Page 56 of Yours, Now and Always
I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around myself, watching him as I dry off. His scowl only deepens as he works the shampoo through his hair, muscles flexing with every rough swipe.
“You’ll smell good,” I say, still trying not to laugh at him.
“That’s the fucking problem,” he mutters, rinsing it out with a savage flick of his head. “I’ll smell like you all weekend.”
I only just refrain from rolling my eyes at his mini tantrum. “God forbid.”
He gives me that look that says he’ll deal with me as soon as he’s finished with my shampoo. “Trust me, Princess, if all I can smell is you, and I can’t be buried in your pussy, we’re gonna have a problem.”
Holy filthy husband.
And here I was thinking he was complaining because he didn’t want to smell like a woman, while what he’s actually concerned about is losing his mind because all he can smell is his wife while having to keep his dick to himself.
Gage has no idea what he does to me. How utterly, wildly, loved he makes me feel.
My phone sounds with a text from the bedroom, so I wrap the towel around me and pad out of the bathroom to check it.
Tim
Confirming whether Gage used that Lawn Mower yet. If not, DO NOT let him shave his balls tonight. We can’t risk razor rash. The last thing we need is your husband waddling down the aisle like he’s smuggling an injury. You’re welcome.
A laugh bursts out of me. God, I love my brother. He interrogated Gage weeks ago over his manscaping routine and then sent him a body hair trimmer called The Lawn Mower. That was after Gage said he’d burn it if Tim sent him one.
He didn’t burn it. He simply shook his head and stashed it in a bathroom drawer for when his current trimmer dies.
I tap out a text to Tim.
Me
Can confirm his balls are fully operational and wedding ready. No risk of razor rash or wedding waddle. Maybe worry about your own balls instead.
Tim
Thank fuck. Limp dick energy is not welcome at this wedding. Groom ball injuries ruin wedding photos. My balls are thriving, by the way. Did a sugar scrub this morning. They’re resting like kings.
I inwardly roll my eyes and drop my phone onto the bed before heading back into the bathroom.
Gage has finished showering and is standing in front of the vanity, towel slung low around his hips, reaching for the toothpaste.
“Tim just texted,” I say, moving next to him. “He wanted to ensure you weren’t thinking of shaving your balls tonight.”
He snorts, shaking his head as he glances at me. “Your brother has an unhealthy obsession with my grooming habits.”
I grab my toothbrush. “I think he’s just deeply invested in wedding ball safety.”
His mouth twitches in that almost-smile that makes my chest do fluttery things. “Your brother is deeply invested in many things. He spent at least fifteen minutes this afternoon having an existential crisis about luxury skincare with me, Ethan, and Hayden. There was a lot of ranting about how it’s ruining the world, which is apparently ruining his life too, because it’s his savior and he feels guilty about that.”
I grin. That’s totally Tim. “Last week, he spiraled about whether buying a particular $300 serum made him morallybankrupt, and whether the brand harvests Himalayan dew drops with underpaid goats at dawn.”
Another twitch of his lips. “Yeah, he ranked every skincare brand by moral bankruptcy today.”
“Oh, god. How did Ethan and Hayden react to that?”
“They were entertained.” He passes me the toothpaste. “But they drew the line at doing a face mask with him.”
“I would have loved to be a part of that conversation.” I laugh. “Especially seeing Hayden keep a straight face.” Out of all Gage’s brothers, he’s the one who could listen to Tim spiral about underpaid Himalayan goats without blinking and then tell him to just wash his face with soap and move on.
We fall quiet while brushing our teeth and I think about how much Gage and his brothers tolerate from Tim. Since we married, we’ve made an effort to bring our families together. Everyone gets on well, and it’s been easy. But it’s not an understatement to say that Tim has thrown himself into getting to know Gage and his family—a little too well at times. The Black brothers have taken it all in stride, which makes my heart squeeze. They all make me feel so loved.
