The words linger between us. I press my forehead to hers, breathing her in, my voice low enough for only her.
“You’re gonna be the end of me, Dove.”
Her smile ghosts against my lips.
“Will you teach me?”
The room settles into a soft hum.
We’re close with the boys… but… I mean. Nah, that would be crazy, right?
She means she wants you to tell her what to do.
Oh. Cool. Good. Thank fuck. I know I told her I’d let her make her own choices, but the thought of sharing her with anyone makes me want to die.
“Alright, I’m done for the night,” Chace declares, stretching like he owns the place.
Very demure. Mindful.
Don’t drop the fucking ball, Baker.
Logan smirks, looping an arm around Mac’s waist as they head in the direction of their guestroom.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He calls over his shoulder. Mac gives me a knowing glance, playful, teasing, but her smile doesn’t leave her eyes as she whispers to Sera,
“Try not to break him.”
Sam grabs the last bottle of beer from the fridge and hollers,
“Thanks for the memories, Sera, it’s been real. Make sure you keep our little princess in check!”
I don’t reply, just watch as they file away—Mac and Logan laughing, Chace and Sam bantering, their shadows long in the low light of the kitchen.
Then it’s quiet.
Just Sera and me.
My wife.
Her body melts against mine again, settling onto my lap, small hands resting lightly on my chest. The warmth of her is addictive. The soft glow of the room highlights the flare of her hair, the curve of her jaw, the way her eyes flicker toward me. I tilt my head, pressing a feather-light kiss to her temple.
“You okay?”
Her lips twitch into a small, almost shy smile.
“Yeah…I am. With you.”
I brush a hand down her back, feeling the soft silk of her dress, then pause, heart skipping as my thumb grazes the smooth skin at her wrist.
“Are you sure I didn’t…scare you back there?” My voice is low, rougher than I mean it to be.
Stop trying to ruin this.
I can’t fucking help it. I care.
She shakes her head, voice soft but steady.
“Not really. Maybe a little…but only because I know how much you care.”
