by Alexis Anne
Where I was vibrating, he was still. Sure. Omnipresent.
It was as if he were growing in size before my very eyes until he was a giant. Each word from his lips was solemn and I did not doubt the sincerity of his promises that day.
“I, Roman George St. James, take you, June Elizabeth Daniels, to be my wife.” He said each word carefully, but the last was said with so much reverence I felt the word every bit as much as I heard it. “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse,” his eyes locked onto mine, searing me with a fierce protectiveness, “for richer or poor,” he shook his head as if money meant absolutely nothing to him, “in sickness and health, to love and to cherish until forever and ever,” he rushed on, changing the vows the minister had just recited, “because you’re my person,” he squeezed my hands inside his, “and there will never be anyone else that I love the way that I love you.”
He held me prisoner in his gaze. It was as steady and unwavering as the love I felt for him. This new life wasn’t going to be easy, but it was going to be so, so good because this man loved me and I loved him.
The minister cleared his throat. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Congratulations!”
Roman wasted no time. He stepped into me, one hand moving around my hip to the small of my back, the other cupping my face, and kissed me. It hit me all at once. His strength and confidence colliding with my determination and hope. My body responded, too. The first kiss was hard and chaste, but the second was softer. Slower. I melted against him, savoring the reality that he was mine to have for the rest of my life. I got a little bit lost inside that kiss and when Roman pulled back I expected it to end, but instead I felt a faint growl in his chest and then an explosion as his lips crashed against mine once again.
I forgot about everything except Roman. His lips. His hands holding me up. His urgency. This kiss was the real kiss. The first had been expected, and the second instinct, but this kiss was us—our love unleashed from all the worry and doubts—allowed to break free and simply love each other, at last.
When my hands slid around to his back and pulled him even closer, he groaned and broke the kiss, panting as he pressed his forehead to mine.
“This. I want us to be like this for the rest of our lives.”
I nodded, moving both our heads. “I do.”
We took our best man and maids of honor out to dinner as a celebration and they took it very seriously. Wes ordered champagne and insisted on giving a best man toast.
“I knew Roman was in love with you five years ago. I didn’t know it was you, but I knew whoever the mystery woman was, she’d forever changed my best friend. Roman and I both came from families that were all about being a man’s man. We’re supposed to use the people around us. Be the best—whatever it takes. Never show weakness, never give anything to anyone. It’s bullshit because a real man takes care of the people around him, and he lets those people love him back. Roman taught me that and I know he learned it from falling in love with you, June. You two will be happily married as long as you remember you’re a team. To a long and happy marriage.” He held up his flute of champagne.
Roman kissed me on the cheek then shot up out of his seat to give Wes a giant hug. “Thank you.”
Wes shook his head, pounding Roman on the back. “Thank you for putting up with my dumb ass all these years. I swear I’ll repay it all one day.”
I glanced over at Carrie. She sat white as a sheet and staring with her mouth open at Wes.
“Are you okay?” I whispered.
She turned her head toward me. “Of course. Why?”
“Because you look a little pale.”
She took a deep breath and shook off the bad vibes. “The champagne just got to me, that’s all.”
“Really? Because I thought maybe you discovering that Wes is not a complete asshole might have thrown you for a loop.”
She opened her mouth to protest but I held up my hand to stop her. “You’re acting weird. We don’t have to talk about it now but you better believe you’re gonna talk when I get home.”
She scowled at me and took another sip of champagne. “It’s your wedding day so I won’t argue.”
“Good.”
“My turn!” Zoe stood up and refilled all our glasses. “When I came to Tampa I had nothing. No family, no job, no hope. I didn’t believe in love anymore.”
We all grew very quiet as Zoe spoke in a low voice. Her hands shook a little.
“Then Eve hired me to be her nanny and unwittingly put her sister out of a job.” She snuck a smile at me.
“Hey now, I’m the best aunt. I know I’m not nanny material.”
“Our little rivalry set up what has become my most treasured friendship. Since meeting you and your sister I’ve learned to have hope again. I’ve learned that real love is a powerful and very real thing. I’ve seen the same magic in you and Roman that I’ve witnessed time and time again in Jake and Eve. There is no doubt in my mind you will overcome this feud and have a long and happy marriage. If I ever find someone who loves me, even a fraction of the amount Roman loves you, I will count myself a very lucky woman.”
She held up her glass and we all toasted again, although much quieter this time.
So quiet I heard the phone vibrating in Roman’s pocket.
“You need to check that?”
“Nope.” He took a swig of champagne. “George is having a temper tantrum.”
“Where?”
Roman pulled me into his side and kissed my forehead. “He is far, far away from Tampa.”
Well at least there was that.
“I guess it’s my turn,” Carrie tentatively stood up with her glass. “I never believed in love before I saw it happen with the two of you, so I’m not sure I’m the best person to make a toast to your future happiness, but I do know a few things about life.” Carrie was always so confident that it was strange to see her looking so unsure. I guess feelings were her Achilles’ heel. “You don’t survive alone, so it’s good that you’ve found each other. People are selfish, but if you can put that aside and take care of each other you’ll be doing better than most. And I love her like a sister, Roman. If you hurt her I’ll feed you your own balls.”
