‘The bed’s an awful mess,’ I say with a teasing smile as he arranges my hair over my shoulders and slides his palms down my arms until he has my hands.

  ‘My compulsion to have you in bed with me far outweighs any compulsion to have the sheets tidy.’

  My smile stretches into a massive grin. ‘Why, Mr Hart, did you just admit to a compulsion?’

  His head cocks and I flex one of my hands until he releases it, then take my time pushing back his stray wave from his damp forehead.

  ‘You might be on to something there,’ he replies, totally composed and with no humour in his tone.

  My hand falters in his waves and I watch him closely, searching for that cute dimple. It’s nowhere in sight and I look questioningly at him, trying to figure out if he’s finally admitting that he suffers terribly from OCD.

  ‘Might,’ he adds, remaining poker-faced.

  I gasp and jab him in the shoulder, forcing the sweetest sounding chuckle to slip from his mouth. The sight and sound of Miller displaying amusement never fails to mesmerise me. It’s without question the most beautiful thing in the world – not just my world but the whole world. It has to be.

  ‘I’m inclined to say definitely,’ I break in, interrupting his laughter.

  His head shakes in wonder. ‘Do you realise how hard I find it to accept you’re here?’

  My smile fades into confusion. ‘In New York?’ I’d have gone to Outer Mongolia if he had demanded it. Anywhere. He laughs lightly and glances away, prompting me to take his jaw and direct his perfect face back to mine. ‘Elaborate.’ I raise my eyebrows in authority, pressing my lips together, despite the overwhelming need to join him in his happiness.

  ‘Just here,’ he says on a little shrug of his solid shoulders. ‘With me, I mean.’

  ‘In bed?’

  ‘In my life, Olivia. Transforming my darkness into blinding light.’ His face comes close, his lips ghosting mine. ‘Replacing my nightmares with beautiful dreams.’ Holding my eyes, he falls silent and waits for me to absorb his heartfelt words. Like many things he says now, I full