Page 45 of Yearner

Allison stared at him in disbelief. “You did what? How could you do that? She was only staying for one more night, and you rushed her out of the house so early?”

Silas immediately rounded the kitchen counter and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He drew her back against his chest and rested his chin near her shoulder.

“She’s had you to herself for two nights. That’s enough,” he said, sounding entirely unapologetic. “I want you all to myself.”

Allison shook her head, struggling to hold back her laughter.

“And she was more than happy to leave,” Silas added. “You should’ve seen her face when she saw the number on the check. She looked as though Christmas had come early. She practically ran out of the house this morning.”

Allison giggled at his words, tilting her head as she smiled. Finally, she reached for the glass of juice and took a sip.

“You're going to make all my friends hate me,” she said with a resigned sigh.

“I won’t,” Silas answered at once. “She was very happy when she left.”

Allison snorted at his response and pushed lightly against him as he continued kissing her shoulder from behind. His lips traveled up the side of her neck toward her ear, but she wriggled out of his embrace before he could continue.

“I have a gift for you,” she announced.

Silas tightened his hold around her waist, reluctant to let her go. Allison laughed as she tried to free herself, and he finally released her, though not without giving her one last kiss.

She hurried upstairs to the bedroom to fetch the gift, disappearing from his sight within moments.

Left alone, Silas picked up the glass of juice she had been drinking from and took a sip. A smile slowly spread across his face as he drank from the same glass she had used. It was such a small thing, yet it made him feel unexpectedly close to her. After waiting so many years for even the simplest forms of intimacy between them, every little moment they now shared filled him with happiness. Sometimes, he could still hardly believe that being with Allison was no longer a dream he had to wake up from.

A little while later, she returned downstairs. She walked up to him with her hands folded behind her back, a bright smile on her face.

“Close your eyes,” she instructed.

Silas set the glass down, his smile widening as he obediently shut his eyes.

“I’m ready.”

Allison brought her hands forward, revealing a gift box. Inside was the present she had chosen for him. She opened it, took out the watch, and carefully fastened it around his wrist.

“Now, open your eyes.”

Silas did as she asked. The moment he looked down and saw the watch on his wrist, his expression changed with surprise. He turned his arm slightly to admire it before lifting his gaze to her.

“Do you like it?” Allison asked, her face lighting up with anticipation.

Silas's smile brightened. He immediately pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her and holding her against his chest. Then he lowered his head and kissed her cheek before capturing her lips in a tender kiss.

When he finally pulled away, he looked at her affectionately.

“You don't have to spend money on me, Allison,” he murmured. “You can make me happy without buying me anything. If you want to give me something, I'd rather you showered me with the kind of gifts only you can give me.”

The meaning behind his words was unmistakable.

Allison's cheeks turned scarlet. Before she could come up with a reply, Silas leaned in and kissed her again, clearly enjoying her embarrassment.

As he drew back, she felt something slide around her wrist. She lowered her eyes in surprise and discovered that he had fastened a beautiful diamond bracelet around it.

Her lips parted as she admired the sparkling stones.

“It's a gift I bought for you,” Silas explained, watching her reaction with a pleased smile.

Before Allison could say anything, he bent down, lifted her into his arms, and settled her on the dining table. He moved closer, his gaze fixed on hers as he leaned in to whisper against her lips.