Page 123 of Moros

“Baby, hey.” I pried her arms from around me so I could see her face. “You don’t have to explain. I understand.”

“Some men would want their wives to only have their name. They’d see hyphenating it as disrespectful.”

“Some men are idiots. As long as your name ends with mine, it doesn’t matter what’s between. Okay?”

Ryanne nodded.

I tried slipping the ring on her finger, but she only hugged me—this time tighter.

When I was able to slip the ring onto her finger, she squealed happily, kissed me then grabbed her phone. I eavesdropped on her video call to hear Pasha screaming.

“He didn’t!” Pasha cheered.

“He did!” Ryanne exclaimed. “I’m not dreaming, right?”

The two of them had become close. It was a joy watching Ryanne falling for Pasha—the two of them going out together. They did everything from shopping, to girls’ days, to visiting the university campus where Ryanne had started attending for a degree in social work.

For a week after her birthday, Pasha flew Ryanne to Bangkok so they could attend some kind of fanmeet for an actor they were both obsessed with.

I’d merely kissed her at the airport and went home.

“Sit tight!” Pasha told her. “I’m coming over! I must see that rock in person!”

Ryanne squealed.

“I’ll have the wine ready!” Ryanne promised.

I groaned.

Ryanne returned to the room on the phone with Morgana and by the time she was off the call, I’d changed and was picking up my keys.

“I know you and Pasha are going to be having a day,” I said around stolen kisses. “I’ll spank you for interrupting our day together later.”

Ryanne bit her bottom lip.

“I look forward to that.” She kissed me deeper. “I’ll but on the blue bikini specifically for my punishment.”

“Damn, woman.”

Ryanne giggled then arched a serious brow at me.

“But I needed to show her.” She told me. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“You’d better.”

Pasha arrived as I was opening the front door to leave.

She jumped into my arms, hugging me tightly and cheering.

“Finally!” She told me once she was back on her feet. “Now, scoot. I need to have Mrs. Weston alone for a little while. You can come back later.”

I looked over her head to frown at Ryanne who was blowing me kisses.

Shaking my head, I winked at her and descended the stairs.

With the dying sun still warm on my skin with the cold air around me, I twirled the key chain around a finger, while whistling and making my way to my truck.

THE END