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“I didn’t think that.” Her soft eyes meet mine.

“Good, now sit up. I’m freezing,” I say as I slip in behind her, letting my legs fall on either side of her.

She relaxes back into my chest, and I just let the warmth of the water and our bodies take over me. It’s been a crazy day.

“What’s in the bag?” she asks after a while.

I chuckle and sit up, bringing her body with mine as I reach and retrieve the items.

“It was really difficult to find the dill one, so I hope they taste good,” I say as I show her the dill pickles and crunchy peanut butter.

“Why? This is so random.” A chuckle leaves her lips.

“You showed me all the parts of yourself that you thought no one wanted to see, and I just want you to know that I want to see them. I love all the weird parts that make you, you, Theá.” My voice cracks a little, and I clear my throat to try and disguise it as I pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her.

I rest my chin on her shoulder, and we both just sit there in silence. It feels so peaceful, so calm. Like for the first time in my life, I’m not worried about anything. I can finally just enjoy the moment with someone I care about.

My eyes widen a fraction as my mind makes the realisation. I really do love this woman.

Right here, right now. When nothing is going on around us. When there’s no reason to pretend anymore or to fake it for anyone—even though I know I haven’t been pretending for a while now. Now that it’s just us, I finally realise that I don’t just want to be around her to get away from my past life; I want to be around her because she is a part of my life I don’t want to lose.

“For someone who acts so humble, your ego is huge,” she says as I toss her onto the bed after our bath—during which we got into a slight disagreement about how she doesn’t believe I’m good at everything when I’ve shown her that I am.

“Is that so?” I start tickling her.

“Okay, fine, I’m sorry,” she gasps between her laughter. “I shouldn’t have said that your ego is big.” She tries to pull away from me, but I grab her wrist and wrap them around my neck, hoisting her up so her legs wrap around my waist, as well.

“You know what else is big?” I smirk, and she bursts out laughing.

“I hate that I can’t even deny it. But then again, I have nothing to compare it to.”

“And you never will,” I snap. “Should I remind you about the fact that you’re married to me?”

“I think you should, Mr. Perfect.”

“Gladly, Mrs. Vitale.”

I love calling her that; it ignites every primal bone in my body that makes me want to claim her.

I drop her onto the bed, grabbing both of her wrists in my hand and pinning them above her head. My fingertips toy with the ring around her finger, and the knowledge that this amazing woman lying beneath me is my wife has my love-filled brain turning to the lust side rather quickly.

My lips attach to hers, and I let the kiss convey just how desperate I am. Desperate for her. Desperate to taste the way the entire day has made her feel. The way I’ve made her feel.

I trail my kisses down until my lips envelop her right nipple, sucking gently. I draw faint moans from her lips, but I want more. I want to hear more from her.

At this moment, I feel entirely selfish in the way I want to draw out pleasure from her. Kissing her lower and lower, my lips rest on her pubic bone. Then I get up and head over to my carry-on luggage.

“What are you doing?” she whines, sitting up.

“Still so needy,” I mumble as I retrieve the purple object I was searching for.

Her eyes widen as she stares at the vibrator in my hand, and her expression moves from surprise to mischief in the blink of an eye.

“Lay down,” I instruct, and she obeys at an instant, allowing me to resume my previous position in front of her pretty pussy. “Such a good girl.”

I kneel on the floor and pull her so that her knees drape over my shoulders. I lick along her folds and throaty moans escape her mouth. I smirk, happy to hear just how good I’m making her feel.

“Hmm…” I lick my lips. “Which setting was it that you liked again?” I ask as I turn the vibrator onto its lowest setting, placing it on her clit.