Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“These are death throes.” She gives my side a pinch with her clever fingers. “Curiosity killed the cat, you know.”
“So you’ve told me.” I lift a brow, giving her a look. “Multiple times.”
“I have to tell you multiple times. You don’t seem to believe me.”
When she wants to, Chess does a very pretty pout. I don’t fall for it. We had a deal: she took care of the wedding plans, and the honeymoon was all mine. And a surprise. That was key. I love surprising Chess, and she loves surprises—despite her dramatic claims to the contrary. In truth, her begging to know is all part of the game. I love playing games with my wife.
My wife. I can’t get over it. She’s now my wife. This beautiful, perfect woman is mine to love, protect, and honor until death. The very thought makes me giddy. And it gives me peace. Saying my vows to Chess, watching her eyes shine as she said them back to me, had settled something deep inside. Key into lock, a quick turn, everything opened.
My step is light as we check in. Of course, I can only hide so much.
“Paris?” she whispers at my side as I hand over our passports.
I scoff, enjoying the hell out of myself. “As if I’d be so cliché.”
The ticket agent eyes us, a smile playing on her lips. She recognizes me. I know the signs instinctively at this point, but she doesn’t make a big deal out of it, which I appreciate.
“I’m surprising my wife—” love the hell out of saying the word “—with where we’re going on our honeymoon.”
“Isn’t that sweet,” the agent says with a grin at Chess.
“I used to think that, too,” Chess grumps, even though we both know she’s loving this.
“Well, then.” She hands me the boarding passes. “Have a wonderful time. And congratulations.”
Given that this is our honeymoon, and that I am in the privileged position of being able to pamper the hell out of Chess, we’re flying first-class. Which means that, after we’d curled up in the lounge, an attendant takes us down a private exit and guides us to a black sedan.
“What is all this?” Chess whispers, eyes wide.
“We’re boarding.”
Her straight Valkyrie brows lift high. Sure enough, the car drives us out to the plane, where we board the first-class cabin and head straight to our own little suite.
Chess settles into the love seat–sized chair and, after accepting a glass of champagne, turns toward me. We’re alone now, the hum of the plane and the quiet thuds of loading below the only sounds around us.
“I’m not going to do that bullshit ingenue heroine act and proclaim that you shouldn’t have put us in first class,” she begins.
“There’s an act like that?” I ask, tucking a lock of her hair back just so I can touch her.
“Oh, yeah.” She makes her eyes wide and her expression serious. “I’m just a simple girl, you know.”
“Sure, you are.”
Chess swats my arm. “Okay, it wouldn’t work, regardless. But what I mean is, while this is absolutely spectacular, I can’t help but think how fucked-up the disparity between the classes is right now.”
I lean forward and kiss her softly. “You’re right, it’s fucked. But I’m still glad we can have this.”
She salutes me before taking a sip of her champagne. “Maybe instead of winning a lunch with Finn Mannus as the prize for your charity drives, you should give away first-class tickets.”
“Maybe both?” I grin. “I wouldn’t want to deny them a chance to be with me.”
She snorts but cuddles close. “That would be cruel.”
“You know it, Mrs. Mannus.”
“You love saying that, don’t you?”
“More than you know.”
“It’s not fair. I have a significant name change you can relish in, but you’ve always been Mr. Mannus.”
“Yes, but now I’m your Mr. Mannus.”
A hum of contentment sounds in her throat. Her hand finds mine, and the tip of her finger runs along my wide platinum wedding ring. We both watch her toy with the ring. Little shivers of sensation run along my skin. I love the way she touches me. Like I’m something cherished. It makes my hardened body all mushy and gooey inside. My eyes are closing in relaxation when she speaks again.
“Finn?”
“Hmm?”
“Was that a Jane Austen reference?”
My eyes fly open. “What?”
From where her head rests on my shoulder, she peers up at me. “My Mr. Mannus, huh?”
A slight flush washes over me. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you don’t, Finnegan.”
“The champagne has obviously gone to your head. I think you need a breather.”
She chuckles softly.
I pat her hand and set it on my abdomen. “Now, be a good girl and keep petting me.”
“‘As you wish.’”
Closing my eyes, I smile. “No more movie quotes. I mean it.”
“‘Anyone want a peanut?’”
This girl. I give in and turn to smother her with kisses while she squeals in delight. Yep, I’m definitely the luckiest guy in the world.