Page 51 of The Accidental Honeymoon

He leans in and kisses me again, softly, then pulls me into his arms. We lie there, tangled together, our breathing slowing to a calm, rhythmic pace. The post-sex haze envelops us, making everything feel distant and dreamlike. His hand strokes my hair as I nestle my head against his chest.

"I can't wait until next time," he murmurs. "Until I get to bury my cock deep inside you."

I shiver at the thought and a tingle of anticipation runs through me.

"You mean you'll tie me up and have your way with me?" I giggle, imagining the roles reversed.

He chuckles softly. "Maybe. But I promise you one thing. You'll have at least three orgasms. I can’t just stop at two."

I want to protest, to tell him that it's not about the numbers. It's the connection that matters. But I'm falling into the trance of sleep, so I just let his promises wash over me.

He pulls the blankets over our bodies. The warmth makes my eyes grow even heavier. We lie still, holding each other. The silence is filled with the unspoken understanding of what we've just shared.

seventeen

JAY

Java Monkeyon a Saturday afternoon is chaos incarnate. The small coffee shop buzzes like a beehive, all energy and noise. The scent of espresso and sugar is thick in the air.

Calla’s sisters sit in a corner with their heads together. Their expressions teeter between concern and curiosity. I take a deep breath and jog to catch up with Calla, who’s trying her best to slip past them unnoticed. “Calla, wait up!” I call out.

She turns, crossing her arms in that defensive stance she takes when she’s bracing for battle.

“You’re not going to ditch me, are you?” I ask. I try to keep my tone casual.

“I can handle my sisters.” Her voice is firm. “You don’t have to chaperone us.”

“I want to.” I cut her mood off with the grin I know she finds irritatingly charming. “Besides, I’ve got to make a good impression on the in-laws.”

Her sigh tells me she knows she lost this round. “Fine. But if Cora kills you, it’s on you.”

We continues to weave through the crowded shop. I can feel the tension radiating off her. She’s nervous about this. I don’t blame her. Meeting the family is never easy, but especially not under these circumstances.

The accidental marriage. The fake smiles. The pretense.

Yeah, it’s a mess. But I’ve learned that messes can be managed. You just have to lean into the chaos. That’s what I’m here to do.

Lean in.

“Calla! Jay!” The one with cotton-candy hair, who I assume is Calla’s younger sister, waves us over. Her enthusiasm is palpable. It cuts through the noise like a spotlight. “Oh my gosh, you brought him!”

The other sister is dark-haired, slim, and dressed like she’s ready to dominate a courtroom. This must be Cora, the attorney. She is staring a hole through the center of my chest.

That’s probably not a good sign.

Calla’s muttered “kill me now” makes me chuckle as we approach the table. She isn’t happy either, it seems, but exchanges hugs with her sisters.

Iris dives right in to hug me next, but Cora merely offers me a cool smile. “You came along. How… nice.”

“Cora, chill out.” Iris beams. “Sit down! Tell us everything! How did this even happen?”

Before Calla can answer, the owner, Azi, swoops in like a caffeinated hawk. His wild silver hair and twitchy energy make him seem like he’s fueled entirely by espresso shots.

“Congratulations!” he declares. He waves a handful of pink tissue paper. “Are you moving out from the apartment above your shop?”

I jump in before Calla can say anything. “Thank you, Azi. We’re still figuring that out.”

She snaps her head to me. Her eyes are wide.

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