“That remains to be seen.” Vanessa ripped a small piece of bread. “Do you ever think about your future, like ten years down the road?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?” She’d assumed he thought about his future all the time. He was one of the few who had everything he could hope for. Why not think about it?
“Because nobody knows what’s going to happen ten years from now. But I don’t let the uncertain future take away the certain happiness of today.”
And that inexplicably touched her. The day had been beautiful, thanks to Justin. He’d done so much to make it special even though they were eloping on short notice. It embarrassed her she hadn’t prepared anything. She couldn’t even blame her work since Justin was just as busy as she was.
After they finished dinner, Justin led her over and opened the door to the adjoining bedroom. Vanessa gasped at the scented candles flickering everywhere in the room. They cast a romantic glow, and she felt herself start to melt. “You’ve thought of everything.”
He hugged her from behind. “It’s our wedding night. I wanted it to be special.”
“It’s already special.” She blinked away the sudden moisture gathering in her eyes. She didn’t know why she felt so weepy all of a sudden. This was such a sweet gesture.
If you’re not careful, you’re going to fall in love with him.
And she didn’t want that at all. Nothing was more seductive and dangerous than the belief that love conquered all. The reality was that love could lose out to an awful lot of quotidian circumstances. Couples broke up over money, although she knew money wouldn’t be an issue in their marriage. But there would be other things. There were always other things.
Justin buried his face in the crook of her neck. “You smell like heaven. I can’t believe you’re finally mine.”
Her heart thumped. She swallowed and turned around. She wasn’t the only one who “belonged” now. He was hers.
She thought about the effort he’d put into making the day as perfect as possible for her. She couldn’t be like him and only focus on the happiness of the present, but she didn’t have to let the worries about their future ruin the moment. The least she could do was appreciate it and make the night as memorable as possible for both of them.
She put a hand to his cheek; the stubble scraped her skin. Cradling the back of his head, she pulled him down for a kiss.
His firm, sexy mouth slanted over hers. She swallowed a gasp at the possessive way his large hand traveled under her skirt and cupped her butt. It certainly wasn’t the first time they’d made love—they were intimately familiar with each other’s bodies—but this was the first time she felt like he was really making his stake clear.
A small knot of fear unfurled.
His tongue ran over the seam of her mouth, skittering her anxiety, then it probed gently, seeking an entry. Grateful he was pushing away her doubts, she pulled it into her mouth and rubbed her tongue against it, sucking it. She could feel the beginning of a moan vibrate in his chest, and her nipples beaded almost painfully. They were ultra-sensitive now that she was pregnant.
He unzipped her dress. His eyes filled with glittering desire and reverence as the silk whispered down her body, revealing creamy skin. The bra and thong she wore were bridal white, delicate with lace. She flushed, suddenly shy. This was…different from all the previous times. This was a step toward their entwined lives.
“You look divine,” he murmured. His lips traced every slope and curve of her exposed body, and warmth pooled in her core, making her slick and needy.
His eyes on hers, he took off his clothes. He was gorgeous, his sculpted, powerful chest dusted with crisp hair that followed his tight, ridged belly to the junction of his muscular thighs. Vanessa licked her lips. Again, this felt different—like this was their first time.
He deposited her on the bed and covered her body with his. Their hands linked, and he kissed her again, deeply and hungrily. She kissed him back, unable to help herself. His hard, thick length settled against her wet folds, and as he rocked, his chest brushed against the pointed peaks of her nipples, sending electric shocks of pleasure along her spine.
Their breaths mingled, and she was unable to look away as he slipped inside her, filling and stretching her. Her inner muscles clamped down on him, needing more. Despite his hungry kiss earlier, his thrusts were measured and steady, as though he knew exactly what to do to drive her insane. Pleasure built,
at first slowly and steadily, but then it seemed to gain a momentum of its own, growing bigger, faster…all consuming.
The pleasure was drowning her, but unlike before, she couldn’t break free, keep control of any part of herself. It was Justin—his scent, his sound, his warmth, the knowledge of his vow—that pulled her deeper and deeper. Even as the orgasm shot through her with a blinding intensity, she drowned in him.
And when he joined her, his voice hoarse as he cried out, they drowned together, their limbs tangled. And she was afraid she might never reemerge.
Chapter Nine
Vanessa opened her eyes. The room was dark but warm, and she was alone in bed. Had the wedding been a dream? No. She was in a hotel room, and her body was pleasantly sore from loving the night before.
She turned and saw a bedside clock glow: ten thirty-three. She wondered briefly if it was p.m. still, then bolted upright and covered her mouth as nausea hit her. Clenching her teeth, she ran to the connecting bathroom. She managed to reach the toilet before she lost everything in her stomach.
Feeling wrought out and gross, she slumped. The toilet flushed, and a big hand rubbed her back.
She closed her eyes. Of all the things for Justin to witness. “Help me up.” Her legs felt like wet noodles.