#stand-alone

He shivered at the memory. Rhea was absolutely terrifying for absolutely no good reason. How his brother was comfortable with her hands and teeth anywhere near his junk said more about Jey than Rhea, and he was too uncomfortable to explore what that meant. His little brother was happy, and despite how much Jimmy bickered with her, Rhea had been a blessing to his family. Hell, Naomi adored her and it took his wife weeks, sometimes months, to release the assessing and suspicious looks anytime someone new was introduced to her.

Rhea was family and not one of them knew when and how it’d happened. She just effortlessly fit in with them, and none of them would change that fact.

She’d been there for Naomi’s difficult pregnancy, switching seats with him, bringing Naomi food and crafty activities to keep her entertained when Jimmy and Jey had to leave. She was in the hospital waiting room, and then crying when she held her nephew for the first time. Rhea wasn’t even an honorary aunt, she was and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Somewhere between terrorizing both the men's and women's rosters, she’d reached out for his brother’s heart, and Jey had willingly given it to her. Rhea scared the “bloody” daylights and the nightlights out of Jimmy, but his life had been changed for the better having her in it— not that he’d ever willingly tell her to her face.

———————————♤♡♧♢———————————

The moment the hotel door swung open, Jimmy forgot everything nice he’d been thinking about.

“You’re kiddin’?” His eyes darted between the embarrassed couple, both sheepish in their matching black sweatpants and hoodies, then back to the middle of the room. “Hell naw.”

“Jim, man…” Jey rushed out, his fingers tugging on the bleached curls at the back of his neck.

“Hell no,” Jimmy repeated. “What in the freaky ass shit was you doin’?” Why he looked right at Rhea when he asked that, he knew. His brother was all kinds of weird, but Rhea brought out a side of Jey that’d make a damn concrete wall blush. “Can y’alls go to one event without breaking shit?”

“It’s not what it looks like.”

Jimmy scoffed, staring in horror at the obliterated and splintered bed frame and mattress half inclined on the floor. “Explains to me what the hell I’m lookin’ at then.”

Jey waved Jimmy into the room, then quickly closed the door behind him. “Uh…” he stammered, begging Rhea with his eyes to help him.

Rhea crossed and uncrossed her arms, feeling ridiculous as Jimmy irritably raised his left brow. The dad in him was strong and every second that ticked by was reminding her of all of the times she was lectured by her parents. “We were goofing around, and the bed just snapped.”

“Goofing around?” Jimmy shook his head. “I kinda gathered that.”

“She’s bein’ honest man.”

“Yeet,” she added, then blushed as both of the guys stared at her in confusion. “We were goofing off. I thought the bed would be strong enough to hold us if I launched myself at him.”

Jimmy tilted his head back, eyes pleading with the spots on the ceiling. “So I’m here because y’all wanted to act out Dirty Dancing or whatever the hell got the damn bed broken.”

“What are we supposed to do, man?”

“Tell the hotel that you guys are the freaks everyone believes you are and leave me alone.” Jimmy was more than done with them. He could’ve spent an extra hour sleeping before he flew back home to help Naomi with their newborn. He was up to his neck in exhaustion, missing his wife and kid, and now stuck with Freak Ass 1 and Freak Ass 2 for the millionth and tenth time. “Pay the bill and promise to not break any more beds.”

“It’s not like we set out to break it!” Rhea jumped in. She shared a tiny smirk with Jey. “It was innocent.”

“And my ass ain’t thick, please.” Jimmy almost kicked at the broken pieces, then paused. The messy sheets told another story and he’d open the window and jump before putting his Forces anywhere near them.

“It started innocently, I swear.” Jey shrugged at his girl. Jimmy already knew they couldn’t behave when left alone with a bed and enough passion to power the entire Vegas Strip. “It’s not my fault when the damn thing collapsed she bounced jus’ right against me.”

Jimmy blanched.

Rhea squeaked in embarrassment.

Jey blushed under his beard, the warmth quickly spreading throughout his body. “Well.”

