Eveline
She woke up the next morning suffocated by fur.
Renley’s arms still hugged her from behind, his shallow breathing indicating that he was still sleeping.
She pushed Luna aside and carefully picked up Renley’s arm to feed the beasts.
Apparently, she wasn’t careful enough, because Renley grunted and pulled her closer.
“I need to feed these two before they incite a riot.”
“When I said I’d make breakfast, I meant for everyone.” He half yawned and kissed the nape of her neck. “Now do you want me to come back after feeding them and spoil you in the shower? Or are we having breakfast first?”
“You’re going to shower with me?”
“Why do you sound so scared? We’ve already bathed together and if I remember correctly, you quite enjoyed it.”
“I did.” She peered over her shoulder to find that intoxicating smile. “Shower first, please.”
While he picked up Luna and Flake, who seemed rather confused and displeased, she made her way to the bathroom. She was transferring herself onto the shower bench when he stepped in and dropped his briefs.
“I don’t think they trust me enough to feed them, they looked very sceptical.”
“Can you blame them? It might be poison.”
He knelt before her, brow furrowing in confusion as he dropped a hand to the tile. “Is this heated?”
“Yeah—in case I fall so I don’t freeze to death while waiting for help.”
Renley peered up at her, eyes wide as saucers. “You’re not serious, are you? Has that happened before?”
“Me slipping? Yes. Me freezing to death? Obviously not.”
“But you have fallen?”
“Yes, Renley, I fall just like anyone else.” She combed her fingers through his sleep-mussed hair. “Don’t look so worried, I’ve learned to get back up.”
He shook his head, clearing whatever thoughts seemed to swirl behind those pretty eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound like you couldn’t handle it.”
“I think it’s rather sweet.”
His brow cocked as he reached for the shower head. “Sweet, huh?”
“Yes, is that an adjective you would rather not have associated with yourself?”
“I like it, just never thought I’d hear it from a woman.”
“Handsome and very caring too.”
“Keep it coming, kitten.”
She laughed and leaned back, letting him soak her in hot water. “Strong and protective come to mind too. Like yesterday when you stood up for me.”
He massaged the soap into her lower half while she scrubbed her upper body.
“Patient is one I would use to describe you too. Demanding and dominant behind closed doors.”
“Oh, gorgeous Eveline.”
“I like that about you—that you can separate the two. You let me be independent but don’t mind taking charge in private.”
“We can always switch it up if you like,” he offered, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh. “I can make love to you too. I don’t need to be so rough all the time.”
“I prefer it that way—you don’t treat me as some delicate little flower. People always seem to think I’m fragile.”
“I feel comfortable enough to be dominant because I trust that you’ll tell me when I step too far.
You know yourself and will express your boundaries.
” He sighed and sat back on his heels, placing her feet in his lap.
“I want you to know that no matter what happens between us, it will stay between us. I know out there, you’re my boss and I’m not about to air all of our dirty laundry. ”
“And I promise that I will separate us from our work life. I’m not saying that we can’t show affection or tell people, but I will do my best not to treat you differently from the others and have you stand out because of it.”
“Thank you.”
And with a kiss to her knee, Renley rinsed her legs down and let her watch as he showered himself. He was tall, muscles dancing under his skin. His biceps showed a tan line where his shirt usually ended. Same for his neck, and scars and callouses decorated his arms and hands.
As promised, Renley scoured her kitchen the moment they were dressed—if dressed consisted of nothing more than underwear on his part. As he placed the ingredients for pancakes on the low counter, Eveline pressed the button to raise the surface to his level.
“What the fuck?” he exclaimed, bolting away from the island.
“It makes it easier when I have guests.”
“Fancy.” He glanced around the room. “The counters overhang so you can work on them without hitting your knees, right?”
“Same with the stove. I’m glad you barely notice it. I don’t want this to seem like an accessible house.”
“You designed it all?”
“Yeah, it took a while to research but Jeronimo found ways to make it happen.”
Once the counter and stove were at Renley’s height he started mixing the pancake batter. “When did you renovate it?”
“It was our side project over the past few years. We only finished it six months ago.”
“You worked your magic. I like how it’s just integrated, like no one will question why both the stove and sink are on the island because you just made it part of the overall design.”
“I didn’t want the practicality to overshadow the design itself. You know how… sometimes you walk into a home and the modifications are glaringly obvious? I didn’t want that.”
“You definitely accomplished it.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “What do you want with your pancakes?”
“Chocolate syrup and nothing else.”
“I should’ve known after all those chocolate-covered treats you got yesterday.”
“Did it bother you that I insisted on paying for the food?”
“At first it did, but it evened out that you let me cover the rides. I can tell you just wanted to show your appreciation.”
“Can I be honest without you being hurt?” Renley visibly braced for impact, but nodded anyway, so Eveline tried to choose her words carefully.
“You said you just got your own apartment and from what I understand you’re starting from scratch, so I didn’t want you to spend too much.
