On The Same Page Ch. 14

Note: Thank you all for staying with the story so far! I truly have enjoyed writing this story so far. The comments have been lovely and have made the process of writing this so enjoyable. Now, as you got from the description, this is the honeymoon chapter, so its slightly spicier than normal, forgive my indulgence! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! As always, constructive feedback is welcome and encouraged in the comments!

Chapter 14: Time for Two

Robbie's POV

Our wedding could not have been more perfect. We spent the day surrounded by so much love. The love of family, friends, and most importantly, each other. After years of building to that moment, Kat and I finally got married, and it felt surreal. To say that Kat looked merely beautiful would be such a grave injustice to how she looked, but in my defense, there are no words in any language I know that would do her justice. She was absolutely radiant. Seeing her walk down the aisle in her dress took my breath away and nearly stopped my heart. We said our vows and bound ourselves to each other in front of the people that mattered most in our lives. Though nobody else could tell, our day was made even better by having Cassie so close and seeing how happy she was for us as well.

The reception that followed was amazing as well. The dinner and party were only elevated by the fact that I was able to look at Kat and call her my wife now. It was funny that even though nothing had really changed between us, nothing had shifted in our relationship or redefined it, just being able to call her my wife, and being able to call myself her husband, carried more weight than I thought it would. We ate, we danced, we drank, we celebrated with everyone around us. Though we didn't drink as much as those around us, we still had an absolute blast.

As the night went on, people started saying their goodbyes and heading back to the hotel or wherever their respective destinations were. Kat and I got a kick out of how many of her sorority sisters found their way to the arms and presumably beds of my old teammates. Later in the evening, though, I knew it was time for us to call it a night. We were leaving for our grand honeymoon the next day, and if I am being honest, I had been waiting patiently for my time to enjoy the pleasure of my wife's company in a more private setting, and my patience was wearing thin.

I came up behind Kat, who was talking animatedly with a couple of her married sorority sisters and Cassie. I wrapped my arms around Kat's waist and brought my lips to her neck and kissed the most sensitive spot softly before whispering in her ear, "I am terribly sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Stockton, but I must insist that we retire for the evening."

Kat immediately relaxed back against me. I felt her breath catch slightly when my lips touched her neck. She turned her head toward me, and the look in her eyes told me I probably hadn't been nearly as subtle as I thought.

"I shall offer no protest, my lord. I have spent these many hours harboring decidedly improper thoughts about my husband. Shall we retire so I may finally act upon them?" she asked softly.

Fuck, she knew how talking like that would get me revved up. I thought it was so sexy when she would talk that way. I kissed the same spot again.

"Then I fear we suffer from the same affliction, my love. I have spent these same many hours admiring my wife in that dress while entertaining thoughts wholly inappropriate for civilized company." I tightened my arms around her waist. "I find myself quite desperate to have her somewhere more private."

Her smile deepened. "How scandalous, my lord. And what, pray tell, do you intend to do once you have your wife somewhere more private?"

I lowered my mouth near her ear. "I believe discussing such intentions in present company would be most improper, my love."

"Then perhaps, my lord, we should depart before my restraint fails me."

"Your restraint, my love?"

Her eyes flicked down to my mouth before returning to mine. "Do not pretend yours is the only patience and restraint being tested, my lord."

The smile that spread across her face was different from the one she'd been wearing while talking to the girls. Softer. Warmer. Filled with the same anticipation I'd been trying to keep under control for the last several hours. I smiled against her skin.

"God, I love you so much, babe."

She turned in my arms and looked up at me. For a few seconds, it felt like everyone around us disappeared again. Her hands slid over my chest and settled against the lapels of my jacket.

"Then I suggest we take our leave at once, my lord, for my patience is quite thoroughly spent. I find myself afflicted by an unbearable desire for my husband, and I fear only the most intimate expression of his affection will provide me any relief."

"Such a grave affliction cannot possibly be allowed to continue, my love. As your husband, I consider it my solemn duty to provide whatever... relief you require."

"Then I suggest we go somewhere you can attend to your marital duties with considerable enthusiasm, my lord."

Fuck. Something about hearing her say it like that still hit me every single time.

Cassie was standing beside us with a warm smile. There wasn't any teasing in it. She'd spent the entire day watching us get married, and I could see how genuinely happy she still was for us.

"You two should go," she started. "Before you get anyone else riled up with that talk," she whispered.

Kat looked at her. "You sure?"

Cassie nodded. "Absolutely."

Kat reached for her hand. There was a moment between them that probably looked like nothing more than two best friends standing together at the end of a wedding reception. I knew better now. Cassie squeezed her hand.

"Go enjoy your husband, girl."

Kat's eyes softened.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Kat hugged her. Cassie held her tightly for a few seconds before they separated. Then Cassie came to me. I opened my arms, and she stepped into them.

"Love you, mi vida."

"I love you too." She pulled back and looked up at me. "Now go take care of your wife."

There was something about the way she said it that hit me harder than I expected. No jealousy. No sadness. No need to make herself part of this moment. Just love for both of us and genuine happiness that tonight belonged to Kat and me.

I kissed her forehead.

"We'll see you tomorrow."

"Of course, Papi, now go!"

Kat took my hand, and we finally started making our way out. It took another twenty minutes to actually escape our own wedding. Every time we made it five feet, someone else wanted a hug, a picture, or one last congratulations. Normally, I would've loved every second of it. These were our friends and family, people who had traveled from all over the country to watch us get married.

But I was rapidly becoming a man with a very singular purpose. Kat knew it too. Every few minutes, I caught her looking at me. Not the bright, beautiful smile she'd been giving everyone else all night. This was different. Her eyes would linger on mine for a second too long, her lips curling into the smallest smile before she looked away.

She was enjoying this. She knew exactly what she was doing to me. The worst part was that I couldn't even blame her. I couldn't stop looking at her either. Her dress had been stunning when she walked down the aisle, but somehow, I liked it even more now. The fitted lace hugged every curve of her body before flaring gently near her knees, leaving very little about the shape of the woman underneath it to my imagination.

Not that I needed to imagine. I knew every inch of the body beneath that dress. That knowledge was becoming increasingly problematic. By the time we finally stepped outside, I was pretty sure Kat could feel the tension radiating off me.

The limo was waiting near the entrance. She stopped when she saw it and looked up at me.

"You got us a limo?"

"I did not. The venue provided it for us."

There had been so much happening all day that I hadn't really had a chance to process any of it. The ceremony. Our vows. Our first dance. Hundreds of conversations. Pictures. Dinner. Cake. More dancing. Now it was just her standing in front of me. My beautiful wife.

I reached up and brushed one of the loose strands of hair away from her face.

"I love you."

Kat leaned into my hand.

"And I love you beyond measure, my lord, but I fear my affection for my husband has taken a decidedly indecent turn. I suggest you take me somewhere private at once, before I forget entirely that we remain in public."

I laughed quietly.

"Thank God."

She kissed me once before climbing into the limo.

I followed her inside. The door closed. For the first time all day, we were completely alone. Kat settled beside me and looked over. For a moment, neither of us moved. There was something strangely intimate about the silence. After an entire day surrounded by people, music, laughter, and celebration, suddenly there was nothing but the quiet hum of the limo and Kat sitting inches away from me.

Still in her wedding dress. Still glowing from the happiest day of our lives.

She smiled.

"Hi," she said softly.

I couldn't help smiling back.

"Hi."

"So..."

"So?"

She lifted her left hand between us and looked at her rings.

"We're married."

I took her hand and kissed her fingers.

"Indeed, we are."

Her eyes met mine.

"You're my husband."

There was something so ridiculously simple about the way she said it, but hearing those words from her hit me harder than anything else had. I moved closer.

"And you're my wife."

Kat's smile softened.

"Say it again."

"You are my wife."

"Again."

I kissed her.

"You are my wife."

She kissed me back. That was supposed to be it. One kiss. Instead, Kat's hand slipped behind my neck and kept me there. The kiss deepened almost immediately.

There was no audience anymore. No photographer. No family waiting for another picture. No friends trying to pull us onto the dance floor. Just us.

I slid my hand around her waist and felt the lace beneath my palm as Kat moved closer. The dress fit her so perfectly that there was almost nothing between my hand and the shape of her body except that thin layer of lace and fabric.

I'd had my hands on her a hundred times today. This felt completely different. Kat must've felt it too, because she broke the kiss only long enough to catch her breath before coming right back to me.

I smiled against her lips.

"I fear my lady's patience is beginning to fail her."

Her lips brushed mine as she answered.

"Can you truly fault me, my lord? I have endured an entire day in the company of a man I desperately desire, yet propriety has denied me the opportunity to properly enjoy him."

"A terrible injustice."

"One I expect my husband to remedy at his earliest convenience."

I kissed her again.

"You have my solemn word that I intend to be exceedingly thorough in correcting it."

Her smile pressed against my lips.

"Then perhaps my lord should cease making promises and see me somewhere private so that he may begin fulfilling them."

Her voice was softer now. I kissed her again, slower this time, letting my hand travel along the curve of her waist. Kat melted against me.

That was the thing about her. I knew her too well. I knew exactly how she breathed when a kiss stopped being innocent. I knew the little sound she made when my lips moved from hers to her jaw. I knew precisely where to kiss her neck to make her fingers tighten against me. Tonight, every one of those reactions felt amplified.

Maybe because she was my wife now. Maybe because I'd spent the entire day wanting her. Probably both. I kissed beneath her ear. Her breath caught.

"Oh yes, my lord..."

I lingered there. Her hand tightened at the back of my neck. I kissed her again.

"Robbie."

There was enough warning in my name that I lifted my head.

Her eyes were already darker.

"What?"

She stared at me for a second before shaking her head.

"We're not doing this in the limo."

I smiled. "I wasn't doing anything."

"You know exactly what you're doing."

"I kissed my wife."

"You kissed your wife in the exact spot you know makes her forget how to make responsible decisions."

I laughed quietly.

"That's a very specific accusation."

"Because I know you."

I leaned toward her again. Kat put her hand against my chest. It would've been more convincing if she wasn't smiling.

"Baby."

I stopped just short of her lips.

"Yeah?"

"I have spent this entire day looking at you in that tuxedo and thinking about what I wanted to do when we finally got alone."

That wiped the smile right off my face. Kat's eyes sparkled.

"So, you've been thinking about me all day?"

She looked at me like the answer should've been obvious.

"I married the man I've been in love with since I was fifteen today. You stood there looking ridiculously handsome, told me you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me, put a ring on my finger, and then expected me to behave through an entire reception."

She took a deep breath and reached up and touched my face.

"I've never been happier in my life."

Any clever response I might've had disappeared. I covered her hand with mine.

"Neither have I."

She kissed me again. There was nothing frantic about it this time. It was deep and warm and slow, the kind of kiss that somehow made me want her even more because there was so much more underneath it than lust.

This was Kat. The girl I'd fallen in love with before either of us knew what the hell we were doing. The woman I'd somehow found again. The woman I'd married today. When the kiss ended, she stayed close enough that our foreheads touched.

"I can't believe we actually did it," she whispered.

I smiled.

"I can."

She pulled back slightly.

"You can?"

"I told you a long time ago I wasn't losing you again."

Her eyes filled immediately.

"Oh, damn it, Robbie," she said, smiling.

I laughed. "What?"

"You don't get to make me cry again. My makeup has barely survived you today."

I kissed beneath one of her eyes.

"Then I'll stop."

"You better."

I kissed the other cheek.

"Absolutely."

Then her jaw.

"Robbie."

Then her neck. She exhaled slowly.

"You're an asshole," she said breathlessly.

"I thought I was your husband."

"You're both."

I smiled against her skin as my hand slid up her thigh under her dress, barely teasing her skin. Her breath shuddered as I did. She said we wouldn't do it in the limo. She didn't say anything about getting her warmed up.

My fingers grazed over the silky fabric of her panties. She opened her mouth like she was thinking of trying to tell me to stop, but then her mouth closed. Her legs parted. My fingers slid under her panties to feel her slick entrance. I slid my fingers in as I leaned in to kiss her again. The city lights whipped by outside the windows as I continued fingering her deeply, her hips starting to buck a little bit when I hit the sensitive spots. My thumb played with her clit as I continued.

By the time the limo finally pulled beneath the hotel awning, she was breathing heavily and she had a ravenous look in her eye. Kat's lipstick had not been fortunate enough to have stayed intact. I wiped the faint mark from the corner of her mouth with my thumb.

She looked at me.

"How do I look?"

I let my eyes travel slowly over her. Her hair hung a little looser now. Her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were slightly swollen from kissing me, and the elegant white lace of her dress still hugged her body like it had been made specifically to test my self-control.

"Like I'm about to embarrass myself carrying you through a hotel lobby."

She laughed.

"You are not carrying me through the lobby."

"I could."

"I know you could. That's why I'm establishing the rule now."

The driver opened the door. I stepped out first and offered Kat my hand. She took it. For a moment, she just stood there beneath the hotel lights looking at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." She stepped closer and slipped her arm through mine. "I just like looking at my husband."

I kissed her forehead.

"Come on, babe."

We crossed the lobby together. People smiled when they saw us. One older couple congratulated us as we passed, and Kat practically glowed when she thanked them. I loved watching her say it. One look at us and they knew we'd gotten married today.

The elevator doors closed behind us. Kat leaned back against the wall and released a long breath. I looked at her.

She caught me.

Her eyebrow lifted.

"Does my lord find something worthy of his attention?"

I let my eyes drift slowly down the fitted lace of her dress before returning to hers.

"I fear worthy is a woefully inadequate description."

Kat's lips parted slightly.

"Indeed?"

"Indeed. I have spent the better part of this day admiring you while surrounded by an intolerable number of witnesses."

Her smile slowly changed.

"And what thoughts occupied my husband while he admired me so?"

I stepped closer.

"Thoughts entirely unfit for such respectable company."

"How scandalous."

She reached out and caught my tie, slowly winding it around her hand.

"Perhaps my lord might share them with me."

"I would rather demonstrate."

