Her jaw drops. “What about our honeymoon?”
“I planned that forafterwe get the papers signed.”
“You’re evil.”
“Just the way you like me.”
Heat skates across her cheeks, and she rests one against my shoulder.
I comb my fingers through her hair. “August, honey?”
“Mm?”
“I was going to save this for the morning, but I like the way you’re half conscious and so submissive right now.”
“You’re going to take advantage of me in my weariness?” She smiles, lifting her face to kiss my jaw. “I don’t deserve you.”
She deserves so much more. Which is why I’m going to give her absolutely everything.Always.
Letting my eyes close, I soak in her touch, hypnotized by the way it trails down my jawline, to my pulse. She licks her lips against me, and I shudder, asking, “Do you want children?”
Her torture ceases and she meets my eyes. “Yikes. Are we really having this conversation right now?”
“Yes. I think I’ll like the way you respond when you’re like this.”
The hue of her cheeks deepens before she tucks against my dress suit, gripping her hands in my shirt. “No, I don’t want kids. Not right now at least. I probably shouldn’t ever. I’m of the mindset that trauma builds character, and I’d hate to have lame 2D children, so I might be a rotten mother on purpose.”
Good thing Wynnter wants kids, then.
I press on. “Where would you like to live?”
“Can we stay here, or do you have important things to get back to in the greatMont Business Headquarters?”
My breath catches. “Would you really move for me?”
Her little brow furrows, and she leans back to tilt her head. “Sure. This small town with city airs leaves me stuck in between tropes. You may take me to an actual city, if you’d like. I’m sure there will be tons of stories for me to find there.”
I love this woman. “We can stay here. I’ve grown somewhat attached to the area.” I coddle her. “Finances. How are we going to handle our finances?”
“Are we speedrunning all the important pre-marriage questions right now? At three in the morning? Because I’m delirious with happiness and you want to take advantage of my lowered cognitive function?”
“Yes, obviously.”
“Ah, well, carry on then. Finances…” She ponders them for a moment. “You may spoil me. But only a little bit. I, out of the benevolence of my heart, shall continue to work for your company and simultaneously distract you from your important company business with my anime recommendations. You’re welcome. We can alternate on who pays the bills. You’re responsible for taxes. I’m not even glancing at them once the government knows we’re together. Your lawyer might want to know that Granee pays me under the table when I take shifts at Bear’s. I hope that doesn’t get you arrested or anything.”
Somehow, I think her working a few hours a few days a month is gonna slide under the IRS radar a little longer.
Thus far, this is going incredibly well.
She says, “We should probably get checked out by a doctor before next week. In case there have been any consequences from previous spicy behavior.”
My brows rise, and a prick of vivid distaste for all the men in the universe overcomes me. “Oh? My goodness, little saint. I wasn’t aware you’d dabbled in that genre.”
“Ihaven’t, but…” She clears her throat and gives me a once-over.
“I haven’t either.”
Her lashes flutter. “What did you do? Beat potential admirers off with a stick? You’re kind of gorgeous, Ali. Did you know that?”