“Why am I here?”

“Experience?” Rhea replied, smirking in triumph when Jimmy’s body jerked. “Did you forget Nai’s told me things?”

Jey bit into his bottom lip, chomping down on the proud smile that was itching to be set free. Big Jim could act like a damn prude all he wanted, but Jey was following the path his twin had already marched down.

“Yeah, uce.” He held his brother’s shocked gaze. “Tell us exactly how you dealt with this situation.”

———————————♤♡♧♢———————————

The night before

Gold looked so damn good on her. “Mmm.” Jey hummed to himself. He was leaning against the bathroom doorway, watching her remove her Women’s Championship belt and set it on the table.

She’d done her thing, like she’d always done when she set her mind to it, and climbed back to the top of the women’s division. Hell, the men’s division, too.

Rhea was at her best and not one damn person could possibly be her equal. Call him biased, but truth was truth. Sure, she had to work her ass off. Jey’s heart had been in his damned stomach, stewing in nervous acid juices the entire match, so her victory definitely didn’t come without a hard fight. In the end, his princess had held her own and secured the dub.

He prayed the cameras caught his reaction and it’d be in an upcoming episode of Unreal. Let the entire world see that when it came to Rhea Ripley, no one was prouder of her than him. She’d pushed past all of the naysayers, the hatred spewed at her after she won Elimination Chamber, and proved once again why she was twenty-nine and already had her place in the Hall of Fame secured.

She was that damn good, but Jey knew what it felt like to reach the pinnacle and immediately regret it.

It was lonely at the top. Jey would know. He’d clawed and fought his way to the peak of the company, only to be met with pitchforks and a severe case of depression. He hated to sympathize with Roman, but his cousin’s constant need to have a crew with him had been loud and clear. Even if Roman didn’t hold a lot of respect for him and Big Jim, knowing there was someone, anyone, walking beside him while the haters did their best to tear him down... well, it was digestible at least.

They were family, and as terribly screwed up as they were, there was comfort in it. Always had been.

During the Bloodline days, Jey’d been simmering in his own anger and determination. Back then, he was the “yes” man, getting his ass beat and embarrassed every week, all while Roman picked up dub after dub, calling all the plays. Jey wanted to be Roman. He wanted to be the one in charge, not the one getting slapped around like some damn pussy.

He’d been so consumed with having Roman’s life for himself, he’d failed to see the unbearable burden it was to be top dog. Jey finally got glimpses when he stole the Intercontinental title, but beating John Cena at the Royal Rumble had launched him into new territory. He quickly became Atlas, forced to hold the sky up with his bare hands, his arms shaking under the unimaginable weight of doubt.

Jey would be lying if he said the online hate hadn’t gotten to him. It nearly crushed him. He humiliated himself with slips and botches, letting the voices swim between his ears, reaffirming every bad thing he’d ever believed about himself.

He reached the top, but had realistically sank to the bottom of despair.

Then Jimmy dropped his chase for the United States Championship, choosing his twin over a title. Jey had needed his brother more than he knew. Most of all, he’d needed Rhea, and she’d been there, unrelenting in lending him her strength. Hugs between fan events, extra protein bars in her purse, her water jug a little heavier for him to steal sips out of. She didn’t have to say anything significant. Her presence and quiet belief in him had helped him clamp his arms and legs around Gunther. The sleeper hold that’d made the big goon tap out. He’d done that shit.

“You know you love me, I know you care…” He smiled, his attention drawn to his girl swaying her hips as she sang her favorite Justin Bieber song. Jey’d argue Bieber’s newer music was better, but she was partial to “Baby” and he wasn’t going to say anything since it still surprised him seeing her belt that song out like it was a Motionless in White anthem. “Like baby, baby, baby oh.”

“Get it, sexy,” Jey said, stepping into the room, stopping when he reached the end of the bed.

Rhea grinned over her shoulder. “I got you.”

“And your title.”

