As we pull onto the long drive that leads to the small cabin, I notice a glow coming from inside and look over at Beau. The grin on his face tells me he’s up to something.

“Beau Bennett, what did you do?”

Bringing the top of my hand to his lips, he says, “You’ll see.”

After he shuts off the engine, he quickly jumps out to open my door for me. Surprising me, he pulls me up into his arms as soon as I step out. “What are you doing?”

“Carrying you over the threshold,” he whispers, leaning in to kiss my lips.

“You’ve been dying to do this, haven’t you?”

He laughs. “You have no idea.”

Using the hand wrapped under my thighs, he opens the door and carries me inside. What I see makes the tears build in my eyes again. There’s a path of rose petals and candles leading to our bedroom, and through the open door, I see the white comforter covered in the red petals.

“When did you have time to do all this?” I whisper, looking up at him. The huge grin on his face shows just how proud he is.

He leans down to kiss my lips. “I had some help.”

“It’s beautiful.”

We make our way to the bedroom, me still wrapped in his arms. The light scent of lavender fills my senses … I don’t know if I’ve ever been more relaxed in my entire life.

“I’m going to set you down now, baby.”

The backs of my legs brush against the mattress as he sets me down on my feet. He uses his hands on my h*ps to turn me so my back is to his chest.

“I love this dress, but it’s time for it to come off,” he whispers, his warm breath against my ear. A tingle runs down my spine as he slowly unzips me. I don’t know if he’s afraid of ruining my white, mermaid style dress or if he’s trying to torture me, but I’ve never been more eager to get my clothes off.

As soon as the dress slides down my body, I face him, making quick work of his silver tie. Beau Bennett isn’t the type to get all dressed up in a suit, and I should be savoring this, but I need to feel is skin against mine. When my fingers touch the top button of his dress shirt, I glance up at his face. He’s taking in my bare br**sts and my blue lace panties I bought just for this.

“You look nervous, Mr. Bennett,” I say as my fingers continue to free his buttons one by one.

His voice shakes when he responds. “It’s my first time making love to my wife, and I want to make sure it’s perfect.”

“It’s already perfect,” I reply, softly kissing his lips.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I smile, sliding his white shirt off his shoulders.

He grabs my face in his hands and kisses me deeply while I loosen his belt and unbutton his pants. There’s a part of me that wants to hurry so he can bury himself inside me, where I’ve wanted him all day, and then there’s a part of me who wants to take this slow so I can memorize every touch. There’s just something about this night that makes it feel like our first time all over again.

“Wrap your arms around my neck.” I do as he asks, and he wastes no time lifting me with his hands on the back of my legs. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I press my lips to his, feeling the moisture pool between my legs.

He carefully lowers us both to the bed, kissing me again before moving his mouth down my body. I pull his hair between my fingers as his warm lips touch my stomach. I’m not far from begging when his fingers finally slip in the band of my panties and slide them down my legs.

His lips work their way back up my body, stopping to circle my br**sts with his tongue. When I groan, he looks up at me with a huge grin on his face. “Are you ready for me, baby?”

“God, yes,” I pant, wrapping my legs around him again.

“I love you so much, Mrs. Bennett.” His lips connect with mine as he slowly enters me. It really does feel like the first time all over again. There’s so much emotion; I don’t know if I want to smile or cry happy tears.

“I love you, too, Mr Bennett.”

And this is my forever. It took a lot to get here, but I wouldn’t change this moment for anything … this is the happiest I’ve ever been, and it can only get better.