Kat gave my tie a gentle pull, bringing me closer.

"Then demonstrate."

Fuck.

I put my hands on her waist and kissed her. She responded immediately, pulling me closer by my tie as my hands settled against the curves the dress had been torturing me with since the ceremony. The playful little game we'd started at the reception was rapidly becoming something else. Her kiss was hungry, mine was no better, and by the time the elevator chimed, I had almost forgotten where the hell we were. Kat broke the kiss and looked toward the opening doors. Then she looked back at me. She still had my tie wrapped around her hand.

"Come, husband."

She stepped into the hallway and pulled me with her. I laughed and followed.

"Am I being commanded now?"

Kat kept walking, using my tie like a leash as she led me toward our suite.

"My patience has been sorely tested this day, my lord."

"Has it?"

She glanced back at me.

"Twelve hours in this dress. Twelve hours watching you look at me as though you wished to devour me. Twelve hours knowing precisely how I wished our evening to end."

Jesus Christ.

"And how is that?"

Her eyes stayed on mine as she continued backing down the hallway.

"Surely my husband does not require instruction."

"Perhaps I simply enjoy hearing my wife confess her desires."

That made her stop.

Kat slowly pulled on my tie until I was standing directly in front of her.

"Then allow me to confess."

She rose onto her toes, bringing her lips beside my ear.

"I have desired you from the moment I saw you waiting for me at that altar."

She kissed just beneath my ear.

"I have endured an entire day of behaving like a proper bride."

Another soft kiss.

"And I have no intention of behaving properly once you get me behind that door. I have endured your looks long enough. Now I do wish to be devoured by you, my lord."

Fuck me. She released enough of my tie to look into my eyes.

"Does that confession satisfy my lord?"

I stared at her.

"Not even remotely."

Her smile turned wicked.

"Good."

She tugged my tie again.

"Then take me to our suite, husband."

"Gladly, my love."

Kat kept my tie wrapped around her hand as I unlocked the door. I pushed it open and gestured for her to enter.

"After you, my lady."

She stepped past me, still holding my tie. Which meant I followed. The moment I was through the door, she gave it a gentle tug and pulled me toward her.

"You appear to have forgotten something, my lord."

I closed the door behind me.

"Have I?"

"You made certain promises regarding what would occur once your wife was somewhere more private."

I slipped my hands around her waist.

"And you doubted my intention to fulfill them?"

"Never."

Her smile softened.

"I merely find myself impatient for you to begin."

I kissed her. There was no reason to hold anything back now. No driver ten feet away from us. No hotel lobby to cross. No elevator waiting to reach our floor. Just Kat. Her hands slid beneath my jacket and around my shoulders as mine moved over her waist. I kissed her slowly, letting myself enjoy finally having her completely alone. Kat pulled away just enough to breathe.

"I must confess, my lord, I rather enjoy this little game."

I smiled.

"Thank God."

She laughed softly.

"You too?"

"Very much."

"I had noticed."

"I'm beginning to understand the appeal of all those elaborate Victorian romances you enjoy so much."

Her eyebrow lifted.

"Beginning?"

"I was a fool. I see that now. I should have recognized the appeal long ago."

"A wise admission."

"Apparently all I needed was my beautiful wife speaking to me like some scandalously improper noblewoman."

Kat smiled.

"Scandalously improper?"

"Decidedly."

She leaned closer until her lips barely touched mine.

"Then perhaps your wife should endeavor to become considerably more improper."

She kissed me once. Then stepped away. Only then did I finally look around the suite. Flowers sat on a table near the windows. Champagne waited in a silver bucket beside two glasses. Beyond the sitting area, the bedroom was lit by the warm glow of the lamps on either side of the bed. Huge windows looked out over the city. It was exactly the kind of room I would have appreciated under almost any other circumstances. Tonight, it barely registered. Kat walked toward the bedroom before stopping and looking back at me.

"My lord?"

"My lady?"

She turned her back to me and swept her hair over one shoulder.

"I find myself in need of my husband's assistance."

That got my attention.

"With?"

She glanced over her shoulder.

"Surely you can determine that for yourself."

I smiled and walked toward her.

Up close, I could see the small fastenings at the back of her dress.

"Ah."

"Quite."

I leaned down and kissed her bare shoulder. I carefully opened the first fastening. Then the next. Kat remained still while I worked my way down, revealing a little more of her back with each one. There was nothing hurried about it. My fingers occasionally brushed her skin, and each time they did, I felt the smallest reaction from her. By the time I reached the last one, the dress had loosened around her. I rested my hands lightly on her waist.

"There."

Kat turned her head enough to look at me.

"Thank you, my lord."

Her smile told me the game wasn't finished.

"Now watch and enjoy the show."

I took a step back. Kat turned toward me and held my eyes as she slowly eased the dress from her shoulders. The fitted lace loosened and slipped downward as she carefully worked herself free of it. I couldn't look away.

Kat stepped carefully out of the dress, leaving it pooled on the floor behind her. She straightened slowly, standing in front of me in nothing but the white satin and lace bra and matching thong she had hidden beneath it all day.

Then she made absolutely no attempt to come closer. Instead, she stood there and let me look at her. Her hands settled low against her stomach, fingertips barely touching the smooth satin as she slowly drew them upward. They followed the curves of her waist before spreading over her ribs, continuing higher until her palms swept deliberately over the lace covering her breasts. She lingered there for a moment, tracing her own curves as though she were showing me exactly where she wanted my attention.

As if there had been any fucking chance of me looking anywhere else.

Her hands continued upward, gliding along her chest and over her shoulders before she raised her arms above her head, her fingers disappearing into the loose waves of her hair as she stretched her body into the pose.

She held it. Not dramatically. Not like she was trying too hard. She simply knew her mesmerizing spell had my attention locked on her.

Her hips began to move. Slowly at first, barely more than a subtle sway from one side to the other. Her waist shifted with each movement, the motion traveling down through her hips as she let me watch. She rolled them once, deliberately, then again, turning slightly so I caught the changing silhouette of her body from the side.

There was something almost unfair about how confident she was holding my gaze.

Her raised arms came down, and both hands traveled slowly along her sides. Her palms followed the inward curve of her waist before settling on her hips, emphasizing the shape of them as she continued that slow, teasing movement.

Then her thumbs caught beneath the waistband of her thong.

My attention immediately dropped to her hands.

She knew it did.

Kat drew the waistband outward slightly, holding it away from her skin for just a second. Not removing it. Not even really trying.

Just teasing me with the possibility.

She released one side and let it settle back against her hip before doing the same with the other. Her fingertips traced the narrow waistband around her hips as she slowly turned away from me.

Jesus.

She gave me her back and paused.

The white satin and lace left very little of her hidden from me now. She shifted her weight onto one leg, letting one hip rise naturally before looking back over her shoulder. Then she pushed her hips back slightly.

My eyes followed the movement without even pretending otherwise. Kat knew exactly where I was looking. She rolled her hips again, slower this time, giving me an almost leisurely view as she shifted from one side to the other. One hand slid down her waist and settled against her hip while the other traced along the opposite side, her fingers catching the waistband of her thong once more.

She hooked a thumb beneath it. For one agonizing second, she pulled it down just enough to make me think she intended to continue. Then she stopped. She released it. The waistband snapped softly back into place.

Kat glanced over her shoulder at me again, and there was something in the way she held herself that made the entire thing even more intoxicating. She wasn't embarrassed. She wasn't uncertain.

She was enjoying this. Enjoying being watched by me. Enjoying knowing that after spending the entire day trying to maintain some semblance of self-control around her, I was standing there completely captivated while my wife deliberately showed herself off for me. And she wasn't finished.

Then she looked at me.

"Well?"

For once, I didn't have anything clever to say.

She was beyond beautiful. Not simply because of what she was wearing or how perfectly it complemented the dress now lying at her feet. It was everything together. It was the years of connection, her stunning beauty, her absolute confidence, our absolute trust in one another, everything all at once coupled with the fact that now she was my wife.

"Robbie?"

I realized I'd been staring.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize." She smiled and turned slightly beneath my attention. "I was rather hoping for this reaction."

"Then you planned this."

"Of course I planned this."

I laughed softly.

"You're incredible."

Her expression softened.

"Come here, baby."

I stepped toward her, but she put one hand against my chest before I could reach her.

"Not quite yet."

I raised an eyebrow.

Her fingers moved to my tie.

"It hardly seems fair that my husband remains so thoroughly dressed."

"I suppose not."

She loosened the knot herself and slowly drew the tie from my collar.

"Better?"

"Better? Yes, but not nearly sufficient."

Her hands moved to my jacket next, easing it from my shoulders before letting me take it the rest of the way off.

"You have become rather demanding, my lady."

She began unbuttoning my shirt as patiently as she could manage.

"My lord has kept me waiting all day."

"A grievous mistake."

"One I expect you to correct."

I reached for her. This time she let me. My arms went around her waist, and hers settled around my neck. I kissed her slowly, feeling her melt against me. Without the dress between us, the embrace somehow felt completely different. Kat's fingers moved into my hair as the kiss deepened.

When we finally separated, she stayed against me.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too." I brushed my thumb along her cheek. "More than I knew it was possible to love somebody."

Her eyes softened.

"You know you're ruining my attempt to seduce you."

"Am I?"

"I was doing very well."

"You are doing exceptionally well."

"And now you're making me emotional."

I kissed her forehead.

"Sorry."

"You're not."

"Not even a little."

She smiled.

"Good."

Then she took my hand. Kat slowly backed toward the bedroom, never taking her eyes off me. I followed her.

There was something about that moment I knew I would remember for the rest of my life. Her hand in mine. Her wedding dress behind us. The rings on her finger. That expression on her face that somehow held all the love I had known from her for years and all the desire she had been promising me since we left the reception.

She reached the bed and stopped. I stopped in front of her. Kat looked up at me.

"Now, my lord..."

Her hands slid slowly up my chest and settled around my neck.

"I believe you promised your wife that once you had her somewhere private, you would attend to her needs with considerable enthusiasm."

I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

"I did."

"Do you intend to keep your word?"

I kissed her softly.

"Always."

Kat smiled against my lips. I kissed her deeper, more passionately, running my hands up her back to the clasp of her bra as I did. I made quick work of the clasp before stepping back just far enough to let her bra slide off and tossing it to the side. My eyes could not help but drop to admire the swell of her full, round breasts standing proudly in the dim light of the room. I smiled wickedly at her, pushing her back softly onto the bed.

"You have made it quite easy for me to fulfill one of your desires, my lady, for despite the hours of waiting, your salacious confessions, and your scandalous display, or perhaps because of all those, I find myself ravenous, and luckily, you are what I desire most to feast upon," I said as I hooked the waistband of her thong and pulled it down.

She gasped slightly when I hooked her thighs and pulled her to the edge of the bed as I kneeled, lowering my head to her entrance, already slick with arousal. I wasted no time in bringing my mouth to her delicious slit and running my tongue up and down her folds before focusing on her swollen clit. Kat began moaning as soon as my tongue started swirling around her sensitive bud. Her fingers tangled in my hair as she seemed to press my face firmer into her. As my tongue continued its ministrations, I brought two fingers to her entrance and eased them in slowly, causing another gasp from Kat. I was quickly lost in the pleasure of enjoying Kat's delicious, sweet, salty taste as well as her moans of pleasure.

Due to a combination of a long day's worth of denied desire paired with a fair share of foreplay, it didn't take long before I felt the telltale signs of Kat's orgasm approaching. Her breathing became rapid, her body began to tense, her moans became quieter. I finally felt her thighs clamp down on my neck and shoulders as best they could as her orgasm crashed down over her. She had both hands tangled in my hair as she shuddered hard as she came. When her body finally relaxed, I stood and wiped her arousal from my chin as I caught my breath.

I was caught by surprise when, instead of lying on the bed catching her breath, she was almost instantly down on her knees before me, her hands already on my belt buckle, undoing it with alarming ease. I was already hard as a rock, and she had a look in her eyes that almost dared me to try to stop her. My pants and boxers slid off easily with her help, my cock springing free. She wasted no time in wrapping her mouth around the head as soon as it came into view. She took the rest of my shaft into her mouth with one smooth motion. She began deep-throating my cock enthusiastically, the head of my cock hitting the back of her throat each time she bobbed her head.

I was very much unprepared for her oral assault, but I was more than happy to receive it. My fingers now wove into her hair. I did not guide her pace, I did not push back with harder pressure, I simply hung on to keep myself grounded and keep my knees from buckling under the immense pleasure she was providing me. I was trying desperately to not allow myself to get too close, and I was failing miserably. Moans began to involuntarily leave my lips. I felt the familiar tension building deep within me. "Babe, if you keep going, you're going to make me cum!" I moaned.

This was the wrong thing to say, or perhaps the right thing, depending on how you looked at it. Her eyes locked with mine, and they had a look that let me know I was hers and I would do as she willed. She began using her hand in tandem with her mouth while her other hand fondled my balls. She began to moan herself, which sent vibrations of pleasure down my cock. My resistance crumbled, and soon I told her I was about to cum.

As soon as I did, she opened her mouth and stroked my cock, allowing me a perfect vision of my cock shooting a stream of thick white cum into her mouth. I watched as my load filled her mouth before she closed her mouth and swallowed. I shuddered as my release slowly faded away, struggling to stay standing.

After I recovered, she took me by the hand, and again she led me. This time she led me to the master bathroom of the suite, which was home to a huge glass shower. We said nothing as we got in the shower. I don't think either of us expected how good the shower would feel after the long day. This shower had multiple showerheads, a couple on the left and right sides, spraying the water in the middle, perfect for two people. After washing each other and letting the spray wash the stress from the day away, our hands were immediately on each other again. It started with aggressive and hungry kissing as we made out like it was the greatest thing on earth. In that moment, it was, though. Nothing but enjoying each other in the moment, our tongues locked in a passionate dance as our hands explored each other's bodies as if it was the first time.