Her grin widened, pride and exhilaration making her eyes bluer. Hell yeah she got her title back. Rhea meant every word when she said the belt needed her.

She wasn’t a lazy champion. She wanted to fight and prove to her fans that she stood on the foundation she built. Rhea didn’t just walk around making empty proclamations. She’d nearly gotten bested by Jade.

Fact.

The other woman had brought the ultimate challenge, and made Rhea work bloody hard for the win, but Rhea had been fueled by the need to be the better woman, and however close it’d been, she had succeeded in taking out The Storm. How their feud went down didn’t matter, Jade had earned Rhea’s respect. Now, Jade just needed to stay in her lane.

Rhea had taken the title and she was going to make every lie spoken about her stay in the pocket of hell they’d bubbled up from. She was sick to death of having her credibility ridiculed every day by a bunch of pimple-faced basement dwellers. They sat around all day salivating over her body and then had the nerve to say she couldn’t cut it with the best.

Rhea was over them, and she was done with women accusing her of sleeping her way to the top when she was too damn busy sharing her life with the sexiest man she’d ever seen. Rhea worked hard to even get a shot at making it out of Australia, so she wasn’t going to let a bunch of critics— who got their degrees from Jokes on You University— have any sway on her mental health.

She’d woken up the day after Chamber and announced she was moving forward with her head and dignity held high. This was going to be the year Rhea bloody Ripley reintroduced herself.

“You gonna keep singin’ for me, champ?”

“I wasn’t singing for you, love.”

Jey playfully rolled his eyes. “Uh huh. So what’s I gotta do to get you to sing for me then?”

“Hmm.” Rhea turned to face him, her tongue poking at the corner of her mouth. Jey’s eyes narrowed briefly before meeting hers again. She smirked. “As your champion,” she made sure each syllable was pronounced, “you should carry me into the bathroom.”

“I dunno.” He looked her up and down, taking in her loose denim jeans and red tank top. The layering of gold necklaces had been driving him crazy all night. They had no right to tease and show off her cleavage while he had to keep his hands and mouth to himself. “This adventure ends in a bath for two?”

Rhea followed his gaze to the top of her breasts, where the longer necklace sat perfectly in the crease. “You gonna wash my back?”

Jey nodded.

“You gonna wash my hair?”

Jey nodded again, his breath hitching enough to make him have to clear his throat to cover it up. The little menace smiled, her eyes telling him she knew she was saying the right words to turn him on.

It wouldn’t do.

Shaking his head, he closed the gap between them, reached for her hands and pulled her against him.

“Oof,” she breathed out. Her black-stained lips opened in surprise, tempting him like the first time he’d ever sampled the sweet, sweet, taste of her.

He didn’t hesitate, just bent down and sealed his lips to hers, tongue eagerly searching. She squeezed his hands, somehow finding a way to pull him in closer, her tongue eagerly meeting his. “Mmm,” he grunted happily, opening his mouth to suck and taste her more thoroughly.

The kiss was filthy, the noises from their mouths were wet, squelching between grunts of satisfaction and respectful battles for domination.

“Yes,” Rhea answered his unspoken question, her right hand yanking from his. It found its way to his butt, squeezing as much of the rounded flesh she could grab. “You been thinking about this all night, haven’t you?”

Jey moaned against her. Damn it was loud. He didn’t care. “You gonna be quiet and put that mouth to use, baby?”

Rhea pulled back enough to look up at him. “I was kinda hoping you’d put yours to use first.”

“Shit.”

She freed her other hand, moving it to his backside, then squeezed gently, enjoying the way his eyes rolled back into his head. “You’re way too easy, my love.”

“Not when I been watching those boobs bouncing in that damn shirt all night.” He opened his eyes, a slow smile overtaking his face. “How long’s it been since we did it last?”

“This morning.”

Jey wrapped his arms around her back, not complaining when her nails dug into his ass cheeks. “That’s too long.”

