Page 76 of Stick Work

I roll into her, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder. “You look amazing and we’ll get the ring off when we get back to Boston, and the colder weather. I’m sure Grandma won’t mind if we keep it for a little while longer.”

“Of course not. She wants us to keep it forever.”

She’s not the only one. But I keep that to myself.

“Happy New Year’s Eve,” I whisper, needing something else to think about.

Her eyes widen. “Oh, right. I’m so excited for tonight.” She stretches, legs tangling with mine as she kicks the sheets away. “A wedding, champagne, fireworks on the rooftop. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

“You’re right,” I murmur. “Though I’m not sure I’d choose Vegas for a wedding.”

“You would if your grandfather owned the joint,” she teases. “Especially when it’s as luxurious as this.”

I chuckle, sinking deeper into the mattress. “Can’t argue with that. But again not my first choice.”

She comes closer, putting her cheek on my chest. “What would be your first choice?”

“I’d want something quieter, less showy, more intimate with just close family and friends.”

“That actually sounds amazing.” She lifts her head to see me. “Any particular location?”

“Santorini, maybe. As the sun sets. Maybe even on a night cruise. Did you know Tanner and Maeve got married there?” A small smile touches her mouth before she lays her head back down. I run my fingers through her hair as she gives a small, contented sigh. “What about you? Destination wedding or home? Big or small?”

“Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about it. But it definitely has to be somewhere warm, so Santorini does sound nice to me. I’ve never been there. It’s actually on my bucket list. I’m just not sure it’s where I’d want to get married. I guess I don’t know where I’d want it to be.”

Her words once again remind me she’s young and has a life to live.

Head lifting, she moves away, and scrunches her nose. “I need coffee,” she blurts out, changing the direction of the conversation.

I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her against me. “It’s on the way. Along with breakfast.”

“Really?”

I love how the simplest things make her light up.

“Really,” I confirm.

“You’re so…sweet.” Something shifts in her expression; it softens as she turns introspective. Her fingers trace lazy circles against my chest, and for a moment, she just looks at me.

“Last night…” she starts, voice barely above a whisper. And in her eyes, there’s something that almost teases me into believing she wants this.

Wants me.

Even if she did, it wouldn’t change reality. I can’t be the guy to keep her from her dreams. From living. From experiencing life before settling down. It’s not what she truly wants. And one day, when she realizes that, she’ll regret choosing me.

“Magical,” is all I say and she smiles.

“Right.”

She lifts her head and glances toward the door, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. “How much time do we have before room service?”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Babe, you’re insatiable.”

She gasps dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “Are you complaining?” Then she rolls her eyes with a playful huff. “Jeez, we’ve only been married a few hours, and the spark is already gone. I heard this could happen, but so soon? Tragic.”

Groaning, I grab her and roll her beneath me, her laughter turning into a soft gasp as I settle between her legs. Her body molds to mine so perfectly it almost makes my chest ache.

“Elias,” she whispers, and just like that, the teasing fades into something deeper, something that hits me right in the center of the chest. Her gaze is full of warmth and intimacy as she traces her fingers through my hair, her touch so tender it leaves me aching.

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