“Wake up, princess.”

    Steel’s gravely morning voice caused a stirring in my belly, but that didn’t prompt me to wake up. Being a full-time student and working part time at the day care was kicking my butt. He gave me the option to be a stay-at-home wife, but I declined. I wanted to have some kind of purpose other than serving him. Thankfully, he didn’t object.

    Whisper soft kisses on my inner thighs caused my eyes to pop open from a light sleep. My hands easily found the carpet of soft curls on top of my husband’s head. ording to him, today was our six-month wedding anniversary. I didn’t know six-month anniversaries were a thing, but he was right.

    It had been six months since we stood in front of his sister, Kelsea, and our babies and dered our undying love for each other. From that day to this one, we had been living in wedded bliss. Steel wanted to take me back to Bali where we’d spent our honeymoon, but I just wanted to rest and spend the day with him. He worked so much, and I was enrolled back in school, so I valued every second we spent together. With a final kiss to my stomach, he pushed back onto his haunches as he lifted his eyes to me.

    “Get up, princess. I have a surprise for you.”

    I pouted at his deration. “I didn’t get you anything, baby.”

    That got a grin out of him. “Your presence is present enough.”

    “It’s not, but I’ll make it up to you.”

    “Welle on so we can hurry back in here. I wanna finish unwrapping my present.”

    “Hush,” I said, giggling as I threw my legs over the side of the bed.

    My husband was so sexy as he padded out of our bedroom dressed in only a pair of ck briefs. As I trailed behind him, a smile lifted my cheeks. Who would have thought we would be here? Certainly not me.

    “Steel, where are we going? I need to know how to dress,” I asked once I spotted him in the living room.

    “We’re going upstairs, baby. Come as you are.”

    My brows knitted together, but I didn’t question him. What were we going to do upstairs? He extended his hand and waited for me to take it before continuing his journey upstairs.

    “What’s up here, Steel?”

    “Would it still be a surprise if I told you?” he asked, gently squeezing my hand.

    “No, but I wouldn’t have to wonder.”

    “Well now you don’t,” he said, pushing the door open and pulling me up until we were side by side.

    “Steel.” I spoke breathlessly.

    “Go ahead. Look around.”

    The undeniable aroma of coffee filled the room, and I quickly found the source when I spotted a drink station with one of those fancy expresso makers, a coffee pot, and an electric tea kettle on it. There were various vors of tea and coffee that I would have to exploreter. I was too overwhelmed by the rest of the room to put my focus there.

    I was speechless as he nudged me further into the living room. My giant bookshelf had been turned into an entire library. Not just one wall, the whole living room was nothing but wall to wall books. That’s aside from the enormous bean bag that had to be as big as a full-sized bed. I rushed over and threw myself on the bean bag and closed my eyes once I felt howfortable it was.

    “I told you I would build you a library one day. You like it, baby? I figured when you’re tired of me following you all over the house like a sick puppy, you coulde up here for an escape.”

    I opened my eyes and smiled, but his statement bothered me. “You know I love spending time with you, right? I don’t need to escape, Steel. I’m not going anywhere.”

    “I know that, princess. You didn’t answer my question though.”

    I pushed to sit up, taking his hand when he extended it. Once I was standing in front of my sweet husband, I reached up and raked my fingers through his beard. I loved the way it felt against my fingertips.

    “I love it, and I love you, Steel. Thank you, baby.”

    “Anything for my princess. Now let me unwrap my gift.”

    I giggled like a little girl as he grabbed me and fell back onto the bean bag. “Oh, so that’s what you got this for?” I teased him.

    “Yes and no. I didn’t even think about having you syed out across this thing until you were spread eagle on it a few seconds ago. I’m going to behave because I promised that you could read all day without me hounding you. Go ahead and pick out a book. I’m going to give you some time up here to soak it all in.”

    “But I love it when you hound me. Stay.”

    “Den, we already have ns with your favorite little people at eight tonight. Ang and the kids areing. I told King we were taking him to see some movie about cars or cats or something. He talks so fast sometimes I don’t know what the hell he is talking about.”

    “Don’t do my baby like that. You just make sure you don’t go to sleep on the movie this time.”

    “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll be there.”

    “Well right now,e make love to your wife, then we can curl up on this giant bean bag while I read, and you sleep as usual.”

    My husband actually slept now. Between us jet setting all over the country for his business and wheeling and dealing all day, he liked toy in myp and sleep while I read and sang. It was refreshing to see him actually get the rest he says had eluded him for years. I loved being that space offort for him because Lord knows he was that for me.

    “As long as you know I’m going to sleep as soon as you put that pussy on me.”

    Moving over to the bookshelf, I looked back and rolled my eyes yfully. “Don’t you always?”

    “Yes, ma’am,” he said as he gotfortable on the bean bag. “Comey on my chest and sing to me. I was up half the night making sure this was ready by the time you woke up. You know I’ll be knocked out by the time you finish the song. I’ll get my gift after my nap. I want to be powered up for this one. I gotta remind you why you married my mean ass.”

    “You’re so silly.” I giggled despite myself before crawling up his long frame until my head rested on his chest.

    “Thank you so much foring home, Dev. I love you, baby.”

    “I love you too,” I said, tilting my head back, signaling him to give me his lips. After a quick peck, Iid my head back down and snuggled up closer to him. Steel’s fingers tangled in my hair. He massaged my scalp as his breathing slowed to a steady pace. Once I wasfortable, I started to sing our song. “Baby, I would risk it all.”