By late afternoon, the next day when the sun had mellowed, painting the water in shades of gold and rose.
They lounged on deck, side by side, sipping sparkling water and fruit cocktails. laughing at their own inside jokes, and teasing each other with ease.
Julian's hand brushed hers occasionally, playful but deliberate, sending small shivers of anticipation up her spine.
"I love this," Ashley admitted softly, resting her head against his shoulder.
"You'd better," he brushed a strand of her hair from her face.
"As your husband, I'm obligated to apply sunscreen and ruin your lipstick." He said playfully.
Ashley looked up at him, eyebrow raised. "Cite the clause?"
"Yes," he said with a smirk, leaning closer. "Clause five." his voice turned solemn. "Conjugal sunscreening."
Her cheeks warmed. "You really do have an answer for everything. That ain't legally binding though."
"Then we'll make it fun binding…" he replied, brushing his lips against her temple in a fleeting, teasing kiss, a provocation.
She laughed softly, the sound carrying lightly across the deck. "Maybe," she admitted, letting herself sink into him.
The world narrowed to waves, wind and the gratification of been wanted without making an effort.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Julian leaned closer again, his voice dropping to a low, magnetic murmur.
"Ashley… don't you think it's time we stopped pretending we aren't thinking about it?"
Ashley's pulse quickened. Why did he have to be this direct? Her stomach fluttered with anticipation.
She had thought about this moment since the night of their impulsive wedding, and now with the clear-headedness of the day, the intimacy of the day, the playful, teasing connection they'd built, she felt ready.
"Technically married," she repeated softly, a smile tugging at her lips. "I suppose that does make it… allowed."
Julian chuckled, brushing a gentle hand down her arm.
"Exactly. And I insist we take full advantage of it, the other day I was teasing about the consummation, not for your lack of trying though.
" He quickly added. "I wanted us fully sane and lucid on our first time together." Relieve, gratitude and a hint of regret swept through her all at once.
"You rascal," she said laughing.
She drew closer to him, she was done with the banters for now. Their hands melted into lingering touches, soft kisses, and shared laughter.
Each movement was deliberate, conscious, and charged with desire.
He traced the inside of her wrists, eyes steady. "Only if you want it. Say stop and we stop."
"I don't want to stop." she said.
Something eased in his face as their lips met again, fervent with desire.
This wasn't reckless or impulsive. It was honeymoon indulgence, exploring their connection as husband and wife, discovering each other with trust and intimacy.
The Sunlight glinting off the waves, and the world beyond the horizon disappeared.
There was only Julian, only Ashley, only the freedom and thrill of the day, and the joy of discovering what it truly meant to be together. He swept her into his arms and off to the cabin they went.
He didn't want to be interrupted or disturbed by anyone, not when he was satisfying Mrs Blackwood.
Afterward, they laid sprawled together in bed, with Ashley resting her head on Julian's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart beat.
His arm wrapped loosely around her, warm and protective, and she felt a profound sense of calm and contentment.
"You're infuriating," she said softly, turning her head to glance up at him, a teasing smile still playing on her lips.
"And you're hopelessly addictive," he countered, voice low, teasing, and magnetic.
Ashley laughed lightly, letting the wind carry her worries away.
"I might be. I can't decide if that's good or bad." she responded mischievously.
"Neither can I," Julian murmured, brushing her hair from her face with gentle fingers.
"But for now… let's just enjoy this.
Sun, water and us. No responsibilities, no mistakes here, just…" He kissed the top of her head softly. "…this."
Ashley closed her eyes, letting herself sink fully into the moment.
The sparkling ocean, the warm sun, the playful dares, the gentle intimacy all combined into a perfect, unforgettable experience.
The boat rocked lazily over the waves, the gentle hum of the engine beneath them, and for these few hours, nothing else in the world that mattered.
Sunset began to paint the sky in hues of pink, orange, and gold, reflecting on the water like liquid fire.
Julian whispered playful promises, while Ashley rested, content and relaxed, savoring every pleasure he gave and every beat of their honeymoon hearts.
Since that wild, impulsive night in Vegas, Ashley Ashford felt truly anchored, safe, and deliciously happy, just as a honeymoon should be.
Julian lay back against the cool sheets, observing the sight of Ashley sprawled beside him, with her skin flushed and her dark gorgeous hair tangled from his hands.
She looked wrecked and not just from the wine. From him.
And hell, he couldn't stop staring. She looked so sexy and vulnerable in a way that prompted him to protect and shield her away from the world.
He should've felt smug. That was usually his thing, get the woman, get the release, get gone.
Instead there was this ache in his chest that had nothing to do with satisfaction and everything to do with the way she'd whispered and moaned his name like it meant something.
"Don't look at me like that," she muttered, eyes half-closed, turning her face toward the window as if she could hide from him.
He smirked automatically, the mask sliding into place.
"Like what? Like you didn't just ruin me on my own damn yacht ?"
She was shocked by the revelation, but acted unaffected. She rolled her eyes, again for the hundredth time, but there was a hint of a smile tugging her lips.
He wanted to kiss it. He wanted… more.
And that was the problem.
Julian exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair, letting the silence stretch. He wanted to live in this moment, her skin against his, the smell of salt and sex clinging to the air, he wanted it to last longer than it should.
He was however painfully aware that they would dock, reality would set in, and the marriage between them would be nothing but shackles.
Perhaps he wasn't a forever man, maybe he wasn't built for it.
So he shrugged, forcing his voice into the careless drawl he'd perfected over the years.
"Don't get used to me playing house, sweetheart. The honeymoon ends tomorrow."
But when she curled closer anyway, sighing against his chest, his arms moved before his brain could stop them pulling her in, holding her like she belonged there.
And for just a stolen heartbeat, Julian let himself pretend as she shifted against him, warm and soft, her breath brushing his chest.
"You know," she whispered, half-drowsy, half-honest, "I could stay like this forever. "
Julian froze, every instinct screaming at him to keep it light, to laugh it off, to throw out some careless remark.
Instead, he just held her tighter, because the words hit somewhere deep, he had no business feeling.
She sighed before drifting off to sleep.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. The screen lit up, and one name burned against the glow, Maddie.
Julian's chest tightened. He ignored it, tightening his hold on Ashley, but the brutal thought slammed through him anyway.
Too bad this marriage was already set to expire.