She sat down with a plop and finished her drink.
“Good to know,” Roman laughed.
I watched Wes the entire time Carrie was speaking and it was a fascinating sight to behold. Over the course of her short speech he transformed from bored to angry to proud. At least that was how it looked to me.
“I can’t wait to get you alone,” Roman whispered in my ear.
I turned and placed a kiss on his lips. “Then we should get out of here because the feeling is mutual.”
As much fun as it was to celebrate with our friends, I was tired and I wanted to celebrate with my new husband before I lost my last bit of energy.
Roman bounced his eyebrows. “All right gang, we’re leaving. The bill is already paid for including another bottle of champagne, so stay as long as you like. But I’m taking my wife back to our room and we’re not coming out until tomorrow.”
24
I furrowed my brow as the car pulled up outside The Bellagio. “This isn’t The Paris.” Where I’d spent the afternoon and had assumed we would be spending the night.
“No, it isn’t,” he said with a kiss to my cheek just before he leapt out of the car, holding out his hand to help me.
“Why are we here?”
“You know why,” he whispered against my ear.
I swayed against him and he wrapped his arm firmly around my waist to steady me. “Really?”
“Really.” He kissed me lightly on the lips. “The room was occupied earlier so we had to wait. It’s all ours for the next twenty-four hours.”
“Wait . . . the room?” The same one we’d made love in during my conference? The night we restarted this crazy journey that had, somehow, led us to this?
“It’s not a honeymoon suite, but it is spec
ial.”
I rested my cheek against his heart and wrapped him up in a hug. “It’s perfect.”
He already had the room key so we went straight to the elevator, right past my memories of that night. It hadn’t been that long ago and yet it also seemed like it had been years.
“I was out of my mind that night,” Roman murmured as he kicked the door closed.
“You didn’t show it.”
“I don’t know how I managed it. I was barely thinking straight.” He set me on the edge of the bed and knelt down to remove my heels. “All I knew was that I had to convince you we could be together or else I’d lose you forever.” The waver to his voice, the strain with which he forced out the words . . .
I ran my fingers through his hair. “I sometimes think you never lost me. You marked me all those years ago and no man has ever been able to erase it.”
He closed his eyes and leaned into my touch. “Good.”
“What was going through your mind that night? We were just like this. Our clothes were still on, the room was dark . . . what were you thinking?”
“That it would never get better than this.” His eyes snapped open. “I feel so fucking alive when I touch you, June.”
I slid down off the bed so that we were nose to nose. “Then touch me. Everywhere. All night.” I took his hand and placed it on the bare skin above my dress.
“Yes,” he whispered, sliding his fingers beneath the fabric. “Oh, God, yes.” He ran his hands down my hips to the hem of my skirt, edging it up until he could caress the bare skin of my thigh. “How does it feel when I touch you?”
Magic. There was nothing like it. The electricity, the current of fire that swept deep into my veins, the rush that took my breath away and didn’t give it back until I collapsed in exhaustion—there was no word for that.
“Roman?”
“Yeah?”
I took his face in my hands. “We’re married.”
“We are.” He swept me up, holding me hard against his chest. “You’re my wife.”
“You’re my husband,” I said it slowly, testing it out on my tongue. Roman was my husband. “What’s my name now?” Would I take the St. James last name? I’d always imagined I’d take my husband’s name but was that taking things too far? Would lightning come down and strike me dead?
Tingles shot through me as Roman ran his nose along mine. “It doesn’t matter what your name is. You’re my wife. That’s all I care about. And besides, to me, you’re always Beautiful.”
“I like that.”
He set me down and finished undressing me. “We’re going to have a lot to talk about but the most important thing I want you to hear tonight as I make love to you, is that you’re mine and I’m yours. We’re a team.”
“Make love to me?” Somehow the rest of what he said got lost after that.
“To my wife.”
“Say it again.”
“I’m going to make love to you. My wife.” He wrapped his arms around me, tipping me back for a kiss. “And then I’m going to love you for the rest of our lives.” Another kiss. “We’re going to make a beautiful life together. Starting now.”
We tumbled backward onto the bed.
I yanked at his tie. “These clothes need to go, Roman. They’re in the way.”
He grinned. “In the way of what?” The jacket went flying, followed by his dress shirt.
“Your skin. I need it.”
His pants disappeared and then he came at me. We were a tangle of frantic hands and lips. “Your touch,” he gasped as I ran my fingers lightly over the small of his back.
I shivered. “I want you inside me.” The only thing missing from our wedding day was that—physically joining in the most intimate way possible.
“I need a condom.”
“It’s our wedding night. Let’s forget it for once.”
He pulled back. “You’re sure?” We’d had the talk. We were both clean and I had an IUD. It wasn’t foolproof—nothing was—but we were married now and it was our wedding night. I craved that extra level of intimacy.
