When Ella and Money arrived with Ana shortly after everyone was seated, Kayla got up and took her baby, fussing over her sweet little daughter who hugged her neck and babbled happily. Chloe had made a little portion of the casserole for Ana where she left out some of the chewier things. Zach had brought Ana’s high chair across the street earlier, and Kayla put her in it. She was between Kayla and Bailey, and they both took turns feeding her.
There were speeches, toasts, and a lot of laughter. Kayla didn’t know what to say, but Zach did. Everything he did was so natural. No one looking at them could suspect that up until a week ago they hadn’t actually been speaking to one another much. He made it seem like they’d always known they were meant to be together.
She appreciated that he did that even if everyone in attendance knew about the threats she’d gotten. His team members had to know that getting married was part of the plan to protect her and Ana, but no one listening to him would ever doubt their feelings for each other.
Kayla caught herself dreaming about what life with him was going to be like before dragging herself firmly back to the present. Because she didn’t really know, no matter what she longed for. She knew she loved him so much it hurt, and she knew she wanted them to be a family like he said they were.
She wanted him to be there for Ana as she grew up. Wanted him to do the things that daddies were supposed to do, like bandage their little girl’s boo-boos and take them fishing and tell them bedtime stories and all the other things she’d never had. She wanted it so badly for Ana, and she wanted it with this man.
But always, always, she had that stupid voice in her head telling her not to get too comfortable, not to blindly count on him, not to give up her vigilance. She had to be ready to act. To take her daughter and go, if that’s what was necessary.
She hated that she felt like that, but life had never shown her any different. People abandoned you, either mentally or physically, and you had to take care of yourself. She trusted Zach as much as she could, but she would also be ready for disappointment.
By the time the evening was done, Kayla found herself alone with Zach as they walked across the street. Bailey and Alexei had insisted on taking Ana for the night, to give her and Zach some time alone. She had mixed emotions about that, mostly because she didn’t know how to behave with him tonight. Which was stupid because the only thing that had changed was they’d gotten married. They’d been living together for two days now, and he’d slept beside her all night long both nights even though they hadn’t made love. She knew he’d do it again tonight if that’s what she wanted from him.
The neighborhood was quiet, at least compared to the raucous time at their impromptu reception. She could hear the frogs croaking in the pond, and a dog barked in a yard. Someone laughed and voices floated to them on the night. Happy voices enjoying a Friday night together.
Zach held her hand. He didn’t take her to the side door, however. He went up the front steps and unlocked the door. Then he turned to her.
“You know I have to do this the right way, don’t you?”
Kayla tilted her head. “What are you talking about?”
Before she knew what he was doing, he scooped her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck with a little squeak. Then she laughed. “The threshold. I didn’t think about it.”
Zach nuzzled the sensitive skin of her throat. He had a little bit of stubble and it scraped deliciously along her nerve endings. “You forgot a few things to do with getting married, didn’t you?”
He said it teasingly, and she laughed. “Rings and being carried over the threshold are only two things, Zach.”
“Fine, two things.”
He carried her inside, but he didn’t set her down. He shut and locked the door, then carried her into the master bedroom and set her down carefully. Kayla gasped as she took in the room. The bed was different, and someone had lit candles and sprinkled rose petals on the sheets. The soft scent of flowers hung in the air, and a scarf draped over each lamp shade to diffuse the light.
“Is that your bed?” She was pretty certain it was, though she’d only been in it once and that was over two months ago.
“Yeah. Blade, Money, and Dirty swapped the beds earlier. Since Ana’s room is up here, it made the most sense. I didn’t tell them not to because it needed to happen at some point anyway.”
That was certainly true. She hadn’t expected him to stay in the basement. Hadn’t wanted him to either. Especially not after the past two nights beside him. His presence comforted her, made her feel safe.
His hands slid along her hips, brought her gently to him. He dropped his mouth to hers and kissed her lightly.
“I can think of something else that happens after you get married, Kayla. Do you know what it is?”
She nipped at his bottom lip, her heart hammering. Her body was already preparing itself, her limbs loosening, her pussy growing hot and wet. “You mean the wedding night?”
“Yeah, that’s it. But I told you I wouldn’t push you, and I mean that. I didn’t ask Camel and Bailey to take Ana, by the way. And I didn’t ask Chloe and Dirty to put rose petals on the bed or anything. I mean it’s romantic and I would’ve if I’d thought of