Eventually, we turned the shower off, and we took our time drying one another. Of course, it wasn't simply drying one another. We took our time touching, rubbing, kissing each other all over. I took my time kissing the sensitive spot on her neck, taking her nipples into my mouth, kissing over the smooth skin of her pussy teasingly. She likewise kissed the most sensitive spot on my neck, trailed kisses down my chest and abs, playfully kissed and lightly sucked my cock, which was now hard again. Once we were done, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her back to the bed.

I placed her in the middle of the bed and took my place between her legs once more. We began kissing yet again. I felt her grinding her pussy against my rigid shaft. She was completely wet for me again. I kissed her again before placing the swollen head of my cock at her slick entrance. Before I pushed myself inside her, she took my face in her hands and looked me in the eyes. There was an intensity and a softness swirling together in her eyes, a look of absolute hunger and complete adoration simultaneously. It was as if neither of us could find the right words for the moment. I eased myself forward and slowly slid my cock into her wet heat. As I felt her pussy wrap around my cock as I slowly eased it inside of her, I whispered in her ear, "I love you so much, Kat."

Her arms rested on my shoulders before she moved her hands up to cradle my head, and her legs locked around my waist as she moaned, "I love you too, Robbie. I love you so much."

And with that, we were lost in passion once again. I slowly worked my cock in and out of her tight pussy. Moans filled the room as my pace increased. I was still taking my time, pushing into her with long, slow strokes, burying myself to the hilt every time. When I felt her legs tighten around me and I knew another orgasm was close for her, I made sure to keep my rhythm consistent, and as I struggled to do so, I looked into her eyes as that orgasm erupted within her. I kept going as she went rigid and rode out her release. Once she recovered, she smiled back up at me and bit her lip.

She twisted underneath me, and before I knew it, we were lying with her on top of me, my cock still buried inside of her. My hands instinctively went to her hips as she adjusted her position slightly to get into position to start riding me. Then, she began working her pussy up and down my shaft. She would slowly roll her hips until my cock was hitting just the right spot deep inside her and then begin to ride me hard. My hands slid from her hips to her ass, gripping it as she rode me. Then my hands slid up her side to her tits. I massaged them roughly as she continued riding, just the way she liked, rolling the nipples in my fingers just hard enough to get her to moan, but not hard enough to hurt her.

Eventually, she could tell I was nearing my release as my breath became shaky as I tried holding back. She began to ride me harder. I gripped her hips and bucked up into her as my orgasm erupted. I felt jets of thick cum spray into her pussy every time my cock twitched inside of her. When I started shuddering from the intensity of my release, she leaned forward and rested her head on my forehead. She kissed me softly a few times as I recovered. This was just the beginning of a night where we took each other as we pleased through the night. Sleep would take us for a time in between, but one of us would stir awake, and instantly we were on the other as though the other might disappear at any moment. Eventually, though, sleep won out, and despite our bodies' apparent insatiable need for each other, their need for rest won out.

The morning came too early. The alarm on my phone blared, signaling 5:30 a. m. Kat let out a grunt of objection before saying, "You better have a damn good reason that thing is going off, baby. I would hate for our marriage to start off with me having to kill you for crimes against humanity."

"If you would like to make the flight for our honeymoon, we gotta get up, babe," I responded as I slid my arm down her side, taking the blanket with me as I sat up.

That got her attention. She sat up, her hair hilariously disheveled. "Now that it's the day we are leaving to go on our honeymoon, do I finally get to know where we are going?"

"Sure!"

"Really?"

"No!"

"That was just mean."

"You'll find out soon enough, my love."

"You're still an asshole."

"I do not deny it."

With that, we laughed, and I leaned down and kissed her. We got dressed in the planned outfits I had gotten together for traveling. Kat had a pair of yoga pants, which I enjoyed looking at her wearing as much as she enjoyed wearing them, a crop-top tank top, and a pair of slides. I was rocking a pair of athletic shorts and a T-shirt, nothing fancy. Just as we got done getting dressed, there was a knock at the door.

"Who the fuck is knocking this early?" Kat said aggressively.

I opened the door to the suite to see Cassie standing there. "Your chariot awaits, newlyweds!" she said excitedly.

"That would be our ride, babe."

Cassie came in and saw the state of the room. She shook her head as she went up on her tiptoes to kiss me. After the kiss, she immediately started helping me gather everything up. She assured me the bags I had packed for us were in the trunk of the car along with all the confirmations and everything.

Kat came out and gave Cassie a kiss as well. She continued helping Cassie gather up all of our stuff as I went to go brush my teeth. I overheard them talking as I did.

"So, you know where we are going, right, Cass?"

"Of course I do."

"Awesome, so where are we going?"

"The airport."

"You bitch! You know what I meant!" she said, laughing. "Do you know where he is taking me on our honeymoon?"

"I do know that as well!"

"Then where are we going?"

"Sorry, that's privileged information between me and my boyfriend."

"What about your girlfriend? Don't I get any privileges?"

"Plenty, just not this."

I laughed as I brushed. I was slightly nervous she was going to spill it for a second. I finished getting ready, and we did one final sweep of the suite to make sure we didn't leave anything behind. Once we were sure we had everything, we made our way down to the lobby. We helped ourselves to a cup of their complimentary coffee before leaving. The ride to the airport was relatively quiet. The girls sat up front going on about the wedding as I almost fell asleep in the back, still shaking sleep and exhaustion out a little bit.

When we got to the airport, Cassie pulled up to the departure area. We got out as she popped her trunk and got our luggage out. I had packed us each enough clothes and then some for our three-week trip. Kat was so excited to go that, without thinking, she went up to Cassie and kissed her out in the open. Not that I blamed her. We were going to be gone for three weeks. Cassie wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace that let me know she was going to miss us. I leaned down and kissed her deeper than I usually would. When the kiss was done, she pulled me down into another kiss because apparently, she wasn't done yet.

"Okay, now be safe, you guys! Shoot me a text when you can. I love you both! Robbie, take good care of our girl, okay? Kat, take good care of our man!"

We both said our goodbyes and told her we loved her too. I noticed how we both smiled when she said our girl and our man. Even after our amazing wedding and everything being about us yesterday, we were both still made so happy thinking about the three of us collectively.

We watched her drive away, Kat's head resting on my chest as I held her. Then we made our way into the airport and went to check in for our flight. That's where Kat learned our first destination was Miami. She stared at the boarding pass on her phone for several seconds before slowly turning her head toward me.

"Miami?"

"Miami."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"What are we doing in Miami?"

"Landing, presumably."

"Robbie."

"What? That is the ideal situation."

"You know what I mean."

"I do."

She continued staring at me, waiting for more. I gave her nothing.

"You're seriously not going to tell me?"

"I told you we're going to Miami."

"You did not tell me anything. The airline told me we're going to Miami."

"Yes, first class too. Though that seems unnecessarily technical."

She shook her head, but I could already see the smile she was trying to hide.

"You packed my suitcase."

"I did."

"You picked out what I'm wearing."

"I did."

"You made all the reservations."

"Correct."

"You gave Cassie all the confirmations so I couldn't accidentally find anything."

"That was actually a very important security measure."

Her mouth fell open.

"I knew it!"

I laughed and took her hand as we started making our way toward security.

"You enlisted our girlfriend in a conspiracy against me."

"Yes. Our girlfriend was a remarkably willing accomplice."

"She is such a bitch."

There was nothing even remotely serious in her voice. She was smiling as she said it.

"I believe her exact words were that you were going to love it and she wanted no part in ruining the surprise."

"Oh, I'm sure she was thrilled with herself."

"She took her responsibilities very seriously."

"I noticed."

Kat squeezed my hand as we walked.

"So, I know absolutely nothing."

"You know we're going to Miami."

"I know we're flying to Miami. I don't even know what you put in my suitcase."

"You have everything you need."

"For what?"

"Our honeymoon."

She stopped walking.

Since she still had my hand, I stopped too.

Kat stared up at me.

"You are enjoying this way too much."

"Immensely."

She shook her head before stepping closer and wrapping both arms around my waist.

"You know I love you, right?"

Oh, here we go. I looked down at her.

"I do know you love me."

"Like... so much."

"I love you too, babe."

She rose onto her toes and kissed me softly. Then she looked up at me with a sweet smile.

"Where are you taking me?"

I laughed.

"That was smooth."

"Did it work?"

"No."

"Damn!"

She took my hand again, and we continued toward security. We made it through without much trouble. Kat continued occasionally trying to get something out of me while we waited, but I refused to give her anything beyond Miami. By the time we reached the terminal, she had apparently accepted defeat. At least I thought she had.

We grabbed some breakfast and another round of coffee before finding our gate. Our plane was already sitting outside the windows, baggage being loaded beneath it while people slowly started gathering around the gate.

I dropped into one of the chairs and stretched my legs out in front of me. I was fucking exhausted. I was happy. Probably happier than I had ever been in my life. But I was still exhausted. Between the wedding, everything Kat and I had gotten up to last night, and getting up at five-thirty in the morning, my body was starting to inform me that I was no longer running entirely on excitement.

Kat sat down beside me. I took a drink of coffee and looked toward the windows. A few seconds passed. Then I felt her hand on my arm. I looked over. She was turned sideways in her chair facing me.

"Yes?"

"Nothing."

Bullshit. I knew that face. She smiled sweetly. Way too sweetly.

"What do you want?"

Her expression immediately became one of exaggerated offense.

"Why do you assume I want something?"

"Because I've known you since we were fifteen."

She slid closer to me.

"I can't just want to be close to my husband?"

"You absolutely can, but that's not what this is."

She wrapped both of her hands around my arm and hugged it against her chest before resting her chin on my shoulder. I looked down at her. She smiled.

Fuck.

She was going for cute. This wasn't fair.

"You're trying to manipulate me."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh yes, you do."

She kissed my cheek.

"I love you."

"I love you too..."

Another kiss, this one closer to the corner of my mouth.

"You looked really handsome yesterday."

"Thank you."

"You looked really handsome this morning too."

"I was barely conscious this morning."

"You were still handsome."

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"What do you want?"

Her smile grew.

"Nothing."

"Kat."

She kissed me again.

"I just think my husband did this incredibly sweet thing where he planned this huge honeymoon for us all by himself."

"With considerable assistance from Cassie."

"She doesn't get credit right now. I'm trying to seduce you."

I laughed.

"Oh, is that what this is?"

She nodded solemnly.

"Yes."

"This early in the morning in an airport?"

"I didn't say I was trying to get you naked."

She leaned closer until her lips were near my ear.

"I already know how to do that."

That got my attention. She pulled back with a satisfied little smile.

"I am trying to seduce information out of you."

"That's considerably less exciting."

"Be patient. We're married now. You'll have plenty of opportunities for the other kind."

I laughed and shook my head.

"You're ridiculous."

"And you love me."

"More than anything."

That softened her expression immediately. For a second, the game disappeared. She kissed me again, slower this time.

"I love you too."

"I know."

Then the smile came back.

"So where are you taking me?"

I laughed against her lips.

"No."

"Baby..."

"Nope."

She shifted even closer, practically cuddling against my side now. She took my hand and started idly playing with my fingers.

"Please?"

"You're going to find out."

"When?"

"Eventually."

"But I want to know now."

"I gathered that."

She rested her head against my shoulder.

"I don't even know what clothes I have."

"You have plenty."

"Do I have swimsuits?"

I looked at her.

"I'm not answering questions."

Her eyes widened.

"That was not an answer I wanted you to hesitate on."

I laughed.

"Yes. You have swimsuits."

"How many?"

"Enough."

"Dresses?"

"Kat."

"Short dresses?"

I stared at her.

She smiled.

"Really short dresses?"

"I'm starting to regret packing for you."

"No, you're not."

I couldn't argue with that. She moved my arm around her shoulders and tucked herself against my chest.

"Do I have anything sexy?"

I looked down at her.

"Did you really just ask me that?"

Her smile turned playful.

"Yes, I did."

"I packed for you."

"That's why I'm asking."

"You have known me for half your life. What do you think?"

She giggled. That fucking cute giggle. Then she looked up at me and her expression changed. Her eyes widened slightly. Her lips pushed into the smallest pout. Her cheek settled against my chest as she looked up at me. Oh, fuck off.

"No."

"I didn't say anything."

"You don't have to."

She blinked innocently.

I looked away.

"Nope."

"Baby."

I kept looking toward the windows.

"I can't hear you."

"You can absolutely hear me."

"No."

She kissed my jaw.

"Robbie."

Nothing. Another kiss.

"Baby."

I made the mistake of looking down. She was giving me the full treatment now. Big green eyes. Tiny pout. Both hands wrapped around my arm. Head tilted slightly. The same woman who had spent a considerable portion of last night doing things that would make this innocent little performance absolutely fucking laughable was now somehow managing to look painfully adorable. She knew exactly what she was doing.

"Please tell me where you're taking me on our honeymoon."

I stared at her. She smiled hopefully.

"You're evil."

Her smile widened.

"Is it working?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"You're not even ashamed."

"Not remotely."

She kissed my cheek.

"Please?"

I held out for another few seconds. Then I sighed. Her entire face lit up.

"Yes!"

"I haven't even told you anything yet."

"You're going to."

"I cannot believe I married someone willing to use my love against me."

"You knew what you were getting into."

"I really did."

She straightened and turned toward me, suddenly giving me her complete attention.

"Okay. Tell me."

I took another drink of coffee.

"We're flying to Miami."

"I have successfully deduced that part."

"Would you like me to tell you or not?"

Her lips snapped shut. I smiled.

"When we get to Miami, we're going to spend the night there."

She nodded eagerly.

"The next day, we're getting on a ship."

Her eyebrows went up.

"A cruise?"

I nodded.

"What cruise?"

"A Four Seasons cruise."

Kat stared at me.

"A Four Seasons cruise?"

"Yes."

"As in THE Four Seasons?"

"That would be the one."

"Holy shit."

I laughed.

"We're going to spend fourteen days sailing through the Caribbean."

Her mouth slowly fell open.

"Fourteen days?"

"Fourteen."

