Flash Burned (Burned 2)

“Dane.” The way his eyes glowed with love made my own heart swell. “You say the sweetest things.”

His fingertips skimmed over my jaw. Brushed against my lips. “Thank you for marrying me.”

I stared up at him. “You’re thanking me? I’m the one who won the lottery.”

His head lowered and he kissed me. Softly, at first, but then passionately, until my body was pressed to his and I burned with desire.

He eased the zipper down the back of my dress and carefully removed it, laying the garment along the sofa. A ribbon of warmth wound through me at the great care he took when it came to something that meant so much to me. My wedding dress.

It didn’t even bother me that I couldn’t have a designer one-of-a-kind like most of my brides. I’d found something beautiful that had spoken to me. And Dane’s reaction when he’d seen me coming down the aisle had convinced me I’d made the right choice.

Not just with the dress, but in agreeing to marry him. I still wanted a big wedding and always would. But our private ceremony had been wonderful, and the intimacy of it made our union even more special.

I slipped out of my lingerie, then said, “I need to take all this makeup off.”

I left him, dressed in my satin robe, and brushed my teeth before scrubbing my face. My heartbeats had yet to return to normal. Same with my breathing.

Dane came in and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

I smiled at him in the reflection we created. “Everything was so fantastic tonight. Dinner was amazing. I might have to start using your weight room if I keep this up.”

His nose nuzzled the base of my neck, the crook of my shoulder seemingly distracting him. “With all the work you still have leading up to the pre-launch activities, I’ll be insisting you continue eating.”

“You don’t mind a few extra pounds?”

“Ari.” He groaned. “I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again. You’re insanely beautiful. And I am hopelessly hooked on you.”

“Let’s hope I’m more refreshed looking for you in a couple of months.”

“You’re perfect.” His lips grazed my throat. “You’ve worked so hard, baby. You’ve put in so many hours. Immediately following the launch, I want you to relax. Sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Put your toes in the sand and just … chill out.”

“Like, a honeymoon?”

“Yes,” he murmured against my throat. “We definitely need a honeymoon. In February. Over Valentine’s Day.”

My heart melted. “Dane. That’s so romantic.”

I caught his grin in the mirror. “I’ll take care of everything. Find a remote, private, beautiful location. Someplace where you’ll be waited on hand and foot. You won’t have to move a muscle if you don’t want to. Just soak up the sun, shop, swim … whatever you want.”

Heat flashed through me. “You know what I want.”

His grin turned seductive. “There’ll be plenty of that.” He kissed his way up to my ear, his tongue pressing to that sensitive spot just below and behind the lobe that always set me on fire.

A soft moan escaped my parted lips. “You’re too good to me.”

“All I want is for you to be happy.”

“Mission accomplished,” I assured him. “I am deliriously happy. Ridiculously so. If Tamera weren’t all about happily ever afters, she would have been disgusted by my exuberance tonight.” I laughed softly. “Instead, she was beyond excited. So was I.”

“We belong together. Always.”

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. Then said, “Dane, you could have married any wo—”

“You’re all I want, Ari. It hit me so hard, from the first second I saw you. I just knew you were the one. Nothing’s ever going to take me away from you. I am forever yours.”

Tears prickled my eyes. “I just want to be perfect for you. Really and truly.”

“You are.” His gaze in the mirror didn’t waver. “You’re everything to me. Every breath I take. So much more t