Page 171 of Restricted List

“What are you doing,Cole?” Rory laughs as I quite literally sweep her off her feet, holding her with one arm under her back and the other with her legs hooked over it.

“Do you really think I’m going to miss the opportunity to carrymy wifebridal-style into the bedroom?”

I stop us right outside of her room as she grabs the collar of my shirt and brushes her lips against mine. “I love that word.”

I smirk. “Good because you’ll be hearing a lot of it,wife. Now, grab your room key and let us in.”

Rory fishes out her key card from her clutch before holding it against the sensor. Once she pulls down the door handle, I kick the door open and carry her through the threshold, not stopping until we reach the bed, where I finally set her down.

She sits in front of me, and I stand between her legs, taking her hands in mine. “I can’t believe how crazy the past seven hours have been,” she says softly. “We went from the drama of my dad finding out you were my boyfriend to it now being four in the morning, and you’re actually myhusband.”

I can’t help but smile. I apparently like the word husband as much as she likes wife.

“It’s been a whirlwind, that’s for sure.”

“You know, I never actually asked. Howdidmy dad find out? I can’t imagine you slipped up after being careful for so long.”

I sigh and look down. “I was getting ready to jump in the shower after the game before your dad was back from the media room. My shirt was off when he came back in. When he came up to talk to me about my batting, he saw the Big Dipper. He didn’t even finish telling me you had the Little Dipper because the puzzle pieces fell into place.”

“Of all things, it was the tattoos that got us caught.”

“I think deep down, I knew that would do it. Your tattoo is noticeable, and it’s not like I’m never shirtless in the clubhouse. I just didn’t care because I loved you.”

Rory looks up at me now in surprise. “You didn’t tell me you loved me until after we got the tattoos.”

I smile softly. “Baby, I knew well before that. I was starting to feel it, but I didn’t know what it was until we were FaceTiming the weekend before you flew down to Florida. It was just a mundane talk, and that’s when I knew I loved you.”

“Your sister told me I loved you back at Sage’s birthday party,” she smiles. “She was right, but I didn’t know that. I had never been in love until you.”

I lean down and kiss her. “Proud to be your first love, but being your last love is what I really want.”

“Cole,” she says, placing her hand on my cheek, “you’re going to be myonlylove. You and me? We’re forever. We even have the rings to prove it.” She wiggles her fingers in front of her, letting the light hit the diamond on her left hand.

I take that hand and bring it up to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on it. “That diamond looks perfect on you.”

“Thanks. My husband picked it out,” Rory teases, grabbing my shirt collar and pulling me closer to her.

“Your husband has impeccable taste,” I murmur.

“He does,” she breathes, running a finger up the column of my throat, resting it under my chin. “That’s why he’s with me.”

“Your confidence is one of my favorite things about you.” I kiss her again, harder this time. “I love you, wife.”

“I love you, too, husband.” She smiles at me sweetly, her coffee eyes pulling me in. “What do we do from here?”

“Well,” I smirk, lowering my hands to her hips. “The first thing we need to do is consummate this marriage, don’t you think?”

“Yes.” Rory runs her hands over my arms. “But I want to have sex with my husband right now.”

“I mean, Iamyour husband, Rory. That’s the only option.”

She laughs lightly. “I mean that I don’t want Daddy right now. I want Cole, myhusband. For our first time together after our marriage, I want it to just be you and me.”

I press my forehead against hers and give her a loving smile. “Whatever my wife wants, she gets. This will just be you and me.”

Her lips capture mine as I lay her back on the bed, bracketing myself on top of her. I slip a hand under the hem of her dress, lightly squeezing her thigh. “You are so beautiful, Rory. I’m literally the luckiest man in the world.”

Rory blushes while her eyes flutter closed. “I’ve never felt more beautiful than I do with you, Cole. No one has ever seen me the way you do.”

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