Page 62 of Love Me

Back at Hannah’s apartment, she tucks Charlie into bed as I glance down at the signed paper in my hand, the legal document that binds me to her in the way I’ve always wanted butcould never pursue. A document that I’d never imagined I’d have because I couldn’t imagine a married life with anyone but her.

Hannah’s my wife.

My mind is heavy, processing how this is going to work, how I’m going to make her see me as more than her best friend. Really see me, not as her savior, because fuck, Hannah doesn’t need saving. But see me as the man she’s been searching for all along. The one she can lean on, the one she can finally let herself love. The man who’s been in front of her all along. I want to give her all of my love and get that in return.

After pouring a glass of whiskey and walking into the bedroom, I loosen my tie so that it hangs open around my neck, unbuttoning the first few buttons on my dress shirt as I take a seat in the chair that sits in the corner of her room.

Relaxing back into the chair, I sip my drink, replaying the events of the afternoon. The reality of what’s happened crashing down on me.

Hannah’s mywife.

“I, Hannah, take you, Liam, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.”

“I, Liam, take you, Hannah, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.”

“Do you, Hannah, take Liam to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do.”

“Do you, Liam, take Hannah to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.”

“By the power vested in me by the state of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Hannah walks into the bedroom and slowly shuts the door until it clicks closed, pulling me from the visions of earlier as she took her vows to tether herself to me. I look at her over the rim of my glass, the amber liquid nearly drained. I stare at the woman I’ve looked at millions of times, and feel desperate to give everything to her. Desperate for her to see me and make this real.

“I want you, beauty, all of you,” I say the words out loud, my voice unrecognizable as my desire for her takes over.

She sits down on the edge of the bed, the largeHellraiserT-shirt she’s wearing riding up her thigh. She bites the tip of her thumb while she thinks things through, but I know she wants me. I feel the way her body melts into mine when I hold her close, the way she shivers in my arms when I kiss her, and she comes out of it lust-drunk and in a haze, the way she comes just from me talking to her. Maybe this is how we connect.

“Tell me how you like to be touched,wife. Tell me how to make you feel good.”

Her breath picks up as her eyes shutter closed for a brief moment. I expect her to say no. I expect her to give me a million reasons why this is a bad idea and why we can’t cross this line. But she doesn’t do any of that.

“I don’t even know. I’m not really experienced. It’s been so long since I’ve actually been with someone, and no one’s ever taken their time with me before, so I just don’t know . . .” Her words are barely above a whisper as she confesses what I already knew.

“Baby.Iwant to take my time with you. Don’t make me beg, because I will. I want to learn how to give you what you like, what you want, what you need.”

Her breath hitches, eyes lighting up quickly before her face transforms right before me. Oh, fuck. I can work with this. She wants touch but doesn’t want to ask for it? Well, I will.

“You like that idea.”

“I don’t?—”

“You do. You’re flushed, your breathing is unsteady. I know everything about you, beauty. Let me learn your body, too.”

“Liam . . .”

Moving from the chair, I bend slowly to my knees, keeping my focus on her, watching as her eyes get heavy and she struggles to get air into her lungs. Fuck, yes. I’ll take this. Anything for this woman.

“Let me touch my wife.” I lean down on all fours, taking a hesitant step forward. “Please.”

That does it. Her shoulders sag, her thighs rubbing together slightly, and I know I’ve got her.

“Liam . . . yes.”

I’ve been prepared to beg for this woman for years, and I’ll happily do it now. I slowly crawl across the floor, our eyes never leaving each other’s, giving me a front-row view as she spirals with lust. I reach her legs, Hannah’s eyes heavy with desire and arousal, until I’m sitting in front of her, waiting.

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