Page 150 of Headstrong Like Us
He nods slowly. “Yeah.” Affection flows around us. “Farrow Redford Keene Hale. It’s a mouthful.” And yet, he’s biting the corner of his lip, trying to contain a love-struck smile.
“He already wants to make love to my name.”
Maximoff growls out and says, “Just kis—”
I kiss the fuck out of him. Our hands all over each other, pulling closer, clutching and loving, and he kisses me just as passionately and ravenously. Water cooling off the heat.
I draw back. “Come on.” I climb out of the pool. “Let’s practice.”
He’s already hiking onto the stone patio too effortlessly and about the same time as me, and I catch him around the waist. We’re dripping water, the sun drying us off.
“You want to practice something?” Maximoff makes a face. “The guy who prepares for nothing?”
My smile stretches. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me, wolf scout.”
He licks his lips, interested, and we check on our baby. A robin pads across the wet patio, and Ripley laughs brightly at the bird.
Arkham shuffles back, unsure about the other animal.
Ripley loves being outside. He cries less in the sun.
“What are we practicing…?” His voice tapers out, realizing the answer as soon as I take his hand in mine and place my other palm on his lower back.
I tell him, “Our first dance as husband and husband.”
He looks overwhelmed. “Alright.” He nods. “Let’s practice.”
Music still blasts out of my phone’s speakers. We’ve danced together plenty of times before, but this’ll be different, more memorable.
“I’m leading,” he says forcefully.
“We’ll see, Bossy.”
He’s smiling, his other hand on my shoulder, and our chests are so close that I feel the heat of the sun on his tanned skin. As soon as our bare feet move along the wet stone, one song ends and another begins.
His eyes well, struck at the lyrics.
The melody instantly pours through me and sweeps us, drawing our gazes together. Staring deeply, not abandoning or deserting the other. We slow dance to Collective Soul’s “You”—and Maximoff will tell you that he’s leading. I’ll tell anyone who cares to know that I am, but the truth is, we’re just one movement, one love.
He slows more, bringing my chest against his body. We just sway, and I hold the back of his head. Happiness is easy with him. And I might appear okay with whatever comes in my life, but there is nothing more I’ve wanted thanthis.Than for a man to love me like Maximoff Hale does.
It’s unreal.
He leans back, tears cresting both of our eyes. His chest rises. “That’s the song.”
Of course I love Collective Soul and that song, but I almost laugh. “It’s a 90s band.”
“I don’t care.”
I smile. “Okay.”
32
MAXIMOFF HALE
1 week until the wedding
The wedding destination is leaked.And worse, the date of departure.
