“I can’t believe we’re finally getting our honeymoon!” The suite Sledge reserved for us was gigantic and it was luxurious. It had a balcony overlooking Vegas and somewhere in the distance, that little glint of light was Steel City. It was home.
Sledge came up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I swear we’ll go on a real honeymoon soon.” He smacked a kiss to that spot just behind my ear.
I turned in his arms. “This is great. After being buried in my dissertation and defending it, I’m ready to relax. To enjoy a slower pace of life for a change. With you. Right here.” I pulled him closer and pressed my lips to his because the taste of him was my favorite. His arms felt like home and his scent burrowed so deep under my skin that he was a permanent fixture. “Yeah, see, this is perfect.”
“You’re perfect,” he growled, kissing me harder and more intense.
I shook my head. “I’m not perfect but I think we’re perfect for each other.”
“Yeah,” he growled. “Definitely that.”
I loved how we couldn’t seem to get enough of each other. It was a surreal feeling to be around someone and want more of them than you already had. My love for Sledge consumed me completely and I wasn’t bothered by it. I loved the way I felt when we were together, and I loved the way loving him and Zoya had made me more confident in myself.
“What are you thinking about?”
I didn’t want to put a damper on our honeymoon since we just got to the suite but there was a lot on my mind. “Everything.”
He took a step back, hands still wrapped around me, but his eyes were now filled with worry. “That’s a lot to be thinking about on your honeymoon.”
I let out a loose laugh. “Yeah, I know. It’s the downside of loving a nerd. We’re always thinking.”
He kissed my forehead. “Nope, I love your big brain. Talk to me, babe.”
I inhaled deeply and let it all out in one big breath. “I’m worried about my new job, I mean what if I’m terrible at it? What if I embarrass Zoya?”
Sledge clapped a hand over my mouth. “Stop it. The Special School is lucky to have you and I think having you so close will help Zoya. She’ll probably be ready to transition to public school even sooner because you’ll be there with her.”
“You think so?” I’d been so excited about the job offer from the Special School. I mean, how could I pass up the chance to help other kids like me and Zoya?
“You’ll be fucking amazing, babe. I know it. What else?”
I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. There was something else that was on my mind. “Did you have anything to do with Trish’s death?” I hated to even ask the question, but I had to know. It was a feeling that wouldn’t quite go away since we received the call from the prison. “I mean, if you did, I would completely understand. She was responsible, at least in part, for everything that happened.”
“I thought about it,” he admitted. “I really fucking thought about it, long and hard, and for too many hours. But I thought about Zoya. How could I face her one day if she ever wanted to know about Trish or worse, know her? I can’t be the one to take that from her. Besides, Trish was a bad mom, but I truly believe she didn’t know anything about the cop’s murder or what Zoya saw.”
My heart skipped at his words and everything within me softened. “You’re a good man, Sledge. I know you don’t think so, but I do and I’m an expert so trust me.”
He smiled, pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles. “According to the corrections officer on her pod, she snitched on someone inside and they took exception to it.”
His hazel eyes were open and sincere as he spoke.
“That sucks. She seemed like a pretty troubled woman, but at least Zoya is well and truly safe now.”
“I love you,” he said and kissed me fiercely until we were both breathless and red in the face.
“Good because I love you too. And I hope you’ll still love me after we have our wedding brunch with my family.” My parents insisted once I told them about my quickie marriage.
“I can handle your folks. Your dad and I get along great and Zoya has helped your mother get over the fact that you denied her a big white wedding.” He stripped me out of my clothes while he spoke, brushing his fingertips across my skin until I shivered.
“They may have forgiven you, but I think I’m still on the hot seat,” I said, removing his leather vest and shirt. “You are stunning,” I moaned, flicking my tongue across his nipple.
A breath hissed out of him. “Come here.” Sledge scooped me in his arms and carried me to the sofa with the perfect view of the city. He set me down and removed the rest of his clothes before pulling me on top of him. “Yeah, that’s better. You’re already dripping for me.”
It’s true, I was. “I always am.” My breath hitched when my clit rubbed over his cock and my back arched. “But first I have something for you.” I’d been keeping this secret for a few days because I wanted to tell him here, when it was just us.
“I told you I don’t need gifts.”
“Yeah, I know.” I slid off his lap and reached inside my suitcase for the gift-wrapped box. “But I wanted to.”