I know you wouldn’t have asked me out if you hadn’t been prepared, I just didn’t want to use you like that. ”
Renley took a moment to digest her words, flipping a pancake and adding more batter to the pan. “I appreciate that. Can I be honest too without you thinking I’m childish?”
“I promise.”
“I got jealous when I saw your house. Not because you don’t deserve it, but because you’re so put together while I’m sleeping on a mattress on the floor.”
She took his hand and brushed a kiss over his knuckles. “We’re just at different stages in life. Remember, I’m nine years older than you.”
“I don’t want you to think that I’m using you to improve my life.”
“And I don’t want you to think that I’m belittling you when I offer to pay.”
“I won’t.” He leaned down, taking her mouth in a kiss so tender that it left her trembling. “It feels good to be able to talk openly. I’ve never had that before, so please bear with me when I struggle with it.”
“We are growing together; I’ll have times where I’ll struggle too.”
With breakfast finished, they settled on the couch. Luna joined them, while Flake seemed to vanish. When Renley insisted on cleaning afterwards, Eveline scrolled on her phone. “Do you really just have a mattress on the floor?”
“No!” He chuckled and added, “There’s a couch and dining table.”
“What size is it?” But before he could answer she shook her head and grinned to herself. “Let me guess, king?”
“Queen, would have been too big otherwise.”
“I’ve found a really nice queen frame here.”
Drying his hands, Renley joined her, glancing at the listing for the free bed frame. “It might fit.”
“Is it a tight space?”
He shrugged, falling onto the couch. “A studio. It looks empty with what I’ve got, but it’s so small at the same time.”
Inspired, she reached for a sketch book and pen. “Talk me through the layout.” He did her one better, handing over his phone with the floorplan. “I love tiny spaces; they give you so many fun elements to work with.”
“You really did choose the love of your life as a career.”
“I did.”
Once they mapped out his current setup, Eveline began searching for furniture again, chirping when she found exactly what she wanted—then frowning a moment later.
“What is it?” he asked and leaned closer.
“This is a murphy bed, but I didn’t see how far away it was. You fold it up as a whole, so it would work with your mattress.” Moving on, she said, “You could always build a loft bed.”
“It’s just a three-hour drive. Two and a half if traffic is good,” he countered, taking her phone to scroll through the pictures. “Could always paint it.”
“That’s a five hour round trip.”
“It’s basically free.”
“You don’t have to. I was just playing with ideas.”
“And I like it.” He handed the phone back. “Please send me the listing. I’ll measure it out.”
She did as he asked. “Am I being too pushy?”
“By doing the thing you are clearly much better at than I am? No. I love watching you do your thing, with that lip between your teeth and the way you grin and mumble to yourself.”
“I mumble?”
“Yeah, and you get excited. You do this happy dance when you find something that might work. It’s really cute, you know?” And with his fingertips ghosting over her cheek, he added, “And that blush… God, that blush…”
They spent a lazy morning together, mapping out the best layout for his new apartment and scrolling marketplaces for cheap or free stuff.
She didn’t want him to leave, but Renley seemed eager to measure his apartment and wanted enough time to make the trip to pick up the bed.
At the door, he leaned down for one last kiss, deep and demanding before she watched him walk away. “Message me when you get home safely.”
“Anything my kitten wants.” He blew her a kiss and hopped into his red pick-up truck.
On cloud nine, she closed the door.
As she was preparing lunch, her phone rang and upon seeing her sister’s name, she happily answered. “Hi there.”
“The kids are out with the chickens, so you have ten minutes to tell me how your date was before we’re interrupted.”
“Swoon-worthy.”
“I want all the details!”
And she got them. Eveline didn’t let a single thing slide, starting with the interaction at security, all the way through their sweet conversation on the Ferris wheel and, naturally, the fact that he’d slept over.
“Oh, please tell me the sex was as good as it was the first night?”
“It was. He’s so dominant,” Eveline confessed, giggling like a lovesick teenager.
“You kinky brat!” Laira laughed. “I’m so jealous.”
“Did you and Tod get a chance for some alone time?”
“Yes, and it was everything we needed. We are so much more content right now. All the little fights make sense now.”
“I’ll make sure to take the little monsters out for a day when I come over.”
“Will you bring that handsome construction worker too?”
“If we last that long.”
“You two seem to be able to communicate well. I think that is a good start. Let’s be honest—this seems like some twist of fate. How else do you explain that the escort you hired interviews at your construction company? As if it was meant to be.”
She let out a dreamy sigh and smiled to herself. “It does feel like it, doesn’t it?”
“Yes! We would love to meet him when you two are ready.”
“I’m glad you and Tod are better now.”
“I think we just lost ourselves to being parents. We had sex, talked, and had more sex and now we see that we need to prioritise our relationship again.”
Eveline laughed. “I love that we can talk so openly without either judging.”
“You’re not just my sister. You’re my best friend.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, little brat.”