Page 159 of Inside the Wicked

Rhett takes my hand, and I only notice my ring is gone when he slides it back on. It takes my breath away and turns me inside out like the first time I saw it.

“They had to take it off for surgery.”

I wiggle my fingers to watch it sparkle. “You can get the upgrade,” I say, pushing up on my good arm. “Husband.”

Rhett cups my face, his eyes flaring. “Say that again.”

“Well, I mean, we need the vows and the cake, and—oh!Can you imagine Shadow in a little doggy tux? Then, of course, choosing wedding bands and guest lists—or should we elope and save the hassle?”

Rhett lets me ramble on, and I find his stare so preciously content, so happy and burdenless, that I hope today is the beginning of seeing far more of it.

“Whatever you want, baby. But even without all that, I want to hear it again now.”

I lean back down, hovering my lips over his. “So demanding, husband.”

Rhett erases the space to kiss me, hooking an arm around my back and coaxing me to lie back instead. He breaks it first but trails his lips featherlight along my jaw.

“I won’t test my luck by asking your father’s permission yet.”

“Probably for the best.”

“But you’ve been my wife for a while, because if I wasn’t going to make it past what we had to face, I had to feel what it was like to call you that, think of you as that. Mine, forever.”

My brow pinches tightly.Fuck, I don’t want to cry, but these are tears of such joy and belonging. “Say that again,” I whisper.

Rhett smiles, and it’s all the treasure I ever hoped to find in life.

He kisses me once. “My wife.”

Epilogue

ANASTASIA

Six months later . . .

My breaths are calculated with the speed of my adrenaline. My focus is razor-sharp and my skin is slicked with sweat. I can’t lose. I won’t lose, because I have once before.

I straighten, squaring my shoulders, getting ready to take down my target.

Then it’s all sand, volleyball, and crushing Adam fucking Sullevan no matter what.

He and Rix have the opening shot, and Adam slams it over the net. Rhett lunges to punt it up as I run and leap, hitting it back to them. After a lot of physiotherapy for my gunshot wound last summer, and being near insufferably fussed over by Rhett, it feels good to put my arm and shoulder back into action.

“Nice hit, little bird.”

“Praise me later.”

The ball is back to us, and this time I’m the buffer. I get to watch Rhett’s impeccable body stretch out and slam a powerful hit. Adam and Rix try to save, but ultimately, they lose momentum, and the ball hits the sand.

I cheer and double high-five with Rhett, but even though this is only our first score, I squeal as he hooks a firm arm around my waist and lifts me so my legs circle around him. We’re both wearing sunglasses, and he looks sexy as hell in his.

“How would you like me to praise you, Mrs Kaiser?”

I don’t think the sparks in me will ever subside at hearing him call me that. Especially when it’s dipped in such suggestion it shoots straight to my core.

“I don’t think you need instruction,” I say.

“I rather like it when you demand though.”

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