Our dinner is forgotten as I lose myself in Harrison's kiss. He doesn't kiss like other guys I've dated. No way. With his hands on my back, his lips parted, I know it's because he is the first man who has ever truly held me in his arms.

His embrace tells me he won't let me go.

"Come with me," he says, and I follow him. His hand holds my fingertips and I feel a tingling up and down my spine as I am led to the master bedroom.

We kiss again, it's like we're unable to stop ourselves. I'm ready to be stripped to nothing but my panties--the lacy white ones I bought for my wedding night. I'm ready to feel his hands run over my bare skin and I'm ready to kneel before him and take his long, thick cock in my mouth.

I've done this before, but never with a real man, and that causes my belly to flipflop, my core to tighten. God, I want more of Harrison.

Outside the bedroom, Harrison pulls back and clears his throat.

"What is it?" I ask, wanting to please him. Already I feel like my husband is a hero. He fought for our country and that makes him more than a mountain man; he is a warrior.

"I have to tell you a few things before... before we..."

I glimmer of excitement rushes over me. I wink. "Before we get naked?"

He frowns, running a hand through his thick hair. "Right. The thing is... I..."

"It's okay,” I say, realizing he is apprehensive. "I won't judge you or--"

"Yeah, you will. You'll think differently of me, Hannah. And I already... Fuck."

I tilt my head, trying to read him. Moments ago, he was all strength and valor, and now he is withdrawing.

"Is this moving too fast?" I ask. "I know we aren't married yet, and if you want to wait…"

"No," he says tightly. Then he exhales, shaking his head. "I don't want to wait. That's the problem. I've waited my whole damn life for this moment. I'm taking it now that it's here."

I lift my eyebrows in surprise. This is the last thing I expected. "You're a virgin?"

He presses his hand to his temple, dropping his gaze to the floor like he can't look at me. "Basically, yeah. I wasn't very outgoing in school, then I enlisted and my whole life was my job. I never focused on women. Then I did some tours back to back and when I came home... things were complicated."

"Hey," I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest. He has waited all this time and now he wants to sleep with me? "Are you sure I'm what you want?"

He looks at me with a confused expression. "Hannah, you're more than I imagined. You're gorgeous and confident and kind. I'm blown away by you."

"Then what is it? What's holding you back?"

"I, uh..." He drops his head and his eyes land on the floor. "I'm not exactly... complete."

"What do you mean?" I feel over my head, not understanding the man before me. Usually, a guy rushes to the bedroom, but it feels like Harrison is stalling. And it's about more than his virginity.

"Look, I wanted to marry you before we got to this conversation. But honestly, this is probably for the best. If you want to go, then I won't hold it against you."

"You're making me nervous."

"I'll help you fly back to L.A.," he says. "And we can pretend this never--"

I cut him off. "Harrison, what are you talking about?"

"I lost my leg, Hannah." He presses his palms to his face. "I'm not... I'm not what you were expecting."

I swallow. The limp. The pulling back when I reached to touch his thigh. The complications after he went to war.

"Oh, Harrison," I say, reaching for his hands and forcing them down. "Harry, I'm not going anywhere." Tears prick my eyes as I look into his. He's carrying so much pain and fear of rejection and, God, if he only knew how much of a man he is in my eyes. I've known him only a few hours but already I see something in him that is different. That is special.

"I don't want your pity."

"Good," I say, a tear falling down my face. "Because you don't have it."

"You don't know what I look like," he says, his calloused palm reaching to my cheek. I press my hand over it, keeping it there.

"Then show me," I whisper.

He closes his eyes, as if unable to take in my acceptance of him. I don't know what I am getting into, but I do know Harrison is not like anyone I've ever met, and I want to know more. I want to know everything.

I take the lead and push open the bedroom door. My breath catches as I see a trail of rose petals leading from the doorway to the bed. "You did this for me?" I ask, overwhelmed.

"Too much?"

I shake my head, my eyes filling with tears. "It's kinda like a fairytale."

"Yeah, Beauty and the Beast," he growls.

I look up at him, hating the way he sees himself. "Don't."

"Hannah, I don't know how to do this, how to make you feel like a woman, a bride when I've never..."

I lace my fingers through his and we walk into the room together. "I've never felt more like a woman in my life. I've always wanted a man who would bring me flowers, treat me like I'm something special. That's all you've done since we arrived. You understand respect and I feel safe with you, even though you're practically a stranger."

He gives me a soft smile, stepping closer to me. He may not have experience with sex, but he has tenderness down pat. "Then you'll appreciate the champagne and wedding cake I bought for us to celebrate."

I nod, looking up at him, wanting him to undress me and complete me and make me his in every way possible.

"Yes, I will appreciate that. But first, help me out of these clothes."