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SHE’D KNOWN SHE LOVED him from the moment she had realized she trusted him in a way she hadn’t trusted a man before. Maybe as early as the night they’d treated Ivy. But the idea of changing everything about her life like this terrified her. She’d clung so tightly to her family over the last few years that she didn’t know if she could even think about letting go just yet. “I don’t know.”
Perci looked up at him, honestly expecting to see anger in his green eyes. There was none there. Just understanding. And hope. It was the hope that got to her.
“I want you here. However I can get you. But I’ll wait if I have to. I get why you’re afraid. I’m going to be here whenever you’re ready. No rush. We’ve waited this long. We can take our time—unlike the rest of our crazy siblings.”
Tears hit her eyes. She nodded. Perci wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer. “Thank you. My family—”
“Means everything to you. I know. I have since Joel walked in the ER carrying Phoebe in his arms. That night...I lay on your couch and dreamed of you. The idea that you were just down the hall had me...unable to sleep much at all. If you hadn’t been sharing with Pip...hell, I may have snuck in there and just carried you off. It wasn’t the first time I’d had that thought. Only...I knew what you slept in after that night. The things I imagined after that were a lot more...accurate.” Nate’s hand slipped down over the buttons on her flannel shirt. One by one, he opened the cotton until she was laying there in front of him with nothing but her bra showing. “I have dreamed of having you in here a thousand times.”
“We’ve only known each other a little over a year. You must have a very active sleep cycle.”
“You’re in and out of my dreams every hour all night long, it seems.” The shirt was gone, then the bra followed. Perci just let him. For a little while. Then it would be her turn to get him how she wanted him.
It didn’t matter that his brother and her sister would be in the room down the hall soon. None of it mattered.
Just being with him. Holding each other.
He wasn’t pushing her or pressuring her or trying to take charge. He was just there. Waiting.
The decision was hers.
But that was for tomorrow. Tonight was for them. Perci leaned closer and kissed him.