Rhea would disagree, but it felt like it’d been an eternity since she’d woken him up with a treat before they grabbed breakfast on the way to the arena. “Yeah.”

Sighing, he kissed the side of her head. “I’m proud of you. So damn proud of the way you carried yourself and put on a hell of a match.”

Her throat tightened. “Thank you, baby.”

He kissed her again, then tugged her in for a long hug. “My girl’s the Women’s Champion and I get her all to myself.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Pfft.” Trailing his hands up to the back of her shoulders, he ignored the goosebumps dotting her skin, carefully brushing her long hair out of the way so he could kiss the spot where her pulse thrummed under her warm skin. “You did that all on your own.”

She shivered. “Babe.”

“Nope.”

“Baby.”

Jey smiled into her skin, letting her intoxicating scent fill his lungs. “I am glad I got to be there wit’ you.”

“This one means more to me than the Women’s World Championship win last year.”

“You kiddin’?”

Rhea stepped into him, surprised there was still space between their bodies, and gave his bottom another squeeze. She couldn’t help it. If she didn’t need her hands for every day tasks and work, they’d be permanently glued to his cheeks. Never in all of her years did she think she’d be an ass girl. She really hadn’t been until Ucey Jucey strutted into her life and she’d caught herself spending way too much time watching him leave the room, the ring, step out of vehicles, bend over… work out… yeah…

Jey Uso’s butt made her feel funny.

He knew it and he happily used it against her.

“I needed that win to get back at Liv and Dom. I didn’t care about the title or what it meant to be a champion. Just blind rage driving me to take back the only thing I wanted.”

“And now?”

She stood up on her toes, kissing the underside of his jaw. His face scrunched above her. Not long into their dating life, she’d found out how ticklish he was, namely around his neck and face. Jey hated it when she played with his ears, but relented by letting her kiss his jaw whenever she wanted. “Now I have everything I could possibly need. The title is a bonus. Something I want because I earned it. I want to make it important, desirable enough for women to pop up from every corner wanting to take it from me. I want it to be a talking point in the women’s locker room, you know? For the girls at home dreaming they can hold it one day.”

Jey stayed quiet for several seconds, their breaths rising and falling in sync. He didn’t think it was possible to love or admire her any more than he already did. As it was, he had to rub his chest throughout the day just to hold in all the excess trying to tear through him.

Then she said and did things that proved what he already knew: she was and is the brightest star in the sky, growing brighter by the day. Her heart was kind even if she made poor decisions. Her mind was thoughtful even when she misjudged or miscalculated.

Over the last two years, Rhea had been repairing some of the darker parts of herself, making amends with the people she had hurt. It gutted him watching her get rejected by some of the women, but she was keeping her head up and taking it all in stride. Jey prayed to reach her level of strength one day.

“Hey?”

“Yeah?”

“Gimme a kiss.”

Rhea pecked at his beard. “Okay.” No questioning his change in direction. Not when she got to kiss him whenever she wanted and whenever he asked her to. With an ease only experience had taught her, she kissed her way up to his eager lips, letting him take over the pace.

Jey was a lover and a giver, his mouth pursed hungrily around hers, tongue tracing her bottom lip, eliciting a deep moan from her throat. His hands tightened around her, a barely audible grunt echoing her. Black lipstick be damned. It was even hotter when she had her makeup on. The temptation to kiss and lick it all off, slowly revealing her blushing face beneath the layers. A new kink had been unlocked.

The taste wasn’t great, but the tangy and salty flavor of her skin made him wanton. Rhea made him wanton like some damn rake living in Bridgerton or some other thirst trap spicy show they’d binge-watched on a dare from Naomi.

Damn Naomi and her stupid dares.

Damn Rhea and her neverending supply of love and devotion for him. He couldn’t be grumpy when the damn sun and moon was in his arms. He’d never loved one person the way he did her, and he wouldn’t change one damn thing about it.

He growled and nipped at her lips.

Rhea playfully bit his upper lip, smiling when his eyes opened with a huff. He kissed her hard before nuzzling his nose in the side of her neck. She smiled wider, letting her hands settle at his waist.

