Page 64 of The Run Option

“I can’t focus while you’re doing that,” she breathes.

I smirk and kiss her there again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“If I have to move, I will,” she warns, but I can tell she’s bluffing. She’s fully relaxed in my arms, a fact that has me elated.

“Just ask your question, Mrs. Kingsley,” I say against her skin.

She draws in a breath. “That’s a part of what I want to ask. I know we’re married, but…what exactly are we doing now that our feelings have changed?”

I smile. While mine have certainly grown, I was more ready to marry her than she knows.

“Now, I get to date my wife.” I wrap her up in my arms and kiss her temple. “We can go slow. I don’t expect us to have a real marriage right away. I know it’ll take time.”

She toys with my left hand, twisting the gold ring around my finger.

“But you want a real marriage?”

“Of course I do. Do you?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “It scares me because we aren’t exactly going about things in the traditional way, but I want to be your wife.”

“Good, because I love being your husband.”

She falls silent again, but I can sense she’s holding back.

“Tell me what’s weighing on that beautiful mind of yours,” I urge her.

She continues fidgeting with my ring. “I don’t know how to ask this, but what are your expectations now that we’re dating and married?”

I frown. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking.”

“I guess I’m asking about–um–sleeping arrangements.” My eyes widen at her words. “And things of that nature.”

I pause for a second before speaking, not wanting to get this wrong. It’s too important to risk miscommunication. “You’re welcome to sleep in my bed whenever you want. I hope one day it’ll be seen as ours.” I pause, swallowing as I recall our kiss from earlier. “As far as more than that goes, I don’t expect anything of you. I just want that moment to be when the both of us are ready, and not a moment sooner.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “When we’re ready.”

“I do want to say that not much else has changed, though. What’s mine is still yours. I won’t let you carry any of your bags,” I joke and she giggles.

“I suppose I can agree to that.” She turns her head and meets my gaze. “I keep feeling like there’s no way this can be real. I never would have thought things would turn out this way.”

“Such little confidence,” I tease and she rolls her eyes. I place a hand on her cheek and she leans into my touch. “I know what you mean. Every day with you is a dream I never want to wake up from.”

Her cheeks tint pink. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to you saying things like that.”

“You don’t have to. Just know that I’m never going to stop, and that I mean every word.” I give her a feathered kiss.

“Even the most ridiculous compliments?” she questions, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

“Especiallythose.”

I pepper her neck with kisses and she laughs, trying to move away but failing because I have her wrapped up. Eventually I stop, and she relaxes in my arms again with a contented sigh.

The sun is behind the tree line now, and the temperature is quickly dropping

“Why don’t we head back home before it gets too cold? We can watch a movie on the couch,” I suggest against her ear.

She turns in my arms so that she’s on her knees between my legs. Her hands slide behind my neck, toying with the hair at the nape of my neck in a way that drives me mad.

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