Chapter 1
one
Three Months After The Second Wedding
Jay and I are walking up the front steps of his house when he eyes me oddly. “You know, we never did the whole welcome to your new house ritual.”
“What ritual?” I look at him, raising a slim eyebrow.
Before I can stop him, Jay sweeps me into his arms, bridal style. My mouth opens and I squeak in protest. "Put me down! You'll hurt yourself."
"Never," he declares, grinning like a kid with a new toy. "I’m carrying my bride over the threshold."
His—no, our Victorian home looms, large but quite inviting. Its wraparound porch is bathed in the soft glow of string lights. It’s the kind of house that should smell like fresh-baked cookies, though Jay’s more of a quinoa guy.
It’s something I plan to fix.
Jay takes a step toward the door. I brace for impact. "Watch the?—"
We thud against the doorframe, bodies smushing together in a tangle of limbs. For a moment, we’re awkward and unbendable, comically stuck.
"Oof," I manage. My face is smooshed against his chest. "I tried to tell you. I’m not a dainty little girl that you should be carrying around all the time."
Jay laughs. "I tripped over my feet. That’s my fault. You? You’re as light as a feather."
I snort. "A lead feather, maybe."
“You’re being really mean to a girl I happen to love.” He gives me a pointed look.
I shake my head and sigh. “You’re right.”
I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks, half from the exertion, half from the sheer ridiculousness of the situation. I start to giggle.
"Okay, on three," he says. "One, two?—"
We burst through the door and collapse in a heap on the hardwood floor. I roll off him and clutch my side from laughter. He sits up, hair tousled, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"See? Nailed it."
I make it to my feet first and offer Jay a hand up. He takes it with a heart-melting grin.
“Thanks, Lily.”
I crinkle my nose at him. “No problem, Bird.”
That’s my new nickname for him, an homage to my half of our matching tattoos. He slides behind me, puts his hands on my hips, and guides me toward the living room.
“We have to unpack the rest of the furniture. We’ve been putting it off since the wedding. I for one would really like it if we didn’t have to carefully film around the boxes,” I say.
Jay slows. “Are you sure? It’s a big project.”
“I’m sure. I’m tired of not having a living room.”
I’m normally much more on top of things. My life has just been so hectic for the last few months that I’ve been putting this task off. But no more.
“You’re the boss,” he says, following me.
Squaring my shoulders, I stride into the living room and eye the biggest box, which is four feet by four. Yeah, that’s definitely going away today .
“I’m starting with that one.” I point it out to him. “And we’re not done until the last piece of cardboard is in the recycling.”
“I’ll start with the next biggest.” He swings his gaze around and points to a box. “That one.”
“Sounds like a plan. Do we need some music and drinks?”
My mouth twitches with amusement. “If you think so.”
I tear into the cardboard box like it owes me money. Packing peanuts fly everywhere like some bizarre party popper explosion. In the kitchen, Jay gets drinks while he plays music using our smart home system.
I hear him call out, “House Bot, can you play Jay and Calla’s Wedding Dance Party Mix?”
The first strains of “24k Magic” start playing in the kitchen. Will I ever tire of this playlist? There is no retirement in sight. I pipe up. “House Bot, can you play that in the living room too?”
Music begins playing in here and I bop my head along to the beat. Someday, these tunes may be overplayed. But I’ve listened to this playlist dozens of times in the past three months. I rip open the other end of the box and shred it gleefully.
Jay comes in with two hot pink iced drinks and hands one to me. I look at him, surprised. “What is this?”
He grins. “Hibiscus tea sweetened with a little agave syrup.”
A year ago, I would have wrinkled my nose at trying something unknown. But Jay has encouraged me to become more adventurous. And with him, I want to be. So I take a big sip. Floral sweetness bursts over my tongue.
“Oh wow!” I say. I take another sip, enjoying it. “This is really good, honey.”
“Okay. Now I’m ready to conquer this mess.” Jay wiggles his eyebrows and drags his box to the middle of the room to begin unpacking.
