Hello, people!
Happy Wednesday!

Usual housekeeping:
- I still don't own any of it.
- Team Momo wouldn't exist without Midnight Cougar and Alice's White Rabbit with their red pens, or without AGoodWitch, Maplestyle, Mel, and Eternally Addicted who pre-read and tell me if I'm off my rocker or not.
- thank you for all the reviews and alerts! Y'all propelled this story past 1.5k reviews! I'm humbled and grateful and treasure each of them.

The nominations for the Golden Onion Awards are still underway and will be open until July 31. All the pertinent info and the link to the nomination and awards website is in their FB group, The Golden Onion Awards (type in the search bar to find it). Don't forget to go and show your favorites some love with the nominations :)

And yeah, we're gonna bring ReBitch down. Buckle up, it's about to get a tad bumpy ... but maybe not right away ;-)
Let's hear from LawyerWard today.

Chapter 37 – EPOV

The next morning, I woke up with a still-dozing Bella in my arms. For a moment, I reveled in her presence, in the warm weight, the soft shape of this woman I loved more than my own life. I watched her sleep, her chest rising and falling with every breath. She was real, and she was mine. I'd never stop thanking whatever higher power above for letting fate align so we'd be together.

We could afford to have a lazy day today. Bella was off for the rest of the week—Alistair's orders—and so was I. My sabbatical would end on Friday.

Her parents' flight back to Seattle would take off at 11:30. Last night when we offered, they declined a ride to the airport and forbade us from changing our plans to meet them this morning. They waved off our concerns, and Charlie even replied with a salacious grin that he'd leave us to our private celebrations. Renée elbowed him in the side, but blushed and agreed.

At first, Bella grumbled they wouldn't see each other again on this trip, but Charlie reassured her and blurted out that maybe they'd come later this summer for another long weekend. With trembling lips, Bella nodded and hugged him fiercely. From Charlie's earlier behavior, it was a monumental step forward. I had high hopes their relationship would mend over time, especially if Charlie and Renée gained more insight into Bella's life in Atlanta in the future.

Bella stirred in my arms, her hand reaching blindly for me as she stretched. With one, two, three rapid blinks, her eyes flew open, and she looked up at me with a sleepy smile.

"Good morning, baby."

On hearing the endearment, I shivered. A word was all she ever needed to get me going. Her smile turned from sleepy to suggestive—clear evidence that she knew what she was doing to me.

"Good morning, my love. What are we doing today since we're both on vacation?"

She sat up against the headboard, leaning her head on my shoulder as she ran her hand over my chest in lazy circles. "About that. I think I need some of that aromatherapy shower before I can do anything productive."

"Isn't being productive the opposite of being on vacation?"

She giggled, then kissed my collarbone, and I shivered again. "Semantics, counselor."

"Still, humor me. What's your definition of productive in this case?"

With a deep breath, Bella stilled and turned toward me, all traces of playfulness erased from her face. "I've been thinking."

"Yes, my love?" I wouldn't panic. I wouldn't overthink and work myself into a frenzy before she told me what she'd been thinking. I wouldn't. Would I? I schooled my features to appear interested and eager, but doubt crept under the surface.

"Rose is moving in with Emmett next month. There are six months left on her lease, and her landlord has agreed not to charge her a penalty if she can find someone to take over the lease."

Huge, huge sigh of relief. Sitting up beside her, I pulled her close to me, kissing the top of her head. "Emmett told me a while ago, and I wondered what would happen with Rose's place. So, you've been thinking about moving?"

She shrugged, suddenly bashful. "It's pricier than my studio, which was a big strike in the 'cons' column for me. But it's closer to the office. Much closer—I'd only need to take one bus, I could wake up half an hour later, and I'd also be closer … closer to you," she added almost in a whisper.

"That's an argument even I can't refute. So, I'm guessing we're going apartment viewing?"

She leaned her head to one side, biting her lip. "Would you come with me? I know the place isn't a dud because I've been at Rose's before, but I'd love to bounce ideas off you."

Her phrasing spurred all sorts of naughty associations of ideas in my brain, and I couldn't suppress the resulting groan. "You'll be the death of me one of these days, Swan. But I'll let you bounce ideas and … other things off me any day."

With a girly squeal I'd never heard from her before, she straddled me in one swift move, leaving a heap of rumpled sheets behind her, and circled her arms around my neck. She stared at me, her eyes full of mischief and wonder, and that look of pure love and trust disarmed me.

"God, Bella. You're so damn beautiful when you're happy. I love you so fucking much."

"I'm always happy with you," she murmured, nipping at my jaw.

My hand threaded through her riotous hair, holding her up as I kissed her hard, suddenly ravenous for her. I flipped us until she was lying beneath me, all shallow breaths and puckered nipples, her skin dappled in a lustful blush.

"That damn shower's gonna have to wait."

She giggled, and the vibration went all the way down to her core when I entered her and lost myself in her once again.

&&&StN&&&

It was just as well that Bella had scheduled her viewing at Rose's building for the afternoon. Our naughty activities outside and inside the shower took up the best part of our morning, emphasis on best.

We emerged from my apartment around lunchtime, extremely clean, satisfied, and happy.

"Where's Rose's place exactly?" I asked her when we stepped out of the elevator.

She rattled off the address, and I mentally calculated the distance. "It's three, four blocks away tops."

She fiddled with her phone for a second, then showed me directions on the screen. "More like five blocks, but see, it's a straight shot."

"You'd be within walking distance of me?" I was suddenly very excited about this new development. It wasn't exactly what I hoped for—moving her in with me—but it was a step in the right direction. Quite literally.

"I would be." Her enthusiasm was contagious.

"Let's go for a walk and see this place," I offered.

It was a glorious, sunny mid-May afternoon. A perfect day for a walk with my beloved.

A short reprieve ... for now.
On Saturday, we'll learn more about what can of worms ReBitch opened now. Stay tuned.

Also, my first story Business Class Girl turns 13 years old on July 22. To celebrate, I'm doing a group re-read in my FB Group LaMomo's Lair and I will also be posting an exclusive outtake. The group re-read starts this Sunday, July 16. Come and join us!

See y'all on Saturday!