for you, and expecting something in return. Is that what I'm doing?"
"No," she admits quietly.
"I'm investing in us. In our future. I'm not keeping score and I'm not expecting you to owe me anything.
" I cup her face in my hands. "Scout, I'm going to keep pushing our relationship forward.
I'm going to keep taking care of you. Not because you need it, but because I want to. Making you happy makes me happy."
"What if I'm not ready for that?"
"Then you tell me to slow down and I will. But don't ask me to pretend I'm okay with you struggling when I could help."
She's quiet for a long moment, searching my face. "You really have eleven million dollars?"
"No. I have twelve-ish times the number of years I’ve played professionally, minus taxes, plus interest on some smart investments. However that math works out, give or take. Why, you gonna rob me?"
That gets a laugh out of her. "Maybe. I could use a new yoga mat."
"Baby, I'll buy you a hundred yoga mats." I pull her into my lap. "I'll buy you the whole damn store if it makes you smile."
"That's excessive."
"So? I feel excessive about you." I kiss her forehead. "Let me help with the studio. Not because you can't do it yourself, but because we're partners. Partners build things together."
She leans into me, her breath warm against my neck. "Partners."
"Yeah. Partners." I tilt her chin up. "I’m only using that term because I know that talking about the future and changing our labels freaks you out."
"Oh god." She pulls back slightly. "You have that look."
She’s so adorable and sexy. I bite my lip to hold back a smile. "What look?"
"The look that says you're about to say something that's going to make me want to head for the hills."
She knows me too well. "Well, I do want to marry you."
Her eyes go wide. "Silas..."
"I'm not proposing right now. But I'm telling you where my head's at. I want to marry you, Scout. Sooner rather than later."
"We just got back together a few weeks ago."
"I know. That's why I'm not proposing today.
But I'm not going to pretend I don't know what I want.
" I brush a curl behind her ear. "I'm all in on this.
I can see the future, Scout. I'm going to keep pushing forward toward that.
If you need me to slow down, tell me. But don't expect me to stop wanting to get there with you. "
She's quiet for so long I start to worry I've pushed too hard. Then she says, "Marriage."
"Yeah."
"Like, wedding and rings and forever."
"That's generally how it works."
"Silas, we're still figuring things out. We're still learning how to be honest with each other. We're still..." She stops, frustrated. "I need more time."
The words sting but I swallow it down. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yes, sweetheart. You need time, I'll give you time." I pull her closer. "But that doesn't mean I'm changing my mind. When you're ready, I'll be here. Waiting."
"You're really okay with that?"
"No. I want to marry you tomorrow. But I'm okay with waiting because you're worth it." I kiss her softly. "Take all the time you need, Pretty Girl. I'm not going anywhere."
She kisses me back, slow and deep and full of something that feels like promise. When we break apart, she's smiling.
"You're ridiculous."
"You love it."
"I really do." She loops her arms around my neck. "Thank you. For understanding. For not pushing."
"I'm pushing a little bit."
"You're pushing a lot, actually. But I appreciate that you're trying." She grins. "Eleven million dollars. That's insane."
"Want me to buy you something expensive?"
"No. But you can take me to bed and remind me why I'm putting up with your grumpy ass."
Heat flares through me. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She slides off my lap and holds out her hand. "Come on, big guy. Let's see if we can check another item off my Naughty Girl Scout List."
I'm on my feet before she finishes the sentence. "Still have items on that list?"
"Several. But this one's new." She walks backwards toward the bedroom, pulling me along. "You remember when we talked about me being in control?"
My mouth goes dry. "Yeah."
"Tonight's the night." She pushes me onto the bed and climbs into my lap, her curls falling around us like a curtain. "You're going to lie there and let me have my way with you. Think you can handle that?"
I groan, already hard just from the thought. "Pretty sure I can manage."
"Good." She leans down, her lips brushing my ear. "Because I have plans for you, Silas Huxley. And you're going to love every second of it."
She kisses me hard, all teeth and tongue and pure demand. My hands go to her hips automatically but she catches them, pinning them above my head.
"No touching unless I say so."
"Scout..."
"That's the rule. Break it and I stop." She rocks against me, making me see stars. "Can you follow the rules, big guy?"
I nod, not trusting my voice.
"Good boy." She grins and starts unbuttoning my shirt. "Now let's see how long you can behave."
Turns out, not very long. But Scout doesn't seem to mind.
Later, we're tangled together in bed, both of us sweaty and satisfied and completely wrecked. Scout traces lazy patterns on my chest while I try to remember how to form words.
"So," she says eventually. "That was..."
"Fucking perfect."
She laughs. "Yeah. It really was." She props herself up on one elbow. "How many items are left on your list?"
"My list?"
"The things you want to try with me. I know you have one."
She's not wrong. "It’s a mile long, Pretty Girl."
"Tell me."
"I want to take you on my kitchen counter."
Her breath hitches. "Okay."
"I want you in my shower. Up against the tile."
"Keep going."
"I want to wake you up with my mouth between your legs." I roll her onto her back, settling between her thighs. "I want to hear you scream my name so loud the neighbors complain."
She's breathing hard now, eyes dark with want. "When?"
"Right now." I kiss down her body. "Unless you need a break."
"I don't need a break." Her fingers tangle in my hair. "I need you."
"That's another one off your list," I murmur against her throat.
She laughs, breathless. "Best list ever."
The Naughty Girl Scout List can wait. Right now, I'm working on my own list. And Scout's name is at the top of every single item.