As a married couple.
My brothers are going to lose their shit. Violet probably will too. It’s worth it. Not everyone is going to understand our reasoning. Our faith in each other this early. The speed of it. The madness of it.
That doesn’t matter. So long as we get it. So long as we love each other. Everything else will fall into place.
My dad knew he loved my mom the day he met her. Maybe I’m the same with Lola. Perhaps that’s how the Sterling men love. Fast and hard and with everything they’ve got, like there’s no guarantee of tomorrow.
And maybe that’s why Ace will never get over his first love.
By the time we’re home, the house is empty. My brothers must be in the barn office. Ace is working on leads and organizing logistics with Romeo. Lola shakes me from my thoughts by dragging me down for a kiss. Her fingers pluck my hat from my head, and she places it on her own, tipping the brim.
“You’ve got a very important job to do, Mr. Sterling,” she tells me.
“Oh yeah?” I mutter against her lips, digging my fingers into her ass.
“Our marriage means nothing until you consummate it.”
I chuckle. “Well, I better get to it then. How would you like your first fucking to be delivered as a married woman, firefly?”
She chews on the inside of her mouth. Her eyes dart around the room, and when they come back to mine, there’s something different in them. Almost as if there is a shy side to her.
“I’d like you to make love to me this time,” she says quietly.
I rub my stubble. I’m not sure I’ve ever made love to a woman. I fuck. I take control. I dominate. That’s who I am, and it’s never been a problem until this woman looked at me and asked for something I’m not sure I know how to give.
But for Lola? I’d learn. “More specific, baby.”
She twirls her red hair around her finger. “I want you to take it slow. Kiss every inch of me. Let me do the same to you.” Her voice is barely above a breath. “Trace every line on my skin. Feel everything you do to me.”
The air leaves my lungs. “I can do that,” I tell her, and my voice comes out rougher than I intend.
She bites her lip. Leans in close. “And I want you to tie me to your bed so I can’t move. I want to be at your mercy, Hunter.”
I choke on a cough. “That’s a dangerous game you’re playing there, wife.”
“I know.” She traces her finger down the center of my chest. “I want to play… with you.”
I grip her throat. Her pulse jumps against my palm. My mouth is an inch from hers, and I’m about to carry her upstairs and not come back down until morning.
The door crashes open behind us.
I let out a groan.
“What?” I shout at whoever just signed their own death warrant.
“Hunter. We need you.” Ace is standing in the doorway, almost breathless.
But I can see in his eyes he isn’t fucking around. I close my eyes, tip my head back, and let out a breath that carries the last shred of my patience with it.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’ll be back soon once I’ve sorted whatever mess this is.”
She presses a kiss to my lips. Understanding without me needing to explain. That’s who she is. “I’ll go have a bath. I could collect Wyatt from school if you’re not back in time?”
“I’ll try to make sure I’m back, baby. I love you.”
“And I love you,” she whispers.
As I pull away, I take one last look at her in that dress. My hat on her head. My ring on her finger. My name on the paperwork inside my jacket.