Page 100 of Sweet Oblivion

It’s not for them.

It’s not fake.

“Let them see what they want. We know the truth,” I murmur.

Delaney tips her head back, giving me a better angle ofher face. She’s also giving me a better angle to look down her dress. I appreciate both equally. “You’re different tonight, Ryker.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask. “How so?”

“I don’t know,” she shakes her head. The green-apple scent of her hair catching in the wind, and I’m pretty sure I have a visceral fucking reaction to it. Damn, she smells good. “You’re more relaxed tonight.”

“I’m done pretending.” Pretty simple answer.

She chews her glossy lip, silent for a minute. “I think I am too.”

“So no more pretending between us then?” I drop my lips to her and grin. “No lying. No faking it. You’re mine, Delaney Beneventi.”

“Yours, Ryker,” she whispers against my lips, and even if I couldn’t hear her, I’d know in my heart exactly what she said because I can feel it. Something between us shifts and snaps into place. And for tonight, I shove the uncertainty away. Fuck the future and whatever it holds. I’ll fight for this. For her. No one is taking this from me.

The music fades, but neither of us moves until the wedding coordinator taps Delaney’s shoulder. “Are you ready to cut the cake, Mr. and Mrs. Beneventi?”

Lane looks from her to me and nods. “Looks like you were saved by sugar, pretty boy.”

“Saved?” I groan because it feels like I was just cock-blocked by sugar.

“Yup, saved.” She smiles. “I was about to climb you like a tree. Not sure that’s the kind of PR you need with the league.”

Fucking sugar.

With my hand pressed to her back, we walk over to the cake table. Damn, Lexie outdid herself. It’s a five-tier white cake covered in edible wildflowers and tiny butterflies, just like the ones in Love in Bloom. Wildly over-the-top, likeeverything else tonight, but this... this makes Lane smile, and for that, I owe Lexie one.

With my hand covering hers, we pose for the camera as we slice the cake, and I run my finger through the icing and offer it up to my wife.

“You’re not going to try shoving that thing in my face?” she asks hesitantly before licking the icing off the tip, and I shove down my groan, knowing I’m going to spank her ass for this later.

We’re each handed small cake plates, and I can’t help the filthy smile on my lips if I tried. “Not in front of everyone, I’m not,” I warn her quietly. “But let’s remember to take some to the hotel with us tonight.”

Lane’s face lights up like she’s in on a secret she can’t wait to share. She lifts the small square of cake to my lips and lifts up onto her toes, bringing her closer to my ear. “Lexie already sent a small layer of it ahead to the hotel for us.”

I fucking love Lexie.

I hold my piece up to her lips, and she blinks as she takes a small bite.

My thumb brushes the corner of her mouth, catching a tiny bit of icing, and her breath catches as I bring it to my mouth slowly. Deliberately. Holding her gaze as I suck it off my thumb.

Yeah . . . That did what I wanted.

Her eyes darken, and her breath quickens, and I wonder how much longer we have to stay here.

“Fucking delicious.” I lick my lips, then press a kiss to hers, and the cheering starts again as I drag my wife back to the dance floor.

DELANEY

My sister once told me it makes sense if you feel like everything in your life is falling apart.

Your new life will cost you your old one.

And after tonight, I think I finally understand what she meant.