Stir Me (Rouse Me 2)

"And it has nothing to do with you?"

I shake my head. "Oh no, it was ninety percent me. He's been a condescending asshole for years. Did you know he always acts like he's my boss?"

She stares at me like I'm hopeless. She's right, in some ways. But I won't give up on her, or on us, and I don't think she'll give up on me.

"How would you have gone crazy?" she asks.

"Honestly, Ally, you had me hooked from the minute I met you and shamelessly flirted with you with make Ryan jealous."

"I knew it."

"I would have said anything to keep you in my apartment that night. I had convinced myself it was better than nothing. Maybe it would have been. It was an amazing night."

Her cheeks flush. "You can't distract me with memories of sex."

"It would have killed me to see you stay with Ryan. It did kill me."

Our eyes meet and she curls her lips into a smile. She's receptive to this.

No, she's here, in my apartment, cleaning me up.

She's in this for the long haul.

I don't know how I got so lucky, but she loves me. She loves me enough to stick around even when I punch out my business partner.

I brush the hair from her eyes. "I've been thinking."

"Rare for you."

I nod. "If he won't dissolve the business, I'll sell. He's not as aggressive as I am--"

"Your black eye disagrees."

I laugh. "In court." I take her hand. "But I have to admit, he's a decent lawyer. He'll manage my old clients okay." I look down at Alyssa. She's here, with me, and that's all that matters. "It's not ideal, but I'd rather he be out of our lives."

There's such a sweetness in her eyes. Maybe all this time I've been the one that needs her, instead of the other way around.

She smiles. "I'm proud of you."

"Really?"

"This requires great maturity."

"I'm trying to learn."

I run my fingertips along her cheek. She melts into the gesture, nesting into my hand. I'm tempted to stay quiet, to soak in this moment forever.

But I don't have the patience for it.

"Please tell me this space is over. Tell me you'll be mine forever."

"Forever is a long time." She holds my gaze.

"You're torturing me on purpose."

She nods, her teeth sinking into her lip. "You had to know your torturing would come back to haunt you."

"It's worth it." I slide off the counter and move closer to her.