Page 67 of Wedding or Not

“You don’t want to…” My voice breaks.

He’s immediately alert. “I don’t want what?”

“I don’t know. We’re married. And in bed together. And we have chemistry.” I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but I am. The words are coming out. “You don’t want to…”

“Consummate our marriage?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I’m not… opposed.”

He breathes in and out a couple of times. Loudly.

“Are you opposed?” I ask.

“Definitely not opposed.”

“Okay. Then… then… should we?”

“From a rational perspective, we probably shouldn’t.” His eyes are suddenly warmer than warm. All the way hot. “But I’m not thinking rationally at the moment.”

“Me either.”

“Okay.” His face works like he’s thinking quickly. “Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to go out onto the balcony for ten minutes and let the time pass. If, when I come back inside, you still want to… do this, I agree to the proposition.”

Laughter spills out of me because he sounds so dry and professional, but I can tell the gesture is out of genuine consideration for me.

He doesn’t want to take advantage of a stray impulse.

He wants to know I really want this.

So I say, “That’s a good idea. I’ll see you in ten minutes.”

He gets out of bed and takes his phone with him as he steps out onto the balcony.

I lie in bed and giggle with excitement. Then I close my eyes and try to settle my mind, settle my heart, settle my body.

I take one deep breath after another.

I can’t believe this is actually happening at last.

I’m so excited.

I’m also really tired after a very long day, after getting up at four in the morning, after so much champagne.

Before ten minutes have passed, I fall asleep.

I wake up several hours later and get up to go to the bathroom in sleep routine.

It’s only halfway through that I remember what happened.

After I’ve finished and washed my hands and face, I run back out into the bedroom, peering at Wes sleeping on his side of the bed.

Shit.

I fell asleep on him!