"We need a system," I announce without looking up. “I’m thinking that we unbox everything and throw the cardboard away. We can assemble the furniture according to how big it is. Then we simply arrange everything where it needs to go."
“If that makes your obsessive little heart happy, then that’s what we should do.” He winks at me. I stick my tongue out at him and he laughs.
“Your tongue is the same color pink as the iced tea.”
He sets his glass down and ventures over, grabbing me by the waist and kissing me. I blush and look up into his sparkling eyes.
“And you’re getting distracted.”
“How can I not?” He brushes his lips against my neck, causing my nipples to stiffen.
“You’re impossible,” I whisper. Jay doesn’t reply because he is placing burning kisses to the base of my throat. “Let’s make a deal.”
He pauses and then looks at me. “I can’t resist a deal.”
“I know!” I say with a laugh. “Okay. How about for every minute we work on furniture, we spend an equal amount of time in bed together?”
That’s got his attention. “Doing what?”
“Anything you want.”
“Anything!” A wicked smile splits his face. “Deal. Except the bed part… I want to take things mobile.”
“Then you need to focus on the task at hand,” I faux-scold him.
“Oh, it’s on .”
We navigate the crazy tangle of boxes with renewed vigor. While I dive into another box with purpose, Jay takes his time. He peels the tape like he’s unwrapping a gift. Prolonging the moment intentionally, I suppose.
When I open a new box, I’m a little taken aback.
"Jay." My voice is sharp and his head snaps up. I’m holding a framed photo I didn’t expect to find. "I didn’t know you had this blown up."
He crosses the room and looks over my shoulder. It’s us, standing in front of the Fruitcake Bakery. We are hugging and looking at each other with a look of utter adoration.
"Of course I did." His voice is soft. "It’s a great shot."
“It is.” I set it down carefully. Smiling, I go back to my box. My hands find another frame. When I pull it out, I can’t help but laugh. It’s a selfie of us at the Waffle House museum. I’m holding a plate of waffles and Jay is mid-drizzle. Syrup is everywhere.
"You were so excited that day." His voice is warm as he comes up behind me.
"It was a fun day." I admit it and hold the frame a little tighter. “I think I knew that I would be ruined if I told you how I felt and you didn’t feel the same.”
“Why do you think I’m gripping your waist so tightly? I was desperate by that point,” he says. He holds up another frame. This one is from the time we visited Mount Gemstone. We’re grinning like fools in miner hats.
"Your finest look." I tease him.
He laughs. His whole face lights up. "That’s nothing. Look at this."
He pulls out a photo of himself being mock-dragged away in handcuffs at the Atlanta airport.
I can’t help it. I laugh. The sound bubbles up before I can stop it. "I still can’t believe you asked a TSA agent to pose for that."
"I had to. You were so mad at me that day."
"I wasn’t mad." I roll my eyes. "I was scared. You had finally confessed to loving me and then I had to watch you be hauled away by the police."
“Not the police.” He holds up a finger to correct me. “The TSA. And I love this picture." His voice softens. "It tells a part of our story."
“Very true. I love them all.” I pick up the frames and move to the living room wall. “Should we organize these according to when they happened? Or do you want to go with the dominant colors?”
We spend the next hour arranging them. We debate where each one should go. Somehow, this mismatched gallery of memories makes the space feel more alive. More us .
When it’s done, Jay steps back. His hands are on his hips as he surveys the wall. "Looks perfect."
"It does." I surprise myself by agreeing.
He sinks onto the couch. He pats the spot beside him. "Come sit. You’ve earned a break."
I pounce, making him laugh when I join him. He’s close enough that I can feel the heat of him. I can smell the deliciousness that is his cologne and it makes me want to lick his neck.
God, I am so horny for my husband. It’s honestly embarrassing.
"I need your structure." His tone is earnest. "Without it, this house would be a disaster."
I arch an eyebrow. I deflect. "The house, or you?"
He grins. His voice is serious. "Both. Opposites attract, right? That’s why we work so well together."
