Page 80 of A Little Naughty

“Good, because I like it, too.” I can’t keep the smile off my lips, and he exhales a laugh against my skin.

He lifts his chin. “I want you to be proud to say I’m your husband.”

I stretch taller to kiss his full lips. “I already am.”

* * *

The sun breakswarm through the window of our bedroom, and I rise onto my elbow to study Raif lying on his back. His skin is golden, and a lock of hair is across his forehead.

My husband. It’s too late for me to resist falling for him. He’s so handsome, and when he says he wants to protect me and make me happy and make me proud of him, I fall more and more.

This weekend has been so perfect. I move the blankets aside and quietly slip out of the bed and pull my fluffyWiferobe over my naked body.

Every single one of my muscles is sore from all the sex we’ve been having, and my core aches with every step. It’s delicious and amazing. I’ve never felt so satisfied in my life.

I start the coffee in the kitchen, and as I stand gazing out the window at the growing sunrise, my eyes land on a sea of hot pink blooms in the flower boxes attached to the fence.

Going to the door, I cross the small yard in my bare feet to find dozens of tulips bursting happily through the soil in the white wooden boxes.

Reaching out, I touch them carefully as I try to understand. Piper said she never planted anything here, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen tulips like this anywhere except in pictures.

“Do you like them?” Raif’s voice behind me makes me jump and turn around.

He’s standing there in jeans and no shirt, and the memory rushes back. I remember that morning when Nikki and I caught him here as we were hurrying to school. Dirt was on his hands, and he shoved them in his pockets like he’d been caught.

“You did this?” My eyes are wide.

He exhales a laugh, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “I thought you might like them.”

I rush into his arms. “You planted these for me all those weeks ago?”

“I had extra bulbs.”

“Extra bulbs?” My brow furrows. “Where were you planting them before?”

“My mom always wanted tulips, but she didn’t know how to grow them this far south.” He turns me so my back is to his chest and wraps strong arms around me. “I did a little research, figured out how to make them grow, and I planted some in our yard for her.”

Resting my head against his jaw, a sad mix of emotions fills my chest. “But she’s gone.”

He turns to kiss my temple. “I still like to think it makes her happy to see them… if she ever passes this way again.”

I reach up to place my hand on his cheek. “You’re so good.”

A low hum vibrates from his throat, and he kisses my ear. “I had some left over, so I planted them for you.”

“I love them.” I pull my phone out of the pocket on my robe and snap a photo of the brilliant, waxy blossoms.

Look what my husband gave me.

I attach the photo and hit send to the group.

Britt

Raif!

She adds a crying emoji.

Cass

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