Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
We said our goodbyes before slipping into my car and driving to the courthouse.
It wasn’t a grand one—just a long, low limestone building. But it did have a pretty nice staircase leading up to it that worked as a pretty backdrop for ‘OMG, we are gonna do this!’ pictures.
The photographer—a pint-sized, curly-haired redhead with hearts in her eyes—was full of compliments and instructions.
It was all just fine.
Until she requested a kissing picture.
I mean, yeah, I’d been bracing myself for more kissing. I knew it would have to happen after we said our vows. And maybe even for a few pictures after.
But the second she said it, desire flooded my system—unbidden, unwanted, uncontrollable.
My gaze shot up, finding Rook already watching me, something soft in his eyes that had my belly going liquid.
Then his hand was raising, snagging my chin, then leaning down for a soft kiss.
“That was cute!” Gigi, the photographer, called, snapping away. “But give me more passion!”
Rook’s hand went to the back of my neck, fingers digging in.
Then his lips were on me.
I forgot all about the people around, about our picture being taken, about contracts and vows.
All there was in the whole town, state, country, world was him, this, us.
Rook’s lips pressed harder against mine as I melted into him, my lips responding immediately, getting harder and hungrier with each passing moment.
His other arm slid around my lower back, pulling me flush against him.
A soft moan escaped me, making his fingers clench.
“That’s perfect!” Gigi called.
As sweet as she was, her voice was an ice bucket over my desire, making me see how carried away we were getting.
And there was no way either of us could claim it was just for show.
I pulled back, trying to think past the hormone haze. “Did you get enough? We should probably be getting in now,” I said.
“Of course. Yes. I think we are good. I’m sure I can get some good ones inside.”
“That’s being optimistic,” Rook said under his breath, having been inside the courthouse himself in the past.
And, well, he wasn’t wrong.
The inside of the building was all dated and dirty tile floors, dark wood, and grimy windows that barely let in any natural light.
Gigi grumbled to herself several times as she tried to get decent candid pictures of us as we waited in line before finally getting in front of the Justice of the Peace. He was a short, round, sullen man who clearly didn’t think much of marrying random strangers all day.
I felt a twinge of disappointment until Rook’s hand squeezed mine.
The Justice read off our vows in a droning voice. Rook repeated them with his voice a little more stilted than usual. When it was my turn, my damn voice shook. Almost as hard as the hand in his as he slid the ring up my finger.
When he was done, he gave my fingers a reassuring squeeze before it was my turn to exchange the ring.
It was a surreal thing to see it sitting there on his finger, a sign to the world that he belonged to someone.
But, of course, not really.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
My gaze shot up to Rook’s.
He shot me a soft smile, leaning down to press his forehead to mine for a second before sweetly pressing his lips to mine.
It was over in a blink.
But my heart felt like it had swelled twice its size as Rook took my hand and led me away as the next couple stepped up.
“I got the most gorgeous picture of the forehead touch. The way he was looking at you—swoon,” Gigi said, jogging to keep up with us as we walked out into the fresh air once again. “I mean, the lighting was horrific, but I can fix that in editing.”
“I’m sure it will be perfect,” I assured her, though I sounded as distracted as I felt. All of my focus was on the fact that Rook’s hand was still in mine and the strange pulsing warmth that spread up from the contact.
Not desire.
Something softer around the edges.
Affection?
“I will follow you guys to the picnic!” Gigi said, offering us a wave as she rushed off toward her car.
“You alright?” Rook asked, watching me.
“Yeah. Fine. You want to drive?” I asked, offering him the keys.
“Sure.” I could feel him still watching me, but I pretended to focus on rearranging the rings on my finger.
It was a short drive from the courthouse to the farm, and I was grateful for that as the awkwardness in the car swelled.
“Oh, wow,” I said with an exhale as, a few minutes later, we walked up to the picnic spot.
I was barely even aware of Gigi running backward in front of us to catch our reactions.
We’d let her go before us, taking all the shots she needed without us, so she was fully focused on our reactions as we took it all in.