Jono quickly lifted the plate out of the way as Lillian scrambled onto their laps, her tiara askew and sash loose around her waist. “We were dancing, but we needed a break.”
“For more cake? I guess that’s all right.”
Jono laughed at her grudging tone and fed her a bite of cake. “We’ll head back inside once we finish these.”
“I’ll help!”
“Hey, save some for me,” Wade said as he came out of the ballroom, leading Riordan by the hand.
Lillian curled her arm protectively around the plate Jono was holding. “No, get your own.”
Everyone burst out laughing. Riordan elbowed Wade in the side, shaking his head. “She took your snack lessons to heart.”
“They grow up so fast,” Wade said, pretending to wipe away a tear.
Sage sat down on Jono’s other side, reaching over to pull Lillian into her lap. The plate went with her, and Jono let the little girl have it. “Happy to finally be married?”
“You put on a good wedding,” Patrick said.
“I’ll be glad not to keep paying out deposits.”
Jono chuckled, looking around at the core of his pack, happy to be able to share the day with them. “I’m sure.”
“There’s a breakfast in the morning for guests, but you’re not obligated to stay for it.”
The hotel room where they’d gotten ready for the wedding was nice, but Manhattan was only a drive away. Jono tilted his head, catching Patrick’s eye. Patrick shrugged, hand resting on Jono’s thigh. “We might head back. It would make it easier to reach the airport for our flight tomorrow.”
They were borrowing Marek’s private jet and heading for Maui, intent on taking a week away for their honeymoon. New York City would be in Sage’s safe and capable hands while they enjoyed themselves on a tropical beach.
“The jet won’t leave without you,” Marek said.
“I asked them to fill it up with your favorite snacks,” Wade added.
“Ta,” Jono said, a warmth settling in his chest that came from being cared for and loved, not just by Patrick, but by their pack.
By family.
He wouldn’t change this moment for anything.
8
They drove backto Manhattan at 1:00 a.m., checking out from the estate under cover of darkness with Sage to give their excuses in the morning. Not that anyone would mind, and if they did, well, that was their problem. Patrick had more important things to think about on the drive home—like the way Jono’s hand rested high on his thigh, half an inch from his clothed cock, and refusing to go higher.
“You’re such a damn tease,” Patrick groaned when they finally pulled into their garage.
“You’re just easy,” Jono drawled, the smirk on his face something Patrick wanted to kiss away.
“Only for you,” Patrick retorted, coming around the Mustang. He wasted no time in grabbing Jono by the tie and pulling him down into a searing kiss, pouring all of his pent-up frustration over the last hour or so into it.
Hands curled over his thighs, and Patrick found himself being lifted into the air with an ease that never ceased to amaze him, even all these years later. He wrapped his legs around Jono’s waist, wrapped his arms around Jono’s neck, and did his best to breathe for the both of them.
“Can’t believe we’re married,” Jono muttered against the corner ofhis mouth. “Can’t believe I’m going to go upstairs and fuck my husband.”
“Don’t trip,” Patrick said, grinding against Jono because he could, and he liked the way it made Jono groan.
“And you sayI’ma tease.”
Patrick laughed, sucking kisses down Jono’s throat, safe in the knowledge that Jono hadn’t ever dropped him like this and wouldn’t now. He was carried down the hall to the elevator, where he was pressed up against the wall, Jono’s body keeping him in place while the other man fumbled at the buttons for the top floor.
