Chapter 198: No Problem
Vivian’s POV
Amy had been right of course. The best thing that Vivian could do was to bring the issue up with Ryan as soon as possible.
The longer she hung on to it and did not say anything, the bigger the chances of it spiraling into something that she could not control. Something that would put their relationship at risk. Which was the last thing that Vivian wanted. She had barely survived the last separation, and they had not been dating then.
If they were to part ways now, she was certain that the heartache would end her.
***
After she had returned from her night with her friend, Vivian had had every intention of talking to Ryan about their living arrangement and what would happen to her apartment in the long run.
But life had gotten in the way, tiny emergencies popping up here and there( the main one being Amy needing help in clearing out her apartment after it flooded), preventing her from bringing up the issue. As for Ryan. He was also handling a few crises with his businesses. So the two of them did not really had time to sit and talk in a while and before she knew it, an entire week had passed without her saying anything to him.
It was tempting for her to continue on with her silence but Vivian knew that she could not do so. Now that the flooding problem that Amy’d had was resolved, she no longer had anything keeping her busy, so she had to talk to Ryan.
The problem was she had yet to find the right opportunity to do so.
When she had been thinking of what the perfect moment to bring up the whole thing would be. Vivian had imagined that it would be something very serious. That it would involve her sitting Ryan down in the living room and the two of them having a very long, and detailed discussion about the whole apartment thing.
But the reality was nothing like that at all. After a week of barely getting to just enjoy being in each other’s company, the two of them were in Ryan’s giant tub together. Her back pressed to his chest, candles lit all around them, soft music playing in the background. The whole atmosphere just screamed romance and had the two of them not already had sex beforehand. Vivian was pretty certain that they would have been going at it in the tub, splashing water everywhere. But for the moment they were satisfied, and as she continued to lay in Ryan’s arms, she found the words slipping out of her mouth as easy as anything.
"I do not wish to sell my place," Behind her she felt Ryan stiffen. Then his lips grazed the shell of her ear before he spoke.
"Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not recall ever making such a request of you. Why would you think that I wish for you to sell your apartment,"
***
It seemed that she had been wrong.
When he had been staring off into the distance so many times, Vivian had truly believed the reason was because he wanted her to sell her place. Now here he was saying the thought had never even entered his mind.
"So you are telling me that if I were to move in with you permanently, you would not be offended by me keeping my apartment," His hands settling over her breasts and kneading them lightly, Ryan laughed softly, "Vivian, I own multiple properties, and I would never sell any one of them without good reason. It would be hypocritical of me to expect you to just get rid of your place?"
Oh, there was silence for a bit, then Ryan tensed behind her.
"Wait, does this mean that you want to move in with me?" Having expected to have to take some time arguing her case. Vivian was not at all prepared for a resolution to be reached so quickly and for Ryan to quickly change the direction of the conversation. Biting her bottom lip, she considered his words and was positively delighted by her realization. The entire time she had been more worried about the possibility of losing her place. But she had never been worried by the thought of permanently living with Ryan. So without wasting any time she answered him.
"Yes, if you would not mind, I would very much like to live with you permanently,"
"Oh, sweetheart... thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea how happy that makes me," Ryan breathed behind her, his breath warm and comforting against her skin. Then he began peppering the side of her neck with kisses. The movement of his fingers over her breasts becoming more coordinated and Vivian closed her eyes, giving herself over to the sensations.
A few seconds later, she forced her eyes all the way open again.
"The entire time I was worried because I thought you were going to want me to sell my place and that was why you were often staring off into the distance, and running off at every given opportunity. But that was not the case. So what is it that has had you so jumpy? What has been bothering you?" From the way that he tensed against her back, Vivian expected Ryan to try and change the topic, but instead all that he did was exhale.
"You are right, something has been on my mind. But I do not think that the tub is the best place to discuss it. So how about we get out, dry ourselves off and then talk?" Oh, so there definitely was something going on.
Curiosity driving her, Vivian did not resist his idea. She quickly got out of the tub and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around herself before following him to the bedroom. Hopefully, whatever it was that he wanted to talk about would not be too much of a big deal.