“What makes you think we’re not going to have sex?” he teased while reaching for her forearms to stop her from walking any farther.
“Because you’re my husband, and I know you.” Her lips twitched into an adorable smile.
“Say that one more time.” He closed his eyes, relishing in how the word rolled from her tongue.
She made a show of wetting her lips. “Husband,” she purred with a lift of her chin.
And even after a three-week honeymoon of traveling to different romantic spots along the Mediterranean, where he’d had her say the word over and over again, he doubted he’d ever grow tired of hearing it.
Now they just had to find a time to tell their friends and family that they’d eloped. But hell, they had followed Asher and Jessica’s lead. When Jessica had dropped the bombshell on everyone at Wyatt and Natasha’s wedding in July that she and Asher had secretly eloped, well, Luke almost had a stroke. Surely the blowback for his and Ana’s wedding wouldn’t cause as big of a shock with his team. His parents and siblings on the other hand . . .
But he and Ana had been eager to make it official. To give Ana a last name she’d never have to change again.
“Anastasia Hawkins.” Damn did he love saying it. He went behind her, preparing to untie the blindfold. “That was the name you were meant to have.”
“And when your parents find out about us?” She reached out, searching for him.
“They’ll force us to have a big party to celebrate.” And they were planning on telling them tomorrow at his father’s birthday party. A “Happy Birthday, We’re Married” surprise. He’d just have to hide his mom’s gun, so she didn’t shoot him in the ass for eloping. “Okay, you ready for the surprise?”
“Will my surprise be you in jeans and chaps and nothing else? I’m still waiting on that fantasy to come true.” Desire floated through her tone. A sexy drawl as she teased out the words to purposefully turn him on.
And yeah, sex would be happening today. But first . . .
He untied the blindfold and tossed it over his shoulder before stepping around her.
They were standing inside an old barn filled with rusty equipment equally as old. He’d strung Christmas lights overhead and placed a soft, red cashmere blanket on the ground on top of some hay for padding. A picnic basket and a woman’s cowgirl hat were on top of the blanket.
“This is adorable and romantic. And,” she said while turning into his arms, “we are having sex, then?” She lifted one arm and tipped up his Stetson. “That cowgirl hat mine? Will that be all I wear today?” She dragged her tongue along her lower lip. “Any leather chaps in here?” A teasing smile met her eyes.
“Oh, there will be plenty of romancing you soon enough.” He closed one eye. “And maybe I will even fulfill that jeans and chaps fantasy of yours.”
“But first?” She stepped back, now sensing they were in that barn for a lot more than a good time.
“I was, um.” He sucked in a sharp, nervous breath.
They’d talked about their plans for weeks. Hell, the last two-plus months. But there was one question he’d yet to officially ask her, and he wasn’t sure why he was so nervous, but he was.
“This is your wedding gift.”
“The picnic and sex?” Oh, she knew. The woman was too smart not to know what he was getting at, but she looooved to give him a hard time.
He closed the space between them and drew the back of his hand down her cheek. “Two acres of land. A house where this barn is sitting.” He swallowed. “A wraparound porch.”
She draped her arms over his shoulders. “Mmmm. Tell me more.”
“Right here where we’re standing could be your office. You know, while you write that book you’ve been plotting.” She’d decided she wanted to share the pages of her story while also helping others cope and move on with their lives in the face of tragedy or betrayal. “I know you’ll be teaching a few courses at Quantico a couple times a year in between your writing, but—”
“But nothing.” She brought her mouth to his. “I’d love to make a home here if that’s what you’re trying to ask.”
He lowered his forehead to hers and wrapped his arms around her waist, then released a shaky, emotional breath. “You would?” he whispered against her ear.