Chapter 50

I woke slowly, the warmth of Monique’s body pressed against mine, her steady breath tickling my chest. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. I took a moment to simply enjoy the feeling of her beside me, the way her fingers rested lightly on my stomach, the way her legs tangled with mine.

I brushed a kiss against her forehead, and she stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent before stretching, pressing her body against mine in a way that made me groan softly.

“Good morning,” I whispered, letting my fingers trace lazy circles on her back.

She hummed, her voice still thick with sleep. “Mmm ... do we have to get up?”

I chuckled, tightening my hold on her. “I wouldn’t mind staying like this, but I have to go into the office this morning, remember?”

She sighed dramatically, shifting so that she was half on top of me. “That sounds suspiciously like a responsibility.”

I laughed. “It is.”

She lifted her head, her dark eyes full of mischief. “I don’t like it. I prefer it when you’re all mine.”

“You’ll still be on my mind,” I reassured her, brushing a stray curl from her face.

She smiled, then propped herself up on her elbow. “Fine. I suppose I should get up too.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

She nodded. “I have things to do while you’re working. I’ll go home for a bit, visit Maman and Papa, grab some more clothes, check on my plants.”

I smirked. “So you’re officially moving in and just forgot to tell me?”

She grinned. “Maybe.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Take your time, mon amour. But hurry back to me.”

She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Always.”

After reluctantly leaving the warmth of the bed, we freshened up, showering quickly—though Monique still found time to tease me by taking just a little too long soaping up her body, sending me lingering glances over her shoulder.

“You’re making this very difficult,” I muttered, adjusting the towel around my waist.

She grinned. “I know.”

Once dry, I dressed in dark slacks and a crisp button-up, leaving the top few buttons undone for comfort. Monique, as always, took her time picking out her outfit, clearly enjoying how I watched her every move.

She finally settled on a pair of form-fitting jeans that hugged her curves perfectly, paired with a soft, angora sweater in a delicate cream color. It was casual yet effortlessly sexy, the neckline dipping just enough to reveal a tempting hint of collarbone.

I let out a low whistle. “You’re making it very hard to leave the house.”

She smirked, doing a slow twirl. “I like to keep things interesting.”

I caught her by the waist, pulling her close. “You certainly do.”

She kissed me quickly before slipping out of my arms. “Come on, let’s eat before you distract me more.”