Page 164 of Too Far

A defeated sigh escapes me anyway as I smooth a hand up her back. “We may have to wait for the dust to settle. Can you give me a year? Or at least until all the paperwork is official and you’re on all the accounts.”

She sits up, ramrod straight. “What?”

“I’m not trying to be difficult,” I insist, keeping my hold on her gentle, praying like hell she believes me. “I just think we’ll need to stay married long enough to make it believable before you get out.”

“Decker,” she moans, grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking. “I don’t want out. I want to stay married to you.”

Hope springs inside me like a geyser, soaking all the sorrowful thoughts infiltrating my mind.

“You do?”

“Yes. I do.” Her voice is as tender as her expression. “I think we’re in this too deep to turn back now, Cap. It happened too fast, but I’m here. This is now. I’m in. And I’m staying.”

And then, softly, she adds, “I just wanted the power to make that choice for myself.”

She kisses me, and I hold her tighter, the reality of her words sinking in. Her lips move against mine, transforming into the kind of kiss that begs to lead to more.

“Siren,” I scold when she rocks her hips back and forth, teasing in my lap.

“We’remarriednow, Decker. Thathasto earn me some sort of boat sex perks.”

“You’re infuriating,” I murmur against her lips.

“You love it.”

“Yeah. I do.” I clear my throat, then share my truth. “I love you, Josephine. You make me a better person. You make us all better, just by being you.”

“I love you, too, Decker Crusade.” Peppering me with kisses, she continues to roll her hips in my lap.

“And just so you know, I’m pretty sure I gushed a little every time you said ‘my wife’ on that stage tonight. I’m so wet for you right now,” she whimpers.

“Is that so?” I grin against her mouth and kiss her again, seriously considering bending my own rules about boat sex.

But when I glance up, I realize we’re almost home.

I remind myself that we’re in no rush.

That there are no more cameras.

That we don’t need to sneak around or carve out private moments wherever we can.

We’re almost home. And we’re finally free.

Chapter 74

Josephine

Mrs. Crusade: Hey, Cap?

Cap:Yes, wife?

Mrs. Crusade:Can you come up to my room, please?

He knocks and pushes open the door, then mutters “oh shit” and quickly closes it a second later.

“Decker,” I laugh, peeling off Locke and scurrying after him.

I’m wearing my new bra and panties set. It’s deep purple and compliments of the online shopping spree Hunter and I indulged in the day I became Mrs. Decker Crusade. Although calling it underwear is a bit of a stretch, considering the panties are crotchless and the push-up is completely sheer.