Chapter 19 Nathan
Chapter Nineteen
Nathan
I finally—finally—pull back, though it feels like tearing myself away from gravity itself.
Adrianna’s lips are pink and swollen, her breath unsteady, her eyes wide and soft and full of things I want to spend the rest of my life deciphering.
Before I can say a word, Bella blurts out, way too loudly, “Okay, you two REALLY need to get a room.”
Adrianna jerks back from me like she’s been electrocuted.
Her hands drop.
Her face floods scarlet.
“O–oh my God, Bella!” she sputters. “No! We—we were just—what? No! We aren’t—we didn’t—”
She’s flailing.
Adrianna Bosco, queen of poise under pressure, is verbally imploding.
It’s adorable.
And sexy.
And goddamn irresistible.
I can’t help grinning.
Mrs. Bosco just pats Bella’s shoulder, beaming like she’s at a royal wedding and also maybe like she predicted this whole thing back in 2010.
I bite back a laugh and step in before Adrianna combusts entirely.
“Alright,” I say smoothly, “why don’t I take everyone out for a big celebratory meal? Anything you want. Steakhouse, sushi, buffet—my treat. We can—”
“No,” Mrs. Bosco interrupts with a firm wave of her hand. “Absolutely not.”
I blink. “No?”
She folds her arms. “Nathan, sweetheart, you two just got MARRIED. You don’t need to entertain us. You need time. Alone.”
Adrianna makes a noise that sounds like a dying bird.
“MOM!”
“What?” Mrs. Bosco says, completely unbothered. “You’re married. This is normal. Healthy! Honestly, it’s overdue—”
“MOM.”
Bella snorts. “Yeah, Aunt Ad, it is your wedding night. Ooh la la!”
Adrianna covers her face with both hands.
“I cannot do this. I cannot—”
I slide my arm around her waist.
Not sorry.
Not even pretending to be sorry.
“Come on, Ad,” I murmur against her ear, low enough just for her. “Let’s have a little fun.”
She goes stiff.
Then soft.
Then stiff again.
“I—we—NO,” she hisses, swatting my chest. “We are not—we aren’t having—ANYTHING.”
Mrs. Bosco raises an eyebrow. “Well, not with that attitude.”
“MOM!”
Bella is laughing so hard she’s wheezing.
And me?
I’m trying—really fucking trying—not to smirk like a man who wants to toss his brand-new bride over his shoulder and solve this entire conversation upstairs.
But I can’t help leaning down, brushing my lips against Adrianna’s temple, and whispering, “Relax. I didn’t say what kind of fun.”
Her breath catches.
Her eyes flick up to mine.
And just like that—she’s not yelling anymore.
Her mom snaps her fingers. “Bella! Let’s go to that buffet in the lobby. Then we’ll go see that show the concierge promised us tickets for! These two need privacy.”
“MOM—”
Bella salutes us. “Yes! Nana, you are the best! Bye Aunt Ad, Uncle Nate! Have a good night, and don’t get arrested!”
“What are you talking about, young lady?!” Adrianna is mortified.
“I watched a documentary about Las Vegas when we were on the plane!”
Bella giggles. Adrianna gasps.
And I have never been so goddamn thrilled in my life.
Because she’s right here.
Holding onto my arm.
My wife.
And the night?
Fuck. Yeah.
It’s just getting started.