Forever (Always & Forever 2)

“I like the sound of ‘we’re married,’ and ‘you’re my husband’. Thank you for marrying me and making all my dreams come true,” Robert said and leaned in again. This time, Landon rested a firm hand on his chest, keeping him at a distance.

At the same time, Landon said, “Why do I feel like this elevator is going to open into your apartment?”

“It’s not an apartment,” Robert countered, looking back over his shoulder as the doors slid apart to the entry of the penthouse Robert had purchased almost a year ago, right before he’d gone back to DC to woo Landon into his life. The lights were on, soft music played throughout the house, and even from inside the elevator, Robert could see one of the many floral arrangements he’d requested from the building’s concierge. If they’d followed all his directions, there should be a light dinner warming in the oven with ice-filled buckets chilling champagne, wine, and Landon’s choice of IPA.

“Come see,” Robert said excitedly, taking Landon’s hand and stepping out from between his parted legs. He tried to tug Landon with him as he stepped off, but Landon’s superior strength kept him in place, their hand hold breaking apart instead. Robert stood about a foot from the open doors, putting his hands at his waist. “The elevator doesn’t close and descend automatically. You can’t escape.”

Landon still didn’t move.

“They can’t bring our luggage up until I send the elevator back down.”

Landon crossed his beefy arms, drawing a line in the sand. Robert just shook his head. He was starving. The brief lunch they had shared at his grandmother’s house had held little interest for him with his husband sitting next to him. Now, at eight thirty in the evening, he was hungry and needed sustenance to help get him through the next several hours of the sexual quest he’d planned for their wedding night.

Reasonably sure Landon couldn’t figure out how to work the elevator to leave, Robert headed for the kitchen. A trip he had only taken a few times when he had stayed there when Kylie had been born. After a couple of wrong turns, he found his way to the right room.

The property management hadn’t skimped on his requests. The dinner looked enough to feed a party of eight. Robert took a few bites of the veggie fajitas before pouring himself a glass of wine and grabbing Landon a beer. He headed back to the elevator.

“It’s my wedding night and my new husband won’t leave the—” The sight of Landon off the elevator and shrugging out of his jacket froze Robert’s words as he rounded the corner. Landon’s enormous biceps flexed as he crossed his arms again. “That’s a start, but you can see our place better if you come more fully inside.”

“It’s the whole floor?” Landon’s dark brow lifted again.

“No. Just half. It’s got an incredible view of downtown Minneapolis.” Robert handed him the beer, and of course, he didn’t readily accept it. “You can’t be mad at me tonight. It’s our wedding night.”

“You’ve been hiding this from me.” The tone of the grumble closely resembled the frustrating boom Tony might give his grandchildren.

“Not hiding, just omitting, so I’ll go ahead and throw in the Audi R8 Coupe. Which was a purchase I made to make myself feel better because I thought you didn’t want me.” Robert left the beer bottle perched precariously on Landon’s crossed arms before going to the elevator and sending it back downstairs to have their luggage brought up. “You know, you’re a reverse snob. I think we’re going to have to get you some therapy to help you get past your hang-ups.”

“I haven’t known you a full year—” Landon started his terrible line of thinking, and Robert came back to him, placing his finger over Landon’s moving lips.

“I love you, but you have to get over it. I’ll only ever marry once, so what’s mine is yours. I refuse to have it any other way. You’re technically a wealthy man whether you like it or not.” Robert leaned in inches from Landon’s lips and said, “Come show me what a bad boy I’ve been by keeping secrets. Make sure I know to never do it again.”

Robert leaned back, drained his glass in a couple of long swallows, then started to pull his shirt over his head. A daring gleam twinkled in Landon’s midnight eyes, and he knew he had him. Robert discarded the glass on the closest flat surface and tossed his shirt over Landon’s head as he started for the bedroom. He kicked his jeans off as he went. When his underwear dropped to his feet, he heard Landon’s heavy boots coming his way. Robert barely made it inside the bedroom door before Landon’s strong arm locked around his waist, tugging him back against his solid bare chest.