FOR THE MOST part, I had kept it together during the ceremony, until Ryley’s eyes began to mist. After that, I turned into a blubbering idiot. My mother held a box of tissues in her hands and kept passing them to me when I needed to wipe my eyes. I used the pregnancy hormones as an excuse for my breakdown. I don’t think anyone believed me.

My wedding band was gorgeous, with a row of diamonds and sapphires. The one he picked out for himself was a black tungsten band, thick with sideways ridges to give it some edge. I loved it. It was perfect for him.

Now that everyone had left, it was just me and Ryley—my husband. I had the signed marriage certificate in my hands and the house was quiet. I set the paper on the dresser and stared at it while I unhooked the snowflake clip, letting my hair fall down my back.

“Do you need me to help you out of that?” Ryley asked. I looked at his reflection in the mirror as he glanced down at my dress. He already had his tie off and his shirt unbuttoned. My stomach fluttered when he came up behind me and caressed his fingers across my bare shoulders.

“Sure,” I replied breathlessly. After he unbuttoned my dress and slowly zipped it down, I stepped out of it, clad only in my garters and white stockings. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his body against my back. His cock stirred to life and he moaned, lifting his hands to my bare breasts.

“You have no idea how happy you’ve made me today,” he murmured in my ear.

I smiled and tilted my head to the side. “Probably as happy as you’ve made me.”

Guiding me to the bed, I sat against the headboard and watched him as he unclasped my stockings and slid them down my legs, along with my underwear. He took off his shirt and unbuttoned his pants, tossing them on the floor. His hard cock was thick between his legs and when he noticed me staring, he palmed it in his hand and stroked himself. My breasts grew heavy and all I wanted was to feel him inside me.

Like a tiger stalking its prey, he crawled across the bed and started at my ankles, kissing his way up my body. When his mouth found my nipples, I tilted my head back and moaned. While kissing his way up my neck to my lips, he spread my thighs and rubbed my clit. A deep rumble of satisfaction sounded in his chest. I was so fucking wet.

Knowing we didn’t have many options since I was pregnant, I lowered to my side and he got into position behind me. Taking my chin, he tilted my head and closed his lips on mine while gently pushing into my opening. He gripped my thigh and spread me open, so he could go further, deeper. Gently, he pushed in the rest of the way and made love to me, slow.

“I love you,” he whispered gruffly in my ear. His breathing picked up the harder he thrust.

“I love you too.”

He hooked my leg over his and brought his hand to my center, working his fingers fast. My insides clenched as I shuttered with an orgasm. With a few more thrusts, he followed behind me, shooting his release with a loud grunt. His breath was warm against my neck when he pulled out and turned me around to face him. He rested his forehead to mine and kissed my lips, parting them with his tongue. My eyes started to burn and the tears fell.

“When I look at you, my wife, I don’t think the word ‘love’ even comes close to the way I feel. It’s so much more. I can’t even begin to describe it.”

After he brushed the tears off my cheeks, I kissed him again. “I know how you feel. But now we have the rest of our lives to try and explain it.”

His deep chuckle made me smile. “You got that right. You’re my wife, the mother of my twins, my every existence. I’m going to spend the rest of my life taking care of you.”

“And I’m going to spend the rest of mine making you happy. I don’t want to ever lose you again.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Even though he’d told me that numerous times, I still wanted to hear it every chance I got. The pain of leaving him once before still left a scar on my heart. I had been stupid, but I was going to spend the rest of my life making it up to him.