Page 4 of Killer Honeymoon

Royce gently tugged the hand he still held and pulled Kelsey into a hug. “We’re the honored ones. I can’t believe this.”

“Kels, I—” Sawyer managed to say before his voice cracked and words failed him once more. He opened his arms, and Kelsey stepped into them. “You humble me,” Sawyer whispered against her hair.

A loud cheer came from the cornhole boards. Andrew and Jace high-fived while Killian and Barron hung their heads in defeat.

Andrew searched the crowd for his wife, then smiled when he saw the three of them huddled together off to the side. One of the things he liked most about Andrew was that he wasn’t intimidated by Kelsey’s relationship with Sawyer. He embraced it with both arms. Royce lifted a beer and toasted the man before Jace pulled his attention away.

“Hey,” Killian called out in their direction. “Dad and I challenge the grooms to a cornhole match.”

Sawyer sighed and shook his head. “Let’s go remind him why I’m the favorite.”

The sun had been high in the sky when the festivities began, but Royce kept an eye on the horizon. He slipped his hand into Sawyer’s and led him toward the dock when Evangeline lit the paper lanterns and turned on the twinkling fairy lights in the trees.

They slid off their shoes and sat at the end of the dock so their legs could dangle in the water. Royce reached into his pocket and retrieved the two envelopes Imelda had delivered a few hours ago. He passed Sawyer’s to him and smiled as he sawLucky Bastardscrawled on his.

“Are you nervous?” Royce asked.

Sawyer smiled and shook his head. “I can pretty much guess what it’s going to say.”

“Yeah?” Royce asked. “What?”

Sawyer chuckled and looked down at the letter in his hand. “I bet twenty bucks Vic wroteI told you soat some point.”

Royce laughed. “Okay. I’ll take your bet. What do you think my letter will say?”

Sawyer blew out a breath. “I’m less sure about that one.” He reached over and squeezed Royce’s thigh. “I didn’t mean to imply it could be something dark or ominous. I just didn’t picture Vic spending precious time imagining what my life would look like without him.”

“He must’ve found comfort in knowing you’d be okay,” Royce said, then looked into Sawyer’s eyes. “I couldn’t ever be this altruistic. I’d be plotting to haunt whoever thought to steal your heart from me.”

Sawyer laughed and bumped his shoulder against Royce’s. “You’re it for me, baby. If you want me to be happy well into my golden years, you better stick around and personally see to it.”

“Deal.”

The sun dipped lower, turning the sky into a canvas of vivid pinks and purples. The distant laughter of children mingled with the water lapping up against the wooden dock. Tree frogs and crickets serenaded Royce and Sawyer as they opened their envelopes. Royce was expecting a lengthy letter or a few sentences at least, but his communication contained two words only:Thank you!

Beside him, Sawyer let out a little snort followed by a chuckle that turned into a full belly laugh. Royce leaned closer to read the words on the shaking paper. Vic had written,I told you so!

Royce snaked an arm around Sawyer’s waist and Sawyer rested his head on Royce’s shoulder. “Guess I owe you twenty bucks,” Royce said.

Sawyer snorted and laughed all over again. His joy was contagious, and Royce was powerless to resist its allure. They laughed as the sun melted into the earth and stars twinkled in the inky sky overhead. At some point, the other guests had left or filed into the large house, leaving Royce and Sawyer all alone on the dock.

“I should probably head back home,” Royce said.

Sawyer tightened his hold on Royce’s hand. “Not yet. Kiss me.”

Royce looked over his shoulder and saw all the lights were off in the house behind them. “Come over here first,” he whispered.

Sawyer lifted up and straddled Royce’s lap. “Like this?”

Royce slid his hand into Sawyer’s hair and massaged his scalp. “It’s a good start.”

Their kisses started chaste and tender but quickly heated up. Sawyer pushed Royce to his back and lay on top of him. Royce slid his hand under Sawyer’s shirt and trailed his fingers over his spine. He wanted to do so much more, but he wouldn’t. Not until Sawyer was his husband.

Royce lost track of time as they kissed, touched, and teased under the full moon. The only clue to the passage of time was the aching of his body from lying on the hard dock. Sawyer eventually eased up into a sitting position, and Royce pushed up to sit beside him.

“I better get going,” Royce said.

“You’ve been saying that for at least an hour.”