Author's Note: Because there's no Graceland this week, and I'm sure some people are going through withdrawal, I shall finish this story tonight.

Big thanks to LovesLoveAndAngst, because we're just totally on the same page. lol Keeps me motivated to share my writings.

Part Three

Mike is just about to fall asleep when Paige breaks the silence.

"Just so you know, your dirty talk could use a little work."

"You think?" He murmurs lazily next to her, not seeming at all bothered by her critique.

"Don't get me wrong. You started off strong, 'say my name' and all that, but in the end? I felt kind of like you were saying 'Yeah, baby, you're gonna take it. You're going to take it all. Yeah that's right, you let me make tender respectful love to you.'"

"I know you're joking, but just so you know, I like it when you don't just refer to us as fucking." Mike says nonchalantly, staring up at the ceiling.

Paige giggles.

"I'm serious."

"It's hard to take you seriously when you're wearing me like lip gloss." Paige scoffs.

"You're deflecting." He says. His eyes closed, he casually licks his lips.

"Now you sound like my shrink." Paige mutters.

"Do you tell your shrink about me?" He turns to her, his blue eyes suddenly ablaze with curiosity.

"No. Do you tell yours about me?" She retorts. Some emotion she can't name clouds his eyes, and he looks down towards the mattress.

"No." He admits.

She feels like there's more he should be saying, but instead the silence just settles back over them. She lies there propped on her side, mirroring him. He reaches between them, and takes her hand, playing with her fingers lazily. He stares intently as he silently runs a finger over each crease and line on her palm. Up one finger and back again, as if he's trying to read the future.

She takes advantage of his silent distraction to study his face. The disheveled hair, messy from where her fingers had grasped. The defined lines on his forehead and eyes that had gotten twice as deep since he got to Graceland. The long lashes, that hid his blue eyes from her. The creases that ran from his nose to the corner of his lips. The stubble that was beginning to line his normally clean shaven jaw. He was so pretty it hurt to look at him.

"It doesn't count, you know." She says, looking away.

"What doesn't?"

"What I said earlier, it doesn't count." She's not using the G-word again. He knows what she's talking about.

"Why not?"

"It's extortion. I would have said anything at that moment." She says, looking back at him, "I couldn't think with you doing that."

He drags a lazy finger up her side, contemplating her words. "I knew that was the only way you'd admit it. You think too much."

"This coming from you?" He ignores her jab. He was focused on a singular topic today and would not let her change course.

"Look, I'm not trying to make you a wife here, Paige. We don't have to tell anyone. Not yet at least. But you're important to me, and I want to know that I'm important to you too."

"Can't we just enjoy this for what it is?" Paige sighs, rolling over flat on her back staring at the ceiling. Mike scoots closer to her, propping himself half over her so he is looking down into her eyes.

"Yes. And what this is, is you're my girlfriend." He whispers playfully, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Ugh, listen to yourself. It sounds so cheesy." Paige throws her arm over her eyes, unable to stand the sight of his adorable smirk and his mussed hair.

"I like the way it sounds." Mike says simply, kissing her again. "I like the way it sounds even better when you say it." He naws playfully on her shoulder.

"It doesn't change anything! We still can't tell anyone." She peeks out from under her arm.

"If it doesn't change anything, then it shouldn't matter if you say it." He says stubbornly, taking her arm from over her face. Holding her hand next to her head, he rubs his thumb over her palm.

"Please?" He kisses her again. "For me? Just say it once." He trails kisses playfully down her neck, and Paige feels her resolve weaken.

"Why can't you be normal, and have a fear of commitment like every other man on the planet?" Paige swats playfully at him.

"Because you taste too good." He gives her a long passionate kiss, his tongue delving deep into her mouth. "I'm addicted."

"Addicts can't be trusted." She says warily, eyes still closed from his kiss.

"You can trust me." He whispers, his playful tone developing a serious edge. "I won't tell anyone. Please, Paige? Just say it so I know I'm not imagining this whole thing."

"Ugh." Paige growls in frustration, suddenly flipping him over with one leg, reversing their positions so she is above him, straddling him on the bed. He stares up at her adoringly from where he lies underneath her. His hands settle on her hips, and his thumb continues tracing small circles on her skin.

She brings her hands up to her hair and lets out a yell of frustration that could probably be heard in the parking lot.

"I have the most obnoxiously persistent boyfriend ever!" She rolls her eyes, unable to keep the grin off her face from witnessing his beaming expression.

"Sounds rough. Maybe you should find a way to shut him up." Mike grins up at her, his hands rubbing up and down her thighs. His smile is so large that she can count every single one of his perfectly white teeth.

"Yes, I think I'll just have to." She leans down for another impassioned kiss; a task made abnormally difficult due to their lips being preoccupied hosting matching smiles.