Page 33

The hand surrounding my throat slid down my body, slipping between my leggings and my skin, and down into my panties to find me soaked.

I gasped and he swallowed the sound. His hand cupped my sex, with one finger circling my clit, and just when I thought the kiss couldn’t get any more possessively brutal, it did.

That kiss made it clear I was already his.

His mouth on mine promised much more to come. I would learn what it meant to fully belong to him as his wife.

I couldn’t wait to find out.

My clit throbbed beneath his fingers and my core clenched.

Before I could think to stop it, a moan escaped me.

A rush of sensation fluttered inside me, bursting out and developing a life of its own.

My orgasm slammed into me with no warning, fast and hard.

I rose up onto my toes as my back arched, pressing me closer against him, unable to escape the agonizing ecstasy.

My hips rocked slightly, which only rubbed his fingers more firmly against my clit, drawing my climax to new heights.

His tongue danced with mine and his hand tightened a bit more at the back of my head.

Wild insatiable pleasure rattled though me and he didn’t let me escape even a moment of it.

I keened in my throat, and he kissed me even harder. My scalp burned, but my body blazed.

I enjoyed every breathtakingly painful, perfect second of it.

By the time my release finally waned, my lips were sore and my legs felt like jelly. He pulled his fingers free from my panties and splayed them on my lower back, holding me steady against him and I was grateful for it.

“You are mine, my sweet bride,” he whispered, and I blushed at the dark declaration in his tone. I caught my bottom lip between my teeth, staring up into those stormy eyes and knowing that I had found where I belonged. It was with him. He was my home.

I hadn’t said yes, but I didn’t need to.

My body had already answered for me.

I leaned against him, grateful for the support of his tall, strong form. I stared out at the rolling waves as a buzzing calm washed through my body and outward along my limbs and for a long while, I just enjoyed the euphoria he engendered in me.

“The wedding will take place tomorrow.”

“What? Isn’t that too soon?” I blinked in disbelief.

“It isn’t up to you, my sweet bride,” he answered simply.

I spun around and opened my mouth to tell him that I didn’t think that was best, but his big hand slapped my right bottom cheek hard enough to sting.

His expression was firm, and I knew that he would bare me, even out here, and spank my bottom bright red if I continued my pointless protests.

We both knew I wanted to be his as soon as possible.

Later that afternoon, there was a knock at the door. I offered to answer it, but Ryker shook his head and went to open the door himself. Curious, I rose from my seat and looked to see a man in a very well-made suit bowing his head deferentially in greeting.

“Ah, Mr. Gates. Sir, I’ve brought several dresses for Dr. Vaughn to try on. As you requested, there are a few different styles for you to choose from for her,” he began. I felt a bit flustered that the man was talking to Ryker about me, with me standing right there.

“Thank you, Ryan. I appreciate you coming on such short notice,” Ryker answered, swinging the door wide open and moving to help the man maneuver a large rolling cart laden with garment bags into the house.

“Of course, it’s my pleasure, Mr. Gates,” the merchant answered. He had yet to look at me, introduce himself, or even acknowledge my presence in the room. Ryker also made no move to introduce us and seemed to be ignoring me.

I stared down at the floor, confused, embarrassed, and strangely aroused at the manner and behavior of this stranger and my soon-to-be husband. They both acted as though this was all perfectly normal. Maybe it was here, but it wasn’t for me.

Together, they rolled the cart into the oversized master bedroom. I followed and took up my place next to Ryker, fidgeting with uncertainty. I watched curiously as Ryan started to unpack several gorgeous white gowns.

They were more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, even more so than the one in that crate I’d seen what felt like forever ago in my office. They were all brand new, none of them tinted with age or threadbare from the elements.

“There’s so many,” I murmured.

“I wanted to make sure Mr. Gates could choose what he liked best. And that you walked down the aisle in something that made you feel incredible, too, of course,” Ryan offered kindly.

I walked up to the rack and tentatively reached out to touch one of the gowns.

The fabric was silky, shimmering in the light.

Behind me, Ryker chatted with the merchant.

