Page 157 of The Outsider

I looked over to see John watching me, a small smile on his face.

“Yes,” I said sincerely. “More than I ever thought I could be again.”

His smile broadened before he put an arm around my shoulders.

“We should try the honey cakes,” I said after a moment. “Kimmy was raving about Sarah’s recipe at the wedding.”

“They are pretty great,” John said as he unwrapped them and offered me one. “Lots of labour goes into them, so savour it.”

Eagerly, I bit into the centre of the palm-sized cake. The honey burst out unexpectedly, covering my tongue and half my face. I made a small sound of alarm and tried desperately to swipe away the sticky, golden mess with my hand, but it only stuck to my skin instead.

John burst into laughter. “Little overfilled there, sweetheart?”

I continued to swipe at the honey but only succeeded in making a bigger mess.

“You could help me instead of laughing,” I chided, but giggled in spite of myself.

“You’re right,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Where are my manners?”

Before I knew what was happening, he’d pushed me onto my back and started kissing my face, licking and sucking a little honey off each time.

“John!” I squealed, giggling wildly as he pinned me.

“What?” he teased as he licked honey from the corner of my mouth. “I’m helping.”

“Yeah, helping yourself!”

He laughed and kept going, only granting a reprieve when any traces of honey were long gone, and I was gasping for breath from laughter. He chuckled at my exhausted expression. His amber eyesbore into mine, and with his sun-browned skin and sweet smile, he was incredibly handsome.

“Christ, do I love you,” he murmured, his thumb stroking my bottom lip. Sunlight glinted off his wedding band. “My Claire. My wife.”

My throat tightened. My heart was so full after the last couple days.

“I never thought I’d have this,” I said softly, smoothing a lock of hair away from his face above mine. “Someone who taught me to be brave, and strong, and loved me so well that I’d begin to learn how to love myself. I never thought I’d be joyful, or that I’d know any true freedom.”

John’s eyes shone brightly in the sun, and he lay his head against my breast, wrapping his arms around my middle. I pressed a kiss to his temple.

“I never thought there’d be you.”

Chapter 46

Claire

Two days of sun, swimming, and sex passed in a blissful haze that I never wanted to end. The honeymoon felt like a protective cocoon, shielding me from the horror of the last couple of months. Only sunshine, orgasms, and my handsome Wastelander existed here, and I was content to keep it that way indefinitely.

The fourth day was warm, and we took a hike through the woods before spending the rest of the day on the beach. I even jumped from the cliff again, much to John’s amusement.

“Horseback riding and now cliff diving?” he said with a chuckle as he watched me swim from his spot on the beach. “Never guessed my Claire would turn out to be so adventurous.”

I laughed and waded up onto the sand to plop down beside him. “I’m full of surprises.”

He wrapped a towel around my shoulders before pulling me against him. I lay my head against his sun-warmed shoulder, my wet hair spilling over his bare chest. I picked up his t-shirt, which he’d left lying beside him, and pulled it over my head, letting it fallto my thighs before resting my head against him again. He smiled affectionately at me, then reached next to him to pick up a large white flower.

“Found it growing in the grass near the boulders,” he said, nodding to our left. “Made me think of you.”

I smiled. “And why’s that?”

John nestled the flower in my hair, behind my ear. “Because it’s beautiful and delicate. Like you.”

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