by Piper Rayne
He runs a hand over his forehead. “Phew, thank goodness you’re my first wife.”
“What would I find if I did?” I hold my breath while I wait for his answer.
“You’d find out your husband lives a boring life. You’d probably see a lot of pictures of me in the ring. Some out with friends, and I’m not gonna lie, probably some women. But I’m not the lothario you think I am.”
“I never outright said that.”
The sun is almost down past the mountains and Logan lays out a blanket for us. “I can read between the lines when it comes to your dad. He cheated, so every man must.”
I exhale loudly. “It’s hard for me to trust guys in general, and with the number of temptations you must face, it’s hard to conceive that you could be faithful, if I’m being honest. I’ve seen a lot of selfish, impulsive behavior hurt the people I care about over the years.”
He turns to me, his thumb brushing along my cheek. “I always want you to be honest. It’s the only way I can prove you wrong. I’m in this, Nikki, one-hundred percent.”
The fire reflecting in his blue eyes draws me in. I sink farther into him, unable to deny the attraction that’s been building since I woke up as his wife.
“My question is, are you one-hundred percent in this?” His voice is rough and gravelly.
“It’s really hard for me. I’m still scared about getting hurt, but…” I swallow hard and take the step I need to if I ever want to move forward with my life. “I’m in this, Logan.”
He smiles, and my insides warm from his happiness. “Can I ask what changed your mind last night?”
I tear my gaze away and study the fire in front of us. “Molly told me to look at our wedding pictures. And there it was… the way you were looking at me. Even though you were drunk, there was this kind and loving expression pouring out of your eyes and I finally realized I’d be an idiot to not explore this.”
He captures my lips in a quick kiss. “Thank you for trusting me.”
I nod, unable to speak because although I’m here to explore this, I can’t help but also have my exit plan prepared.
“I have another question then,” he says, and I’m scared about what he’s going to ask. “Are you cool coming with me to Vegas in three weeks?”
“I thought your fight wasn’t for another month?” I ask.
“I always go early for promotions and weigh-in, get my head in the game.”
This is when reality will come bearing down on us. “I’ll definitely be there for the fight, but I have to work. I can’t go down with you right away.”
He lowers me down on the blanket so he’s half on top of me. “It’s okay. No pressure. I just want you ringside when I win.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “Then I’ll be there.”
He kisses me one more time then rolls over and I’m left staring at a sky full of stars. His hand slides into mine, weaving our fingers together.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmurs.
“It’s breathtaking,” I add. “I’m not sure the last time I stargazed.”
“So the hike was worth it?” He laughs and I look over at him.
“Very worth it.” I squeeze his hand. “Thank you.”
“Thank you, Nikki.”
We’re silent for a while, then he points out the Big Dipper and a few other constellations. When we’re about to retire inside the tent, a shooting star falls from the sky.
“Make a wish, Nik,” he says, using my shortened name and something about that feels oh so right.
I close my eyes and silently wish that this marriage works out. My eyes open to find Logan smiling at me, then he takes my head in his hand.
“Me too,” he whispers and his lips land on mine.
I still worry about how I could fall for someone so fast, but I’m trying not to question logic at this point. I have to stop myself from second-guessing everything. Logan Stone isn’t the man I thought he was. Not even close. He’s way better.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Do your wifely duties involve pulling splinters out of my ass?”
Logan
If someone asked me weeks ago if I thought I’d actually be successful in getting Nikki to cross that bridge with her hand in mine, I’m not sure I would’ve taken that bet. We still have a long way to go, but her transformation amazes me. She’s taking the initiative in showing me affection now, something I wouldn’t have thought possible a few weeks ago.
“You’re up too early,” she says, coming out of the tent and cozying up to me next to the fire.
I’ve never had a night like last night. Sex under the stars and a night alone in the wilderness. Add it to the list of things I never would’ve thought I’d do. Especially when I was growing up.
“I kind of like this outdoors thing,” I say, and she laughs.
“Are you going to quit fighting and become a survivalist now?”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “I think it might be my calling.”
“Just an FYI then, I’m not an outdoorsy person.”
“I figured that out last night when you wouldn’t leave the tent to pee.”
She giggles. “Not that I didn’t fully enjoy my night last night.”
I glance at her head on my shoulder. “Best night of my life.”
She rolls her eyes and I put my finger under her chin to make sure she’s looking into my eyes.
“Best night of my life,” I repeat and place a chaste kiss on her lips.
She smiles and tips her head again to stare at the fire. “Tonight is duo night in town.”
“Duo night?”
She nods. “Two businesses sort of merge together for the night and the town comes out to support them. It’s just something fun.”
“And you bring this up why?” I hope I know why she’s bringing this up, but I don’t want to assume anything.
She pushes her body into mine. “I thought we’d go together. We can out ourselves.”
“Doesn’t everyone already think we’re out?”
She laughs. “My family knows something is up, believe me. They might act like they think we’re happy, but they know this was a Vegas wedding and they know me.”
