“That wasn’t so bad,” Alex said tentatively.

My eyes watered when they met his, and I felt so much love for him at that moment that it was almost as if my skin heated from the inside out.

I wiped at my eyes and waved a hand in the air. “It could have been worse,” I said lightly.

“What did they say?” he asked.

“Congratulations,” I replied. “But my uncle said they had plans, so they had to cut the conversation short.”

Alex’s gaze moved over my face, searching. “Still not quite what you were hoping for,” he said in understanding.

I stood up from my spot at the table and moved to him, stepping between his knees so I could wrap my arms around his neck. Without hesitation, his arms circled my hips.

“I’m happy,” I said, the realization coming later than it should have. “So if they aren’t happy for me—” I shook my head and cleared my throat. “I’m married, and I’m having a baby. They can be a part of that if they want, but I won’t force them.”

“You shouldn’t have to force them,” Alex replied. It was the first thing he’d said that was even remotely disparaging of my aunt and uncle. He treated them with respect when they came up in conversation, even when I knew that he didn’t like how they were treating me. I was thankful for that.

“No, I shouldn’t,” I said. “They’re angry now, but they’ll come around eventually.”

“Yeah, they will,” Alex confirmed. “And then you won’t be able to keep them away.”

*  *  *

“We’re really good at that,” Alex murmured as he rolled to the side, his sweaty skin sliding against mine. “And practice seems to be making us Olympians.”

I laughed as I tried to catch my breath. Somehow, in our rush to touch and taste everything we could, we’d knocked the pillows off the bed, and we were currently lying naked in the cool room, too lazy to pull the blankets up around us. He ran his hand down my side, and I shivered. It seemed like my skin was extra-sensitive lately, which delighted Alex to no end.

“Sexual Olympics,” I replied. “I like it.”

“Olympic coitus,” he said.

“Olympic intercourse.”

“Erotic Olympics.”

“Olympics of intimacy.”

Alex opened his mouth, paused, and then laughed. “I’ve got nothing else. You’ve turned me into an idiot with your feminine wiles.”

“Someone’s been reading,” I teased.

“I can use wiles in a sentence. I say it all the time,” he argued, leaning up on one elbow.

“Try it again,” I replied.