Lover (Court University 4)

“Fuck.” On his heels, he did the same, his head rolling back and digging into the headrest. His fist punched to the ceiling on his way down from the high.

I laced my arms around him as my hips jutted, my inner walls spasming. His warmth burst into me, and I knew we’d have to do a quick clean up. We’d stopped using condoms a while back. Actually, not long after he’d proposed a few weeks ago. I’d always been on birth control and we both tested clean, but not wearing condoms was another sign of trust. One we both gave the other.

My hands smoothed across his jaw as I kissed him. I wore the diamond ring with ease on my left hand.

The same went for the band below.

This was a new development, the one on his left hand the same. We’d done something impulsive not long ago, something totally Ramses and not me. What could I say, Ramses Mallick had me taking more of those chances.

I’d take a million more.

His was gold on his left, the metal currently pressed into my waist. The decision to get married one shouldn’t take lightly, and we hadn’t. I mean, this was my second marriage and his first. It just felt right so we’d done it, and hell, if someone should disagree with that.

This was just another step toward the completion of us. A world of our own creation and rules. We wanted to get it done before he started really getting involved with his new businesses and I left for the summer. I was planning another dig overseas. I was going back to the basics for my research, and I’d probably see Ramses every few weeks as his schedule permitted. He was going to be increasingly busy in the upcoming months, and though I told him the dig would just be for the summer (I was coming back to teach in the fall), he made sure to write me into his schedule. Hell, he’d even agreed to put his life and plans on hold until I finished.

Of course, he had.

That was just him, but I was also me and I didn’t let him. We could both get out of life the things we wanted and would. He couldn’t get rid of me now that he’d placed this ring on my finger.

Once we got ourselves together (and I got out of his lap), we finally made it over to Royal and December’s for her latest shower. I really couldn’t remember who was throwing this one for her. She had so many people who loved and cared about her around her. It made me excited to be a part of this community. Ramses and I were settling here in Maywood Heights, building our lives and our futures, and it seemed we already had a fine support system to back us. Outside of Evie and her fiancé (yes, that had happened), Ramses had his friends from high school. I’d finally met them all at his graduation party, and we’d even all hung out together after.

I wouldn’t lie. I had felt older than everyone else, but that came with the territory. Ramses had actually met some of my friends, too, when they came down from Jersey for his graduation party. Evelyn had basically invited everyone both Ramses and I knew. Especially when I’d told her I planned to propose to her son.

Was it weird my good friend and mentor was my mother-in-law now? Yes, but was I dealing with it?

More than well.

Ramses and I showed up only partially late to December’s event, and of course, the mommy-to-be spotted him the moment we arrived. This shower was at Royal and December’s house in Maywood Heights, a huge property in a gated cul de sac community. They basically lived in a castle like many of their friends. Knight and Greer didn’t live in the same neighborhood, but their friends Jaxen and Cleo had moved in down the street. I’d heard their friend LJ and his girlfriend Billie were looking into the neighborhood as well.

“There you are!” December called, scurrying her way over

in probably the cutest little top to show her baby bump off ever. She was still quite small, and from what I understood, the couple had been adamant about not knowing the sex of the baby at all prior to delivery. This, of course, drove the rest of us crazy, and already, I’d come to love this girl. She brought so much high-powered energy into Ramses’s life and mine now as well. She hugged him tight upon getting to us. “Fashionably late.”

“Well, uh, you know.” Ramses passed off, chuckling. He brushed a kiss on her head before releasing her to me.

“Hmm,” she said, eyeing him before taking me in the biggest hug. She loved hugs, and once done, she didn’t let me go. She pointed at Ramses. “I’d be more hurt if everyone else didn’t show up late, too.”

She said this loud enough as she whipped around toward the others she’d previously been with. As per usual, their friends were coupled up. I spotted Knight, LJ, Jax, and their girlfriends all over by the food table. This particular shower was in the Prinzes’ backyard with enough landscape design to place them well in the company of those featured in Better Homes and Gardens. I was talking hedges designed like animals and ponds with colorful fish. Completely fabulous, gorgeous.

Their friend Knight, the huge guy who ate pretty much everything us girls put in front of him whenever we all got together, shrugged. He pulled his girlfriend Greer over. “What?”

The other guys, Jax and LJ looked just as guilty, sipping on their beers and Royal, with them and their girlfriends, laughed. Royal lifted his beer. “You surprised, Em?”

“I guess not,” December said, but did smile. She instructed us to go mingle, and I scanned the crowd, spotting Evelyn. This was a guys and girls shower, and she’d come with James.

Getting their attention, I lifted my hand to wave at them both.

December noticed.

Well, what she really noticed was the band I’d completely forgot to take off in the car.

Fuck.

“Oh my freaking God. What?!” She grabbed my hand, shooting a look at Ramses. “Arizona, did you guys get married?”

Did I mention the wedding had been an elopement? Completely off the cuff. Completely crazy just like my relationship with her best friend. We’d decided to do some traveling after the graduation party.

We’d hit up Vegas.