It takes about fifteen minutes to check in and head up to find room 2102.
He swipes the key into the reader and the double doors open. We are hit in the face with exuberant luxury. There’s a large lounge room with a mini grand piano and three luxurious leather lounges. Another sitting room branches off to the right, it has two large, wingback chairs and ottomans. The back wall of the sitting room is lined with bookcases that are filled with beautiful books. The bedroom is to the left and a huge king-sized bed sits in the center. The whole back wall of the bedroom is glass that overlooks the gorgeous city where the lights twinkle down below. A marble bathroom and walk in wardrobe veer off to the left. “Wow,” I murmur as I walk in slowly. “This is…” My voice trails off. I don’t even have words for this.
Stace takes me in his arms. “Only the best for my wife.” He kisses me, his lips are strong and soft, and tonight I can feel the want in them as they linger over mine. He stares down at me and he pushes the hair back from my face. “You okay?” he asks softly as his eyes search mine.
I nod with a fake smile and pull out of his arms. Don’t ask me that because in all honesty, I just don’t know. “Yes,” I lie.
“You haven’t eaten much today.”
I blow out a breath as I throw my bag up onto the bed to get some fresh clothes out. “Not really that hungry,” I murmur.
“Let’s go out for dinner.”
I frown as I look over at him “Is it safe?”
He shrugs. “Who cares?” He grabs my both hands in his. “We are living each day like it’s our last, remember?”
I really needed to hear that. “You always know just what to say.”
His eyes hold mine as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “I love you.”
My stomach drops, realizing that’s the first time he has ever just said it openly and honestly, without thought. “You do?”
He takes me in his arms and kisses my forehead. “Why do you sound surprised?”
“I’m not…” I pause. “I just…” I stop myself.
“You just what?” He frowns.
I stare at a painting on the wall over his shoulder so I don’t have to look him in the eye. I have been thinking about this all day. He is safer without me. “I just don’t know if I’m good for you. Maybe we should separate.”
“Look at me.”
I keep staring at the painting as I try my hardest to show no emotion.
“Fucking look at me.”
I drag my eyes to his.
“I want to live in the moment. Right now.”
“Was the engagement ring…?” My voice trails off because I’m not sure if I want to know the answer.
He cuts me off. “I got an engagement ring because I wanted to live in the moment.”
“But would you have bought it for me if we were under normal circumstances?” I ask.
“If I felt this way about you in normal circumstances, yes.”
“Stace,” I whisper.
“If I planned out my perfect life tonight, you would be in it. I know this seems fast, but we have been together and alone every day for a month. I feel like I have known you for forever. I’ve never…” His voice trails off.
I smile softly, that’s how I feel. “Is this real between us?” I shake my head and step back from him. “How can we fall in love under these circumstances?”
“I don’t know.”
“So you are having trouble believing this as well?” I ask.