“Who’s easy now?” Jey teased.

“Hush.”

He pressed his lips into her neck, happy to let his breath settle down. “Those girls have an incredible role model, sweetheart. I mean it.”

“You really think so?” she asked, shy and vulnerable in a way few people got to witness. Jey’s honest opinion meant more to her than anyone else’s.

Jey lifted his head, his eyes flashing with pride. “Kno’ so.”

“Thank you.”

“Mmhmm.” He cupped her cheek, tenderly rubbing his thumb over her smudged makeup. “Answer me somethin’.”

Rhea’s brows furrowed as her face tipped into his hand. “What?”

“How are you so beautiful?”

Surprised, she moved her lips around his name. “Baby.” She settled on with a pout and a slight kick of her right foot into his.

Instead of answering, he grinned, his thumbnail poking at the remnants of her blush. “Even now, yous makin’ me insane with how gorgeous you are.”

Rhea huffed, wanting to scold him, but his eyes told her what she already knew. He never lied to her. “Alright, Mr. Charming, you’ve earned yourself a spot in my bath.”

Jey’s thumb stopped on her cheek. “You wasn’t playin’?”

“Nope.”

“Damn.” Smiling to himself, he replaced his thumb with his lips. “Still want me to wash your hair?”

“Yep.”

“Damn,” he said again. “You gonna return the favor?”

Her fingers slipped under his shirt, moving to the small of his back. He shivered, and warm air puffed against her cheek. “On one condition."

He trailed a path of wet kisses to her nose, never fully satisfied with settling for just one. “Anything.”

“You have to carry me into the bathroom."

Jey pulled back, an amused grin twitching at the corner of his mouth. “For real?” She nodded at him, her own grin of amusement made him sigh dramatically. “I gotta carry yo’ ass into every room now?”

She dug her nails into his flesh. “It’s your legal duty, honey bunny.” He grimaced as her nails pushed in a bit further, then nodded like a good boy. “Then you can take a bath with me and the scented bubbles I got.”

He wasn’t even going to pretend to be put off by the bubbles. He’d smelt them at the boutique, and the thought of soaking in that scent with her in his arms was doing everything it was supposed to. “Fine.”

Rhea beamed up at him, her energy renewed. “Okay!”

Backing away, she ignored his frown when her hands slipped from his shirt. It would be too easy to stay there all night, trading kisses and flirtatious comments. After winning her title and doing press for over an hour, Jey had taken her to dinner and a walk around the downtown shopping area. Rhea hadn’t wanted a big deal made out of the evening. Just her man, a good meal, and a paper bag filled with new bath bombs and a bottle of lavender-vanilla bubble bath.

Jey’s treat.

Her heart had been in her eyes.

A luxurious expense Rhea didn’t indulge in often, but she wanted to top off her win with the bathroom’s low lighting and the feel of Jey’s wet and naked skin against hers. “Mmm,” she hummed under her breath.

“Say somethin’?” Jey asked, stepping around her to kick his shoes off.

She shook her head, not wanting to tell him what had her blood pumping hot in her veins. “The adrenaline’s worn off.”

He chuckled in sympathy. “Let’s get you that bath and then lots of cuddles.”

“Oh?” Rhea quickly slid out of her Vans and tossed them next to his shoes. “I get cuddles, too?”

“We’re celebratin’, so don’t be gettin’ too greedy on me.”

“Honey,” she made sure he was watching before she licked across her lips, her eyes looking him up and down, “I’m way past greedy.”

“Gotdamn.” He leaned back, his legs dipping at the knees. “Get that ass in the bathroom.”

Rhea smiled, taking one, two, three steps back. His eyes followed the movement, and the path her fingers were making down the straps of her tank, before pausing at her cleavage.

Jey’s nostrils flared, his eyes widening in anticipation.

