stock market and win big."
I absorb all of that for a second. Nodding my head, I look around in awe. I didn't even notice that there are the same linen pieces of paper up on the third wall, listing facts about me.
Loves coffee.
Hates waiting in line.
Graduated at the top of her class.
Would choose the ocean over mountains anytime.
I raise my hand, walking over to touch one of the cards. For some reason, this is the most touching thing that I've seen yet. My eyes mist over as I read the facts printed on each card.
"So?"
I blot at my eyes, turning with a question on my face. "What?"
He looks down for a moment. And when he looks back up, his gaze is smoldering, threatening to burn me alive. "I know we haven’t been together for that long. But… I was just thinking about your rooms at the palace and how happy you’ve been for the last month, since I took you away from there. I want you to know that you will always have another place that you can live. You don’t have to be a trained seal for the royal family, Nika.”
My heart pounds.
My mouth is dry.
I don’t know quite what to say.
“This place… it’s for me?” I say again, wide eyed. It’s just so hard to wrap my head around.
I am officially swept off my feet. I put a hand over my heart, my mouth crumpling.
“No one has ever done anything like this for me,” I whisper. It’s the hardest thing not to just break down in tears of gratitude right now.
Erik shrugs a shoulder. “Well, I see us living here, eventually. Assuming you don’t get tired of me first. I… I like spending time with you.”
I stare at him for a second, not sure I’m hearing him right.
No one has ever asked for me to spend more time with them before. No one has ever cared enough about me, not even my family. My mouth opens, but no words come out.
Erik makes a face, coming over and wrapping his arms around my waist. “I need you to say something, princess.”
I bob my head, burying my face against the solid wall of his chest. “Yes. Yes! I would love to live with you, Erik. I mean… more permanently than I do at the moment.”
He tips my chin up with a finger, kissing my lips. I kiss him back fiercely, really moved that he did all of this for me. He smiles against my lips.
“I’m glad you like it,” he whispers.
I break into a grin. “I love it… I really…. I love you, Erik.”
He freezes for a second. His expression is one of complete surprise. His hands tighten around my waist. “Oh, Annika…”
I bite my lip and blush. “I’m sorry. That kind of slipped out.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t apologize. I care about you too, Nika. More deeply than I can say.”
I bite my lower lip. “Yeah?”
He shakes his head and kisses me tenderly. “I do.”
I take a deep breath, feeling a little off-center. Does that mean that he loves me and just can’t say it aloud? Or am I being optimistic to think so?
Erik takes my hand, guiding me back to the bed. I sit down, enjoying how squishy that mattress is.
“I’ll be right back,” he says.
He returns with a huge silver tray and sets it between us on the bed. It’s been made up with a silver ice bucket with champagne chilling, a platter of French macarons and handmade chocolates, and two champagne flutes. And right in the center of all of it is a single pink cupcake with a candle, just waiting to be lit.
I grin as he sits down on the other side of the tray.
Erik pops the bottle of champagne and pours us each a glass. I pick up a pink macaron, nibbling it delicately. It’s sweet and light, made of almond flour and raspberry cream.
He holds up his glass to me. I pick mine up and clink it against his. He smiles.
“Happy birthday, Nika.”
I wiggle my eyebrows at him as I taste the champagne. “Thank you for doing all of this, Erik.”
His lips twitch. “It was nothing.” He takes a sip of his drink then looks at me. “Isn’t this the part where you tell me your goals, birthday girl?”
I shoot him a smirk. “My goals?”
“Yep.” He reaches over to the platter and touches the edge of the cupcake, taking just a little frosting off of it. Then he pops his finger in his