Sam is going to be the most loving, considerate husband a woman could ever possibly hope for. I’m a very lucky girl.

“I’ll give my notice this week. It’s time to end this and put it all behind us.”

I reach over and smooth my palm over the muscles on his chest and down his arm. To think I almost walked away from him for good. I’m so thankful that he didn’t give up on us.

“Sam? Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“What was the deal with the belt?”

He chuckles and his chest rumbles underneath my hand. “Why are you asking me? You’re the one who was turned on. I saw it in your eyes.”

I lean up from his chest and look at him in surprise. “By the belt? Uh..no. I was getting turned on by watching you take off your shirt. That’s my kinky thing. I could watch you do that all day long.” I lean in closer to kiss him. “You’re ridiculous and a hot mess. And I love it.”

“Does that mean I’ll never get to call you Master?” he teases. “No fair.”

“Oh yeah, we can definitely still do that. I’ll make you take off your shirt over and over again.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Sam

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“Are you sure you’re okay with not having a big wedding?” I ask Lila for the hundredth time.

We’re standing on the front steps of the Bardsville courthouse, and any minute now we’ll be going in front of the justice of the peace to be married. I would have been fine with a wedding if she wanted one, but she insisted on a private ceremony. The ‘sooner the better,’ she keeps saying, which is okay with me.

“All I need is you, the justice of the peace, and two witnesses,” she says. “And a honeymoon. I want one of those. We need some time alone and away from all the madness.”

“Oh, you’re going to get a honeymoon alright,” I say. “Isn’t that supposed to be the best part about getting married? The virgin bride?”

“Whoops! Sorry. There’s something I haven’t told you.”

“You’re not a virgin?”

“No, afraid not.”

“Damn! Can we pretend you are?”

“Sure we can,” she says, laughing. “I’ll play any game you want to play. On the honeymoon. Are you ready to go in and do this? Or are you having second thoughts?”

I gaze down at her and brush her hair back from her face.

“No second thoughts. I’ve been fighting like hell to make you mine since the first moment I laid eyes on you. I feel like I’ve been climbing a big mountain and am finally at the top.”