I turn to face her. “You want to be an actual couple now?”
We haven’t had the full conversation, and although it sounds a tad high school and juvenile, a large part of me wants to hear her say she’s mine and vice versa.
“Logan, why don’t you just tell me what you want?” She straddles me and puts her hands around my neck.
I look at her. “Are you really my wife?”
She holds up her left hand and wiggles her fingers. I bring it to my mouth and kiss the inside of her wrist.
“I’m going to need a verbal affirmation.”
“Yes, I’m your wife,” she says before kissing me. “Although I will admit this seems weird that we went from strangers to married and dating, but we’re married.”
“It is unusual, but it feels right, don’t you think?”
She laughs. “Never in a million years did I think I’d find an MMA fighter who believes in signs and fate and marry him the night I met him.”
She presses her body to mine and my hands fall to her ass, grinding my hard length along her core. She starts grinding of her own accord and my lips seek out her neck. It’s hard to imagine ever getting enough of her.
Abruptly, she slides back on my legs and looks around for a second. Adam told me that we probably needed to get out of here by early morning because hikers will start showing up. It’s still pretty early, so I have time to take her right here.
She slides off my legs and drops to her knees in front of the fire, her eyes never leaving me. “Someone is wishing me good morning.” Her hands go to the sides of my shorts and I rise up from the log to help her take them off.
“He was feeling pretty neglected.” I run my hand through her hair. The fact her messy ponytail has more hair out than in and she feels comfortabl
e like this in my presence makes me happy. This is something I’ve wanted in a relationship for so long. Authenticity.
She runs her palms up my thighs and grabs my length with one hand. “Let me make it up to him.”
Her small hand grips my dick, and she pumps it a few times, up and down, twirling around the top.
“Fuck, that feels good.” My head rolls back between my shoulder blades for a moment before the urge to see her taking me in her mouth is more important.
She leans forward, her tongue parting her lips, and I watch with fascination as she moves closer to my dick. At first, she licks up the length of me, her mouth surrounding the tip, then she’s swallowing me down her throat.
“Fucking hell, you’re good at that.”
She glances up at me through her thick eyelashes and smiles, swirling her tongue along the tip again before she eases me down her throat, sucking and pumping.
My hands have nowhere to go, so they fist in her hair. My hips rock, loving how deep she’s taking me. She knows way too much about how to get me off and I’m riding on the edge, not wanting this feeling to go away. Not so soon. But her free hand cradles my balls, and I can’t for the life of me hold out any longer.
“I’m coming,” I say, my fingers clenching in her blonde strands. She stays in place and I take that as a sign that she’ll be swallowing, which makes any small amount of willpower I had left crash land.
“And here we have this gorgeous clearing where we’ll stop for a snack,” a woman’s voice says.
Nikki lifts her head and my cum sprays her in the eye. She rears back and I rock forward, my ass sliding along the wood log.
We both look left to see a group of girls and their leader dressed in green, but the smell of hair burning takes my attention back to Nikki. Smoke’s coming from behind her head. I tackle her to the ground, and she smacks me on the back.
“The girls. Logan, get off of me!” she yells.
“Your hair is on fire,” I mumble.
“Miss Hartford, what are those two doing?”
The woman screeches at my naked ass up in the air.
“My hair!” Nikki turns her head and comes away with singed strands.
Fuck, how did our amazing night turn so disastrous?
“Excuse me, you two, I have impressionable girls here.” The leader stomps over to us.
I get off Nikki, quick to grab my pants and hide behind the tent until I’m fully covered, but the pain in my ass is killing me. Nikki quickly uses her shirt to wipe her face.
“I’m so sorry,” Nikki says. “My husband and I were just waking up.”
I come from around the tent and put my arm around Nikki, looking at the back of her head. She’s not going to be happy. A few inches of hair will have to be cut off.
“I see that. You know camping is prohibited here, don’t you?” She digs into her backpack and pulls out a cell phone.
Shit. Adam told me that, but said we’d be fine if we were out early this morning. I didn’t think he meant the ass crack of dawn though.
I do not need this being reported anywhere. Not when Nikki and I are finally getting somewhere. If she sees the media storm that can come from being with someone like me, she’s sure to leave me.
“Ma’am, this was an honest mistake. I tried to do something romantic for my wife.” I approach her, leaving Nikki near the tent.
“What you two were doing was not romantic,” the woman says, glaring at me.
The girls all giggle behind her, one saying what she saw and the others chiming in.
“I understand what you must be thinking, but please, what can we do to make this right? I can buy your entire collection of cookies.”
Nikki comes over. “They aren’t Girl Scouts, Logan. They’re in survivalist training.”
Could have fooled me. “Oh, sorry.”
“Yes, we build fires and hunt and fish. Speaking of, did you know that fire you started is against code for this area?” One of the girls comes up with an open book. “We should call the park ranger and get them fined.”