I only realized he had walked over to the door when he called out for me.

I looked over my shoulder, and his warm gaze locked on mine.

His eyes held the promise of home.

“Ryan will help you try on all the dresses from his collection. You will choose five of your favorites. Tonight, you will model them for me, and I will choose the one you will be wearing for the ceremony tomorrow,” he dictated.

His instructions, spoken in front of Ryan, put me firmly in my place and made me tingle.

My nipples pebbled and I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping to hide them as much as possible. Ryker didn’t say anything, looking at me knowingly before he left the room. Glancing at Ryan, I could tell that he understood, too.

I took a deep breath, dispelling my unease as much as I could, and let myself feel the excitement of trying on a wedding dress for the very first time.

Ryan lifted out a white bustier and a matching pair of panties.

I blushed a little as I took them and disappeared into the ensuite bathroom to try them on.

It took me several minutes to clasp the front of the bustier, but when it was safely in place, I lifted my head high and pulled my shoulders back.

I braved the trip back into the bedroom in only my underwear with as much false confidence as I could muster.

If he noticed my embarrassment, Ryan said nothing, instead remaining professional as he pulled the first gown off the rack.

It was a strapless dress, the gown dipping low in the front with a sweetheart neckline.

The skirt billowed out from the fitted waist, creating a beautiful silhouette that made me feel like a princess from the ancient fairy tale books in the museum.

I tried several different dresses on after that first one.

Each one was somehow perfectly sized for my body.

How had Ryker managed that? Some were covered in lace.

Others silk or satin. Several of the dresses had corseted waistlines while a few had mesh cutouts that showcased my body a bit more than others.

There were mermaid dresses that hugged my legs and a few that hugged my every curve and made me feel like a goddess.

By the time I finished trying all of them on, I was a bit lost as to which were my favorites. After Ryan led me through a few questions, I narrowed down the pool until I settled on the five that made me feel the most beautiful.

“I can’t wait to find out which one he chooses for you,” he said.

“Me too,” I replied. Ryker choosing my dress for me, a thing I would have considered alien in my old life, had become the most natural concept in the world. I had no idea how that had happened.

I went into the restroom to change into more comfortable clothes while Ryan packed up the rest of the dresses that hadn’t made the cut.

When I came out of the bathroom, he was gone but there was a pink gift box left behind on the bed.

I walked over to it, thinking I should rush out to catch him before he left, figuring he must have forgotten it.

Unable to quell my curiosity though, I lifted the lid and peeked inside.

It was the prettiest lingerie set I’d ever laid eyes upon.

The white bustier was decorated with exquisite pink lace.

It was lightly structured with flexible metal boning lining the waist. The panties were made of decadent white lace.

Matching pink roses were hand embroidered along the hem. There was a small note inside.

For your wedding night. ~ Ryan

I blushed at the insinuation. It felt portentous, especially when I was looking directly at Ryker’s bed. I swallowed hard and padded out of the bedroom to find Ryker calmly reading in the living room.

“Did you have fun?” he smiled. His expression was soft.

“Yes,” I answered quickly.

“Why don’t we eat dinner together and then you can be a good girl and model the dresses for me?”

My stomach growled loudly, and he chuckled.

“Take a seat at the table. It’s almost ready.”

I agreed and scurried over to the table. He stood up from the couch, and I watched him walk over to the oven.

I gulped, feasting on the sight of his male form from behind.

The shape of his firm ass and muscular thighs filled his black slacks far too well.

He turned around a bit too quickly and caught me watching him.

I stared down at the table, trying to hide my guilty smile, sheepishly waiting as he carried over a pan of food.

“Have you ever had lasagna?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“This is another of my family’s recipes,” he grinned. “I promise you, it doesn’t get any better than this.”

“Oh?”

“Yup. I’d bet on it,” he winked.

He cut a piece and served it to me. The first bite was just as good as he had promised, the indulgently rich cheese melting on my tongue and mixing with the sweet garlic and herbs in the tomato sauce.

The noodles were still a little firm, but soft enough to cut with nothing more than a fork.

I took another bite, trying to savor it.