Page 228 of One Big Little Secret

The orange city lights reflected off the water that night, and I’d eyed the river hard, vaguely wondering whether I should jump in. Now, there’s nothing but the hopeful glory of the fading sunset and distant lights spilling across the waters like gold stars.

I’m not alone anymore.

And our honeymoon has officially begun.

“Cheers,” Patton says, clinking his champagne glass against mine. “To the rest of our lives.”

“Tomorrow and forever,” I agree with a smile, turning to face him. “God, I love you.”

No lie.

Ever since the first time I said it, I’ve told him every day, learning how to let myself be vulnerable so we can be stronger. So I can trust Patton Rory.

But now, more than ever, it feels important to say it, to ground us on a night glowing with meaning.

“Salem.” Patton turns to me with the very same light dancing in his eyes. Gone is the smirking strongman who’s usually there.

Tonight, it’s just a man who loves me unconditionally.

He shakes his head, one corner of his mouth curving up in a lopsided smile. “How are you my addiction and my cure? I’ll never love anyone like I love you.”

“Show me, hubby,” I whisper.

I take his face in my hands, feeling the unfamiliar weight of that new band on my finger.

Our next kiss is a slow, gentle storm.

So different from the usual ravenous kisses we share, where every movement fights for dominance, pure possession.

Now, he explores my mouth like we have all the time in the world, slowly simmering me with every movement.

We have all night, at least.

His tongue flicks against my bottom lip, a pointed question.

I open my mouth in answer, granting him access, teasing him back with my tongue.

It’s the ebb and flow like the tide around us, this sense of soulful, mingling passion.

If tonight could be forever, I’d never stop kissing him.

The thought makes me smile, and I throw my arms around his neck.

“This would be more fun without clothes,” I say. “Unless you plan on fucking me right here.”

“Fucking?” He echoes the rough word with amusement, though when he pulls away, his eyes are glinting with total mischief. “Tonight, wife, I won’t be fucking you. I will be making love.” He trails his hand up my leg. “But you will only be wearing this dress once, and I want to enjoy seeing you in it a little while longer.”

“Haven’t you been enjoying it all day?”

“Fuck yes,” he growls in my ear, reaching up and trailing a finger through the lace on my bodice. “But I’m going to savor this moment, Lady Bug.”

So I lean my head back and let him savor.

We kiss like starved animals, my back pressed against the railing, my hands on his broad shoulders, kissing and kissing long into the night.

Eventually, my fingers go to work, tossing away his necktie and unbuttoning his shirt. I never knew how hot a man’s collarbones could be until now.

Another molten kiss and he sighs, his hands tightening around my waist. He isn’t shy as he grinds his cock against me, though I know he’s holding back.

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