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I knew this wasn’t a real marriage and I hoped he wouldn’t pretend otherwise under some false sense of nobility.

“Maybe, maybe not.” He shrugged like it was no big deal, but I could see the delight and mischief swimming in those sky-blue eyes. “But we do need to lie low for a little while, right?”

“Sure.”

“Okay. So Jag is working on someplace secure, and we’ll call it a honeymoon. And I need you to listen to me Rocky. You need to trust that I wasn’t born yesterday, and I know what the fuck I’m talking about.”

I laughed because he wouldn’t be the first man in my life to make that claim. “Fine, but that goes both ways. I’m not the little pregnant lady. I am a capable, independent being and your partner. Partner, got it?”

“You are little and you are a lady, but yeah I got it. Now come over here and seal this little deal of ours with a kiss.”

I happily rolled on top of him and pressed my mouth to his, licking his lips, his tongue before taking over his whole mouth. I couldn’t get enough of him. Maybe it was the hormones or maybe it was the man, but whenever he was close it was never close enough. I kissed him until I was breathless and my brow was damp with sweat as I ground against him, feeling him harden between my legs.

“Lasso. The things I dream of doing to that mouth.”

“I’m saving myself for marriage sweetheart so keep those dreams on ice until tomorrow, all right?”

I pouted and he laughed, smacking my ass.

“But after we say ‘I do’ all bets are off.”

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I found that both intriguing and wildly satisfying.

***

“I now pronounce you man and wife, now go on and keep that hunk-a burnin’ love alive and kiss your bride.”

Yep, I totally went for the Elvis wedding because, why the hell not? I might never get married again but I’ll always have a photo of me in a wedding dress with Elvis at my side.

“My favorite part.” Lasso smiled wide as he pulled me in and kissed me like we hadn’t woken up in each other’s arms two and a half hours ago, lips and bodies locked tight. It was one hell of a kiss.

“Like my mama used to say, start as you intend to go on.” Just to prove his point he kissed me again. “Mrs. Cooper.”

“Mrs. Izzo-Cooper,” I corrected. We were married but it wasn’t for love so I wouldn’t lose my identity, not even temporarily. “If that kiss is a preview of this marriage, I approve.”

“Good because next is more foreplay.”

His smile was so playful it almost felt real, like we were just two impulsive people who decided to get up early as fuck and get married.

“Making out in the back of a limo?”

“No, food. Watching you eat always gets me hard.” He leaned into the crook of my neck, his voice vibrating as his tongue snaked out to taste me.

“There’s no limo though, our honeymoon is a bit more rustic than that.”

“Rustic?”

Lasso heard the squeak in my voice and laughed, forcing me to bug him all through our celebratory wedding breakfast and even as we got on the road. He’d almost distracted me completely, until we crossed into Idaho. And kept driving. “By the way, where did you get this car? Is it stolen?”

“It’s not stolen, Ro.”

“Don’t laugh at me.”

“I’m not,” he insisted, pretending to lock up his words and throw away the key. “You really think I’m dumb enough to go into hiding with a car people will actively be looking for? I’m hurt.”

“No, of course not. Sorry. But you won’t tell me anything.” It was childish to keep asking when I knew my safety was his only goal. “Tell me more about your family, Lasso. I know you’re from Rose Petal, Texas. I know all about running off to join the military to spite them. But you’re not telling me everything.”