For a moment, we leaned against the wall, recovering with shaky breaths. Then he gingerly carried me to the bathroom and set me on the counter before wetting a towel and cleaning me.

“I feel like I’m getting the royal treatment. Is this the normal protocol?” I teased, not expecting the dark look that hardened his features.

Nico tossed the washcloth into the sink and lifted me back into his arms. “I wasn’t exactly a saint while we were apart, but I want you to know that I never touched another girl before that night at the party. I know I said there were others, but there weren’t. I had to get drunk off my ass before I could stand to let Brooke touch me. I’ve never made love to anyone until you, and there will never be anyone after.” He lowered me into his bed, his hard body over mine.

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Good, now I want to fuck you slow and sweet before we go grab some dinner.”

“Again?”

“We have a shit ton of missed time to make up for, so I’m going to be inside you a lot.” His eyes darkened, and his lips pulled up in the corners.

“What about my stuff? I work tomorrow and need to get my things.”

“You’re moving in with me. I’ll have your stuff brought over from your parents’ house.”

“Moving in?” I gawked. “Nico, we just got back together.”

“For seven years, I’ve missed out on that smile of yours, so I’m not wasting one more minute apart. You need time to decide if you want me?”

I shook my head, knowing he was the only man I’d ever want.

“Then it’s decided. We’ll cancel your lease, pay whatever default we have to, and get your shit moved in here. If we need more space, I’ll see about buying one of the places next door, and we can join the two units. As long as you’re here with me, everything else is just a technicality.”

“Okay,” I whispered again, too shocked to say anything else.

“If this conversation is over,” he rumbled before rolling his tongue around one of my nipples. “I’d like to fuck you now.”

“Okay.”

With the one simple word, he was inside me—mind, body, and soul.

Nico wasn’t kidding when he said he’d take me to Paris. It had taken a number of heated discussions because I had to quit my job in order to go, but eventually, he wore me down. He argued that I’d be traveling too frequently to hold a job, and I liked the idea too much to argue for long. I enjoyed working at the gallery, but it had only served a purpose for the old Sofia. Now that my secrets were out, there was little purpose for a day job.

Two weeks later, we were on a plane about to have the ten most magical days of my life. The cherry on top was how excited I was to come home to my family. My plea about becoming closer had struck a chord, and everyone made an effort to be more open.