My wife, taking her pleasure from me, lost in it, was magnificent unlike any I had ever beheld. She was close now, tight and slick around me. When she peaked moments later, I fell not far behind.
I thought I understood what the fuss was about, but this,thiswas what everyone spent their days trying to find. And I had found it—her—by accident. If I had fallen through a different door that night all those months ago, I would have wasted the rest of my life searching for the perfection splayed atop my chest right now.
I was not so delusional as to believe that I would have chosen her. I would not. I would have picked some polished society darling and would never have knownthis. This woman curled in my arms contentedly drawing absent patterns on my chest. This woman who smelled of jasmine and us. This woman whose silken waves were tickling my nose. This woman who made my chest ache at the mere thought of her.
“So,” she drawled, dragging the syllable out. “That was different.” My laugh stayed deep in my chest, barely audible, but I knew she could feel it.
“That was incredible.”
She pulled away just the smallest bit, meeting my gaze, nodding, before returning to her tracing.
“There are some other things that I want to try.”
“Kate, you may do anything you like to me.” I caught her hand, pulling it to my lips to press a kiss to the palm before tucking it back against my heart. “And I am more than happy to do absolutely anything that you want with you. I am at your service.”
“You’re very agreeable.”
“After that, I would sooner die than deny you everything your heart desires.” She dropped an easy kiss on my chest.
“Just you. You will do quite nicely.”
“I am yours. Speaking of… It is after midnight. Happy anniversary.”
She turned to glance at the clock across the room before settling back again. “I will take your word for it, it’s too dark. It’s been quite a year.”
“Yes, the best though.”
She hummed, disbelief in the note. “I believe you have forgotten a great deal of anguish in your assessment.”
“No, the best. It brought me here.”
“You’re sentimental when you’re sated.”
“Who said anything about sated? I’m not finished with you.”
“Good,” she said. “Because I will never be finished with you.”
I caught her wandering hand before it could slip lower. Her wedding band was still pristine against her skin. An idea I had been toying with for days took hold again while I pressed a kiss to warm gold resting on her knuckle.
With a fortifying breath, I began. “With this ring, I thee wed.” The sentence caught her attention, and she sat up with wide eyes and parted lips. I swallowed heavily against the emotion innate in these words. “With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.”
Her answering smile was warm and full of feeling. “That part comes later. You need to start at the beginning.”
“Of course, let me see if I remember how it goes. Kate Grayson, I promise to love you, comfort you, honor and keep you, in sickness and in health as long as we both shall live.” She kissed me then, pressing her grin against my own. “I believe it is your turn now.”
“Hugh Grayson, I promise to love and honor and keep you, in sickness and health, as long as we both shall live.”
“I noticed you forgot to promise to obey me.”
“Hugh, of the two of us, you are clearly much more fond of following orders.”
My answering laugh was full-bodied, and my head brushed the headboard when it fell back. “Yes, that is something of a surprise. One I was hoping you would not notice for several years at least.”
“I promise to use my power over you only for good.”
“I am in excellent hands then. I believe it is my turn once more. My Katie, with this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
“I rather prefer this ceremony to the first.”