"On a Four Seasons cruise?"

"Yes."

Her excitement was already building, but I wasn't finished.

"We leave from Miami and spend the next two weeks making our way through the Caribbean. Beaches, islands, warm weather, ridiculous food, probably an irresponsible amount of time doing absolutely nothing."

"Well, we'll be doing something..."

Her smile kept getting bigger.

"And eventually we end up in St. Lucia."

"St. Lucia?"

"Yep."

"Oh my God."

She grabbed my hand with both of hers.

"Baby!"

"I thought you'd like that."

"Like it?"

She was practically bouncing in her seat now.

"We're spending two weeks sailing around the Caribbean?"

"That's the idea."

Her eyes narrowed suddenly. I knew that look.

"What?"

"Two weeks."

"Yeah."

"You said we're gone for three."

Shit. I smiled. She pointed at me.

"There is more!"

"I never said there was more."

"You didn't have to. There is absolutely more."

"I think I've revealed enough."

"No."

"Kat."

"No, no, no. You caved. You don't get to tell me two-thirds of the honeymoon."

"I think that's exactly what I get to do."

"Robbie."

The pout came back.

"That's not going to work twice."

It got bigger.

"Stop it."

Her eyes widened.

"Kat."

She pressed herself against my side again.

"Please, my amazingly handsome and sexy husband?"

Fucking hell.

"You have no dignity."

"I have plenty of dignity. I simply know how to get information."

I laughed.

"Fine."

She immediately dropped the pout. That little shit.

"After St. Lucia, we're flying to Cancún."

Her eyes widened again.

"Mexico?"

"Mexico."

"And?"

"And then we're heading down to Playa del Carmen."

Her hands tightened around mine.

"For what?"

"One more week."

Her mouth dropped open.

"At an all-inclusive resort."

She just stared at me.

"So let me get this straight."

"Okay."

"We're flying to Miami."

"Yes."

"Then spending fourteen days on a luxury cruise through the Caribbean."

"Correct."

"Ending in St. Lucia."

"Yes."

"Then flying to Mexico."

"Yep."

"And spending another week at an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen."

"That is the plan."

She stared at me for another second. Then she threw her arms around my neck. I barely got my coffee out of the way before she was on me.

"Oh my God, baby!"

I laughed and wrapped my free arm around her.

"I assume that means you approve?"

She pulled back and grabbed my face.

"I fucking love you."

Then she kissed me. Not a little kiss either. She kissed me deeply enough that I was suddenly very aware we were sitting in the middle of an airport terminal. I didn't particularly care. When she finally pulled away, her face was glowing.

"Three weeks?"

"Three weeks."

"Just us?"

"Just us."

That changed something. The excitement didn't disappear. It softened. Kat looked at me for a moment before brushing her thumb across my cheek.

"Three whole weeks with my husband."

I smiled.

"That was the part I was most excited about too."

Her eyes softened.

"Really?"

"Of course."

I set my coffee down and took her hand.

"The cruise is going to be incredible. Mexico is going to be incredible. I planned everything I could think of because I wanted this to be special for you."

"For us."

I smiled.

"For us."

She leaned closer.

"But honestly? I would've been happy with you anywhere."

"I know."

"I mean it. You could've rented some little cabin in the middle of nowhere for three weeks and told me we weren't leaving."

"I considered something similar."

"I would've been perfectly happy."

"I know you would've."

She looked down at our hands. Her thumb ran slowly over my wedding ring.

"I just want this."

"What?"

"You."

She looked back up at me.

"Being your wife. Getting to wake up next to you every morning. Going somewhere neither of us has to worry about anything except what we feel like doing that day."

I lifted her hand and kissed her wedding ring.

"That is pretty much the entire reason I planned it this way."

Her smile became impossibly soft.

"You really thought of everything, didn't you?"

"I tried."

She leaned forward and kissed me.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"More than yesterday."

"I don't think that's mathematically possible."

"It is. I checked."

I laughed. She settled back against me, resting her head on my shoulder while I put my arm around her. For about thirty seconds, she was quiet.

Then she asked, "What did you pack me?"

I laughed.

"No."

"Oh, come on!"

"The destination was all you were getting."

"But now I need to know what I have!"

"You'll find out when we get there."

"Did you pack my blue bikini?"

"No more questions."

She sat up.

"You did."

"I didn't say that."

"You made the face, though."

"What face?"

"The face you make when you're trying not to look pleased with yourself."

"I don't have a face."

"You absolutely have a face."

She studied me suspiciously.

"Did Cassie help you pack my underwear?"

I smiled.

Her mouth fell open.

"She did!"

"I said nothing."

"Oh my God."

I started laughing.

"What?"

"You two went through my underwear together?"

"I required logistical assistance."

"Logistical assistance?"

"Yes."

"For my panties?"

"Among other things."

She covered her face with one hand, but she was laughing now too.

"I cannot believe the two of you."

"For what it's worth, Cassie was extremely committed to ensuring you were properly equipped."

Kat lowered her hand and looked at me.

"I bet she was."

"I'm not discussing classified information."

She laughed and cuddled back into my side.

"I love both of you idiots."

I kissed the top of her head.

"We love you too."

She went quiet again. This time it lasted. We sat together watching the activity outside the windows, her fingers intertwined with mine. Yesterday we had stood in front of everyone we loved and promised each other forever. Today there was no crowd. No ceremony. No pictures. No speeches.

Just Kat curled against me in an airport chair wearing yoga pants, drinking terrible airport coffee and occasionally looking down at her wedding ring like she still couldn't quite believe it was there. And somehow, this felt just as perfect. She lifted our joined hands and looked at my ring.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"You're really my husband."

I smiled.

"You're really my wife."

She looked up at me.

"And you're taking me away for three weeks."

"Damn right."

Her smile turned playful again.

"You know we're probably going to spend a completely irresponsible amount of that time naked."

There she was. I looked down at her.

"I'm counting on it."

She laughed softly and kissed my cheek before resting against me again.

"I can't wait."

"Me neither."

A little while later, the speakers above us chimed.

The gate agent announced that our flight to Miami would begin boarding shortly. Kat immediately sat up. Her eyes went toward the plane outside and then back to me. The excitement on her face made every hour I'd spent planning this worth it.

"Miami," she said.

"Miami."

"Then two weeks in the Caribbean."

"Yep."

"Then Mexico."

"Yep."

She smiled.

"Three weeks with you."

I squeezed her hand. She leaned over and kissed me softly.

"Best honeymoon ever."

"We haven't left Pennsylvania yet."

"I don't care."

She stood and slung her bag over her shoulder before reaching for my hand. I took it. She looked down at our intertwined fingers for a moment, then back up at me.

"I love you, Robbie."

"I love you too, Kat."

Our boarding group was called. Kat's smile somehow got even brighter. She pulled me toward the line, and I happily followed. Our wedding was over. Our marriage had begun. And now, finally, we were going on our honeymoon.

Cassie's POV

I glanced in the rearview mirror as I pulled away from the airport. Robbie and Kat were still standing together, his arm around her as she tucked herself against his side. I lifted my hand even though I wasn't sure they could still see me.

Then I turned, and they disappeared behind me.

Three weeks.

"Fuck," I muttered.

I already missed them. They'd been out of sight for maybe thirty seconds, which felt a little pathetic, but I smiled anyway.

Yesterday had been their wedding. After everything it had taken to get them there, they deserved three weeks where they could disappear together without The Bowery, Stonebridge, coaching, family, or anything else demanding their attention.

Including me.

I didn't want to be on their honeymoon. I wanted them to have something that was just theirs. I was still going to miss the shit out of them.

Both could be true.

At a red light, I thought about our goodbye. Maybe I'd gotten a little carried away kissing Robbie, but my boyfriend was leaving for three weeks. I wasn't going to apologize for that.

Our girl. Our man.

I liked how naturally those words had come out. Kat wasn't just my best friend anymore, and Robbie wasn't simply important to me because he was important to her. Somewhere along the way, I'd fallen in love with both of them.

My girlfriend had married my boyfriend yesterday.

That still sounded complicated when I put it into a sentence. Actually being with them didn't feel that way.

By the time I got home, Lady was waiting at the door like I'd abandoned her for six years instead of a little while.

"Hi, baby!"

Her entire body wiggled as I crouched down.

"Yes, I know. They left us."

She licked my face.

"It's just you and me for three whole weeks."

Lady didn't seem particularly concerned.

"Glad you understand. Good talk."

I took her outside before heading back into the pool house. My house. I still liked thinking that.

Robbie and Kat had taken what used to be a bathroom, a wet bar, and a whole lot of storage and helped turn it into an actual home for me. A place where I could close the door, leave my shit wherever I wanted, and have something that was mine.

I changed into leggings and one of Robbie's old wrestling shirts. He'd thankfully given up on trying to get it back. Then I made coffee and collapsed onto the couch. My phone buzzed before I'd taken my second sip.

Kat: We're through security.

Another message followed immediately.

Kat: HE STILL WON'T TELL ME ANYTHING.

I laughed.

Me: Good.

The three little dots appeared.

Kat: You bitch. Fuck you.

Me: Love you too ❤️

Then Robbie joined in.

Robbie: This is why you're my favorite girlfriend.

Me: I'm your only girlfriend, Papi.

Robbie: Still counts.

I shook my head.

What an asshole.

I loved him.

That still caught me off guard sometimes, mostly because of how easy it had become to admit. I didn't have to measure every look or touch anymore. We'd finally talked about what we wanted instead of expecting everyone to guess.

Lady climbed onto the couch beside me. I scratched behind her ears and opened the pictures people had already posted from the wedding.

Kat walking down the aisle. Robbie looking like he'd forgotten how breathing worked. Their vows. Their first dance. Rosa beside Robbie. Ricky and Evan. All of us together.

I stopped on a picture of the three of us.

To anybody else, it was the bride and groom with the maid of honor.

I smiled at it until my phone buzzed again.

Kat: HE CAVED!!!

Me: I knew you'd break him.

Kat: A FUCKING FOUR SEASONS CARIBBEAN CRUISE AND A WEEK IN MEXICO!!!!!

I laughed harder.

Me: Told you the shit he packed made sense.

Kat: YOU KNEW???

Me: ????

Kat: I hate both of you.

Me: No you don't.

Kat: No I really don't ????❤️

I was still smiling when someone knocked on my door.

Lady's head shot up.

"Relax."

Another knock.

"I'm coming."

I opened the door.

"Mom?"

She stood there with Dad and Angel. Behind them was my Aunt Elena.

"Tía?"

Elena opened her arms.

"Surprise, hermosa."

"What are you doing here?"

I hugged her.

"I came to visit."

"When?"

"This morning."

"Why didn't anybody tell me?"

"Because then it would not be a surprise."

"I suppose that is generally how surprises work."

She laughed and kissed my cheek.

Then I looked at Mom.

She wasn't laughing. Dad looked like he wanted to be somewhere else, and Angel mostly looked confused.

"What's wrong?"

"Can we come inside, mija?"

"Yeah. Of course."

I stepped aside. Lady immediately began investigating everyone. Angel crouched to greet her while Aunt Elena commented on how big she'd gotten.

Mom barely noticed.

"You guys want coffee?"

"No, thank you," Dad said.

Mom didn't answer.

I folded my arms.

"Okay. What happened?"

"Mija..."

"No. Dad looks like he's about to give me bad news, and you look pissed."

Mom closed her eyes briefly.

"Maria," Dad said quietly.

"I know."

She looked at me.

"I saw you this morning."

I frowned.

"What?"

"At the airport. We were picking up your aunt."

My stomach dropped.

Mom watched my face.

"So, you know what I saw."

"I can explain."

"I would hope so."

"Mom..."

"Yesterday, you stood beside Katarina while she married that man. This morning, I watched you put your arms around him and kiss him."

Angel looked at me. Then Mom. Then back at me.

Dad rubbed his forehead.

"Yeah," I said.

Mom stared.

"Yeah?"

"I kissed Robbie."

"You were her maid of honor."

"I know."

"She is your best friend."

"I know, Mom."

"Then explain to me how you could do that to her."

Her voice was rising. The Esparza women were not known for their calm and collected demeanor.

"Robbie isn't cheating on Kat."

"I watched you kiss him."

"Yes. And Kat knows."

Mom's forehead creased.

"What do you mean Katarina knows?"

"She knows about me and Robbie."

"No, mija. Do not tell me that poor girl knows her husband is sleeping with her best friend and you somehow think that makes this better."

"That's not what I'm saying."

"Then what are you saying?"

"Can you let me finish?"

She stopped. Barely.

I looked around the room.

Fuck. Here we go.

"Robbie is my boyfriend."

Mom's mouth opened. I kept going.

"And Kat is my girlfriend."

Nobody said anything.

Dad's eyebrows drew together. Aunt Elena looked completely lost.

Finally, Angel spoke.

"Wait. You mean... all three of you?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

Mom turned toward her.

"What do you mean, 'oh'?"

"I mean I understand what she's saying."

"Well, I don't."

Angel looked back at me.

"You and Robbie are together. You and Kat are together. And obviously they're together."

"They got married yesterday."

"Right. So, it's the three of you."

"Yes."

Mom crossed herself.

"Ay, Dios mío."

"Mom."

"What are you doing, Cassandra?"

"I'm in a relationship."

"With a married man."

"And his wife."

"That does not make it better."

"I'm telling you what it is."

She put a hand against her chest.

"Marriage is sacred."

"I know how you feel about it."

"Katarina took vows with that man yesterday."

"I was there."

"Then where do you belong in that?"

"With them."

Mom closed her eyes.

Dad finally spoke.

"Maria, let her explain."

"What is there to explain, Larry?"

"A lot, apparently."

He looked at me.

"How long has this been going on?"

"It's been building for a while, but we decided to pursue an actual relationship about a month ago."

Mom made a noise.

"We talked about it," I continued. "A lot. We have boundaries. Nobody is sneaking around."

Angel snorted softly.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm imagining you three having a relationship meeting."

"We've had so many fucking relationship meetings, it's ridiculous."

