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Three Weeks Later - Florida ...

I n the penthouse of the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Tahira’s nerves had butterflies taking flight in her stomach.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror in the master bath, as her wedding dress hung from a hook on the closed door.

She’d pulled her hair down from its fancy updo and put on the elegant, white peignoir set her mother had given her for this special evening.

Tonight was when Tahira would give herself to her new husband in every way.

Their wedding had been postponed several weeks, due to Lahana’s death.

Not willing to bring shame to the family of the king’s brother, the palace had released a statement saying the young woman had fallen to her death in a horrible accident.

As a result, the wedding would be rescheduled so the engaged couple could mourn their loss with the rest of the royal family.

The only witnesses to what’d really happened had been Darius, Ian, and a few other men from Trident Security.

By the time those in the gaming area had realized what was happening, most had only seen Lahana’s fall, not what had preceded it.

When questioned by Amar and Darius, Diallo had admitted Lahana had often borrowed his phone when they were out together, saying she’d either forgotten hers or its battery was dead.

He’d never thought anything of it, and they’d believed him.

They were still trying to track down how Lahana and Secada had met each other.

The woman had often traveled to various cities around the world, partying with Diallo and Farid or several girlfriends, so there were many possibilities.

Darius had said he suspected it was during one of the several trips to Dubai Lahana had taken during the past two years.

As one of the biggest party cities in the world, it catered to anyone with money—whether it was legally obtained or not.

Tahira still couldn’t believe how Lahana had turned on her.

The woman had obviously been good at hiding her jealousy and hatred.

Who knew how long she’d harbored them? Tahira and her family would be dealing with their grief and hurt from the betrayal for a long time.

Lahana had not been the sweet, fun girl Tahira had grown up with, but that was how she wished to remember her.

Instead of having the grand wedding that’d been originally planned, Tahira had convinced her parents to allow her and Darius to have a much smaller church wedding here in Clearwater Beach, with just family and friends—including Darius’s father.

Everyone had understood their need for a more understated celebration.

She’d still been in shock the first time Darius had said he loved her, but he’d repeated many times since then, and so had she.

Tahira wasn’t certain what exactly had made him realize what she’d already known was true, but she would be forever grateful.

The last thing in the world she’d wanted was for them to start their marriage with that still unsaid between them.

As soon as the words had first registered in her mind, she’d studied him for a moment and had known he wasn’t just saying the words to comfort her.

While most of the time, his aura had been muted, that was no longer the case since that fateful day.

Now, whenever Darius was filled with passion and desire—which was quite often when they were together—the reds, pinks, and purples swirled around him.

There were times he’d camouflaged his body’s wants and needs from his expression, body language, and words, when others were present, but he wasn’t able to turn off his aura during those moments.

She’d known exactly what he was experiencing since she’d been feeling the same things.

Taking a deep breath, Tahira put her hands on her stomach, willing the butterflies to settle down.

Darius would never do anything to hurt her—that wasn’t the problem.

Tahira was just afraid she wouldn’t live up to his expectations.

They’d taken more classes at The Covenant and had even been cleared for certain types of BDSM activities.

She’d found she was quite fond of spankings and sensation play.

While Darius had given her many orgasms over the past six weeks, he hadn’t allowed her to give him any in return.

She’d even suggested one night, that under all the circumstances, and that they’d professed their love for each other, that she’d be willing to not wait for their wedding night.

However, Darius had adamantly refused, stating that it had been important to her all her life to wait, and he wasn’t going to be the one to screw that up for her.

Unfortunately, for him, that had meant lots and lots of cold showers.

Turning, she opened the door, stepped out into the bedroom, and froze in her tracks.

The lights were off, but dozens of votive candles were lit and glimmering around the room.

Several vases of flowers had also been added while she’d been taking the bubble bath Darius had insisted on.

Now she knew why—he was so darn romantic it made her heart swell.

Darius stood barefoot next to the bed, still wearing his tuxedo pants and nothing else.

Her eyes roamed his muscular chest, shoulders, and arms, taking in each of his colorful tattoos, as her pulse increased and her clit throbbed.

She’d study the beautiful ink later, but for now, beneath the silk material, her nipples hardened and begged for his touch.

He was the most handsome man she’d ever known, and he was all hers—forever.

A few days after Lahana’s funeral, on the night before they returned to Florida, he’d arranged a special dinner at a secluded restaurant in Diado.

After dismissing the wait staff from their private dining room, Darius had gotten down on one knee and proposed to her, the way she’d always dreamed her soul mate would ask her to marry him.

Instead of replacing her grandmother’s engagement ring that she’d been wearing, he’d given her a simple, but stunning diamond and emerald choker.

In a few days, they’d be having a ceremony at The Covenant, when she would formally accept the collar which would announce to the BDSM world that Darius was her Dom.

While they wouldn’t be playing at the club often, they would still be joining their friends there on occasion.

Holding his hand out, Darius crooked his finger. “Come here, Princess, and let me look at my beautiful wife.”

She glided across the room, her bare feet sinking into the luxurious carpet.

Taking his hand, she waited while he looked his fill.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

You know, that’s what I thought the first night I saw you at the estate, when the Omega Team was on your security detail for that AIDS fundraiser.

You were coming down the stairs in an emerald-green gown, and everyone stopped and stared.

You were stunning, and I think my heart and lungs seized for a moment before starting up again.

Then I remembered that there was no way in hell I’d ever have a chance with you, because we were from two different worlds. ”

Taking a step closer, she shook her head. “We are not from two different worlds, Darius; we are from the same one. We may have been raised an ocean apart, but we have the same values, the same ethics, the same needs, and the same desire. We are soulmates. I figured that out long before you did.”

He put his arms around her waist, and the last bit of distance between them disappeared. His cock grew thick and heavy against her lower abdomen. “Yeah? How did you know that?”

“Hmm. Maybe someday I will tell you. We have other things to do tonight. Kiss me, please.” She ran her palms up his chest, enjoying how the coarse hairs tickled her. Going up on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Your wish is my command, Princess. But don’t get used to topping from the bottom.

” They both chuckled at his attempt to sound stern.

He was still a work in progress when it came to disciplining her like the other Doms did with their subs, but neither of them minded.

Each couple had to figure out what best suited them.

Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers, and she immediately melted in his arms. Her mouth opened, allowing his tongue to tangle with hers.

He grasped a handful of her hair and used it to angle her head the way he wanted.

Leaving her lips, he kissed and suckled his way down her neck.

She felt him slide the satin and lace robe from her shoulders and down her arms until it fell into a pool at her feet.

Seconds later, her nightgown followed until she was standing completely naked before him for the first time, despite their playtimes the past few weeks.

Darius took a step back and his gaze raked her body from head to toe and back again. “I didn’t think you could ever be more beautiful than you already were to me, but I was wrong. Are you nervous, sweetheart?”

There was no need to lie to him. “Honestly, I was before I came out here. But, now, seeing the love in your eyes, there is no reason for me to worry. I know you will be gentle yet passionate, and I trust you implicitly. Playing with you these past weeks has also helped. Now, I want to know what it is like to make love with you. To belong to you in every way.”

He held his arms out to his sides. “Then undress me.”