Her smile stayed in place, even as her hands walked to the hem of the red tank and slowly, tantalizingly, dragged the material over her stomach, revealing the nude floral pasties covering her pierced buds.

His mouth opened, tongue darting out to wet his dry lips. Damn it all, his woman was a goddess on earth. Jey’s neck flamed with heat, blood already rerouting to the place that was fast waking up for her.

“Goddess.” Slipped out. Rhea didn’t seem to hear him, or chose to ignore him while she finally tugged the shirt off and tossed it at him. Jey caught the red fabric only on instinct, his gaze too busy roaming from her chest to her eyes and back and back again.

She pursed her lips, a move she’d stolen from his playbook. “I’m ready for our bath now.”

“Uh huh.”

Rhea giggled. Usually it was her openly ogling him as he got undressed before bed. It was fun being on this side of it. The one teasing him. “You gotta carry me.”

“Uh huh,” Jey replied, tearing his eyes away from the offending objects covering her nipples. He blew out a breath. “Damn, this ain’t fair, princess.”

“What?” Innocently she gave him a shimmy, giggling again when her breasts jiggled.

His entire body jerked. “Get that ass over here, now.”

She backed up a few more steps, closer to the door, her heart starting to hammer in excitement. The things this man did to her, and the things he made her want to do. Be carefree, be loved without judgment.

“Baby?”

Rhea took off and launched herself into his arms. She underestimated her speed and strength. Jey barely had enough time to get his hands full over her butt before he fell backwards onto the bed.

“Holy shit!”

“Oh shit!”

They yelled at the same time.

Jey tried to roll them so her head wouldn’t bounce off of his chest, but it was too late. Her forehead knocked into his collarbone, eliciting pained grunts from both of them.

“Ow,” Rhea groaned. “That was a terrible idea.”

He slipped his hands between them to push her up. “Your head aight, baby?”

“Ow,” she repeated, feeling embarrassed. “It stings. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m tough.”

The bed made a cracking-splintering noise.

Jey lifted his head. “The hell was that?”

“I don’t know.” Rhea sat up, her bottom rubbing into his crotch. He hissed, his legs kicking out in front of him. “Sorry,” she whispered, listening as the bedframe creaked. Their shifting weight unknowingly made the wood panels beneath them splinter. “Shit, babe. What’s happening?”

He turned his head to the foot of the bed, following the sound of the wood cracking. Blindly, he reached his hands out to wrap around her waist. “Somethin’s wrong with the bed. Let’s try to carefully scoot off.”

Rhea nervously bobbed her head. “Count of three?”

“One.” Jey kept his eyes on the foot of the bed.

“Two.”

“Three.” Holding his breath, he used his core strength to give one big push down the side of the bed. Rhea’s hips knocked into his in her effort to be as weightless as possible. Just the heat of her alone was going to send him into cardiac arrest. He released his breath, eyes meeting hers. “Careful,” he gritted out.

She whispered an apology. Her own desire peaking at the wrong time. Rhea’s breasts hung between them, the flower pasties impatiently waiting for Jey to rip them off. “What now?”

“Wanna try one more push? My feet should touch the floor.”

Together, they managed to scoot another inch, Jey’s socks met the carpet. He wiggled his feet until he felt confident enough that he could spring off of the bed with her in his arms. “Grip my waist, sweetheart. It’s gonna take all the gas in the tank to get up.”

Just as Rhea got her hands on his waistband, the headboard snapped, detaching from the frame. Both of their heads swiveled in shock, completely missing the fissuring happening down the side framing.

Jey rocked them, ordering her to hang on tight.

It was no use.

The bottom half of the bed collapsed, the mattress slipped down toward the carpet, causing them to slide several inches. Jey yelled out and dug his heels into the carpet, his socks putting up an admirable fight.

“Holy shit!” Rhea screeched in horror. The snapping and cracking had stopped, but her heart was violently stampeding against her ribs.

Jey squeezed his eyes closed, his hands patting around her backside, seeking his comfort place. “Some honeymoon,” he joked after a few moments.

