Page 2 of Killer Honeymoon
Sawyer smiled. “Like we do everything.”
The drive to Wormsloe Historic Site was short, and they arrived with minutes to spare. Their wedding party had gathered near the arched gate that opened to the iconic path beneath a canopy of majestic live oaks. Evangeline greeted Royce and Sawyer with an enthusiastic hug and introduced them to Reverend James Harrison, who would officiate their wedding. The reverend had a slight build but a robust, charismatic voice.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” he said as he shook their hands. “Is everyone here and ready to start?”
Royce surveyed the small gathering of smiling faces. Both their brothers slash best men were present as well as their friends and immediate family members who just wanted to watch the rehearsal before gathering at Evangeline and Barron’s home on the Isle of Hope for dinner. Royce and Sawyer had given Barron a large smoker for Father’s Day, and the man had become quite the pit master. He’d carefully planned the rehearsal dinner for months, and Royce was looking forward to the feast. But first, they needed to run through where they would enter and where they would stand as well as do a dry run of reciting their vows. They’d opted not to write their own, and Royce was glad they’d gone that route because repeating James’s words while staring into Sawyer’s melted-chocolate eyes was hard enough. The weight and veracity of the vows moved Royce to tears. It might’ve only been practice, but he meant every word.
“This is the part where I pronounce you as husbands and invite you to kiss,” Reverend Harrison said once they’d finished. “Then I’ll have you turn toward your loved ones for your first introduction as husband and husband.”
Royce reached up and cupped the back of Sawyer’s neck. “If we’re going to rehearse this ceremony, we should do it thoroughly.”
Sawyer leaned closer until his lips hovered a scant centimeter away. “In for a penny…”
“In for a pound,” Royce said before pressing his lips to Sawyer’s. Even the rehearsal kiss felt heavier and more poignant.
Catcalls echoed through the park, and the guys broke their chaste kiss to smile at their friends and family.
“Can we eat now?” Killian asked.
Sawyer hooked an arm around his younger brother’s neck and pulled him into a headlock. “After I do this,” Sawyer said, rubbing his knuckles over Killian’s head.
Jace clasped Royce on the shoulder, and they watched the Key brothers horse around, dodging, weaving, and pretending to box. “Never thought I’d see this day, little brother,” Jace said.
Royce turned his head and smiled wryly at his hero. “I said something similar before your wedding two months ago.”
Jace acknowledged him with a nod. “Who are these lunatics to take a chance on the Locke boys?”
Royce was about to claim there wasn’t an ounce of lunacy inside Sawyer, but his soon-to-be husband gave his little brother a purple nurple right in front of the reverend.
“Break it up, or you won’t get any brisket,” Evangeline called.
Royce and Jace both straightened as if they were the ones in trouble.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jace said.
Evangeline giggled. “At ease, fellas. I was talking to Sawyer and Killian.”
“But, Mom,” Killian said, “Sawyer started it.”
Everyone laughed, including Evangeline, as she separated her adult sons. Royce reached over and snagged Sawyer’s hand to pull him close.
“Much safer over here,” Royce said when Sawyer was in his arms.
Mischief shimmered in his fiancé’s gaze, and his mouth quirked up on one end. “Doubt it.”
“Maybe a different kind of trouble,” Royce quipped.
Sawyer pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “The best kind.”
Evangeline and Barron’s home overlooked the Skidaway River. Each of the three stories had a porch extending past the rear of the house. The first floor opened to a vast expanse of lush, green grass leading to the river. To the left of the property was a boat dock where Royce and Sawyer had spent many quiet moments watching the sun sink into the earth as day surrendered to night.
The smell of smoked meat greeted Royce as soon as he stepped out of the SUV, and his mouth immediately started to water.
“Are you sure we need to spend the night apart?” Sawyer grumbled as he pulled a small suitcase and garment bag from the back seat.
Everything they’d need for their long road trip and honeymoon was packed and ready to go at home. Royce was looking forward to a week on Lake Erie with Sawyer. The Keys owned several vacation properties throughout the United States. Royce and Sawyer had visited most of them, but their favorite spot was the lake house on a small island between Ohio and Canada.
“We’re not blushing virgins, and we’ve been shacking up together for three years,” Sawyer continued as he scowled into the vehicle’s interior. “We have a megaton of luggage to fit in here. What did we pack for? The apocalypse? We are coming home, right?”