She wanted the wedding and all the good feelings it evoked in her to last forever, to hold on to this moment for as long as she could. Contrarily, she wanted it to end now, wanted the sensuous promise ringing from Christian’s eyes to become reality.
Soon…
Soon it would be time to retire to his suite and begin their newly married life in a manner that sent heat surging through her just to think about it.
Christian opened the door of the suite and, keeping hold of Alessandra’s hand, closed it behind them.
‘Someone’s been busy,’ he observed, burrowing his face into the nape of her neck. At long last, he was free to touch her and taste her and do all the things he’d wanted to do for so long the ache in his groin had become a permanent part of him.
His suite—their suite, now all of Alessandra’s possessions had been moved in while their celebrations had been going on—had been decorated. Flowers were artfully arranged in vases, rose petals had been scattered over the bed and a bottle of champagne sat in an ice bucket next to two champagne flutes.
‘Clichéd but very romantic,’ she said, twisting round to face him.
All the dancing had left her cheeks flushed and her eyes alive with pleasure.
He wanted those eyes glowing with pleasure for a different reason.
Gripping her hip, he pulled her to him and snaked his arm around her waist.
He gazed down into those striking eyes and those moreish lips. His to taste.
She was his to taste.
As he bent his head to claim her mouth, she darted gracefully out of his clasp, laughing softly. ‘Not yet.’
‘You’re making me wait?’ he said, his words coming out with an animalistic growl.
‘I’m going to freshen up. Remember, anticipation makes fulfilment taste all the sweeter.’ She sashayed to one of the bathrooms, flashed him a smile full of promise and locked the door behind her.
Alessandra applied a touch more lipstick then tightened the sash of her silk white robe.
Who needed alcohol?
Desire pulsed through her, making her pulses race uncontrollably.
She hadn’t expected that a ring on her finger and a signed piece of paper could make her feel so different but it did.
Christian was the only man she’d ever truly wanted.
She remembered the first time she’d met him, when she’d been twelve and Rocco had brought the Brat Pack to Lake Como for a break. How young and naïve she’d been, still believing in love and romance. She’d taken one look at Adonis and her heart had skipped into her mouth.
He’d hardly noticed her existence.
Looking back with the benefit of hindsight on her ill-fated tryst with Javier, she could see it was the flattery she’d responded to, not him. She’d swallowed all his lies because she’d been flattered a man, not an immature boy, was showing an interest in her.
With Christian, it was the man himself she responded to.
She dabbed some perfume behind her ear and onto her wrists and left the privacy of the bathroom. It was time to see her husband as his wife.
WHEN ALESSANDRA EMERGED from the bathroom and closed the door softly behind her, the only sound Christian could hear was his own heartbeat. Drumming. Thundering in his ears.
He’d stripped naked, shedding his clothes in front of the mirror, staring closely at his reflection.
He didn’t know what it could be but he felt different.
He looked the same. The desire he felt for his beautiful bride still burned deep inside him.
But something had changed.
Now he sat in the huge bed, leant back against the headboard, the bed sheets draped across his lap, a dim light glowing. And she was here with him, her dress removed, only a white robe covering her beautiful figure.
Slowly she stepped to him until she reached his side.
‘Take your robe off.’ He could hear the thickness in the timbre of his voice.
Her hands trembled, but a knowing smile pulled at her lips. She tugged at the sash of her robe and parted it, letting it drop to the floor.
Christian couldn’t have torn his gaze away if he’d wanted to.
He didn’t want to.
He wanted to capture this moment so he could replay it forever.
Theos but she was more beautiful than he remembered, the white of her lacy lingerie contrasting against the golden hue of her skin.
Her breasts were swollen, the bra pushing them up to display her cleavage, only just hiding the dusky nipples he remembered so well.
Sitting upright, he extended a hand to grip onto her curved hip, sliding a finger under the strap of her suspender belt.
He ran his other hand up the soft swell of her belly, only slightly thickened since he’d last seen her unclothed.
She dropped a hand onto his shoulder, a cloud of her sultry scent releasing and filling his senses. He’d never known a scent like it, so perfectly matching its owner, a sweet yet musky fragrance, with depth.
He traced his hand back down her belly and clasped hold of her other hip, tugging her to him.
Inhaling her scent deeply into his lungs, he pressed a kiss into the curve of her neck, felt her quiver.
The ache in his groin, that constant state of affairs whenever he was with her, magnified by a thousand, his entire body coming alive to her sweet touch and even sweeter taste.
Using gentle manipulation, he pulled her onto the bed facing him, so she straddled his still-covered lap.
Her eyes darkened and swirled, arousal and desire burning strongly.
The first time they’d made love he’d plunged into her without a thought. His shock at discovering she was a virgin had been masked by concern that he’d hurt her. Her breath had hitched, a tiny mew escaping her throat. He’d held her tightly, stroking her hair, her body, raining kisses over her face until he’d felt her relax, seen her pupils dilate…
She’d been so responsive to everything he’d done to her, so eager to give in return.
She’d been a revelation.
And now he got to experience and taste her all over again.
But this time there would be no pain. Only pleasure.
Wrapping an arm around her and cradling the back of her head with his other hand, he pulled her flush against him and slanted his mouth over the soft, plump lips he’d spent the past two months dreaming about.
She sighed into him and rested her hands on his shoulders, her nails digging into him as her lips parted to allow his tongue to sweep into her warmth.
He stroked her back, up and down, exploring the silky skin anew, then down her sides to the top of her stockings.
She broke the kiss, nuzzling her mouth against his jaw and down into his neck, her hair tickling him.
‘You taste divine,’