That almost got a smile out of Dad.

Almost.

"What changed?" he asked.

"At first, it was something we were exploring together. I'll spare you the details."

"Please," Mom said.

"Then I fell in love."

"With him," Dad said.

"Yes. And with Kat."

Mom looked at me.

"You've always loved Katarina."

"Not like this."

She stared.

"She's still my best friend. She's also my girlfriend."

"And they both agree with this?"

I couldn't help it. I laughed.

Mom's eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry. Yes, they agree. They're not accidentally in a relationship with me."

Angel covered her mouth.

"This is not funny," Mom said.

"I know."

Dad pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down.

"Do they love you?"

"Yes."

"Both of them?"

"Yes, Dad."

Mom shook her head.

"Mija, this is not what love looks like."

That pissed me off.

"You don't get to tell me what my feelings are."

"I know what marriage looks like."

"I'm not trying to be married to Robbie. I'm not waiting for him to leave Kat."

"You don't want him to?"

"God, no."

That surprised her.

"I love her. I don't want either of them instead of the other."

"Then what do you want?"

"Them. Us."

Mom stared at me.

I softened my voice.

"I know this isn't what you wanted for me."

"No."

"And I know you don't understand."

"I do not."

"But I'm happy."

Dad leaned forward.

"Where are they now?"

I knew where this was going.

"On their honeymoon."

"Together."

"Yes."

"And you're here."

"Yes."

"That doesn't bother you?"

"No. It's their honeymoon."

Mom folded her arms.

"But you're supposedly part of their relationship."

"I am. Their marriage is still theirs."

"And where does that leave you?" Dad asked.

"With my own relationship with each of them. Robbie and I have something that belongs to us. So do Kat and I. And then there's the three of us together."

Angel nodded slightly.

Mom didn't.

"You're satisfied with whatever they have left over?"

"I'm not settling for scraps."

"I didn't say..."

"You were going to."

She went quiet.

I gestured around me.

"This is my home. I have my own money. Kat and I own The Bowery fifty-fifty. I didn't move across the country to become an accessory to somebody else's life."

Dad was listening closely now.

"I know," he said.

"Then you know I'm not disappearing into them."

He sighed.

"I know you've worked hard to build something for yourself. I also know you're emotionally invested in two people who just made a legal commitment to each other that doesn't include you."

That landed.

Not because it changed how I felt. Because it was true.

"I know."

"What happens if something goes wrong?"

"I get hurt."

"That doesn't scare you?"

"Of course it does."

He studied me.

"I can be confident without being stupid, Dad. Every relationship can end."

"That's true."

"You and Mom could've gotten divorced."

Mom crossed herself again.

"Why would you even say that?"

"I'm making a point."

"A terrible one."

Dad almost smiled.

"I could marry one person and still get hurt," I said. "I'm not pretending this is risk-free."

"But you think it's worth the risk?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because they're worth it."

He leaned back.

Mom came closer.

"Mija. Look at me."

I did.

"You are beautiful. You are intelligent. You own a business. You have always had this enormous heart."

"Mom..."

"Let me speak."

She took my hand.

"You deserve someone who looks at you and says, 'This is my wife. This is the woman I choose.' You deserve a wedding. A family. Children, if you want them."

"I don't know what I want all of that to look like yet."

"Then why are you accepting this?"

"Because I want this relationship."

She searched my face.

"You watched Katarina marry him."

"And I cried because I was happy for them."

"I saw."

"I wanted that for her."

"And you don't feel like the extra person?"

That hurt.

I pulled my hand away.

"No."

Mom saw it.

"Mija..."

"I'm not."

"I am trying to understand."

Dad looked at her.

"No, Maria. You're trying to find the part where she admits she's miserable."

Mom turned toward him.

"I don't like this either," he added.

"Thank you."

"That isn't what I meant."

He looked at me.

"I'm worried about you. But you keep telling us you're happy. I'm trying to listen."

"That does not make it right," Mom said.

"Not according to what you believe."

"What we believe."

Dad sighed.

"There was a time people would have condemned you and me for being together."

"This is not the same thing."

"I know. I'm saying other people deciding a relationship is wrong doesn't tell me everything about the people in it."

"You stood beside me in church and promised yourself to me."

"I know."

"Then how can you act like this is acceptable?"

"I'm trying to understand our daughter before I condemn her."

That quieted the room.

Mom looked back at me. Her eyes were wet now.

Great. Mine were probably next.

"Mi niña hermosa. This is not how I raised you."

I swallowed.

"Maybe not."

"You were raised to respect marriage."

"I do."

"And to understand that those vows are sacred."

"I understand what you believe."

Her expression changed.

"You don't believe that anymore?"

"This isn't about whether I believe in God."

"It is to me."

She touched the cross at her neck.

"Marriage is a sacrament, Cassie. Adultery is a sin."

"Nobody is being betrayed."

"You are sleeping with a married man."

"With his wife's knowledge and participation. The Bible has men with multiple wives in it, Mom."

Aunt Elena whispered, "Ay, Dios mío."

Mom's face hardened.

"You say that like it makes this holy."

"I didn't say it was holy. I'm saying you can't keep calling it cheating when all three of us chose it."

"That does not make it right."

"According to you."

"Yes!"

Her voice cracked.

"According to my faith. According to how I raised you. According to everything I have believed my entire life."

I stared at her.

Underneath all that anger, she was scared. She thought something had gone wrong with me.

That hurt more than I wanted it to.

"Mom."

She shook her head.

"I will pray for you."

"Fine."

"I will pray that God helps you find your way back..."

"No."

She stopped.

"You can pray for me because you love me. But don't pray for me like I'm some fucking problem God needs to fix."

"Cassandra."

My eyes burned.

"I'm happy. I'm safe. Nobody is manipulating me or using me."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do."

"What happens when you want a husband of your own?"

"I don't know."

"What happens when you want children? When they have children?"

"I don't know, Mom!"

Everyone went quiet.

I took a breath.

"We haven't figured out the next ten years. That doesn't mean what we have now isn't real."

"And that's enough for you?"

"For now, yes."

"No, mi niña."

That fucking no.

Like I was twelve. Like she could tell me what my own life meant until I finally agreed with her.

"I didn't ask permission."

Mom flinched.

"I am your mother. I'm trying to protect you."

"From what?"

"From making yourself into some man's..."

She stopped.

Dad stood.

"Maria."

I stared at her.

"Some man's what?"

"Don't."

"No. Say it."

"Mija..."

"What am I?"

Her face tightened.

"You're sleeping with your best friend's husband, living on his property, and telling me you're happy because sometimes he calls you his girlfriend."

"That is not what this is."

"It sounds like a very pretty excuse for behaving like a slut."

Silence.

Absolute fucking silence.

Angel stood.

"Ma!"

Dad's voice went hard.

"Maria."

Aunt Elena closed her eyes.

"Dios mío, hermana."

Mom's expression changed immediately.

Too late.

"You're done," I said.

"Mija..."

"No."

"I didn't mean..."

"You said it."

"I'm angry. I'm scared for you."

"So you call me a slut?"

"I shouldn't have said that."

"No. You shouldn't have."

"Cassie..."

"Get out."

She stared at me.

"This is my home. You don't get to talk to me like that in it."

Her face crumpled slightly.

I hated that part of me felt satisfied.

"You can hate my relationship. You can pray for me. You can tell Dad every night that you don't understand what I'm doing. But you don't get to come into my house and call me that."

Dad stepped beside her.

"She's right."

"Larry..."

"You crossed a line."

He looked at me.

"We should go. Everyone needs some time."

Aunt Elena came over first and hugged me tightly.

"I am sorry, mi amor."

"You didn't do anything."

She pulled back and touched my cheek.

"I don't understand this either."

"I know."

"I have many questions."

Despite everything, I laughed a little.

"I bet."

"But I love you."

"I love you too, Tía."

Dad hugged me next. I wrapped my arms around him.

"I love you, kiddo."

"I love you too."

He pulled back.

"I'm still worried."

"I know."

"And I'm disappointed."

That hurt. He saw it.

"I don't mean in you."

"That sounded exactly like what you meant."

He sighed.

"I'm disappointed that this is the situation you're putting yourself in."

"That's not much better."

"No," he admitted. "I need some time with this."

"Take it."

He nodded.

"I'm sorry about what your mom said."

"Thank you, Papa."

Mom stood near the door.

I hated that I still wanted her to hug me.

She stepped closer.

"Mija. I'm sorry I called you that."

I nodded.

"I believe you."

"I don't understand this. I don't know if I ever will."

"I know."

"But you are my daughter. I love you."

"I love you too."

She reached for me.

I hesitated, then let her hug me.

Because she was my mom. Because I was still pissed. Because she'd hurt me, and I loved her anyway.

Apparently complicated love wasn't limited to my romantic life.

She kissed my cheek and let me go.

Dad opened the door. Aunt Elena followed him outside.

"Angelica," Mom said.

Angel sat back down on my couch.

"I'm staying."

"We came together."

"My sister needs me, Ma."

Mom looked between us.

Angel's voice softened.

"I love you. Go to the hotel. I'll get back one way or another."

After a moment, Mom nodded.

The door closed.

I stared at it until Lady came over and pressed herself against my leg.

Angel sighed.

"Holy fucking shit."

I laughed.

I didn't mean to. It just came out.

Then my eyes filled.

"Oh, fuck."

Angel was off the couch immediately.

"Come here."

"I hate crying."

"Mom called you a slut. I think you get a pass."

I wrapped my arms around her.

"I really am okay. With them."

"I know, Cass."

That did it.

I cried because my mom had looked at me like she didn't recognize me. Because my dad was disappointed. Because being sure about my choices didn't stop it from hurting when people I loved hated them.

Angel held me until I could breathe normally again.

I wiped my eyes.

"Jesus."

"You good?"

"No."

"Fair."

"I will be."

"I know."

I looked toward the kitchen.

"You want coffee?"

"Do you have tequila?"

"It's barely morning."

"It's been a hell of a morning."

Before I could answer, someone knocked.

Angel looked at the door.

"You expecting the priest?"

That startled a laugh out of me.

"Fuck you."

I opened it.

Ricky stood there with Evan. He took one look at my face.

"Uh-oh."

"Don't."

"You've been crying."

"Thank you, Captain Observation."

Evan leaned around him.

"Bad time?"

"No. Come in."

Lady practically threw herself at Ricky as soon as he stepped inside.

Of course she did.

Angel stood.

"Guys, this is my little sister, Angel. Angel, this is Robbie's brother, Ricky, and his boyfriend, Evan."

They exchanged greetings.

Then Ricky looked back at me.

"We were stopping by to use the pool, but what happened?"

"My family found out I'm dating Robbie and Kat."

"Oh."

Evan's eyebrows lifted slightly.

I stared at them.

"That is not enough of a reaction."

Ricky frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I just told you Robbie is my boyfriend and Kat is my girlfriend."

"Yeah."

"And?"

He looked at Evan. Evan shrugged.

"And... cool?"

Angel laughed.

"What the fuck?" I said.

Ricky started smiling.

"What do you want from me?"

"Surprise."

"Cassie, I've been eating dinner with you people for months."

"We're friends."

"You and Robbie also call each other Chica and Papi more often than you realize."

I opened my mouth.

Closed it.

Evan smiled.

"And you're not particularly subtle about how you look at each other."

"We are subtle."

"Nope," they said together.

Angel laughed harder.

"Fuck all three of you."

Ricky leaned against the counter.

"I didn't know exactly what was going on. I knew something had changed."

"What?"

"You stopped acting like you were trying not to like each other."

That was annoyingly accurate.

"And Kat seemed pretty happy about it," Evan added.

Also annoyingly accurate.

"So you're not weirded out?" I asked.

Ricky shrugged.

"Robbie's my brother. If you three are happy and nobody's being hurt, I'm happy for you."

My throat tightened.

"He loves you, Cass."

"You knew that?"

"I know what he looks like when somebody matters to him."

I smiled despite myself.

"Thanks."

"Also, he renovated an entire house for you."

"He does shit like that."

"I know."

Ricky smiled.

"That's why it's evidence."

Asshole.

Evan glanced toward Angel.

"So what happened with your family?"

"Mom saw me kiss Robbie at the airport. She didn't see me kiss Kat."

Ricky winced.

"Oh."

"Yeah. She came over convinced I was fucking my best friend's husband behind her back. Explaining didn't help."

"What did she say?"

Angel answered.

"She called her a slut."

Ricky's smile disappeared.

"Oh, honey."

"Pretty much."

"Does Robbie know?"

"No. Neither does Kat."

"You gonna tell them?"

"Of course. Just not right now."

Angel looked at me.

"Why?"

"Because they left on their honeymoon this morning. If I tell Robbie my mom came over and left me crying, what's he going to do?"

"Try to fix it," Ricky said.

"Exactly. And Kat will be furious. I don't want their first day away to become about this."

Evan nodded.

"As long as you're not keeping it from them."

"I'm not. I just need a little time before I tell them."

Ricky pushed away from the counter.

"Well, you've got us. And a pool. I think we should use both."

"Margaritas?"

"Girl, yes."

He started walking, then stopped.

"Cass?"

"Yeah?"

"Seriously. You matter to my brother."

I swallowed.

"I know."

"Good. Because I'm not having some weird brother-sister-in-law-girlfriend conversation with you later."

I stared.

"What the fuck did you just call me?"

"I don't know."

Evan laughed.

"Walk away, Ricky."

"Good plan."

They headed toward the pool.

Angel watched them go, then patted the couch beside her.

I sat. Lady immediately wedged herself between us.

"I think I get it," Angel said.

"You do?"

"I don't think I could do it. But I get that you and Kat are together too. She isn't tolerating this because she's afraid of losing Robbie."

"Definitely not."

"And you all agreed it's only the three of you?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"Okay."

"That easy?"

"No. It's still fucking weird hearing you call her husband your boyfriend."

"Thank you."

"You know what I mean."

"I do."

She scratched Lady's ears.

"I understand why Mom and Dad freaked out, though."

