Beyond These Walls (The Walls Duet #2)(30)

As we picked up the knife, Lailah eyed me warily. “I won’t remind you about how much time I spent getting ready today, Jude,” she warned, looking over my shoulder at the tall cake standing behind us.

I smiled mischievously. I had no intention of smashing cake in her face, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t mess with her.

“Duly noted,” I replied, my voice calm and flat.

“Jude.”

“Yes, Angel?”

“I’m wearing a thong,” she whispered.

Game over.

I looked up at her grinning face and blinked. That was all I could manage—a blank face and an eye blink. Sure, I’d seen a thong or two in my life, but Lailah was different. Lailah was mine, and whatever she did—or wore—was always exclusively mine. I’d never thought I’d be one of those caveman-type males who relished in the thought that my woman would only ever be mine, but I couldn’t help it.

Knowing I was the only man who had ever touched her did great things to my male ego. Being full aware that I would be the only one to ever see her in a thong . . . yeah, it rendered me speechless.

“Good. I’m glad we worked that out.” She laughed.

I tried unsuccessfully to adjust myself in my pants. I settled on buttoning my jacket instead. I heard Lailah snicker beside me, and I tossed her the evil eye.

Together, we picked up the knife and gently sliced through the bottom tier of the cake as cameras snapped and flashed behind us. Cutting a single piece, we placed it on the porcelain plate the wait staff had provided. I looked up and saw Lailah’s eyebrow rise in challenge.

Apparently, I was going first.

I picked up the plate and cut a small piece with the fork. Ever so gently, making sure I kept my thong rights intact, I fed my bride a tiny piece of cake. A bit of triumph swam in those crystal-blue eyes as she took the plate from me and began the same process.

I watched her pick up the piece of chocolate cake with her fingers, just as I had. Amusement painted her porcelain skin as she came toward me, and then shrieks of hysteria were heard throughout the ballroom after she’d shoved the piece of cake in my face, smearing frosting and cake crumbs all over my skin.

I should have known.

My tongue darted out and licked a piece of frosting hanging on the corner of my lip as people giggled.

“Mmm . . . it’s good,” I said. “Really good. Want to try?” I asked Lailah.

She backed away. “No!” she squealed right before I grabbed her waist.

“Jude!” She laughed as I caught her lips in a sugary-sweet kiss.

“Cheater,” I whispered.

“Just keeping you on your toes.” She reminded me.

“You always do.”

And she always would.

“I about died when your brother caught my garter,” Lailah exclaimed, falling back into the corner of the limo with a giggle.

“I don’t even think he knew what he was doing over there. He looked completely confused when the little blue lacy thing landed on his head,” I replied.

I sipped on a bottle of water as we came to a brief stop.

The wedding was officially over, and we’d just had our grand departure. We could have stayed at the hotel where the reception was held. It was a beautiful and well-known establishment in New York, but for our wedding night, I wanted to be as far away from our friends and family as I could be—or at least as far away as the city would allow.

Tomorrow, we would board a private plane and begin our honeymoon, but tonight, I wanted Lailah to be comfortable and relaxed. I knew the day had probably already drained her. Adding a flight to that was more than I would be willing to risk. Her health was always the most important thing to me. I would never take the chance.

“I have a feeling that Marcus might have had something to do with that,” she interjected, lifting her feet up onto my legs.

I slid off her shoes and began rubbing her sore feet. “Oh?”

“Well, I saw them talking minutes before you dived under my dress,” she said, giving me a hard stare.

“That is how you’re supposed to do it!” I feigned innocence. “I looked it up on the Internet.”

“I’m pretty sure you gave some of the old ladies in attendance a heart attack.” She laughed.

I shrugged. “I was just doing my job as a new husband.”

“Anyway,” she went on, “Marcus seemed to be herding Roman in that general direction after I’d tossed the bouquet. He must have decided Roman needed a bit of fun.”

“I’m not sure my brother really understands the word unless it involves alcohol and hookers.”

“Jude!”

“Come on, Lailah. Why do you keep defending him?”

Her focus shifted to the passing building as we drove down the streets of the city. “I don’t know. I guess it’s just the fighter in me. I’m hoping that, somewhere deep inside him, there’s someone worth saving.”

I leaned forward, my thumb grazing her cheek. “How do you always manage to see the good in people?” I asked.

“Because everyone deserves to have someone on their side.”

“Even Roman?”

She smiled softly. “Especially him. He’s your brother.”

“You’re entirely too good for this world.” I sighed as the car finally pulled up to our destination.