“What?”

He opened his right eye, his lips lifting in humor. “Married my best friend three days ago, and we ended up breakin’ the bloody bed.”

Rhea stared at him in confusion, then affection. “We broke the bloody bed.”

His laugh started low in his belly, building and building until it burst from his chest.

She loved Jey’s laugh. It was every level of adorable… and contagious. Soon, her own body was shaking with laughter. “I can’t…” she gasped out, “believe the bloody bed just collapsed.”

“Dafuq we gonna do now?”

Rhea shrugged, the motion making her breasts jiggle.

Jey’s mouth fell open.

The broken bed poofing from existence.

“We gotta deal with somethin’ else first.”

———————————♤♡♧♢———————————

Hours later

She yawned loudly, the force of it making Jey’s head pop up. He smiled fondly at her, waving her over to him.

“Is my baby sleepy?”

“Not even sure I’m mentally here anymore.”

Jey bit the inside of his cheek, not daring to joke and ask “are you ever?” She looked dead on her feet tossing her dirty clothes into her suitcase. Her hair was damp from their bath, shirt and sweats loose, feet covered in a pair of his socks. As sexy as she’d looked all evening, this version of her was his favorite. “I love ya down bad, sweetheart.”

Rhea smiled sleepily, quickly zipping her suitcase then turning to meet his soft eyes. “I love ya down bad, too, husband.”

His heart high-fived his rib bones. Stepping closer to her, he paused to take in how damn beautiful she was. “Never gonna tire hearin’ you call me that.”

“Husband?” Jey’s eyes brightened, the fine lines spreading enough for her breath to hiccup. He was hers… how had she done anything good enough to deserve his love? “I’m so happy we did it.”

“Best decision I’ve eva made.” He took her hand, gently tugging her into him. She tucked her head under his chin, giving him a tight hug before leaning back to meet him for a kiss. “Love you,” he mumbled against her lips.

“Mmm,” she sighed contendedly. “You wanna put my rings back on me?”

Hell yeah he did. Jey walked her backwards to the nightstand, both of them laughing at the splintered state of the bed. Their wedding rings sparkled up at them under the light. Rhea had fallen in love with a pear cut black diamond ring set, and he’d chosen a yellow gold and black band that matched hers. When they got home, they’d have to send hers in to get resized, but they were snug enough she still wanted to wear them. Jey was already obsessed watching the way the symbol of their love looked on her.

In the last three days, he’d turned into Gomez Addams, constantly kissing down her arm until he reached the rings on her finger.

She was his wife.

He was her husband.

Rhea giggled, knowing he was lost in his thoughts again. “C’mon, love. My finger already feels naked without them.” She waved her hand in front of his face, prompting him to scoop up her rings and shyly slip them on her, their vows dancing in his eyes. He then handed her his ring and she kissed the cold band before sliding it over his knuckle, admiring the perfect fit.

“Better?”

“Much.” She stood on her toes and kissed the corner of his mouth. “How upset is everyone going to be with us?”

Jey grimaced. “Jim’s gonna be cool with it.” Rhea’s parents already knew. She’d called them outside the corner chapel they’d chosen, unable to go through with the spur-of-the-moment wedding without her folks giving their final blessing. Priest was gonna kick his ass and tell him they needed to speak “hombre a hombre.” His location tracker was one hundred going to be turned on for that conversation. “Nai’s gonna be furious.”

Rhea’s eyes clouded briefly with guilt. “She’ll understand. I hope.”

He cupped her chin, sighing with the same guilt. “When she talks to us again, we’ll let her throw us a reception. No questions asked.”

“Now I’m worried for other reasons.”

He shook his head, dipping down to kiss her forehead.

Together, as husband and wife, they’d survive Naomi’s wrath. It’d be difficult, but Jey wasn’t against using his new nephew as a shield… or Naomi’s love for her Big Momma.

Resolved, he kissed his wife again.

His wife.

𓍯𓂃𓏧 the end