“I’ve seen it. Pictures don’t do it justice, believe me.” His little brother wouldn’t have it any other way. Not because Josh had extravagant taste, but because he was so damn whipped that low-key no longer did his affection justice.
“You knew about this?” Maddie frowned and when his only response was a series of innocent blinks, she calmly tucked the phone into her beach bag and turned her nose up in the confident way he loved so much. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“Sweetie.” Reaching out again, he curled his fingers around hers and gave an earnest smile. While an engagement was always big news in River Bend, Nebraska, all he wanted to think about for the next six days was where, and how often, he could get his new bride naked. “We’re on our honeymoon. Can we focus a little more on us and a little less on what’s going on at home? Please?”
The typical pout on her vibrant red mouth softened only slightly as she picked up her mimosa. “Fine. For now. But this makes two secrets you’ve kept from me in as many months. Don’t think we’re done talking about this.”
“Two?”
“You knew Josh and Carissa were sneaking around seeing each other and you failed to share that little tidbit of information.”
“Would you want everyone in town knowing what we do behind closed doors?”
She stuck her tongue in her cheek, swirled her drink around in the glass, and lifted a creamy, porcelain shoulder. Paired with her dark hair, painted lips, and luscious curves, she was the spitting image of a sultry 1950’s pin-up. So friggin’ gorgeous. And completely his. “We’re adults with healthy sexual appetites. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
No, it wasn’t. Not one bit. Even though they’d been together for almost four years and had been having sex for just as long, he’d been anxious as hell for last night—when they were finally able, as husband and wife, to come together in every sense of the word.
Nothing had changed between them physically, but being married to his best friend brought a new level of intimacy to their relationship. He’d felt the full power of it last night—and this morning—in their lovemaking. He was pretty sure she had too.
“Damn right it’s not,” he growled. “But you can’t tell me you wouldn’t be bothered if people in town started talking about our private moments behind our backs.”
“You don’t think they were talking yesterday? Placing bets on whether or not we’d even make it out of the church before going at each other? Or speculating whether we’d sneak off for a quickie during the reception?”
“Those kinds of jokes come with getting married—it’s not gossip.”
Maddie arched a dark, thin eyebrow. “My husband being truthful with me isn’t gossip either.”
To that he gave a brusque laugh and sat back in his bamboo chair, legs spread wide. The last thing he wanted to do on their honeymoon was piss off his wife, but he’d been with Maddie long enough to know she wouldn’t let this go until he made right on what she thought he’d wronged.
Fortunately, he also knew her well enough to realize that whatever was really eating at her had nothing to do with his little brother putting a ring on her best friend’s finger.
Since this was only day one of their tropical getaway, he’d better get to figuring out just what was going on inside Maddie’s pretty little head or he might very well spend their remaining nights alone in the hamaca on the patio...instead of making love to her in their wedding bed.
“So what’s this really about, babe?”
Gliding her thumb around the smooth rim of her champagne glass, Maddie broke away from her husband’s soft but scrutinizing stare. How to tell him—a man who, on all accounts, was everything she’d ever wanted in a partner—that she wanted even more...a single day into their marriage?
Of course, keeping her desires from him made her no better than his secrets made him. But being the strong, self-assured woman she was, she refused to show weakness. Even if it was in front of him...for him.
Sucking it up, she pulled her shoulders back and reclaimed his gaze. Good God, he was sexy, with his dark hair, dark eyes, and an air of confidence that rivaled her own. A shiver of lust zipped down her spine, igniting a familiar spark low in her belly. Oh, the things she wanted with this man...
“We’re thousands of miles from home, Dan. Away from River Bend and its gossip and rumors.” She spoke steadily, gathering more courage. Then she stood, made her way around the table, and lowered herself onto his lap. She barely suppressed a moan of satisfaction when his pupils dilated and went a little hazy. Especially when she felt the tell-tale heat of an erection lengthening against her hip. “People here can talk all they want and it won’t matter, will it?”