"So do I."

That surprised her.

"Even Mom?"

"Not the slut part. But she saw me kissing the guy who married my best friend yesterday."

Angel grimaced.

"Yeah. That looks bad."

"She didn't know anything else. I understand why she showed up angry."

"And Dad?"

"I understand him even more."

I looked around my house.

"He's worried I'm building my future around two people who have protections I don't."

"That would worry me too."

"I know."

"And you?"

"Sometimes."

Angel looked at me.

"You sounded pretty confident in there."

"I am. That doesn't mean we've figured everything out."

"Kids? Money? Medical decisions?"

"Those are things we still need to talk about."

"That's a lot."

"Yeah."

"And you're okay with that?"

"For now."

She considered it.

"I think they heard you defending the relationship and assumed you meant there couldn't possibly be anything difficult about it."

"I wasn't going to hand Mom a list of things to use against me."

"Fair."

I leaned back.

"They can be worried. I just wish they'd believe me when I tell them I'm happy."

Angel studied me.

"Really happy?"

"Really fucking happy."

She smiled a little.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"I believe you."

My eyes burned again.

"Don't make me cry twice."

"Then stop being emotional. It's inconvenient."

"Bitch."

"Love you."

I rested my head against hers.

"Love you too."

We sat quietly for a moment.

"Dad will come around," she said.

"You think?"

"He's scared you'll get hurt. That's different from thinking you're a bad person."

"And Mom?"

Angel sighed.

"Mom thinks you'll get hurt and go to hell."

"Fantastic."

"She's going to need a minute."

"A minute?"

"A year."

"That sounds more accurate."

Angel squeezed my hand.

"She was way out of line."

"I know."

"I'm staying as long as you need me."

I turned toward her.

"Thank you."

She nudged my shoulder.

"Now, am I actually getting a margarita, or was that false advertising?"

My phone buzzed before I could answer.

Kat had sent a picture.

She was tucked against Robbie at their gate. He looked exhausted. She looked like somebody had told her she'd won the lottery. Her left hand was raised toward the camera, wedding rings prominently displayed.

Kat: We're about to board!!!

Then another message.

Kat: I already miss you ❤️

My chest tightened.

Me: Miss you too, babe. Go enjoy your honeymoon ❤️

Robbie answered a few seconds later.

Robbie: Love you, Chica. Text you when we land.

Me: I love you too, Papi.

Kat: Love you too!!!

I smiled at the screen.

Angel was watching me.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Bullshit."

Her smile softened.

"I think I get it a little more."

I looked back at the picture.

My girlfriend with her husband. My boyfriend with his wife.

My people.

Mom didn't understand. Dad needed time. That hurt, and I wasn't going to pretend otherwise. I'd tell Robbie and Kat what happened once I'd had a chance to sort through it myself.

For now, they had a plane to catch.

And I had my sister beside me, Ricky and Evan waiting outside, and Lady trying to lick the last of my tears off my face.

I scratched behind her ears.

"All right. Enough crying."

Angel stood and held out her hand.

"Margaritas?"

"Margaritas."

The sun was out, the pool looked incredible, and I had people who wanted to spend the day with me. I could start there. By the time we finished our first round of margaritas, Angel had stopped checking her phone, Evan had stretched out in one of the lounge chairs, and Ricky was in the pool with me.

Lady paced along the edge, following him every time he swam from one side to the other.

"She thinks you need supervision," I told him.

"She's probably right."

He rested his arms on the edge and reached up to scratch her chest. Lady leaned into his hand.

"You're going to get her wet."

"She'll survive."

"She'll climb on my bed later and make that my problem."

Evan looked over from his chair.

"He does that too."

Ricky turned.

"I dry off."

"Eventually."

Angel laughed into her drink.

I smiled and pushed away from the edge, floating onto my back. For a little while, I listened to them talk without feeling like I needed to join in. Ricky asked Angel about the wedding, and she told him about a conversation she'd gotten trapped in with one of our relatives.

"Twenty minutes," she said. "I know more about that woman's kitchen renovation than I know about my own future."

"Did she at least show you pictures?" Evan asked.

"So many pictures."

"Then you should've asked for opinions on every wedding picture in your phone," I said.

"I didn't think of that."

"You'll learn."

Later, we moved into the shade. Ricky came back from the house with a bowl of chips and set it between us.

"Anyone hungry?"

"Getting there," Evan said.

Angel nodded.

"I could eat."

"We could order something," Ricky suggested. "Unless you already had dinner plans, Cass."

"My dinner plan was to see what was in the fridge and decide how much effort I had left."

"Pizza?"

"Pizza sounds perfect."

He handed Evan his phone to look at the menu, then sat beside him.

For a while, nobody asked whether I was okay. Nobody mentioned my parents. We talked about the wedding, ate chips, and occasionally went back into the water.

It was exactly what I needed.

Angel's phone buzzed beside her. She looked at the screen and sighed.

"Mom?" I asked.

"Yeah. Wants to know when I'm coming back."

My stomach tightened.

"What are you telling her?"

Angel looked toward the pool house.

"Could I stay here tonight?"

"Obviously."

"I don't want to leave you alone."

"I appreciate that, but you don't have to babysit me."

"I also don't want to go back to the hotel and hear Mom explain the morning to me for three hours."

"That sounds more believable."

She smiled.

"I could go to work with you tomorrow. If that's okay."

"You want to spend a day watching me answer emails?"

"I want to see your bookstore."

"You saw it when you got here."

"I walked through it with our parents. That's different."

Fair.

"I'm going in tomorrow morning. You're welcome to come."

"Good."

She started typing.

"Do you need to get your stuff?" I asked.

"Yeah. I didn't exactly pack for a sleepover."

Ricky looked over.

"We can take you when we go get dinner."

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all."

"I'll come with you," I told her.

Angel shook her head.

"I can get my own bag, Cass. You stay here."

I understood what she meant. I wasn't particularly interested in another encounter with Mom either.

"All right. Grab whatever you need."

That evening, we ate pizza outside while the light slowly faded over the yard. Ricky told a story about Robbie as a kid that I immediately decided to save for future use. Evan watched my face while Ricky talked.

"You're going to bring that up the second he gets home, aren't you?"

"Probably before."

Ricky pointed at me.

"He's going to know where you heard it."

"I'm willing to sacrifice you."

"Good to know."

When they finally left, Angel and I took Lady inside. My sister dropped her bag beside the dresser and looked at the bed.

"Which side do you sleep on?"

"Usually that one."

"Okay."

She tossed her overnight bag onto the other side.

I smiled.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing. It's been a while since we did this."

"Yeah. And you've upgraded considerably from making me sleep against the wall."

"You used to kick me."

"You used to steal the blanket."

"I still might."

"Then I'm getting another one now."

Before bed, I checked my phone. There were pictures from Miami, a message from Kat about their hotel, and one from Robbie reminding me that Lady's treats were in the pantry.

I sent him a picture of Lady stretched across the foot of the bed while Angel tried to persuade her to move.

Me: She's coping bravely.

Kat: ANGEL'S STAYING???

Me: Yeah. Sister sleepover. Taking her to The Bowery tomorrow.

Kat: Tell her I love her!!!

"Kat loves you," I said.

"Tell her I love her too. And her dog is taking my spot."

I did.

Then I set my phone down and climbed into bed beside my sister.

We talked with the lights off until our answers got shorter and the pauses between them got longer. The last thing I remembered was Angel asking whether I had set an alarm.

"Yes."

"What time?"

"You'll find out."

"Bitch."

It was a much better way to end the day than the way it had started.

⸻

The next morning, Angel came out of the bathroom wearing jeans and a blouse, her hair still damp.

"Do I look appropriate?"

"For what?"

"Going to your business."

"You look fine."

"What are we doing first?"

"Coffee."

"And then?"

"More coffee, probably."

She looked at the mug already in my hand.

"You seem prepared."

"I'm an experienced professional."

We left Lady settled at home and drove into town. Angel watched the buildings pass, asking how far things were from the house and whether I usually took this route.

"Are you giving me a neighborhood review?" I asked.

"Maybe I'm interested."

"In traffic patterns?"

"In where you live, asshole."

I smiled and turned into the parking lot.

The Bowery hadn't opened yet, but there were already employees inside. I unlocked the door and held it for Angel.

Without customers, the downstairs felt different. Chairs waited neatly around the tables, the shelves were straightened, and the smell of fresh coffee drifted from the counter. Somebody had put a new display near the front windows.

I stopped to look at it.

"Oh, that looks good."

Angel followed my gaze.

"You didn't do it?"

"One of our employees pitched it last week."

"You let them pick?"

"If they have a good idea."

I shifted one book that was hiding another cover, then stepped back.

"Although apparently I can't leave anything completely alone."

"Shocking."

One of the opening staff waved from behind the counter.

"Morning, Cassie."

"Morning. This is my sister, Angel."

Angel smiled and introduced herself.

"Coffee?" the employee asked.

"Please. And whatever she wants."

Angel looked at me.

"You're buying?"

"I have connections."

We took our drinks upstairs. I showed her the event space, the office, and the storage area she politely pretended to find interesting.

"What's your favorite part?" she asked.

I paused.

"Downstairs when it's busy."

"Really?"

"Not when there's a line and something's broken. When people are using it the way we hoped they would."

I leaned against the office doorway.

"Someone reading by themselves. A couple meeting for coffee. People arguing about a book they both loved for completely different reasons."

Angel smiled.

"You like the arguing?"

"Only when I'm not responsible for resolving it."

She wandered toward the windows.

"Did you always know you wanted something this big?"

"No. Kat and I used to talk about owning a bookstore. The actual planning involved a lot more spreadsheets than those conversations did."

"That seems rude of reality."

"Extremely."

A knock came from the open office door.

Our manager stood there with a few questions from the previous afternoon.

"Do you have a minute?"

"Of course."

Angel started to move.

"You can stay," I told her. "Unless you're already bored."

"I'm good."

The manager sat across from me.

"There's a woman who comes in most Thursdays with a few friends. They're starting a book club and asked whether they could meet here once a month."

"How many people?"

"Eight, maybe ten. She wanted to know whether we could hold a couple of tables together."

"What time?"

"Six. They'd be done before closing."

I nodded.

"That should be fine. Check the calendar before we promise a date, and make sure they understand they'd be using the regular seating area. We can't guarantee it'll be quiet."

"That's what I told her."

"Good."

"She also asked whether we could order their book for them."

"Absolutely. Get the title and an actual count. We can take orders from the members individually so she isn't stuck buying books for people who don't show."

The manager made a note.

"If they start getting bigger, we'll revisit where to put them," I added. "But ten people talking about a book over coffee sounds pretty much like what we built this place for."

"I thought you'd say that."

We went through the other questions, including a change to the weekend schedule and a delivery we were still waiting on.

Once we were alone, Angel looked at me.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Don't start that again."

"I liked watching you do that."

"Talk about tables?"

"You knew what needed to happen."

"I would hope so. We've made enough mistakes learning."

She looked toward the door.

"They didn't ask when Kat was coming back."

I shrugged.

"Kat and I both make decisions. We don't need two owners approving everything."

"I know. It's just different seeing it."

I understood what she meant.

Yesterday, I'd spent half the morning insisting I had my own life. Here, nobody needed me to explain that.

My phone buzzed on the desk.

Dad.

Larry: Would you be willing to have lunch with me before we leave?

I read it twice.

Angel watched my expression.

"Who is it?"

"Dad. Wants lunch."

"Just him?"

I typed the question.

His answer came quickly.

Larry: Yes. Just us. If you're comfortable with that.

I set the phone down.

"You don't have to," Angel said.

"I know."

I wanted to see him. I also didn't want another conversation where every answer I gave was treated as evidence that I didn't understand my own life.

After a moment, I picked the phone back up.

Me: Yes. But I'm not doing yesterday again. We can talk. I'm not coming to defend myself for an hour.

Larry: Understood. I'd like to listen.

I let out a breath.

Me: Noon? I'll send you somewhere close.

Larry: Noon works. Love you.

Me: Love you too.

Angel leaned back in her chair.

"How do you feel?"

"Ask me after lunch."

"Fair."

I opened my laptop.

"Until then, you can help me check whether our website has the right event dates."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I thought I was visiting."

"You expressed interest in the business. There are consequences."

⸻

Dad stood when I walked into the restaurant.

That nearly undid me before I'd even sat down.

He hugged me, then waited until I was settled across from him.

"Thanks for coming."

"Thanks for asking."

We ordered. For a few minutes, we talked about Aunt Elena's flight and the wedding. Dad mentioned something Ricky had said at the reception that made me laugh.

It helped.

Then he folded his hands beside his water glass.

"I handled yesterday badly."

I looked at him.

"Your mom said the worst thing. That doesn't mean everything I said was useful."

"You sounded disappointed in me."

"I know."

He paused.

"I was trying to explain that I'm worried. What came out sounded like I'd already decided you'd made a mistake."

"Had you?"

He didn't answer immediately.

"I had decided I didn't like it."

"At least that's honest."

"I still don't understand how all of this works."

"I'm not expecting you to after one conversation."

"Good. Because I'm going to have questions."

"You can ask questions, Dad. Just believe me when I answer."

He nodded slowly.

"All right."

Our food arrived. I was grateful for the interruption.

After the server left, Dad asked how things were going at The Bowery.

For a second, I almost gave him the usual answer.

Good. Busy.

Instead, I told him about the book club. About the managers taking more responsibility. About learning which decisions needed my attention and which ones I needed to let other people handle.

He listened.

"So you can actually take a day off now?" he asked.

"In theory."

"Cassie."

"I'm getting better."

"That's all I'm asking."

I smiled down at my plate.

Near the end of lunch, he reached across the table and touched my hand.

"I don't want you to stop telling me about your life because you think I'll disapprove."

"Then you can't make every conversation a vote on whether I'm allowed to live it."

He looked at me for a moment.

"That's fair."

It wasn't acceptance. Everything hadn't suddenly become fine.

But when he hugged me outside, I didn't feel like I was waiting for another warning.

