Chapter 44

Paige woke to the comforting warmth of Nathaniel's chest underneath her. Her legs were intwined with his and she felt him playing with her hair. She stretched slightly and yawned.

"Good morning, gorgeous," Nathaniel said gently. Paige felt his hand cup her face as he angled her lips to meet his. She smiled as they parted.

"Good morning," she replied, still smiling. He looked into her eyes and suddenly became very serious.

"Baby, you didn't take your morning after pill," he reminded her. Paige closed her eyes and moved her hand to her stomach. 'Do I want to be pregnant? I know I still might not be, but if I don't take this pill, will I take another? Do I want to have a baby with someone I met a week ago? I love Nathan, but should we combine our lives?' she thought. She still didn't know the answer to any of these questions.

"Paige, talk to me. What are you thinking about? I can tell your mind is very busy thinking away," he murmured against her forehead as he kissed it.

"If I don't take this pill, do I take the next one? Are we trying for a baby? We met a week ago, are we going to combine our lives and start a family?" she asked out loud. Nathaniel chuckled.

"I would love nothing more than for that to happen. However, I'm 30, and I understand that you might want to wait on children. I want you to move in with me and I want to be with you always. I love you. I'm not going anywhere," he said.

"What if I don't take the pill and we use condoms in the meantime? Then, I'll either get my period or find out if I'm pregnant. If I do get my period and I feel upset, then we can revisit the subject," Paige reasoned. Nathaniel chuckled.

"You're so sensible. Are you sure that you're 23?" he asked, teasing her.

"25 to everyone but you," she whispered. Nathaniel grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"Does this mean that you'll officially move in with me?" he asked, hopeful. He had never hung on the decisions of another person before. He was constantly at her mercy and he both hated it and loved it. He loved that he could sometimes bend her will and he loved that she could do the same to him.

"We can do a temporary trial. I will retain my apartment but live here. If we find that this is too much too soon, I can move back," Paige said, half agreeing. She didn't want to be without him. He had become so many things to her in such a short time. He already was a staple in life. She smiled to herself. He had crept in, without any warning, and opened her heart to the future that she had always dreamed of.

"When does the trial end?" Nathaniel asked, thinking to himself.

"2 months?" she offered.

"How about 1 month? If we find out that you're pregnant, then I want us to be able make this decision earlier," he suggested.

"Okay, 1 month from today, the trial ends," Paige said. Nathaniel grabbed his phone and texted someone, then set it back down. Paige looked at him, confused.

"I let Arthur know that you'd be moving into the North wing with me," he said excitedly.

"The North wing? Nathan, you have wings in your home. My apartment is the size of this room. This is too much space," Paige said, getting slightly overwhelmed.

"I'm sure your family home was large when you were growing up, from what you've told me. You'll get acclimated to the size. You did with other things," he said suggestively, slightly grinding himself into her thigh. Paige looked at him.

"I hated that home. It was so cold. There was no laughter, except the rare occasion that my brother and I got to act like children," Paige said sadly.

"I can promise you that our home will be filled with love. Paige, I will cherish you," he said, lifting her chin and pecking her lips. Paige's stomach growled loudly. Nathaniel looked at her.

"I need to feed you. Arthur told me that you hardly ate yesterday. That's not healthy," Nathaniel said. He sat up and scooped up Paige as he started striding to the door.

"Nathan, put me down. I can't go to eat breakfast like this. What if your mother comes in again?" Paige said, stressed.

"She'll be thrilled. She wants me to produce an heir and we look like we spent the night practicing," he said firmly. Paige sighed and stopped protesting. She was feeling very hungry and she felt like Nathaniel would just reason away anything she said. He hurriedly strode through the house into the dining room.

"Master Donovan, Mistress Everett, good morning. The chef has prepared a large breakfast this morning. I shall alert him that you are ready to eat momentarily. Mistress Everett, do you have a preferred morning beverage?" Arthur said. He had been waiting next to the door for them. Nathaniel sat at the head of the table with Paige in his lap.

Paige was bewildered. 'Mistress Everett?' she thought with confusion. "Arthur, please don't address me so—-" but Nathaniel interjected.

"Paige, you are the lady of this household. There is a level of respect that comes with that," he stated. Paige looked at him.

"We aren't married yet," she whispered. He looked at her and gave her the biggest smile. He took her hand and kissed each of her fingers.

"You said 'yet'," he replied to her confused expression, still grinning. "Paige, love of my life, please let Arthur know what beverage you'd like with breakfast. The barista can make any type of coffee drink you'd like."

"A plain latte with almond milk," she said, tearing her eyes from Nathaniel to look at Arthur. He bowed and left the room. Paige turned and looked back at Nathaniel.

"Am I going to sit in your lap while we eat?" she asked softly.

"I'm compelled to keep you as close to me as possible," he said with mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You look as if you're thinking something wicked," Paige said with a laugh. Nathaniel leaned towards her until she felt his breath on her ear. She felt heated all of the sudden.

"I was thinking that I'd be much closer if I was inside of you," he said huskily into her ear, nipping at the lobe before moving to look at her face. Paige was blushing profusely.

"Later," she muttered. Flashes of the things that they did together in bed were flying across her mind and she needed to get a hold of herself. Luckily, Arthur came in with their drinks. Paige tried to get off Nathaniel's lap but he held her close, pouting at her attempt.

Paige sighed and reached for her latte. It tasted delicious, but it made her think of the morning she was drugged and almost kidnapped.

"I had a latte from the coffee shop I always go to the morning I was kidnapped," Paige said, stunned. She knew that this was what happened, but she actually remembered it.

"Do you remember that?" Nathaniel asked. He wanted to figure out why James Allen might be after Paige, but he didn't want to frighten her. Having her own family and a second billionaire trying to find her might be too much of a burden right now.

"I actually do remember it. I remember a man there that was creepy…" she said, trailing off.