Daniel

9 Months Later

Daniel lifted his beautiful bride in his arms despite her protests and carried her over the threshold of their honeymoon suite in Bermuda.

“Put me down before you hurt yourself!”

He managed to make it two steps into the room before he gently set her on her feet, trying not to grimace as his shoulder twinged in protest. She slid from his arms in a whisper of cream silk and the scent of the magnolia blossoms in her hair teased his senses before she stepped away.

“Oh, Danny Boy...it’s perfect.”

He looked up, alarmed by the tears in her voice, but when she turned to look at him her smile seemed to light her from within. His heart lurched in his chest as he was literally stunned by her beauty.

Backlit by the last of the pink and purple sunset arched out over the ocean and what had to be a hundred votive candles, she glowed like a pearl. Her wedding dress was a simple strapless cream silk sheath that clung to her curves before flaring out past her hips in a waterfall of fabric. The flowers in her hair gave her a soft, ethereal look, and the diamond pendant her father gave her as a wedding give glittered softly in the hollow of her throat, matching the sparkle of her engagement ring.

But all of that finery paled in comparison to the woman herself. The candlelight danced over her dark skin and the deep red gloss she’d painted on her lips glistened, begging him for a kiss. She moved over to the center of the sitting area of the suite, spinning in a slow circle and taking it all in. He’d had the room filled with white orchids and purple wisteria, what her dad had said were her favorite flowers. The staff of the hotel had done an excellent job, artfully placing crystal vases near the candles so they sparkled with each wavering flame.

She ran her fingertips over the single orchid blossom placed next to a silver bucket holding a bottle of champagne.

“You did all of this for me? How?”

He shrugged out of his white tuxedo jacket and tossed it onto the back of the soft beige couch. “There’s more.”

He took her hand and opened the double doors leading to the bedroom.

“Oh, my...”

A giant four-poster bed dominated the room, covered with gauzy white curtains that stirred in the steady breeze coming through the open doorway leading to their private patio. More candles filled the room and a trail of white rose petals led to the bed. She started to walk forward but he stopped her. “Hold on.”

Kneeling down before her he placed her hand on his shoulder and lifted one of her feet, sliding off her very sexy strappy white sandal. He repeated the action with her other foot and raised it slowly to his mouth, licking the sensitive inner arch. She giggled and tried to pull away, but he held fast.

“Stay still.”

Taking his time, he nibbled along her ankle and up her calf, taking full advantage of the thigh high slit in the dress that allowed him to venture higher and higher up her leg. He loved the soft skin of her inner thigh and gently tickled her with the fringe of his beard. She laughed again, but this time her voice held a husky note that went straight to his cock.

He ran his hands up her legs and gripped her lush hips, loving how she filled his hands. The scent of her feminine arousal mixed with the floral perfumes filling the suite, creating a delicious blend he wished he could bottle up.

A cool breeze blew through the open windows, adding a tang of salt to the air. He reached the edge of her dress and kissed her there reveling in her taste and the softness of her skin. She stroked his head, silently encouraging him with her soft sighs. Soon her hips began to move in a restless rhythm and she clutched his head and tried to direct him right where she wanted him.

He laughed against her skin and lifted the edge of her dress higher then let it fall over his head, enjoying the smooth caress of the silk as it slid over him. The muted light coming through her dress gave him more than enough to see by, and he took a moment to enjoy the lacy scrap of panties covering her sex. Too bad he was going to ruin them.

Warmth radiated from her core as he placed his mouth over her mound and she widened her stance. He licked the outside of her panties, delighted to discover she was so wet she’d soaked through the crotch of that little scrap of lace. With a low growl he carefully hooked a bit of lace between his teeth then using his hands ripped it apart to get at the aroused woman beneath.

She gasped and stumbled, but he held her tight. Hooking one arm behind her for support, he used his other hand to hold open the top of her swollen labia, exposing the pink secrets of her inner flesh to his greedy tongue. The gold ring of her clit piercing drew his attention but he bypassed it, instead licking her with long, slow strokes, making his tongue as broad as possible. Each pass gathered more of her slick honey and her pleading increased.

He used the tip of his nose to nudge at her clit ring and pressed one finger against her tight, slick opening. The heat rolling off her was incredible, and he couldn’t help imagining what it was going to feel like against his cock. Shit, if he didn’t get inside of her soon he thought his dick might explode.

Her tight sheath gripped his finger as he penetrated her and locked his lips around her clit. She rocked her hips against his face and he followed her rhythm, allowing her to use his mouth how she wanted. When he felt the first tightening of her body around his finger he pulled away, leaving her shivering with need.

“What...”

Before she could say anything else he laid her back on the floor among the rose petals, licking her taste from his lips. He started to unbutton his shirt but it took too long so he ripped the shirt off. She reached to help him, but he stood up and removed his shoes and socks then his pants. The heat in her gaze seared his body like a flame. When his erection sprang free, he fisted himself, squeezing hard at the base to hold himself back.

