Page 71 of Crazy Love

“And then I could be Samson Cole Hudson?” Sam asks hopefully.

Penn presses his lips together, his eyes glistening with tears. “I want that more than anything,” he says, his voice hoarse.

“Me too,” Sam whispers.

“It’s going to happen. Now that we’re here together, things will start working out. I can feel it.” I say, cuddling into Penn’s chest and putting my arms around Sam too.

“It’s okay with you too, Addy?” Sam asks. “I won’t, like, be in the way now that you guys are married?”

“Sam, you were in the equation when I considered marrying Penn. I want to be part of your life too, if you’ll let me.” I dab the tear that starts to fall down my cheek.

He turns and gives me a big bear hug. “I’d love that.”

Penn sniffs. “God, the two of you have me blubbering over here. What the fuck are you doing to my emotions?”

“I feel like I should fuss at you about your language in front of Sam.” I laugh.

“Oh, I’ve heard worse out of him, believe me,” Sam says.

Penn gives me a sheepish look. “I’ll work on that,” he says.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I DID. I DO.

PENN

The door clicks shut behind us, sealing us in our own little world. The air crackles between Addy and me, more electrified than ever.

We spent the night in the same bed last night. Woke up tangled together, her breath warm against my skin, her fingers curled against my chest like she belonged there. But tonight feels brand new. The kisses at the party changed everything. Andmaybe the vows we said have something to do with it too. The realization that, for now anyway, in this moment, for this time, we’re committed to each other.

I can’t begin to know what is next for us.

But a switch flipped tonight between us, and now we stand here, looking at each other in anticipation.

I clear my throat, not sure where to put my hands because I want them all over her more than I want my next breath. “Did you mean what you said about giving me permission?”

She meets my gaze, her lips parting slightly. “I did. I do.”

We both acknowledge how fitting her wording is with a smirk.

Relief washes over me so strongly that I almost have to sit down. Because I want her…more than anything. Maybe it’s crazy to let this boundary fall, but I can’t even bring myself to care right now.

“I do too,” I say.

I take a step toward her.

“You look so beautiful tonight,” I tell her, my voice hushed in the stillness of the room.

A blush rises in her cheeks, and I hum the melody to “Lady in Red” under my breath. Her lips curve in the faintest of smiles, and I step even closer, lifting my hands to rest on her waist. We move together, a slow, gentle sway, as the moonlight spills through the window, casting a glow over her skin and highlighting the way her eyes shine when she looks at me.

I cup her cheek, brushing my thumb over her skin. She leans into my touch, and that’s all it takes. I close the space between us, and it feels so fucking good to kiss her. She sighs against my mouth, and I breathe her in, tasting the sweetness of our wedding cake. I deepen the kiss, my fingers threading through her hair, and she grips the front of my shirt. Time stands still, our bodies drawn together like magnets dying for contact. I feellike a guitar string about to break, the tension so taut in my body that I have to remind myself to relax, slow down…we have all night.

I pull back just enough to see her face, my chest heaving. She watches me, waiting, her eyes lust-drunk. I slide my hands to the straps of her dress, easing them down over her shoulders.

“You still want this?” I ask. “I won’t hold you to anything beyond this night, if tonight is all you want. At any point, we can put our focus completely on Sam and the marriage being about that, if that’s—” my voice trails off.

She nods. “I want this. I want you. Now.”

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