“Nate!” Her eyes were wide in surprise as her fingers clawed up my shirt and around my neck. “What are you doing?”

“Tradition.” I smiled at her and walked forward, over the threshold and into our home.

She shook her head. “This is utterly ridiculous.”

“Yes, it is. That’s why I’m doing it.” I grinned at her.

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the smile she tried to hide from me.

“You can let me down now.”

“I don’t think so.”

I set her on her feet but had no intention of letting her get far. Stepping back out into the hall, I grabbed our suitcases and pulled them inside, locking the door behind me. Once done, I picked her back up, making her squeal again. We walked into the bedroom and I laid her down, crawling on top of her.

“Was this part of tradition?”

I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “No. I just wasn’t ready to let you go.”

She smiled and sighed. “There you go again, being all sappy.”

I shrugged. “It happens. Besides, we need to christen our bed as husband and wife.” I nipped at her lower lip.

She smiled at me, running her hands across my shoulders and down my arms. “I don’t know. I’m kind of worn out from last night’s adventures, not to mention the traveling.”

“Then we can start our evening with a rejuvenating nap, followed by some pizza and a movie, and top it off with eating whipped cream off each other.”

“Maybe some chocolate sauce?”

I grinned down at her. “I think we have some cherries as well.”

“Vanilla ice cream.” She licked her lips and batted her eyelashes at me. “Can I have a Nate sundae?”

It was my turn to lick my lips. “Only if I get to eat a cherry from your pussy.”

Her eyes widened, pupils dilating as her hips flexed up, pushing against my thigh.

Dessert was never going to be the same.

The alarm went off, blaring in my ear, and I groaned as I slapped my hand down on it. I stared at the time, sighing as I registered it was Monday and we really did have to get up.

Going back to work was rough. Being on vacation had been a heaven of sorts, and reality was brutal, making me appreciate every moment away that much more.

Granted, it wasn’t all bad—Lila was with me. My wife.

“Come on, get up,” I said as I yawned, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and stretching.

She whimpered, face down in her pillow. “Only if you promise Starbucks.”

I snickered. “Trust me, baby, I don’t want to leave this bed either. And I promise we’ll stop.”

Her head tilted up and she huffed, blowing the wild strands of hair from her face. She was pouty and grumpy, making her fucking adorable and my urge to hug her ferocious.

With a growl and a graceless stiffness, I jumped on top of her. She squeaked, trapped beneath me. I nibbled at her neck, biting like an animal, making her writhe and me stiffen in another way.

I smacked her ass and pushed off the bed before I got carried away. “Come on, before I shove my cock in you and we miss the chance to get coffee.”

Her eyes popped open wide and she jumped from the bed. Apparently coffee won out over my dick—what the hell?

A few minutes later, we were out the door and on our way. The smile never left her face. I’d never seen her smile so much.

Sitting at a red light, it dawned on me. “You’re thinking about the Boob Squad, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” Her voice was light and playful.

“Ready to rub it in their jealous noses that you are Mrs. Nathan Thorne.”

“Maybe.” Her smile grew wider.

“You don’t have to admit it. I know you are, and so am I. Those insipid bitches piss me off.” My fingers flexed on the steering wheel. “I hate the way they think they can treat you, and for no reason except that you’re with me.”

She shrugged. “Before you came, they pretty much ignored me and were never friendly. Then again, I didn’t make it easy—I didn’t want to get to know them.”

“They’re shallow cunts anyway.” I shivered in disgust when I remembered Jennifer grabbing my hand and putting it up her skirt. I’d been inches from her pussy and whatever disease it held.

She nodded. “Pack mentality, with Jennifer at the helm.”

I snorted. “She is the worst of them, followed up by Tiffany.”

Lila laughed. “Oh, yes, Tiffany trying to seduce you in the copy room. That was priceless.”

I quirked my brow at her. “You saw that?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I stuck around, waiting to see if you needed rescuing.”

I shook my head and brought her fingers up to my lips, placing a kiss. She never failed to surprise me. Or turn me on.

By the time we arrived, she was buzzing with energy, staring down at the rings on her fingers. I glanced at mine, still getting used to something being there after so long.

“I wonder if my new nameplate is up.”

I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close as we walked in the building. “Another way to stick it to them, huh?”

She nodded. “Oh, yeah. Plus, I love my new name. I want to scream it from the rooftops.”

I laughed and kissed the side of her head. “You still need to get it changed legally.”

“Yeah. I’m doing that tomorrow at lunch.”

I quirked a brow as I held the door open for her. “I’m surprised you can wait that long.”

She elbowed me in the ribs. “I figured there wouldn’t be time today. I’m afraid to see what my desk looks like…and poor Owen. He hasn’t been in the position long.”

I pushed the call button for the elevator. “He can handle himself.”

She pursed her lips, silent as the doors slid open and we stepped in. A loud sigh came out of her, and I looked down.

“What?”

“Yesterday we were on the beach. I want to go back.”

The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors opened to our floor. I took a moment to lean into her. “Soon.”

“Tomorrow?”

I chuckled as I grabbed her hand and started walking down the hall. “Not quite that soon.”

Of course, turning the corner would put us right in front of the fucking BS bitches—some of their cubes were right in the hallway. I fucking hated seeing the lust light up their eyes, then turn to disdain when they noticed Lila. Then again, I’d rather have them not look at us at all.

“Another vacation? Jeez, Delilah, I’m surprised Mr. Holloway still has you on.” The vile skank known as Jennifer rolled her eyes.

The other diseased one, Tiffany, held her hand up to her mouth, as if we wouldn’t hear her. “You know she’s only still here because Nathan was his son-in-law.”

My eye twitched as my jaw tightened and flexed. When did my past start circulating? We were already water cooler gossip, but my relationship with Jack had been kept quiet.

“It’s none of your business how I use my vacation time. I have a lot saved up over the years, and still plenty to go—I’ll use it how I want to.” Lila was cool and collected, and the venom in her voice turned me on.

My fingers flexed on her hip. I loved to see her fight back—it was so fucking sexy. She wasn’t weak, no matter what that shithead or the bitches in front of us thought.

They rolled their eyes. “I’m surprised you have any left after all the time you took off last year.”

Lila shook her head before narrowing her gaze on them. “You really are the stupidest bunch of rat-pack bitches, aren’t you? I was hit by a car, unable to take care of myself, let alone work. That classifies as sick time and medical leave. Company policy allows a certain number of weeks to be taken with half pay in the event you are unable to work for medical reasons. Vacation time is not used for medical leave.”

She glared at them as she explained in terms their collagen-filled brains might understand. I cringed and backed up when Jennifer puckered her lips at me. Fuck, if her lips got any bigger, they were going to explode. It was bad enough she put her hands on me and shoved her breasts in my face every fucking chance she got, but there was no way I’d want those monsters near me.