Miss Hartford poises her phone in front of her, staring at me.
I hold up my hands. “Okay, okay. We made a few mistakes.”
“Go ahead and call, my brother’s a ranger,” Nikki says.
I look over my shoulder and see her standing there with her arms crossed and hip cocked.
“No!” I hold up my hand. “Listen, you look like tough girls, but how about you come down to Pump It Up one day and I can show you a few moves to defend yourselves?”
The girl who probably knows the book she’s reading by heart looks at her leader. “It would be good for us to learn some self-defense.”
The woman looks at me. “How do I know you’re qualified?”
“Qualified? He’s Logan Stone,” Nikki chimes in again.
I wince. I was gonna try to keep that under wraps until they agreed.
“Logan Stone?” the girl asks and looks behind her, where the other three girls have pulled out their phones.
Once they’ve obviously got an image of me on their phones, they all giggle and show one another. The one with blonde braids brings her phone up to the girl with the leader.
She reads it then looks at me, and I feel as though I’m about to be interrogated by the world’s youngest federal agent. “He is, Miss Hartford. He’s at the end of his career, but he’s telling the truth.”
“End of his career?” Nikki comes up to me and swings her arm through mine. “He holds the title, and he fights again soon where he’ll keep the title. End of his career?” she scoffs. “Check your facts.”
“It says he’s thirty-four.” The girl looks at Nikki like duh.
I pat Nikki’s hand. I appreciate her sticking up for me, but the girl is right. I’m nearing the end of my career if I want to go out on top.
“Well, it only means I’m more knowledgeable, doesn’t it?” I say.
The whole group looks me over.
I’m starting to feel a little insecure until Miss Hartford sighs and nods. “Okay. But you two need to pack up your stuff and leave. Make sure you put out that fire.”
“Do you own this piece of land?” Nikki asks.
I laugh and put my body in front of hers, leading her back to our tent. “Thank you. I’m at Pump It Up every day from one to three, so just stop by and let me know when you want to plan some time with the girls.”
“Logan, we don’t have to leave. Adam will come and tell them.”
I shake my head. “Let’s just pack up and get home. Plus, you need to see someone about your hair.”
She touches the back. “How am I going to explain this? I can’t very well tell people that I burned off my hair giving you a blow job.”
“We also have another problem,” I tell her.
“What?”
“Do your wifely duties involve pulling splinters out of my ass?”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”
I nod and her head falls back in laughter. I could watch her laugh all day, but I shake my head and get started folding the tent up.
After we have everything packed, we head back to my truck.
“Hey,” I say to her once we’re secure in the cab.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for sticking up for me back there.”
She might not know how much that means to me, but it does. Rarely in my life has anyone gone to bat for me, and it only proves my gut was right to follow her up here.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Um… it was Dad.”
Nikki
“This isn’t something I thought my wife would be doing until at least ten years into the marriage,” Logan says, lying on his stomach on the bed.
“Just hold still.” I pluck another splinter out of his ass. “I’d rather do it now when your ass looks like this than when it’s all saggy.”
“Are you suggesting my ass is gonna be saggy in ten years?”
“Well, you are at the end of your career,” I joke
, laughing so he knows I’m only kidding. The way his eyes were so grateful and caring when he thanked me for sticking up for him… I’ve never felt so appreciated for doing such a small thing.
“Funny. Let’s remember the vows, for better or worse.”
I pluck out another one.
“Ouch!”
“Sorry.” I cringe. “Isn’t that the problem though? I don’t remember the vows.”
“Just another reason for us to repeat them.”
I freeze with the tweezers over another splinter. “What?”
He tries to glance over his shoulder but can’t. “I want us to renew our vows at some point.”
I grab another splinter. “Like when?”
“Relax. Not until my fight is over and we’ve dated for a little bit.”
I laugh because surely that sentence has never been said before. “Let’s get all these splinters out and then my hair cut. One problem at a time.”
I hear the downstairs door open and then, “Logan!” I tense for a moment.
“Busy, Mom, come back later,” he yells back, and the tension leaves my muscles.
Of course it’s Pauline. I need to stop thinking some woman is going to come in and throw a landmine into our situation.
“You’re never busy for me, unless Nikki’s with you.” I hear her footsteps on the stairs.
“She is with me.”
“Hi, Pauline,” I say with the hope it will keep her out of here. Not that it’s my ass on display.
“Oh, sweetie, you’re who I wanted to see. There’s all this talk about this duo night.” She walks into the room and rears back in horror. “You don’t have hemorrhoids again, do you?”
“I’m tapping out,” I say.
“Jesus, Mom, I’ve never had hemorrhoids. And please leave.” He throws his head into the pillow and screams. “I swear, Nikki, I’ve never had hemorrhoids.”
Pauline strolls into the room and looks over my shoulder. “Really? I swear it was you. Maybe that was Bert. He was an old boyfriend.” She touches my arm. “Always had one health problem or another.”
