Part of me wished I’d been wise enough to do this last week, when I had her in my arms ready for me to take her. But it wasn’t right, the timing of it, the feeling of it. And maybe the last seven agonizing days were what made last night so sweet.

She felt the same.

She wanted me, too.

God, just thinking of how she’d whispered that she was mine on her front stoop made my chest squeeze in a mixture of possession and elation.

It was enough to drive a sane man out of his mind, to have a girl like Giana open up for me, let me in, trust me with everything that she was, and give herself to me in every way that she could.

I wouldn’t take a second of it for granted.

A garbage truck squeaking to a stop outside stirred Giana awake, and she blinked a few times, smacking her lips together before her tongue slid out to wet them. Her eyes widened when she found me staring back at her.

“Good morning,” I said.

She blinked, and then instantly covered her head with the comforter. “Oh my God, look away. Close your eyes so I can make an escape to the bathroom.”

The words were muffled under the covers, and I chuckled, ripping them off her head before I pulled her into me and kissed her — long, slow, and with every intent to do it all morning.

“You’re beautiful,” I told her.

“Not at seven AM, I’m not.”

“Especially then,” I argued, kissing her nose, but I still held her in my arms. “How are you feeling?”

Her resistance faded, and she melted into my embrace, watching her fingernails as they drew lines over my bicep. “Amazing,” she whispered, a blush tingeing her cheeks. “Sore, and dehydrated,” she added with a laugh. “But… amazing.”

I intertwined her hand in mine, pulling her to my lips so I could kiss each of her fingertips. She watched me as I did, brows furrowing even as a smile bloomed on her lips.

“This is real,” I said, hoping I could soothe whatever anxiety was already creeping into her mind in the daylight. “You and me, we’re real.”

She let out a long sigh. “So, it wasn’t a dream.”

“Like your imagination could cook up something that hot.”

She snorted, rolling her eyes before she climbed on top of me. I let her maneuver us until I was on my back, she on her knees and settled into my lap.

“So, what does this mean for us now?”

“What do you want it to mean?” I countered.

Giana considered, her hands interlaced with mine and floating in the space between us as she pulled her mouth to one side in thought.

“Well,” she started. “I guess not much has to change, does it? Everyone already thinks we’re dating.”