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I’m convinced Judah is having some form of a release when he touches me because he cannot keep his hands off me.

Every single time our eyes meet when we’re in the car, at home, the store – it doesn’t matter.

He’s going to grab me and kiss me into oblivion.

He had me held up by the collard greens and coriander at the grocery store yesterday and when we got back in the car, he reclined his seat and summoned me onto his lap.

He loves me relentlessly and without reserve.

I knew he had it in him to love, but I wasn’t prepared for the amount he had to give.

I’m not complaining – I’m here for it. For all of it.

It’s why I’m late meeting Riley right now.

I know I’m going to hear it when I get there.

I can hardly wait for the tongue-lashing.

When I pull up at the spot, she’s standing out front tapping her watch with her index finger. I park quickly, get out of the car, and say, “I’m sorry. I know. I was late. Judah was Judah- ing .”

“Ugh…you married people. See, I knew this was gon’ happen.”

“What?” I ask as we walk into the nail salon.

“You’ve been married for an entire month now. A month! This is the first outing we’ve had.”

“Well, I have a whole husband at home now, and I like spending time with him. He’s my…

” I smile trying to think of what he is to me, but he’s so much, I can’t find the proper words.

So, I say, “He’s everything I wanted in a man, so I’m going to be more than a woman for him.

I have to be. I want him to be as happy as he’s made me.

You’ll know the feeling when you get married. ”

“Girl, I ain’t finna get married no time soon.”

“You should. I think marriage would look good on you.”

“Nah, you know what would look good on me?”

“What’s that?”

“Lemme see…something tall and when I say tall, I’m talking your man’s height, but you know me, girl. I need some dark chocolate in my life. And some muscles, tats—the whole bad boy appeal. Yeah, that’s what I’m looking for. Find me him and then we’ll talk marriage.”

“You and your requests.”

We sit in the pedicure chairs and as a courtesy, receive champagne. I take a sip and pull in a deep, satisfactory breath.

Riley says, “You may want to go easy on the alcohol. You probably done got pregnant by now after being locked up in the house with Judah.”

“Hush, girl. I’m not pregnant,” I tell her.

“Are you all settled in at his place?”

“I am.”

“When am I going to get an invite? I ain’t never been over there.”

“Judah doesn’t like a lot of company.”

“Ah—so he thinks he can lock my best friend down and I’m not going to be in the mix?”

A chuckle sprang from my throat. “Riley, will you stop trying to make Judah out to be the bad guy simply because he loves me.”

“I love you, too, but I’m not holding you hostage in my apartment.”

“Newsflash—you can’t hold someone hostage who wants to be held.”

She laughs and shakes her head simultaneously.

I say, “Married life is off to a great start. I’m still amazed at how fast everything happened. I’ll have to convince him to have some people over.”

“ Wayment …he don’t even have none of y’alls nature friends over there?”

“Nope. His— our —home is his domain. It’s not to be tainted.”

Riley falls over laughing and says, “Girl, you almost made me spill my champagne.

“It’s your own fault for laughing at everything.”

I take out my phone when the text message sound plays. It’s my husband.

Eek! I crumble, elated to have that thought.

My husband. I love the sound of that.

Come home.

My heart races at the message. Something’s wrong. He’s never texted me like this before. And that’s all it says. Come home .

“Girl, are you okay? Your whole face just—”

“I’ll be right back. I need to step outside for a minute.” I take my feet out the water and slide into those flimsy foam sandals they provide.

I grab my purse and rush to get to the exit while dialing him at the same time. My heart is pounding in my ears. I almost tripped over the rug by the door. Fortunately, I caught myself.

“Hey.”

“Judah, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, baby. Calm down. Why are you breathing so heavily?”

“You—I’m at the nail salon with…” I huff to catch my breath. “With Riley,” I say in tears. “And I saw your message.”

I wipe the tears from my eyes.

He says, “Autumn, I didn’t mean to scare you, sweetheart. I’m fine. I just wanted you to come home.”

“Why? Are you okay?” I say in full tears.

“I’m fine. Please stop crying. You’re breaking my heart. Listen to me.”

“Okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay,” I say, still in tears. “I love you, Judah.”

“I love you, too.”

“I’m coming home now. Okay.”

“Okay.”

I wipe my face, go back into the salon, and say, “Riley, I have to go.”

“Girl, what happened? Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. I thought something was wrong, but it’s fine.”

“Then sit down and let the lady finish your pedicure at least.”

“No. I have to go.” I lean down to hug her and then say, “I’ll call you later.”

Just as quickly as I came inside, I’m right back out the door, in my car and headed home to Judah.

When I pull up in the driveway, I park, jump out and leave everything inside – purse, phone and all, and run to the door. Twisting the knob, my eyes land on him standing in front of the island as if he’d been standing there waiting for me.

A tear slides from my eye and down my right cheek when I run to him. I jump into his arms, close my legs around his torso, my arms around his neck and cry.

“Baby.”

“I love you, Judah.”

“I know.”

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Autumn. Look at me.”

I release his neck so I can look into his eyes.

He says, “I’m okay.”

“I can see that now,” I say, smiling through the overflow of emotions that have changed me into this woman – this wife – who simply desires nothing in the world but to be happy, love my family, and love my husband.

Placing my hands on both sides of his face, I hold him firmly and kiss his lips.

He groans.

I kiss him deeper, sucking on his tongue. I need it. I need him. All of him. I only release it to breathe, or more like gasp, and then I go back in again, kissing him with an intensity that has my body shaking. My body shakes even more when I feel his hand sliding beneath my blouse and up my back.

“Mmm, Judah,” I say against his lips. “I love to feel your hands on my body.”

He walks to the bedroom effortlessly, holding all one hundred and fifty pounds of me.

Lowering me to the bed, he pulls my dress over my head, then stands there and uses his fingertips to stroke my curves.

He removes my bra, fiddles with my softness.

I close my eyes, bite my lip and will myself to breathe.

He leans close to my neck. I feel the air from his nose graze my skin. He’s breathing me in. Familiarizing himself with me.

“Judah…” I gasp, my chest moving in and out quickly as I anticipate his next move.

He drops to his knees. I move back until I’m sitting on the bed, trying to move away from him because I wanted to be the one in control tonight.

He doesn’t let me – not yet, anyway. He pulls me closer to the edge of the bed, devouring me to his liking.

I’m so gone, so insanely pleasured, I think I may have died. Am I still alive?

“Judah,” I manage to say in a whimper.

He stands, crawls up over me until his lips touch mine. His fingers are working the most sensitive part of me – massaging and driving me insane. I close my eyes and gasp.

“Don’t close your eyes. Look at me,” he says.

“How am I supposed to do that, Love?”

“Try.”

“I’ll tr…tr…try. Mmm, Judah.”

“Open them, please.”

“Okay, okay, okay,” I say desperately. “I will.”

I keep my eyes focused on him, watching his pupils dilate as he pleases me. Strokes me. Whispers against my lips that he loves me.

“I love touching you,” he says. “I love the air you breathe. I love that you want me as much as I want you, baby. You’re the light in my life, Autumn. You’re my happiness. My everything.”

“Judah!” I writhe, coming to my end after he destroys me. And I stare into his eyes while moisture comes to mine.

“Ah,” he groans and pants. He moves his hand, finally, and then he kisses me, pushing his tongue deep into my mouth.

I lie here and devour all of him, opening my mouth wide, accepting his strokes, sucking on his tongue and holding him close. Oh, this is the life. This is love.