Page 99 of Rival Season
The ceremony is a blur. I hardly remember anything other than the love emanating from Penn as he looks at me and vows to love me forever. When we started our fake dating agreement three years ago, my time with this man felt ephemeral…now here I am, binding myself to him forever. And I couldn’t be happier.
In what feels like the blink of an eye, we’re announced as husband and wife.
Penn dips me back, his strong arms holding me effortlessly as he presses his soft mouth to mine. I sink into the kiss, savoring my first kiss with my husband. His tongue meets the crease of my mouth and I open to him as he takes our kiss deeper. I’m still just as affected by every touch and kiss from him as when we first started dating. Nobody has ever made me feel the way Penn Matthews does…and now, we’re officially married. Our wedding party and our guests cheer as we pull away from each other, and then Penn grabs my hand, raising it in the air.
Our reception feels like a party with our favorite people from the moment we walk through the door. We kept the guest list small; our best friends, Cory and Cassie, Bertie…and of course a whole hockey team and the Lions coaching staff, none of whom waste any time hitting up the open bar and getting down on the dance floor.
“Want to dance?” My husband asks me, a sexy little smirk playing on his lips as he looks at me.
“Yes! I just need to do one thing first.”
Penn watches me kick off my heels and replace them with the vintage loafers I bought that are perfect for dancing in.
“They’re not very wedding-y, but I loved them,” I explain.
Penn shakes his head as he eyes the shoes, then looks at me with a fond smile. “I love them, too. They’re so you.”
I smile back, basking in his appreciation. The fact that he sees me…and wholeheartedly loves me forthe true person I am at my core is the best feeling in the world.
After hours of dancing tangled in each other’s arms, watching guests devour the delicious catered meal, and doing group tequila shots—which Fisher claimed wasfor old time’s sake, but I’m pretty sure he was just trying to get everyone rowdy-drunk—we’re sent off in a limo to our wedding suite for the night.
Penn can’t keep his hands off me during our short ride up the elevator to our room. When the elevator door opens, Penn lifts me into his arms and carries me into the honeymoon suite, pausing only to scan the key card and push the door open. I expect Penn to take me straight to bed, but he surprises me by gently dropping me down on the sofa in the living room of the suite. There’s a white box on an ottoman with a fluffy pink bow and a gift tag that saysto my wife.
He sits beside me and smiles. “Open it.”
“Right now?” I ask, my voice coming out in a squeak. This guy and his gifts, he’s always spoiling me with surprises. “Couldn’t it wait?”
Penn smirks, resting his hand on my upper thigh. The warmth of his hand through the silk of my dress heats me from my core to my fingertips. “I know you’re dying to get me naked, but you have the rest of your life to stare at my fine ass.” He winks and I roll my eyes with a laugh.
Penn picks up the package and places it on my lap. I stare at him with one eyebrow arched, thinking this must be some kind of lingerie. Removing the bow and lifting the lid, I blink down at a…hockey jersey. It’s not a Lions jersey, so I pull it out to inspect it. My heartbeat quickens when I read the logo on the front, “Safe Harbor Stingrays.”
My eyes fly to my husband’s grinning face. “What is this?”
“The Bay Area’s newest youth hockey team. Fully funded so kids from all backgrounds can play hockey without any barriers to entry.”
I gape at him in full-blown shock. “How did you do this?”
He drags a hand through his hair, like he’s suddenly a little bashful. “Well, me and Bertie have been working on this project for the last year. I wanted to keep it a surprise for you. I thought telling you about it tonight would be the perfect wedding gift.”
My vision blurs with tears, my chin trembling. I can hardly believe he made the time to organize a hockey team for local foster kids…actually, Icanbelieve it. Because the man I married is just that amazing.
He looks at me with wide-eyed panic. “Hazel, if you want something else for a wedding gift, it’s no big deal. Whatever you want, it’s yours.” Penn tries to take the jersey from my hands but I yank it back, bringing it to my face.
“This is the best wedding gift I could ever receive.” I sniff, blinking back tears at his thoughtfulness. “This is the kind of gift that shows me your heart, Penn. It shows me what an incredible man I married…although I already knew that.” I huff a laugh, and his shoulders relax. “I love it. I can't wait to watch Stingray games.”
His mouth pulls up in a smirk. “Me and the guys are taking turns coaching with a few of the foster dads.”
I feel a tear break free as it flows down my cheek. Penn leans in and dries the tear up with his thumb. “Don’t cry, Baby.”
I offer him a wobbly smile. “You’re just such a good man.”
Penn’s eyes narrow, his expression morphing from sweetness to mischievous. “I’m not always good,” he whispers, leaning in and hovering his lips just under my jaw. “In fact, I can be very, very naughty.” Penn presses a kiss to the sensitive skin, his tongue peeking out and tasting me.
I giggle, but my laughter ends abruptly when his big hand slides further up my thigh until he’s grabbing me around the waist and hauling me onto his lap. I inhale a gasp as my silky dress bunches up around my thighs, and I straddle my husband. Looking into his gorgeous blue eyes, I bring my hands to his black bowtie, then untie it and toss it on the floor.
Penn’s eyes smolder, making me melt from the inside out as I slowly unbutton his jacket and shirt. He leans forward, shrugging out of the fabric until his bare chest greets me with all its tawny, inked skin. Each tattoo across his arms and chest beckon my lips, begging me to kiss each one.
Leaning down, I kiss his shoulder, loving the way his warm skin feels against my lips and tongue.
