“Started out that way, didn’t it?”
She smiles at me, and I take her mouth again. Swinging my legs over the bed, I stand up with her still attached to me and carry her to the shower.
*****
Raven’s shuffling through the mail on the counter while I make breakfast. She grabs her laptop from her bag and starts typing into a spreadsheet on her screen.
“Homework?”
“No, I’m making our budget. I need to know approximately how much money I need to deposit into your account monthly.”
I almost spit my coffee out at her statement. “Why would you need to deposit money into my account?”
“For the household expenses.”
“I already cover those.”
“Yes, but now I’m here and things might go up. I don’t expect you to take on that, and I need to know how much you want for rent.”
That was the wrong thing to say. “Rent? Did you say rent?”
“Yes.” she looks at me like I’m stupid.
“You think I want you to pay rent in our home?”
“Declan, calm down. It’s perfectly normal for couples to share the bills. I want to cover my share.”
I get to her in two strides. I lift her up and plant her ass on the countertop with me between her legs. Trying to calm my anger, I speak softly.
“Sparkle, I think I know where this conversation is going. Are you trying to tell me you want to give me money each month to live here with me like a roommate? You want to write a fucking spreadsheet to determine an acceptable amount to pay me?”
She hesitates but nods her head.
“Not fucking happening. You’re my fiancée, soon to be my wife. I take care of the bills. I take care of you.”
“But I need to give you something.”
“No arguments.”
She scowls at me and opens her mouth to talk, but I speak first.
“You want to know what you give me? You give me the air I breathe, you give me the nights in my bed with you when I come home late, you give me you every second of every day.”
“Dec–”
I cut her off, “You know what you’re gonna give me? You’re gonna give me the honor of taking my last name, you’re gonna give me your promise to be with me forever, you’re gonna give me little hellion rockers or blue-eyed beauties.
“You’re the love of my life and I’m going to take care of you. I don’t know what sort of job you want when you get out of school, but I don’t care if you volunteer and never get paid. I’m going to take care of you. So don’t ever insult me and try to pay me money again.”
Her eyes fill with tears, and she hugs me close.
“Shit baby, did you ever even think I would take any money from you?”
“Yes, you big brute! I need to pay something.”
An idea forms in my head and I slide her off the counter and into my arms.
“Oh, if that’s the case, you can pay me. Just not in money.” I whisper in her ear and take her back to the bedroom.