Page 56 of The Devious Husband

HunterKing: Congratulations, both of you. Your happiness has the sweetest melody.

MayorZach: Officiating for my brother and sister-in-law was the greatest honor I’ve ever been bestowed. Welcome to the family, little sis.

“My parents, Elijah, and Valeria don’t have social media presences,” he explains, and I nod, pressing a kiss to his cheek, unable to get a word out. I’ve never felt so loved, so welcomed, and it leaves me feeling far more emotional than I’d imagined.

I take a shaky breath as I navigate to my settings and change both my name and my username, and I can’t help but grin at the words Sierra Kingston. “Fuck,” Xavier groans, pulling me onto his lap, my back against his chest and his arms wrapped around me. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this?”

I lean back against him, my heart overflowing with happiness. “How do you feel about going on a honeymoon?” I ask, a little scared to suggest it. Neither of us can afford to take much time off considering our current workload, but I want to be alone with him for a little while. “I always imagined going on a honeymoon someday, and now seems like the perfect time to escape. The media is no doubt going to double down on us for a bit, so we might as well hide out somewhere together.”

“I think I have an idea,” he murmurs, nuzzling my neck. Xavier pulls away a little to look at me, his expression a little uncertain. “Remember when I mentioned Enzo? He got engaged a few days ago, and his fiancee is throwing a party in Malta to celebrate. I was going to decline the invitation, but?—”

“I’d love that,” I tell him immediately. I didn’t actually think he’d ever introduce me to Enzo, and there’s no way I’m going to let this chance slip away. Xavier has told me a lot about himself, but I know it was an abbreviated version of his story, and I can’t wait to learn more about all the experiences and people that shaped him.

“I’ll get the jet ready,” he says, before lightly pinching my chin and leaning in for a kiss. I sigh as I cup his face, feeling more secure in our marriage than ever before. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy.

I giggle as Xavier grabs me and turns us over, so I’m lying flat on the sofa, his body on top of mine. He studies me that way he does sometimes, like he wants to remember every single thing about me, and I gently touch his soft hair. “This is real, isn’t it?”

I nod. “The realest thing I’ve ever felt.”

He draws a shaky breath and leans in to kiss me, his knee parting my legs. My arms wrap around him, and I moan as his body moves against mine as he kisses me slowly, leisurely, every touch part of his slow seduction. “Xave,” I plead when his hand moves underneath my dress, and he smirks at me as he begins to raise it, only for the doorbell to startle us both.

He pulls away and helps me tidy my clothes, his expression instantly stormy. “Must be my family,” he says, sounding far from pleased as footsteps soon follow.

“Xavier! Sierra!”

I rise to my feet and smile when my mother-in-law walks in, followed by Valeria, who throws me an apologetic smile. “I told her not to bother you,” Valeria says, “but she saw the wedding announcement, and she’s decided that it means she no longer has to stay away from you.”

My mother-in-law grabs my hands, her eyes brimming with excitement. “Xavier nagged and nagged, telling me not to overwhelm you in the first few months of your marriage, so I begrudgingly agreed to stay away until you’d adjusted, and it seems like you have.”

“Mom,” he groans, and I smile to myself. His whole demeanor changes when his mother is near, and it’s so endearing.

“I have,” I promise, squeezing her hand. “And there’s absolutely no need to stay away.” It’s much more likely that Xavier was scared she’d say something he didn’t want me knowing about, but he doesn’t look the least bit worried anymore.

“Wonderful! There are so many things I’ve been wanting to do with you. Would you let me take you out sometime this week? I’d love to take you shopping.”

My husband runs a hand through his hair, and Valeria shoots him an amused look. “Next week,” he says, pulling me closer, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. “I’m taking her to Malta for Enzo and Tiffany’s engagement party this week. We’re staying a couple of days after too.”

I notice Valeria tense, and her eyes widen as she stares at her brother in shock. “What?” she says, her voice breaking.

He looks her over and frowns. “I thought you knew,” he says, his voice soft.

Valeria runs a shaking hand through her hair, her expression lost. “Can I… can I come?” Xavier falls silent, and she takes a deep breath. “I never told them, Xave. I never reached out to anyone once I got back, not even them.”

“Valeria,” he says, his tone carrying a hint of reluctance. “It isn’t safe. There’ll be too many people, and it’s a foreign territory.”

“Please,” she begs, and Xavier sighs, giving in. “I won’t attend the party. I just want to see them afterwards and congratulate them myself.”

“Fine, but you’re being escorted straight back onto the jet within twenty-four hours.”

Forty-Nine

Sierra

I’m entirely unnerved as I board the plane with Valeria and Xavier, a dozen bodyguards accompanying us. “Surely this is unnecessary,” I murmur, having gotten used to my own family’s security measures that aren’t quite this visible.

“She’s right,” Valeria tells her brother, even as her trembling hand slips into mine. “You’re overdoing it, Xave.”

He glances at us, his expression tormented, and I sigh as I squeeze V’s hand, silently urging her to let it go. He looks that way he does sometimes, like he’s battling demons he refuses to admit exist.

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