She opened her legs and lifted her hips, offering her body to him. His. This beautiful, kind, amazing woman was all his. That thought helped him get himself under control and he knelt between her legs, running his hands along her smooth, plump thighs. Holding the head of his cock, he ran it up and down her slit, teasing her until she reached for him with both hands and snarled. “If you don’t put your dick inside of me soon I’m going to hurt you.”

He laughed softly and did as she asked, sinking into her at such a slow pace his muscles shook with the effort. Sliding into her, feeling her grip him with her inner muscles while looking into her eyes as he filled her was the closest thing to paradise he’d ever experienced. Once he was seated in her up to the hilt he held still, drowning in the emotion of the moment.

“I love you, my wife.”

She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, whispering into his ear, “I love you too, my husband.”

He held her as close as he could, using small movements of his hips to stroke her, to bring her back to the edge, to keep her needy beneath him. The sharp prick of her nails on his back egged him on but he refused to allow her release. She wrapped her legs around his hips, giving him greater depth and he took advantage of the angle to rub his pubic bone against her clit.

Pleasure crashed through him and he pushed up onto his arms, holding himself above her. She stretched out beneath him, her eyes closed, and the diamond resting in the hollow of her throat sparkled with each panting breath. He kissed her, devouring her mouth, swallowing her screams as she began to orgasm beneath him.

The tight, hot grip of her convulsing sheath undid him and he groaned as his body gathered tighter and tighter until a fist of warmth exploded from the base of his spine. The first spurt nearly had him passing out and he shuddered as his body emptied into hers, his orgasm rushing through him in waves of bliss.

When the last spasm passed, he rolled over onto his side, pulling out of her as gently as he could. They lay side by side, breathing heavily. A few moments later, Hope began to giggle.

“What’s so funny?”

She laughed and plucked something from his cheek and held up a crushed rose petal. “You’re covered in these.”

He pulled a petal from her shoulder. “So are you. Let’s get cleaned up.”

They both groaned as they stood up and his aching knees let him know they didn’t appreciate such vigorous activity on a bare wood floor. Hope shimmied out of her wedding gown and removed her strapless bra. She took off her ruined panties and sighed. “To think I spent three hours picking out the perfect honeymoon lingerie.”

“I thought they were sexy as hell, but in the way.”

He wrapped his fingers around hers and led her out onto their private patio. Night had fallen and a full moon lit the beach and the ocean beyond, bathing them in a silvery light. To the right stood a softly bubbling Jacuzzi and another silver bucket full of melting ice holding a bottle of champagne. Next to that sat a plate of fruit and chocolate.

Hope sighed and practically ran across the smooth stone blocks that made up the patio to the tub. The sight of her rounded bottom jiggling as she took the steps into the water made his cock twitch with interest but his aching muscles demanded he join her in the water. He jumped in next to her, splashing her and earning an indignant shriek.

To make amends, he poured two glasses of champagne and pulled the plate of snacks over to the side of the tub, then gathered her in his arms. They didn’t say anything as he cuddled her close, watching the glimmering shift of the ocean in the distance. He slowly fed her chocolates and fruit, piece by piece, each bite relaxing her further until she was a boneless heap in his arms. It reminded him of the way Slasher cuddled with him.

“Do you think Boden’s forgiven us yet for making him cat-sit Slasher?”

She laughed and popped a white chocolate into his mouth. “He secretly loves that cat.”

Daniel wisely didn’t disagree with his bride, though he thought love might be a bit strong to describe Boden’s feelings. He and the cat tolerated each other. The ugly beast saved all his love for Hope and now Daniel.

“It was really nice of your grandparents to come all the way out here for the wedding.”

He smiled, remembering the pride in his grandfather’s smile as he welcomed his new granddaughter-in-law into the family.

“And I’m glad your dad was able to make it out. That new medicine they have him on has made a huge difference.”

“I know.” She sighed softly and snuggled closer. “Did you see him dance with your cousin, Carmen? She’s single, right?”

“Yep. And she just happens to live in Florida, not too far from your dad.”

“Really? Maybe we should invite her over for dinner when we go to visit him next.”

“Are you playing matchmaker?”

“I don’t know if it’s the honeymoon bliss talking, but I really want him to be as happy as I am. It’s been close to ten years since my mom passed, and I know she wouldn’t want him to be alone.”

“Your compassion never ceases to amaze me.” He kissed the side of her neck, adding a little edge of teeth that made her purr with pleasure. She wiggled against him and he stiffened beneath her. “Keep that up and we won’t make it to the bed.”

“Well, we do have two weeks before either of us has to be back to work...”

He began to toy with her responsive nipples beneath the bubbling water, gentle teasing that soon had her demanding more. As they came together beneath the moonlight a sense of satisfaction and rightness moved through his soul. This, here in Hope’s arms, was where he belonged. What he felt for Hope went beyond love, beyond anything that he had words for. She was quite simply his everything, and he was finally living the life he was meant to live with her at his side.