My lips melt the second they make contact with his. The photos on the walls blur and fade into the background as we kiss. The room feels like it's shrinking, collapsing around us. This feels so right .
He pulls back and offers me a hand. “Come on.”
“Where?” The room feels cool compared to my flushed face.
Jay lifts me up over his shoulder suddenly, tossing me over like he would a sack of potatoes.
"Jay!" I squeal, but there's laughter in my voice. He starts for the stairs as my hands clutch at his shirt.
"You brute," I tease. But my smile betrays my words. I love when he shows me he’s much bigger and stronger than I am.
He gives me a playful swat on the butt. "Just trying to get you in the mood."
I yelp and giggle as we reach the top of the stairs. He sets me down gently. I'm breathless and flushed from both laughing and being carried by this man who loves me.
"You're ridiculous," I say. I don't move away, though. I’m hungry for his touch, starving.
He brushes hair out of my face with gentle fingers. "You know you love it."
“I really do,” I murmur. “I love you .”
“You’re so fucking perfect.”
We stand there for a moment, our bodies close together, tension building between us. Then he tugs at my shirt and pulls me closer for another kiss.
This one is deeper and more desperate. We stumble backward into the bedroom. Our lips never separating as our hands rip at our clothes. When we reach the bed, we fall onto it in a tangled mess of limbs and fabric. It's not graceful. Still there's an urgency that makes my skin tingle.
We strip off each other’s clothes with a carelessness borne of sheer need to see each other, feel each other, taste each other.
"Calla," Jay murmurs against my skin as he undresses me with shaky fingers. My name on his lips sends shivers down my spine. "We could start making our family right now."
I search his eyes for any hint of hesitation or doubt. But all I see is love and desire reflected back at me. Slowly, I nod and whisper, "I'm not against talking about it."
"Talking," he whispers. He kisses my neck, my collarbone, working his way up to my ear. " Sure ."
I can’t help but laugh.
With a gentle push, Jay flips me onto my stomach. He grabs pillows and stuffs them under my hips so that I am propped up. I go willingly, feeling sensual and excited. When I'm on all fours, he spreads my legs open. I look over my shoulder and he’s staring at my pussy with hunger in his eyes.
“God, Lily. You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs.
His fingers find their way to my clit. I gasp, my whole body trembling with anticipation. He leans down and tastes me. The slight touch of his tongue creates an electric jolt that sizzles through my veins. I moan and grip the sheets tightly as he brings me closer to the edge.
“Jay…” I call out needily. “ Please . Make me come.”
He redoubles his efforts, working his tongue like a madman over my fever-hot flesh.
I come undone, my body convulsing with pleasure. But Jay doesn't wait for me to catch my breath. He grabs his cock and plunges into me, filling me up completely. With every thrust, I feel stars exploding behind my closed eyelids.
"Jay," I cry out. “God, I love you so fucking much.”
Those must be the magic words. He grunts as his thick cock rams into me, pushing me over the edge again, making me cum all over his cock. He waits a few seconds before coming inside of me, filling me completely. I can't hold back my moans.
“Fuck, baby,” he hisses. “That pussy is just too tight for me to last long.”
“Do you hear me complaining?” I say. I feel lightheaded from orgasming. Jay doesn’t pull out like he normally does. Instead, he stays inside me.
"Just wait," he whispers in my ear. "Until I'm ready to go again. I’m going to make you come again, Lily."
I turn my head to kiss him, our lips moving slowly and tenderly.
"You know what I don’t understand?" he whispers. “How fucking you can get better every damn time. When does that stop?”
“Hopefully never.” I laugh softly. "And if you like this, just wait until we start trying for a baby."
Jay growls and moves his hips against my ass. “Don’t tease me.”
I bite my lip, wiggling my hips with him still inside me. "I'm not ready for that yet. But practice makes perfect."
"I love you, Lily," he says. He starts to move again in earnest, his movements deliberate and slow.
"Fuck, Bird. You know that I love you too…”
He silences me with a thrust of his cock. Suddenly, all my thoughts are washed away.