"Love you, kiddo."

"Love you too, Papa."

⸻

Angel was downstairs when I got back, helping straighten a table of books.

I stopped beside her.

"Should I be paying you?"

"Yes. Your employee offered me a pastry, but I know exploitation when I see it."

"How many pastries?"

"Two."

"You're doing fine."

She smiled, then looked more closely at me.

"Lunch?"

"Better."

"That's good."

"He's trying."

"I thought he would."

We finished the afternoon at The Bowery. Angel watched me answer messages, deal with a delivery that arrived missing a box, and spend an unreasonable amount of time finding a discrepancy that turned out to be my own mistake.

"You're enjoying that," I told her when I finally found it.

"Immensely."

By the time we got home, I was ready to take my shoes off and stop making decisions.

We fed Lady, found something easy for dinner, and carried our drinks outside.

The pool lights were on. Angel sat beside me with her feet in the water while Lady stretched out behind us.

For a while, we said nothing.

Then Angel asked, "Do you ever regret moving?"

I looked at her.

"No."

"Not even when it was hard?"

"Being scared and regretting it weren't the same thing."

She stirred the water with one foot.

"I've been thinking about moving."

"Out of Mom and Dad's?"

"Farther than that."

I waited.

"Maybe out here."

I turned toward her.

"Seriously?"

"Maybe."

"How long have you been thinking about it?"

"A little while. More after this trip."

"Because of yesterday?"

"Not only yesterday."

She picked at the label on her bottle.

"Mom has an opinion about everything. Where I go. Who I see. Whether I answered her quickly enough. Sometimes I tell her something because I want to share it, and halfway through the conversation I realize I'm asking permission."

I knew that feeling.

"She loves us," Angel said.

"I know."

"But I'd like to make one decision without preparing a defense first."

I leaned back on my hands.

"What would you want to do here?"

"I don't know yet. I'd need a job before I could seriously think about it."

"Well, obviously I'd offer you one if you needed it."

She looked at me.

"At The Bowery?"

"No, I've secretly opened a second business."

"Asshole."

"I'm serious. We'd figure out what you could do and what hours made sense. You wouldn't have to work there forever, but it could give you somewhere to start."

"That would help."

"And I happen to know someone who owns some apartments. I could ask what's available."

Angel smiled.

"You just happen to know someone?"

"I'm very well connected."

"Apparently."

"We'd still have to look at what you could afford," I said. "I'm not promising you some amazing apartment for twenty dollars a month."

"I wasn't expecting that."

"And you should spend more time here before you decide. Working somewhere and buying groceries is different from visiting for a wedding."

She nodded.

"That's what I was thinking. Maybe come back for a longer visit. Look around."

"Absolutely."

"Would it bother you? Having me nearby?"

"Angel, I'd love having you nearby."

Her shoulders relaxed.

"But you should move because there's something here you want. Not just because Mom pissed you off."

"Both can be true."

I laughed.

"Fair enough."

She looked toward the pool house.

"I'm not asking you to take care of me."

"I know. Helping you get started isn't the same thing."

She went quiet for a moment.

"I liked today."

"The unpaid labor?"

"The way people knew you. You were busy, but you seemed comfortable."

"I'm not always."

"I know. I watched you accuse a spreadsheet of personal betrayal."

"It knew what it did."

Angel laughed, then rested her head against my shoulder.

"I missed you."

That caught me.

"I missed you too."

"I know we talk. But it's different."

"Yeah."

She nudged my foot with hers beneath the water.

"If I move here, you have to promise not to become another Mom."

"I make no promises about judging your taste in furniture."

"Your taste isn't that good."

"You're staying in my house."

"And I've been very brave about it."

I pushed water toward her with my foot. She splashed me back.

Lady lifted her head, assessed the situation, and apparently decided neither of us needed rescuing.

My phone buzzed beside me.

A picture from Kat filled the screen. The water behind them was impossibly blue, and Robbie had one arm around her while she grinned at the camera.

I smiled and sent back a picture of Angel and me with our feet in the pool.

Me: Your pool is less impressive, but the company's pretty good.

Angel leaned closer so she could see.

"Tell them I'm keeping you."

"They'll negotiate."

"Let them try."

I set the phone down.

We still had things to talk about. My family. Her plans. What moving would actually require. None of it needed to be settled before we went inside.

For now, my sister's shoulder was warm against mine, Lady was asleep behind us, and I had a full day of my own to tell Robbie and Kat about when we called.

Angel tilted her head.

"So if I work for you, am I still getting free pastries?"

"We should probably discuss your actual paycheck first."

"I'm considering the whole offer."

"Very professional."

"I learned from watching you."

We stayed outside until the water felt cold against our legs and Lady finally stood up, stretched, and walked toward the door.

Angel watched her go.

"Apparently we're being summoned."

"She wants her spot on the bed."

"She's not getting the middle tonight."

"You can explain that to her."

Angel stood and offered me a hand.

"Come on. I'm tired."

I let her pull me up, and we headed inside together.

She claimed her side of the bed before Lady could, then lifted the edge of the blanket for me.

For once, neither of us had much left to say.

I turned out the light and settled beside her.

"Love you," she murmured.

"Love you too."

A few seconds later, her cold foot touched my leg.

"Angel."

"What?"

"Move it."

She laughed into her pillow. There was my sister. It was an emotional couple of days, and I was sure there would be more to come, but for now, I was happy with the progress I'd made. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress.

Kat's POV

I saw the yacht through the car window and immediately reached for Robbie's hand.

"Baby."

"I see it."

"No, look at it."

He laughed and leaned closer to the window with me. The white hull rose above the dock, long rows of glass catching the Miami sunlight. From this close, it looked less like something we were going to travel on and more like somewhere people considerably more sophisticated than us went to spend their summers.

Apparently, we were some of those people now. Or at least I had married someone determined to let me pretend for two weeks.

"We're getting on that."

"That's the plan."

I turned toward him.

"You're very calm."

"I've had longer to get used to the idea."

"Have you?"

He looked back outside.

"Honestly? The pictures didn't quite do it justice."

That made me smile. Yesterday, I'd spent a ridiculous amount of time asking questions. Over breakfast. Walking around Miami. Getting ready for dinner. Robbie had answered some and enjoyed refusing to answer others. He'd been particularly unhelpful about our room. Now he was watching me instead of the yacht, and I recognized that expression.

"What haven't you told me?"

"Several things, probably."

"About this."

He lifted my hand and kissed my fingers.

"You'll see."

I narrowed my eyes.

"You're lucky I love you."

"Very."

Our car stopped, and before I'd finished looking up at the yacht again, someone was opening the door. Robbie stepped out first and offered me his hand. The heat wrapped around me immediately. There was a breeze off the water, warm against my bare arms, and my dress moved around my legs as I stood beside him. I had finally gotten access to my suitcase. He had packed very well. Possibly with an unnecessarily optimistic idea of how many outfits I could wear in three weeks, but I wasn't going to discourage him.

Someone greeted us as Mr. and Mrs. Stockton. My eyes went straight to Robbie. He was already smiling. That was going to be a problem for the foreseeable future. People kept calling me Mrs. Stockton, and every time, I wanted to kiss him.

So, I did.

"What was that for?" he asked softly.

"Being my husband."

"I should probably warn you that's a permanent condition."

"Good."

By the time we reached our suite, I'd already decided I needed to stop saying oh my God every time someone showed us something. Then the door opened.

"Oh my God."

Robbie laughed behind me. I barely heard him. The first thing I noticed was the light. Beyond the living area, windows drew my eyes toward the water and the enormous terrace outside. The room felt open in a way I hadn't expected aboard a ship, with enough space that our luggage looked almost insignificant beside the entrance.

There was a proper dining table. A sitting area where I could imagine spending an entire afternoon. Everything looked carefully chosen, but nothing made me feel like I should be afraid to sit down. I stepped farther inside.

"This is our room?"

"Well, it's our suite," Robbie said.

I turned.

"Don't correct me while I'm overwhelmed."

"Yes, ma'am."

The woman showing us around smiled and continued toward the bedrooms. Bedrooms. Plural. I looked at Robbie again. He gave me that pleased little smile I had accused him of making at the airport. I was going to kiss it off his face as soon as we were alone.

There were two bedrooms, each with a king bed. In the one we would be using, I paused beside the mattress and let my fingers brush the bedding before looking into the bathroom. Marble. A double vanity. A bathtub I immediately wanted to spend an unreasonable amount of time in. A separate walk-in shower. I could hear our host explaining something to Robbie.

I was busy considering whether it would be inappropriate to move in permanently. Then she showed us the terrace. I stopped in the doorway.

"Robbie."

This time, he didn't make a joke.

"I know."

The outdoor space wrapped around the front of the suite, giving us a broad view ahead. There was room to eat outside, stretch out, and wander without immediately reaching the end of our little piece of the ship. And there was a pool. Our own splash pool. I walked toward it and looked down at the water, then out toward the harbor. The breeze lifted my hair off my shoulders. For a few seconds, I couldn't think of anything to say. I had stayed in beautiful places before. I wasn't unfamiliar with expensive rooms or people making things easy for me. But Robbie had chosen this. He'd looked at all the possibilities and imagined us here together.

That was what caught in my throat. He came to stand beside me, resting his hand at the small of my back.

"You good?"

I looked up at him.

"You know perfectly well this is considerably better than good."

His smile softened.

"I hoped you'd like it."

I reached for his hand.

"I love it."

Once our host had explained how to contact the concierge and arrange in-suite dining, she left us with a warm congratulations. The door closed. I turned toward Robbie. He put his hands in his pockets.

"What?"

"You."

"Me?"

"You brought me here."

"I did."

I crossed the room and slipped my arms around his waist. He pulled his hands free and wrapped his arms around me. For a moment, I just held him. His cheek rested against my hair.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hey."

"You okay?"

I nodded against his chest.

"I'm very okay."

He tipped my chin up.

"Then why do you look like I might have made you cry?"

"Because you keep doing things."

"Very descriptive."

"Shut up. I'm trying to appreciate you."

He laughed, and I rose onto my toes to kiss him. It was supposed to be a thank-you kiss. Then his hand moved higher on my back, and I forgot about thanking him in any organized way. When we separated, his forehead rested against mine.

"We should probably unpack."

"Eventually."

"And finish the safety stuff."

"Yes. That first."

His thumb brushed my cheek.

"Responsible wife."

"For the next few minutes."

"I'll make the most of it."

We took care of what we needed to, put our clothes away, and returned to the terrace with cold drinks.

I had changed into the blue bikini. I had decided he deserved a bit of a reward for selecting this ridiculously perfect suite for us. The blue bikini was Robbie's favorite. A thong bikini with a waistband that landed high up on my hips and covered less than my average thong. The top wasn't much better. It struggled to contain my tits, let alone cover them. It also did a great job lifting them up and putting them on display.

Robbie noticed immediately. I swore he almost ruptured a vertebra when his head snapped toward me to look again when he did a double take.

"I thought you'd be pleased," I said.

"Since I packed for you, I must say I have excellent taste."

"In bikinis?"

"And in wives."

I tried not to smile. Failed. He was wearing swim shorts, and I had been trying to behave normally about that since he'd taken his shirt off. There was no particular reason I should have been struggling. I knew what he looked like. I had seen him without a shirt more times than I could count. My brain had decided that my husband without a shirt on our private terrace while putting on sunscreen required an entirely new reaction. He caught me looking.

"Something on your mind?"

"Yes."

"Want to share?"

"Not while you're holding glass."

He glanced down at his drink, then set it aside.

"Problem solved."

I laughed and stepped into the pool before he could reach me. The water felt wonderful against my warm skin. I lowered myself slowly, then looked back at him.

"You coming?"

He watched me for another second.

"Absolutely."

When he joined me, I moved close enough to rest my hands on his shoulders.

"Well," I said. "This was a good decision."

"The cruise?"

"Yes, and the pool. I'm still evaluating the husband."

His hands settled at my waist.

"Any concerns?"

"Distracting. Occasionally smug. Terrible at keeping his hands to himself."

"Sounds serious."

"It is. I'll need to spend a lot of time with him before I can make a final assessment."

He drew me closer.

"I appreciate your commitment."

I kissed him.

There was nobody trying to get our attention. No schedule waiting on my phone. Nothing I needed to make happen before I could enjoy this. I hadn't realized how much of my life had become a series of things I needed to finish. Here, I could let a kiss take as long as it took. So, I did.

We felt the departure before I fully noticed it.

A faint change beneath us. Movement beyond the terrace. The dock no longer sitting quite where it had been. We climbed out and wrapped ourselves in towels, then stood together watching Miami begin to move past us. His arms came around me from behind. I rested my hands over his. The buildings caught the afternoon light. Smaller boats crossed the water at a distance, and the harbor slowly opened ahead of us.

"We're actually leaving," I said.

"Yep."

I leaned back against him. It felt strange how little we had to do with it. Somebody else knew where we were going. Somebody else was getting us there. All we had to do was stand together and watch. Robbie kissed my temple.

"Happy?"

I turned my head enough to look at him.

"Ridiculously."

"Good."

I could feel his smile against my hair. For a while, we stayed there without talking. The water changed as we moved farther out, harbor traffic giving way to a widening stretch of blue.

I thought about the wedding. His face when he'd seen me. The way his voice had sounded during our vows. Waking up the next morning and remembering, before I'd even opened my eyes, that we were married. I rested my hands over his and leaned back against him.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

I smiled.

"How much I love being your wife."

His arms tightened around me.

"Good. I'm pretty happy being your husband."

I turned in his arms and kissed him.

After a while, we ordered lunch and decided to eat outside on our huge private deck. After lunch, we decided to just relax on the deck. We lay out on the double sun lounger in the shade. I stretched out beside him, intending to close my eyes for a few minutes. When I woke, the light had changed. The sun was considerably lower. My cheek was against his chest, and his hand rested on my back. He had fallen asleep too.

