Page 44 of Embraced in Ink

She froze, blinking. “I don’t know. I think that’s something we’ll have to decide when the time comes.”

A pause.

“You’ve always wanted kids, Bristol.”

“You have, too.”

She swallowed hard, and she noticed that he did, as well.

“So, kids are on the table?” he asked, his voice low.

“Yes. Kids are on the table.”

And from there, they went through their lists as if they weren’t making such large decisions and talking about important topics that would send any other relationship off-kilter.

But with Marcus? It was everything. She could breathe because she knew he was thinking about it, too.

Because they weren’t going back. They were going forward, together.

Somehow.

Chapter 10

Marcus slid his hand over his face and hoped to hell and back he could figure out what exactly he was going to do next. The date with Bristol? Pretty fucking amazing. Life-affirming even. Things just made sense between them.

He knew that his artistic, brilliant, beautiful friend—fiancée,he corrected himself—needed to have complete lists before she could focus on what was important. The idea that the two of them could decide where their thoughts and needs and desires fit in with each other in the long-term meant everything.

They had talked about the essential things, and he knew it was good for her to hear it. Him as well, if he were honest. However, now that they were back at her place, at least in her driveway, things were back to being off. She was sitting in his passenger seat, not looking at him.

Not speaking a word.

Nor was he talking.

Well, hell.

The way they sat in silence probably wasn’t the best way to finish the evening. If the evening ended soon at all. Did she want him to come in like before? Only he knew if he went inside, it wasn’t going to end like it had when they were merely friends. And if he went home? Fuck. He didn’t know.

“I don’t know if I should let you in for a drink? Or pretend it’s only for coffee? Or let you walk me to the door, and then I’ll go and settle in.” Bristol was rambling, making her sentences sound like questions rather than pure thoughts, and he was glad for it. Because he knew he would ramble, too.

“I don’t think we’re finished talking yet,” he said, drawing out his words.

“Talking is good. Talking is really good.”

Marcus leaned over, undid her seat belt, the back of his hand sliding along her thigh. The sound of her indrawn breath went straight to his cock, and he swallowed hard, his gaze on hers.

“Nothing needs to happen tonight,” he whispered.

“But what if it does?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bristol licked her lips. Whenever she did, his gaze always went to her mouth, and he couldn’t help but want to touch her. Taste her.

“Let’s get inside.”

“I...okay.”

They got out of the car with him waiting at the front, holding out his hand. She slid her palm into his without speaking, and they made their way to her front door. He had a key, but he let her use hers because this wasn’t a time where he felt comfortable going in on his own.

They had changed the dynamic of who they were together, as well as who they were apart, and he didn’t want to pressure her.