“Come on,” she said as he stood. “We need to get you presentable. I heard the kitchen staff saying that guests will be arriving soon.” Emily ran across the room and gestured to the black suit lying on the bed.
“You’ll feel better if you take a quick shower, then you can wear this,” she added.
“I’d feel better if you joined me.”
Emily’s cheeks reddened.
Chapter Twenty-One
Burning Desire
Emily forced a smile with her hands on her hips as she watched David walk into the bathroom. His neck was blotchy and his shoulders slumped, a start contrast to his usually casual smile and straight posture. Her heart ached to see him this way. Once the door closed she lowered herself onto the bed in a daze. Tears flooded her vision at the memory of David in her arms, trembling. He was quiet, and if it wasn’t for his tears wetting the neckline of her dress, she could have guessed he was laughing. It seemed like years had passed since their conversation in the limousine. With the burden of her secret lifted, and David not being mad about it, there was a sense of relief. Yet, something jabbed at her insides, though she couldn’t work out what. David was in a vulnerable place mentally. She wondered how best to deal with that. Her thoughts battled as she shimmied out of her dress. A long pastel purple gown lay on the bed next to David’s tux. She ran her fingers down the organza material and carefully unzipped it. The sound of the door banging against the wall caused Emily to spin on the spot and stare, open-mouthed at a dripping wet David, in nothing but the world’s tiniest towel. The two of them gawped at each other, then Emily burst out laughing. Forgetting that she was wearing nothing but a white satin slip, she dropped the dress.
“That was the world’s fastest shower,” she said between breaths. She had to gasp for air after laughing so hard. “Why are you wearing a face cloth?”
David’s face grew crimson red as he clutched the towel protecting what was left of his modesty.
“There aren’t any towels in the bathroom.” He sidled toward the closet. Grinning sheepishly at her, Emily roared. In fact, she laughed so hard, she creased over clutching the splitting pain in her side as she fell onto the bed.
“You look––”
“Sexy?”
Emily eyed him. His body glistened in the golden sunset streaming through the windows, which softened the lines of his muscles. Yes, he did look sexy. But the miniscule square of cotton had her rolling around on the bed with laughter again.
“That is the funniest thing I’ve seen all year!” She sat up and looked down at the dress laying discarded on the bed. David disappeared behind the door of the closet and Emily took the opportunity to pull on the dress in a swift movement. She was bending her arms back like a contortionist when David reappeared, this time with a large white towel wrapped around his waist. Suddenly, the sight of him was far less amusing and a lot more thrilling.
“Do you need help with that?” His voice was low and silky as he swaggered across the room, toward her. Emily’s cheeks warmed as she eyed him, closing the space between them.
“I’ve managed to dress myself perfectly well for the last twenty-five years,” Emily said defiantly as her fingers slipped over the zipper. David rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his wet hair.
“Turn around,” he said with a sigh. Emily gulped. She lowered her hands and slowly spun to face away from him.
Two hands gently grasped her dress from the back and pulled as the zipper rose to her neck.
“There,” David whispered softly. He swept her hair away from her neck, and the touch of his lips against her skin sent shivers down her spine. Emily turned around and looked up at him. She wondered if his skin was on fire; the heat radiating off his body flooded her senses and she bit her lip against the rush of excitement growing within her.
It would have been so easy to throw her arms around his neck and give into her instinctive urges.
“We got married today,” David’s low voice vibrated through Emily’s body. She inhaled the menthol from his body wash and held her breath.
“Sorry Mr. and Mrs. Marks, the door was ajar. I did knock.”
Emily and David jumped away from each other and looked in the direction of the apologetic voice by the door. A short elderly man dressed in a black suit bowed to them both.
“Martin. It’s great to see you again,” David said as he strolled over to the man. Martin’s face creased as he grinned back. Neither of them appeared to be abashed by David’s towel sarong.
“And you, Mr. Marks. Congratulations, we were all very happy to hear about your news.” He beamed at Emily, which she took as a cue to walk up to him.
“Hello,” she said as she held out her hand. Martin hesitated and glanced at David for approval before he tentatively took her hand. “Please, call me Emily. It’s nice to meet you, Martin.” The look of surprise on Martin’s face told her that it was not common for the service staff to be spoken to so directly. He gave a furtive look at David who nodded reassuringly.
“Thank you, Mrs… Emily.” He cleared his throat after they shook hands and turned back to David.
“I have come to tell you that the party is about to begin.”
David and Emily