I stayed still, not wanting to wake him. Robbie was different when he wasn't paying attention to anything. The little tension he carried around his eyes was gone. His mouth was relaxed, and his breathing was slow beneath me.

I loved him busy. I loved watching him teach people things, fix something, get excited about something he cared about. But I was starting to think I could become very attached to this version of him.

Warm. Rested. Entirely available for me to bother.

I kissed his chest lightly. As I lay there, my eyes drifted down to his knee and the scars that now decorated it. At least that's how he worded it. They were reminders. For me, they weren't reminders of what he lost, but of something we lived through, something we grew through, something that tested us, but brought us closer together too.

I kissed his chest again. He took a deeper breath but didn't open his eyes.

"Hey, baby," I whispered.

His hand moved over my back.

"Hey, babe."

"You awake?"

"Kind of."

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

"Not particularly."

He opened his eyes and looked down at me. I smiled.

"We fell asleep."

"I noticed."

"On the first day of our extremely luxurious honeymoon."

"Worth it. Besides, something tells me we are going to need our energy later."

I couldn't argue. I shifted higher and kissed him. He looked past me toward the water.

"What time is it?"

"I have no idea."

"Excellent."

I laughed and settled back against him. For once, not knowing felt like an accomplishment. We could have gone somewhere for dinner. There were restaurants to explore, places to dress up for, and an entire yacht beyond our suite. We both knew that. I also knew I wasn't ready to share him.

When Robbie asked what I felt like doing, I looked toward the outdoor table.

"Would you think I was wasting the evening if I wanted to stay here?"

His expression softened.

"Babe, I booked this suite because I wanted us to enjoy it."

"Even if we don't leave?"

"Then I will enjoy you in every way possible on every surface in this suite..."

I reached for his hand as I smiled and bit my lip.

"That sounds absolutely wonderful. But first, how about dinner outside under the stars?"

"Sounds perfect."

We ordered in-suite dining, then took turns getting ready.

I chose a soft little dress from my suitcase. Nothing elaborate. Just something that felt good against my skin and made me happy when I caught my reflection. It had the added bonus of being a dress that worked without any underwear at all, which would save time later.

When I stepped out, Robbie looked up. He had changed into some shorts and a clean shirt, his hair still slightly damp. His eyes moved over me. Then he smiled.

"You look so incredibly beautiful, babe."

"Thank you, baby."

I walked closer.

"You look pretty good yourself."

"Pretty good?"

"I'm trying to stay composed."

"How's that going?"

"Poorly."

He kissed me once, then brushed his thumb along my jaw.

"Same."

By the time dinner arrived, the sky had begun to shift toward night. The stars began to show through the night sky as the sun faded toward the horizon. The table was set for us, our meals arranged, wine poured. Once we were alone again, I looked at the empty chairs around us and laughed quietly.

"What?"

"All this space, and I'm still going to spend the evening trying to get closer to you."

"Come over here."

"We have perfectly good chairs."

He held out his hand. I moved my chair beside his.

"Better," he said.

"Considerably."

We ate while the light faded over the water. My fish was wonderful. So was the bite of steak Robbie gave me, although I informed him that sharing food with me now constituted a binding marital obligation.

"I was under that impression before the wedding."

"Good. Then there won't be an adjustment period."

He shook his head and offered me another bite. I watched his hand as I took it. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Kat."

"What?"

"Eat your dinner."

"I am eating my dinner."

"You know what I mean."

I smiled into my wineglass. The conversation drifted easily. Things from the wedding we hadn't gotten a chance to tell each other. A place we wanted to explore later in the trip. Whether we were going to have room for dessert. We did. It was easy to make room for dessert when someone else was making it and I had nowhere I needed to be afterward.

Halfway through, Robbie caught me watching him.

"What?"

I set down my spoon.

"I like this."

He glanced around.

"Dinner?"

"Yes, that was amazing, but mostly you."

His expression changed in that small, familiar way that always made me want to touch him.

"You have me."

"I know."

I reached across the narrow space between our chairs and took his hand.

"I like having time to notice."

His thumb moved over my fingers.

"We've got plenty."

I looked out at the water, then back at him.

"I might become very difficult to take home."

"Become?"

I laughed.

"You're ruining a sweet moment."

"I'm participating in it."

"Badly."

He leaned over and kissed me. I forgave him. After dinner, we stood at the edge of the terrace with the dark water stretching ahead. The air felt cooler now. Robbie slipped his arm around me, and I tucked myself against his side.

For a few minutes, I listened to the water and the quiet sounds of the yacht. Then I turned toward him.

"What?" he asked.

"I've been trying to be patient."

"With?"

"Dinner. Dessert. The very lovely view."

He looked down at me.

"You chose dinner out here."

"And I enjoyed it. I'm ready for something else now."

His hand rose to my cheek.

"Are you?"

I nodded. He pulled me toward him and kissed me slowly. I had spent most of the day touching him, leaning against him, stealing kisses whenever I felt like it. This one made me step closer and hold on. When he drew back, I followed.

He kissed me again, and I slid my arms around his neck. The breeze moved between us, lifting the hem of my dress. His hand stayed warm at my back as he drew me against him.

I loved how easily he could make me forget that the world existed around me. I also loved that I didn't have to be subtle about wanting him.

"Inside," I whispered into his ear.

He brushed his lips against mine.

"Gladly."

I took his hand and led him through the terrace door. The suite was softly lit, the windows dark enough now to catch our reflections as we passed. I could see myself smiling. I could see Robbie watching me. At the bedroom doorway, I turned.

I caught the front of his shirt and pulled him into me. His hands settled at my waist. I pulled him down into a kiss. He answered immediately, one hand spreading across my back while the other held me close. I kissed him until I needed a breath, then rested my forehead against his chest.

His lips touched my hair.

"You good, babe?"

I looked up.

"Very. Come here."

He let me draw him farther into the room. My fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt, less patiently than I'd imagined they would. He watched me with an expression that made concentrating considerably harder.

"You could help."

"I'm enjoying this."

"I noticed."

He laughed softly, then kissed the corner of my mouth. By the time I reached the last button, I had stopped pretending I was interested in anything except getting closer to him. I eased the shirt from his shoulders.

"There," I whispered.

"Better?"

I rested my palms against his muscled chest.

"Much."

His eyes stayed on mine as he brushed my hair over one shoulder. Then he bent and kissed my neck. I caught my breath. He knew exactly where the sensitive spot of my neck was, and he was not shy about using it. My fingers tightened against him, and I felt his smile before his lips moved higher, lingering beneath my ear.

"Robbie."

"Yeah?"

I turned toward his mouth.

"I love you."

His expression softened.

"I love you too."

He kissed me with a tenderness that made me hold him tighter. For a moment, I could still hear the water outside. I could still feel the cool air on my shoulders and the warmth of his hands through my dress. Then he kissed me again, and everything beyond the bedroom became very far away. I stepped back until the bed touched the backs of my legs.

He stopped with me. There was that look again. The one that made it impossible to feel anything except wanted.

I reached down for the hem of my dress. Slowly, I lifted it up over my head. Once I was free of it, I dropped the dress to the floor, leaving me completely naked in front of him. It made me smile when I noticed how, even though we had been together for over four years at this point, he still looked at me the same way he did the first time he saw me like this. A perfect blend of absolute adoration and barely contained lust.

I caught his shoulders and pulled him into another deep kiss. His hands immediately started wandering over my body.

"Tonight, I want something just a little different, baby."

His eyebrows lifted, but he let me continue.

"I have been loving the sweetness and the lovemaking the last couple of nights. But you know that's not all I want." I held his gaze. "I want it a little rougher tonight, baby. I really want you to fuck me hard. I need it, baby."

His smile widened.

"I think that can be arranged, my love."

"Good." I kissed him, then drew back just enough to speak. "Now stop looking so surprised and come fuck me so good I forget my name!"

He didn't even try to answer. He picked me up and practically threw me on the bed. He made short work of his shorts before crawling onto the bed. He lay next to me as he kissed me deeply, hungrily, aggressively. I felt myself getting wet for him immediately. I loved it when he let himself be aggressive. My legs spread for him as if they had a mind of their own. His fingers found their way to my pussy quickly. His fingers slid inside of me and immediately started working their magic. God, he had a way of working his fingers that turned me on and my brain off. I was instantly overloaded with waves of pleasure as he worked my pussy hard, his thumb working on my clit. Quickly, I felt the tension building.

Just as I was surrendering to the pleasure, I suddenly felt empty as he pulled his fingers from me. I didn't have much time to wonder what was happening, though, as he quickly picked me up and basically spun me in place so that I was suddenly straddling his face in a 69 position. His hands found my thighs and pulled my pussy down onto his face, where he immediately began eating me out. I moaned as he began devouring me. Instinctively, I leaned forward and took his cock in my mouth as he ate me out.

I worked my mouth up and down his shaft, my head bobbing enthusiastically as I felt his tongue swirl around my clit. My head was spinning as the pleasure washed over me. I focused on my tongue swirling around his cock, the veins on his shaft, the swollen head nearing the back of my throat, his moans of pleasure, anything to keep from getting swept up in the ecstasy of Robbie's enthusiastic performance. For all the effort, I was fighting a losing battle. His tongue was working my clit too well. I moaned around his cock as my orgasm erupted. I felt a gush of arousal flow out of me. Robbie didn't stop eating me out. If anything, he became even more aggressive. My body went rigid as I rode out wave after wave of pure bliss.

As soon as my body began to relax, I felt his fingers in my hair, pulling his cock out of my mouth. He lifted me off of him and stood up. Effortlessly, he then picked me up by the waist and brought me to him. My legs wrapped around his waist instinctively as he lowered me onto his cock in a standing missionary position. I was instantly moaning from the dual pleasure of being manhandled by him and him impaling me on his cock over and over again. He knew me well enough to know that when I said I wanted it rough, that meant I wanted to be dominated. I spent so much of my time being the one in control that I loved it when he took that control.

My arms wrapped around his neck as he continued burying his cock into me, lifting me up and then slamming me back down on his shaft. I did my best to kiss him as he continued. Eventually, he put me down, and I immediately turned onto all fours, letting him know what I wanted. No words needed. He got behind me and slid his thick cock deep into my pussy from behind. One of his hands gripped my hip. The other hand, I could feel sliding up my back until it reached the base of my scalp. His fingers tangled in my hair, he grabbed a fistful and pulled back, hard. Not hard enough to hurt, just hard enough for him to let me know he was in control. My eyes rolled back as he pounded into me harder with each stroke. I felt the tension of another orgasm beginning to boil up inside of me.

"That's it, cum for me like a good girl," he growled behind me.

That was all it took to push me over the edge of another orgasm. My body was shaking as I came again. I had just started coming down when I felt Robbie's thumb pressing on my asshole. As he pressed his thumb into the tight hole, it prolonged my orgasm. Once I finally came down, I looked back at Robbie and bit my lip as I nodded, giving him permission to take my ass.

He slid his cock out of my pussy and placed the head at my tight rosebud. I gripped the pillow as the anticipation built up. I took a deep breath as I felt the pressure pushing against my ass. Robbie rubbed my back softly as he pressed into me. I felt the head of his cock slip inside my ass, and I moaned loudly. Robbie made it so easy to enjoy anal as he took his time. He began working his cock in my ass slowly. I felt every inch of his shaft as he did. He increased his pace gradually until he was pistoning his length in and out of my ass with long, hard strokes. Our moans filled the room again as the pleasure started pulsing through me. I gasped loudly when he reached around and started working my clit as he fucked me.

The tension was building again, and this was enhanced by his moaning, indicating that he was close too. I started pushing back into him with every stroke. Then I heard him whisper into my ear, "Your ass is so tight, babe. It feels so fucking good. I'm getting close."

"Oh yes, baby! I want it! I want your cum! Fill my ass with your cum!" I moaned in return.

After a few more strokes, I heard him grunt and felt his cock twitch deep inside me. I felt his cum shooting inside me. That, coupled with his fingers working my clit furiously, pushed me over the edge into yet another orgasm. He gripped me tightly as we rode out this final, earth-shattering orgasm together. After I felt his cock twitch one final time, he collapsed on the bed next to me. Both of us were breathing hard as we recovered.

After another moment, I rolled over so I was cuddled into his chest, hearing his heart beating fast. He took a deep breath. I smiled. I had always had a strong and adventurous sexual appetite, but some people from my past made me feel judged for it. I was made to feel that just because I liked rough sex, or being dominated, I was some kind of whore. Like wanting these things diminished my value and relegated me to just being a sexual object. Robbie, on the other hand, made me feel like a queen, always. It was amazing to be with a man I could trust with these kinks and desires. Through our entire relationship, he never judged me for any of my curiosities. I could trust him absolutely.

I reflected on our current situation and realized: how could I not trust him wholly and completely given the situation we were in with Cassie? In that moment, I felt extremely lucky, so incredibly blessed, and so far beyond happy that I actually giggled out loud.

"You good, babe?" he asked.

"Absolutely. I just realized how lucky a woman I am to have you."

"Mmmm. I feel the same way, my love. There is nothing I could have done in this life to earn a woman like you, a love like yours, but I am so thankful for it. I plan on spending the rest of my life earning it."

"Baby, you don't have to earn my love."

"I know. I get to earn it. There is a difference."

I have no idea how this man kept making me fall deeper in love with him, but I did. I leaned up and kissed him deeply before taking his hand and leading him to the shower. I had this man to myself for three whole weeks, and I planned to take full advantage of that.

Over the next three weeks on the cruise and then in our room in Mexico, I lost count of how many times we enjoyed each other. Robbie had meant it when he said he planned to enjoy me in every way possible on whatever surface possible. Obviously, we extracted ourselves from the suite occasionally to do normal vacation and honeymoon things. It was truly a magical three weeks. While I first lamented having to return from paradise back to reality, it was on the flight home that I started actively looking forward to being back in our house, back to our life, back to our girlfriend. That made me smile on its own. I was actively looking forward to the future and excited to experience it with my man beside me and my girlfriend on the other side. I knew, without a doubt, that we could handle anything life threw at us.