“I want to feel all of you.”
My words did something to him. His eyelids dropped and his pupils dilated. It was a smolder of raw lust. “Bare?” he croaked.
“Bare.” I cocked my hips up, searching for him.
He shuddered the moment I found him. When he didn’t move I arched up, taking him inside. He hissed, dropping his forehead to my shoulder. “This feels amazing.”
“We’ve barely started.”
His head snapped up, his eyes locking with mine. “You’ve got that right, Beautiful.”
Then he pulled back, surging forward even deeper than before. This time I was the one who hissed. The sensation of his cock bare inside me—his skin touching mine—was so intimate it short-circuited every thought in my head. I wanted more and couldn’t handle anymore, all at the same time, which was perfect since that was how I’d felt about Roman from the very beginning.
He moved slow, in and out, giving us the opportunity to feel everything. I memorized each stroke. I never wanted to forget how it felt to give myself to Roman on our wedding night.
“Kiss me,” I gasped.
He stroked harder. Faster. I arched to meet him over and over. My orgasm built quickly. I don’t know if it was the raw need we had for each other or the insanity of eloping, but every part of me seemed primed and ready for a release.
“Yes! There.” I clung to his strong shoulders as my orgasm kick started.
With a grunt of approval Roman plunged deeper, pushing my orgasm to the limit, coaxing it to last just a little bit longer, until he couldn’t take it, and gave in, allowing his own pleasure to overwhelm him.
I was still writhing beneath him, searching for the last few waves of my orgasm, when he finally stopped and rested his forehead against mine. “Are you pleased, my wife?”
The word sent another thrill through me and I rolled my hips.
Roman groaned and rocked against me.
“Yes, husband, you pleasured me completely.”
“You blow my mind.” He made an exploding gesture with his hand. “Every time I think we’ve had the best sex ever we do something new and I think, nope that’s the best sex ever.”
I pulled him down so that he was pressed against me from head to toe, his cock still twitching inside me. “It’s all good, babe. Every single bit of it. There is no best when it comes to us, only right.”
His hand caressed along my thigh, lightly massaging the tired muscles from my knee to my hip. We were a tangle of naked bodies and searching limbs.
“I never went to Dublin,” Roman said as he kissed my shoulder.
He’d been planning a huge trip with Wes and some of his other teammates to visit the breweries and distilleries of Ireland. He’d started talking about buying me a ticket just before we broke up.
“Why?” I held my breath.
“I didn’t want to go without you.”
I wiggled down so that we were face to face. “That was a guy trip. It was never supposed to include me.”
“Didn’t matter. The more we talked about it, the more I pictured you there. You fit in like a glove with my friends. And when you left . . . ”
“We’re together now. We should go.”
“Honeymoon?”
Breweries and distilleries in a foreign country? Yes please. “I don’t see why not.”
“Or we could pick one of your other bucket list cities.” The light of the morning slanted across our room. Room service sat on a tray in the corner devoured down to the last crumb.
“Do you really want me to work at Aim For Athletics?”
His fingers froze mid-stroke on my thigh. “Only if you want to. I hear the conflict in your voice every time you talk about work. And your family. I don’t know where it’s coming from so I offered up a potential solution.”
Conflict? “You mean when I talk about us?”
“No,” he eyed me carefully, “all the time
. To be honest . . . I don’t like it.”
“All the time?” I thought about my frustration with my family’s expectations and realized he had a point. I loved them to pieces but I was unhappy. “You might be right.”
“Why?”
I shifted uncomfortably. “It’s just . . . well, it’s just that they don’t know me. Not really.”
Roman frowned. “I don’t understand.”
It was hard to explain when I barely understood it, too. “I’m the baby,” I shrugged. In a lot of ways that explained most of the problem. “They still think of me as the youngest. You know, the one who is the most immature, the least experienced. The one who needs guidance and help. I still wander.” I think that was the one that really got under my skin. “But I don’t travel because I’m lost, I travel because I love it.”
Some people hate living out of suitcases and hotel rooms, but that never bothered me. New places, new people, new food . . . it fed my soul to a point that beds and cramped cars were nothing but a small inconvenience on the way to something much bigger.
“They don’t know you,” Roman said, staring off past me.
“Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure I know me either.”
“Tell me who you think you are.” He turned to give me a breathtaking sidelong glance.
How was I supposed to think about anything when he did that? I cleared my throat and looked away. “I’m not like my sisters. I know that. Eve is the hotheaded, no-nonsense executive. That’s her personality through and through. She’s loud, decisive, and smart. That’s her role. I mean, yeah, she’s changed over the years and we’ve changed right along with her, but at her core . . . that’s Eve.” Sometimes I envied her confidence but mostly the thought of living her life exhausted me. It was just too much bureaucracy and not enough one-on-one interaction with the people that mattered.
“And Cassandra?”
“She’s the sweet sister,” I said easily. “She’s quieter, more laidback. She decided to stay home with the kids and she moves from one project to another because she never sweats the small stuff.”