Page 40 of Unveiled

“So, you want me to do the whole big white dress and veil thing while you go full polyester? I’m not sure I ever want to see another wedding dress, much less wear one. It didn’t work out so well for me before.” Her voice trailed off. The playfulness in the air went flat by the memory of Dale.

Rush knuckled her chin upward, demanding her attention. “Never. You didn’t want any of that, and I’d never ask it of you. I like you unveiled and as you are.” His sincerity warmed her soul. Rush just got her. Of course, with him, that didn’t last long, because, well, that was Rush. “I was thinking a bold print wrap dress and strappy disco heels. Oh, maybe even a short fur jacket.”

The laugh that leapt from her chest surprised her. She slapped at him playfully. “Oh my God, stop. I’ll do it, but I draw the line at fur. And no, our wedding song cannot be Stayin’ Alive.”

“Damn, you drive a hard bargain. How about this. . .Alexa, play That’s the Way by KC and the Sunshine Band. Will this work for you?” When it got to the chorus, Rush sang at the top of his lungs and rubbed his body suggestively and Tatum laughed.

“Um, no. How about…Alexa, play I’ll Stand by You.” Chrissie Hynde’s unmistakable timbre filled the air. Rush cocked his head to the side and listened. When she sang dark side, he turned and stared into her eyes with a look no one had ever gifted her. She got lost in his gaze and the love swirling within there. Words, at least the ones she knew, seemed wholly inadequate to describe the moment.

Rush maneuvered his body to enter hers. Slow and controlled. “How in the world did I get so lucky?”

The moment was weighted, but in a good way.

“Well, you walked in on me signing Fleetwood Mac, and everyone knows the fastest way to a girl’s heart is to correct her interpretation of the lyrics.”

Rush’s laugh flowed through him and into her body, but he kept a sensual pace. “I’m sure Mark will take credit for it.”

“Hey, if I’m not allowed to mention other men when we’re in bed, then you’re not either.”

“Noted.” He pulled from her body and stood, extending a hand to her. “We’re technically on the couch, but if you’ll join me, I’ll rock your world in the bedroom, too.”

Tatum let him pull her up, then he chased her down the hall to his. . .their bedroom, laughing the whole way as he sang Boogie Nights. When he caught her, they were just outside the door and she turned in his arms.

“Before we go into the bedroom, can we talk about Cyrus?” She hated to bring the mood down, but she wanted to move on and put all this behind her as soon as possible. Rush’s arms were low and loose around her waist. He gave her a quick peck on the forehead. She could see he wanted to push the subject off for later, but he didn’t.

“Cyrus will not be an issue much longer. He’ll be handled. I’m more than happy to keep you in the loop if that’s what you choose, or you can leave it to me and the team at Cole. Your choice, Babes. I’ll respect your wishes on this as long as I don’t have to do it right now. Let me hear one more I love you from that beautiful mouth while I make love to you again first.”

He whined the last part like they hadn’t done just that not ten minutes ago. “Fine, but I want to hear it from you, too.” He turned her and swatted her ass.

“Deal, woman, now get your ass in there and get ready for some horizontal disco time. Woo-hoo.”

“God, you’re so weird.” She chided playfully as they entered the room. The one they’d met in.

“Yeah, but you love weird.”

“Apparently, I do.” He scooped her up and plopped them both on the bed.

“We should get that embroidered on our pillowcases. I love weird for you and I am weird for me.”

“I think mine should say I love weird. Yours should say I love disco.”

Rush rolled Tatum forward and joined their bodies from behind, surrounding her in him. “My pillow will say I love you with every fucking thing I am and have.”

The fire was building slowly but it was burning white hot within her. “That’s too long for a standard sized pillow.”

“Woman, stop cracking jokes while I’m inside you, you’re going to give a man a complex.” Rush emphasized his point with a roll of his hips when he thrust deep. “You know what I wanna hear.”

“I love you.”

“Damn skippy you do.”

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