Page 51 of Nothing to the Wedding

“This contract should not be entered into lightly.It comes with obligations and responsibilities.By entering this marriage, you accept the pledge of forever.Please face each other.”

How was she supposed to… They turned and when their eyes met, a grin jumped to her lips.Marriage.Had she ever been afraid of it?

“Do you Zairn agree to take Roxanna as your lawfully wedded wife?To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish as long as you both may live?”

“I do.”

And there it was.

“Do you Roxanna agree to take Zairn as your lawfully wedded husband?To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish as long as you both may live?”

“Uh…” Her smile only got wider as she lingered.“I absolutely do.”

“No rings so… You have joined now in solemn matrimony.May you know love and happiness every day of your marriage.Embrace each other and the gravity of the vows you have made today.Pledging yourselves to each other in love and hope, you have the rest of your lives to fulfill the delight you have promised today.Zairn, Roxanna, never take each other for granted.By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”He paused.Of course he did.“You may kiss the bride.”

Cupping her face, Zairn bowed as if to kiss her but hesitated when she rose on her tiptoes.“Can’t get enough of me.”

“You wish, Skippy.”

Stealing his mouth, she didn’t need his permission to take what was rightfully hers.

FIFTEEN

LYING ON THE SUITE floor by the bar was just fine, so long as she could hear his heartbeat everything was good.

“Marrying you was the best day of my life,” she said, still blindfolded, which wasn’t as odd as it probably should’ve been.

“You were arrested for B&E that day.”

“I choose not to focus on that part, Skippy.”

“I’ve got to admit, you floored me with how quickly you agreed.Where the hell was that woman in Rome?”His fingertips ran over her hair and the blindfold.So soothing, familiar, missed… Shit, if they stayed there much longer, she’d fall asleep.“You keep me guessing, Roxanna.”

“You wanted to take me to Paris.”

“Offer still stands.”

Guys didn’t think about these things as often as women.She didn’t think anyway.

“Don’t you have highlights?”she asked.“After a year and a half with me, you have no favorite moments?”

“Rome.”

“The closet or the storm out?”

“The closet.”

“Sex on the brain, boy.”

“You were the sex initiator,” he said.“Fuck, I was so grateful you broke the seal and made the move.”

Not something she shied from doing, then and now.

“Would you have done it?”she asked.“Ever?Made a move?Because you had time, a lot of time… and opportunity.And you’re not shy, why wouldn’t you—”

“I thought you needed time.And I was right.You weren’t ready then.”

“How do you know I wasn’t ready?”