He raised her hand with the new wedding band to his lips and then led her to the elevator.
“What? No soaring up the stairs?” she teased.
Her new husband lifted her up against the wall of the elevator and nuzzled her neck, “I think I’ll save my strength for later,” he murmured into her ear, sending a buzz through her body, lighting her on fire from head to toe.
When the elevator reached their floor, Derrick released her, but only until they reached their room. He swung open the door then lifted her up in his arms, carrying her over the threshold of their honeymoon suite.
A large, but comfortable room similar looking to a bed and breakfast with its high back cushioned chairs, country patterned drapes, and bedspreads greeted them. Two walls of the suite had windows overlooking the snowcapped mountains, and bright orange and red flames licked gently at an iron screen in front of a fireplace. Her groom carried her to the king size bed but didn’t set her down. Instead, he held her in his arms as he sat on the bed. “Kristina, I want you so much right now, but I’m afraid we’ll never make it out of the room if you even allow me to kiss you.”
She laced her hands around his neck. “I guess we will have to take our chances then because I’ve been aching for you to kiss me since we said, ‘I do.’ That wasn’t nearly a long enough kiss.”
“Well, I couldn’t very well attack you in front of the Justice of the Peace, could I?” Derrick laughed.
“No one is here now,” she suggested.
Derrick wasted no time in lifting her to the center of the bedspread and sliding down beside her. “I do love this dress; it’d be a shame to wrinkle it.” He moved his hand around her back, and his fingers went to work unzipping the dress, but he paused. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not!” she burst out. “At this point, I wouldn’t mind if you ripped it off me.”
He smiled. “I couldn’t do that. It’s too beautiful, and then you’d think I’m an animal.”
Actually, she was thinking he was too gentle. Her body longed to feel some of his power. Every nerve ending seemed heightened with arousal. Their foreplay had gone on too long, and she was ready.
Kris moved her hands to his standard oxford, unbuttoning it as he continued to unzip her dress. She traced his tanned olive skin with its thin cropping of soft black hair over his chest; it felt incredible, the way a man was supposed to feel. His chest was firm and sculpted, and her heart raced as she ran her hands over his shoulders to remove his shirt.
He helped her at the end, and then she witnessed the restrained desire crumble in his dark eyes. There was no turning back at this point. His gaze spoke volumes without opening his mouth. A longing filled his eyes and she knew hers probably mirrored his. She’d dreamt about this moment so many times, even though she never imagined it in a honeymoon suite of a chalet with a fire crackling in the background. Somehow, Derrick had managed to fill even her unknown fantasies. She would never have thought to ask for this, never have believed it was even possible.
He ran his fingers over her collarbone, trailing a line up her neck and under her chin, lifting her head and kissing her softly. He moved toward her neck, his mouth working its way to her earlobe, stopping and nibbling there. “This is so different, Kristina. I’ve never experienced this.”
“Me either,” she said on an exhale. “It’s always just been cold.” She moved her hands up to his wide shoulders, pulling him down on top of her. “We have all weekend. Please don’t make me wait too long.”
He chuckled against her neck, his warm breath tickling her. “Why are you in such a hurry? Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving!” she yelped, throwing her head back to give him complete access. Derrick took advantage of her position, lowering her dress off her shoulders, exposing her. He trailed his hand over her shoulder and around to her back again, unclipping her bra deftly. He may not have ‘fallen’ or made love to a woman, but he’d definitely had sex. She shook the woman’s image that flashed through her brain from her head, knowing Derrick was with her, not Victoria—forever.
Chapter Twenty-eight
“Which dress should I wear tonight?” Kris called to Derrick, who was cleaning up for dinner. She laughed internally, remembering she didn’t need to yell.
“The white one. The restaurant is very formal,” he responded.
Kris pulled out the tea-length dress Derrick had helped her pick out this afternoon. She felt as though she was looking for a prom dress. He kept picking out formal wear with lace and silk, dresses that were appropriate for weddings and balls, not dinner at a ski lodge. But, he’d been here before, he’d said, so she trusted he knew what he was looking for.
When she’d seen the price, she’d shoved it back on the rack. But he pulled it back out, insisting she try it.
Kris twirled in front of the mirror, realizing she looked like a bride, not a teenager going to a ball. She decided to pull up her hair instead of leaving it long and straight as she usually preferred. It was official; she looked like Cinderella heading off to the ball. “All I need now is a fairy godmother to bring the pumpkin coach”, she chuckled under her breath, then clamped her hands over her mouth.
“I won’t do?” Derrick said through a laugh.
“That’s not fair—” A knock on the door broke off her complaint.
“Wait!” Derrick yelled, stopping her. He darted out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. “I’ll get it.” He shooed her away.
Only the fact that he looked so good in nothing but a towel kept her from arguing. And then she wondered,
Derrick grabbed his wallet off the credenza as he opened the door. He exchanged a tip for a garment bag and a box, seemingly unconcerned that he was standing in the doorway covered only by a towel. The giggle that escaped curbed her irritation, until he turned and stared her down. Then she just flashed him a “what the heck are you up to” look.
After closing the door behind the room attendant, Derrick disappeared into the bathroom again, so Kris continued to get ready.
A few minutes later, he stood behind her dressed in a black and white tux, holding a box. “This is for you.”
Kris appraised him before lifting the lid. “Wow. You dress up nice. I’ve never seen you in anything but khakis.”
He smiled. “As do you. Let me see.”
Kris twirled in front of him, reveling as his eyes gobbled her up. They’d better get to dinner before they wrinkled another dress.
“Beautiful, absolutely stunning.” He leaned forward and placed a delicate kiss on her lips. “You’re only missing one thing.” He lifted the lid of the box, revealing a bouquet with a tight cluster of about eighteen cream- colored roses surrounded by lemon leaves and a white ribbon hand tie. It was simple and elegant.
“Derrick,” she gasped in a breath, “that’s a wedding bouquet?”
“I couldn’t manage a pumpkin coach, but I figured you deserved a wedding night, my love.” He held out his arm for her. “Shall we?”
Kris fought to retain the tears that threatened to overtake her, which would ruin her makeup. Unable to speak through the emotion choking her words, she nodded and accepted his arm.
Derrick trailed them to the elevator without uttering a word and then pressed the button for the top floor. When it stopped, he led her to a private room decked out like a wedding reception. A crystal chandelier and candelabras cast subtle light over a lone table covered with a white tablecloth, a centerpiece of more roses off to the side, and two beautifully adorned chairs with gossamer and ribbon. Soft piano music played in the background as moonlight streamed in through the glass windows, which once again offered a magnificent view of the mountain.
A host greeted them, escorting them to the table set just for them.
