Page 77 of Beyond the Stroke

Teasing.

Devouring.

Somewhere in the background, there are cheers, laughter…maybe applause? But it all fades beneath the rush in my ears, the heat of my skin, the low hum building between us.

My body sighs into his. Maybe that was an actual sigh escaping my mouth. Or maybe it came from Rory. I can’t tell where he ends and I begin.

He pulls back slowly, reluctantly, like he doesn’t really want it to end. I’m still holding onto him, unsteady and wrecked from a single kiss.

We should’ve done that before so I knew what I was getting into. So I could mentally prepare myself for the fact thatmy husbandkisses like he has something to prove.

My lashes flutter and my lungs drag in air that doesn’t feel like enough.

I’ve never been kissed like that. Now, I’m questioning if I’ve ever been kissed at all.

Finally, I’m able to open my eyes and focus on Rory. His lips are flushed, his breathing a little uneven, but that familiar golden retriever grin flickers back into place.

While my brain is spinning its wheels trying to figure out what just transpired, Rory isn’t fazed at all. It’s almost like he knew this would happen.

“I object,” I whisper.

Rory just grins knowingly. “We’re already past that part, wife.”

nineteen

. . .

RORY

Summer’s eyes meet mine, and I catch a flicker of electricity still crackling there before she diverts her gaze from me.

The world carries on around me, but I’m stuck replaying that kiss on a loop. I don’t know how to exist in the world now that I’ve kissed Summer. Now that I know the feel of her lips, nothing’s the same.

Judge Clayborn hands us a copy of the signed marriage certificate.

Winnie rushes over and throws her arms around Summer, squealing excitedly.

Logan offers me knuckles and Eli squeezes my shoulder. Charlie, who I could hear sniffling during our vows, blows his nose loudly into a tissue.

“Thanks for being here, seriously,” I say, voice catching a little.

“Are you kidding?” Logan asks. “We wouldn’t have missed it.”

“It was beautiful,” Charlie says, wiping a tear.

Logan and Charlie head over to talk with Winnie and Summer. I’m about to follow them when Eli grabs my elbow.

“I thought this was a platonic arrangement between you two.” Eli lifts his brows.

“It is.”

“Yeah, nobody kisses a friend like that.”

I give him my most convincing smirk. “We’re committed to the arrangement, that’s all.”

“That looked like commitment all right.”

“You know how persistent my parents have been with the whole Daphne thing. I needed to do something. Besides, now I can focus on training with no distractions.”

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