“Whoa…Red?” Luke’s voice barely broke through the haze of desire Josh wrapped me in.
Josh released me, and I peeked around his rather massive frame. “Hey, Luke.”
“What are you…”
Josh turned, and recognition lit in Luke’s eyes. “Ah, so the Flyboy has come to make amends?”
I stepped to the side and nodded. “It’s all good.”
“Good, because you’ve been the most pathetic, love-sick puppy I’ve ever seen these last few months. By the way, you left your wallet on my bed last night.” He waved it above his head, and I skipped over to retrieve it.
“Thanks,” I said with a smacking kiss on his cheek.
“Movie nights are my favorite, and next time the ice cream is on me, but I really wish you’d branch out from just strawberry.” He glanced over me to Josh, then back. “Call me if you need me.”
“She won’t,” Josh answered, his voice gruff.
Holy shit, he’s jealous. Of Luke?
Luke snorted back a laugh. “Relax.” His eyes drifted down Josh’s impeccable body, and I choked back a laugh when Josh caught on. “You’re far more my taste than your fiancée.” He gave Josh’s chest an appreciative pat and walked out, calling back, “Oh, and Dad is walking through in a half hour, so…you know. I’ll lock the door on my way out.”
“He’s gay,” Josh said.
I bit into my lower lip until my smile tore it free. “I never told you that?”
Josh shook his head.
“I guess it never seemed important.”
He wrapped his arms around me, and I laid my head against his chest, setting my breaths to the steady rhythm of his heart. “I love you,” he whispered into my hair. “Tell me I didn’t lose you. I need to hear it one more time.”
I tilted my head enough to press a kiss to his stubbled jaw. “You couldn’t lose me if you tried, Josh Walker. Though you’ve made me wonder lately if that was your motive.”
“Never. I just want what’s best for you.”
“You’re what’s best for me, and not just because I love you. You make me a better person. Stronger. You push me to achieve things I’d only ever dreamed of, and never hold me back. You’re my perfect match in every way.”
“No more stupid shit,” he promised. “I even sold the Ducati.”
I jerked back in his arms to get a better look at his face. “You what?”
He nodded. “I’ve been in counseling this whole time, too.”
I blinked. “Okay, the counseling I applaud, but the Ducati?”
His grin was enough to seriously drop my panties. “You hated the Ducati.”
“I didn’t…” I shook my head. “I hated the Ducati. I hated what it represented—a giant, flashy death wish.”
“I know, and you were right, so I turned it into something you’d love. I paid off our wedding.”
My jaw dropped. “You paid off our wedding?”
“Including the photographer.”
A stab of guilt went through me. “But you loved that thing.”
“No, I loved being a seventeen-year-old on that thing. Now, I love you. I will always love you, December.”
My eyes flew wide. “But the Harley? Oh, God. Please tell me you didn’t sell the Harley. I know I hate how dangerous they are, but you love it, and I have to admit, you’re sexy as hell on it—”
He cut me off with a kiss and then laughed. “I kept the Harley, but I’d sell it in a heartbeat if it made you happy.”
“No! No. You make me happy. Keep it. Just…you know…helmet.”
He kissed me softly. “Anything for you, future Mrs. Walker.”
“Say it again,” I whispered against his lips.
“Mrs. Walker. December Walker. Dr. Walker.”
This time his kiss was blatantly erotic. I melted into him, and he took complete advantage, kissing me deeper, with hotter swirls of his tongue until I whimpered, ready to give these tile mosaics a show they wouldn’t forget for another few thousand years.
“A half hour, huh?” he asked, worshipping my neck with kisses that sent chills rocketing down my arm.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“I can do a lot with a half hour.”
A giggle burst free. “And then what?”
“Then I’m yours for the next two weeks, if you want me. You can work, and I’ll watch, or I’ll help, or I’ll just study 5&9s in your room until you’re done at night. I don’t want you to choose between the dig and me, so you get both.”
This…this was heaven. Uncovering ancient relics by day and making love with Josh at night. The picture was exquisite. “You don’t mind? You’re using up all of your leave, and I won’t have time to vacation or anything.”
“I don’t need a vacation. I just need you. Your career is just as important as mine, and maybe selfishly, I want to understand what you do. This place”—he glanced around at the stone walls and back to me—“it’s part of you. Usually, you have to live where the army tells us to, handle deployments, and wounds, and…funerals, because you’re forced to live in my world.”
“Because I love you, Josh.”
“I know, and I love you,” he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Now show me around, December, because I’d like to live in your world for a little while.”