Page 127 of Teddy

“That’s some sappy shit right there,” the guy says. “Well, I’m glad I caught you two while I was taking out the trash. Want me to send the video your way?”

“Please,” I answer, giving him my number. My phone pings a moment later, the video now ours to rewatch again and again. “I have got to show this to Alex.”

Teddy groans. “I’m never going to hear the end of this.”

“Nor should you,” I say, both of us following the bartender back inside, where sound picks up. “That was the pinnacle of romance, drunkenly declared or not, and it shall be treasured forever. I’m watching it at our wedding redo, on every anniversary, and anytime I’m sad.”

“You guys need anything before I get back to work?” the bartender asks.

“Water,” Teddy tells him.

He nods and walks behind the bar. Teddy turns to me, his hands going to my ass and tugging me tight to his body.

“I’m glad I asked,” he says, lips near my ear. “I’m glad for every single thing that happened that night. And I’d do it again, drunk or not.”

My heart thumps wildly as I lean back, meeting Teddy’s gaze. “It’s kind of perfect, don’t you think? You asked me once, and I asked you once. It’s like, I dunno…maybe we both really like each other or something.”

Teddy’s lips twitch. “Only maybe?”

“Maybe definitely.”

“And just like?” he adds, nipping my ear.

I groan, a sound that’s lost to the club. “Maybe love.”

“That’s better,” he rumbles, turning as the bartender returns with our waters. Teddy uncaps mine, handing it over, and I guzzle it down. “Shall we dance?” he asks.

My gaze pings down to Teddy’s shirt, and I cringe. “Maybe that can go first? I really don’t want to get a hard-on against Alex’s face.”

Teddy raises an eyebrow. “And how, exactly, would your hard-on be reaching my chest?”

I huff. “I don’t know what kind of dance moves we’ll be doing, Teddy.”

He shakes his head, but he does tug off the shirt, sticking it in his back pocket and revealing his much classier button-down.

I raise an eyebrow, and Teddy rolls his eyes so hard I worry for his brain. But then he proceeds to cuff his sleeves up to his elbows, giving me the most perfect view of his forearms, and all is right in the world.

“That’s the stuff,” I sigh.

Grabbing my hand, Teddy leads me onto the dance floor, where a few of our partygoers are already enjoying the evening. Without a word, he tugs me against his body and guides me in a close-quarters salsa. There’s a wide smile on my face as we move, hips grinding together. When he spins me in a tight circle, I laugh, my body brushing his chest before he tugs me back in.

I lose myself for a little while in Teddy’s arms. It’s just him and me, dancing a rhythm of our own. He’s sexy as sin as his hips roll and his feet lead me through the moves. But he’s also sturdy. He’s a guiding hand, the heat at my back. He’s a softly smiling face and the gentle brush of beard hair against my cheek. He’s vanilla and spice and the most resilient person I’ve met.

He’s comfort. He’s home. With him, everything quiets. Everything stills.

I think love is different for each person who experiences it. For me, it’s peace. It’s not wild or chaotic or the thrill of freefalling. It’s the hand in my own holding steady and the knowledge that my bed will be warm tonight because of him.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the man in said bed will likely fuck me unconscious as soon as we get there. I suppose that’s just a perk of having a dirty-as-fuck Daddy Dom for a husband.

“What’s so funny?” Teddy asks, hauling me close.

“I really don’t think you want to know the inner workings of my head,” I tell him, grinning wildly. “It’s a very horny place in there.”

He snorts. “As if I didn’t know that already.”

Good point.

“I need to use the bathroom,” he says. “You okay for a minute?”

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