Hope woke in Paul’s arms at the stroke of six, as she did every day whether she needed to or not. Today she most definitely did not need to. Ethan was safe and happy with his friends, and she was engaged to Paul Martinez, who had kept her up half the night celebrating.

“We’re going to have to do something about your early hours,” he muttered without opening his eyes.

“Blame Ethan. It’s all his fault.”

“Speaking of Ethan, how early can we go over there and tell him the news?”

“We can’t go there at six in the morning.”

“Bet they’re up.”

“Too early.”

“Eight?”

“That’s more civilized.”

“Whatever shall we do until then?” he asked, rolling onto his back and bringing her with him.

“Is this the kind of husband you’re going to be?”

“What kind is that?”

“Insatiable.”

He moved his hands from her hips to cup her breasts, running his thumbs over her nipples, which tightened instantly. “Is that going to be a problem for my wife?”

She shook her head. “I have no problems. Not anymore.” Shifting her hips, she took him in slowly because that made him crazy, and she loved him that way. She loved knowing she did that to him.

“What’re you thinking right now?”

“Other than how in the world am I going to keep up with this guy?”

Smiling, he said, “Other than that.”

“I love knowing that if I go slow, it makes you crazy. I love knowing that if I do this,” she said, squeezing her internal muscles, “you’ll do that.” Predictably, he gasped and got even harder inside her.

“And I love knowing if I do this,” he said, stroking her clit, “you’ll do that.”

She came instantly, screaming from the pleasure that overtook her, leaving her trembling in his arms afterward.

“And I love the hell out of that.”

Hope laughed at the dirty way he said the words. “I love the hell out of you, and I’m so glad I can finally tell you that.”

“So am I, sweetheart.”

Hope kept him well occupied until eight, when they took a shower together, laughing and teasing and kissing. He would’ve said he was fully sated until her sexy, naked body proved otherwise.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving me in this condition on the first day we’re engaged,” he said as he drove them to Seamus and Carolina’s house.

“Sorry, but you broke me last night.”

“I’ll fix you later.”

She smiled over at him, and the peaceful happy glow on her face filled him with the kind of contentment he’d never expected to find. Then she reached across the center console for his hand and made it even better. “I can’t wait to tell Ethan.”

“Neither can I.”