“She is. She’s a good woman. She’s a wonderful principal and an obedient daughter.”
“I can see that.” Seth felt uncomfortable dancing with her. He knew she must be worried for Michelle, though. “I will take good care of her.”
“I hear you’re going to go with her to Disney World for your honeymoon. Why anyone would go to Disney World for a honeymoon is beyond me.”
“Because it’s what she wants. If it makes her happy, I’m more than willing to do it.”
“I don’t want to like you, but you’re making it very hard!”
Seth laughed. “I’m glad to hear that, Mrs. Strempel. I want to like you, though. And I very much like your daughter.”
“I hope you still feel that way after a couple of months of marriage.”
“Of course, I will.” Seth couldn’t imagine anything keeping him from liking the woman he’d married.
“We’ll see.”
When she said nothing else, Seth shrugged and kept dancing. He didn’t know what the woman was thinking, and he wasn’t going to question her too much. He didn’t want anything to color his opinion of his new wife.
After he finished the dance with her mother, Seth and Michelle cut the cake. He carefully fed her the piece and found that he had frosting left on his fingers. She caught his hand and pulled it to her mouth, licking away the frosting that was left.
His eyes met hers and he felt his pants getting tighter. He wanted her in bed. Soon.
After they finished the cake, they talked to several of the people there. Michelle wasn’t certain how quickly it would be all right to leave, but she was ready. At least she felt like she was ready.
Finally, her mother came to her and whispered, “No one can leave until you do. This would be a good time.”
Michelle turned to Seth. “It’s time for us to go,” she said quietly. “Oh! I have to toss the bouquet.”
She quickly tossed the bouquet out to a group of single women before taking his arm. “Mother said the gifts would be delivered to my house while we’re out of town.”
“How long are you planning for this trip?” he asked. “I only have seven days.”
“I planned a week, so that’s perfect. Where do you need to be in seven days?”
He sighed. “I have a trip to Boston a week from Monday.”
“Well, that’s perfect. I can go with you, or I can stay here and get all of your stuff put up.”
He shrugged. “Why don’t we play it by ear? See what we feel the need to do then?” Already he couldn’t see himself leaving her when he left town, but he knew he’d have to once the school year started. Maybe it would be best if he got used to leaving her.
She drove them to her house, because he’d flown in. His car would be pulled behind a moving truck that wasn’t expected until the day they got back from Disney. In the meantime, they would need to share her car.
When she pulled up in front of her house, she saw it through his eyes. It was a small white house, made of brick. It was a three bedroom two bath house, but only one story. She got out and opened the door, surprised her car hadn’t been decorated. Maybe no one had thought it appropriate with the mess she’d been through since her engagement had been broken.
When she’d unlocked the front door, he scooped her into his arms and carried her inside. At her squeal, he laughed. “Didn’t you expect to be carried over the threshold? Isn’t that what a groom is supposed to do?”
“I guess I never really thought about it! I’m not used to being scooped up and carried anywhere.”
He shut the front door with his foot and slowly lowered her to her feet. “Well, get used to it, because I kind of want to just stick you in my pocket and take you everywhere with me.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “You can put that idea right out of your head. I’m used to standing on my own two feet, thank you very much!”
He looked around him, ignoring her, because he didn’t plan on obeying her edict. “Nice house.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I’m happy with it.”
“C’mere.”
She blushed. “I should probably get ready for bed.”
“C’mere first.”
She took the three steps that separated them, standing in front of him. “Yes?”
He pulled her to him, kissing her passionately, his mouth toying with hers. Within a moment, her arms wrapped around his neck, and she clung to him, unsure of whether her legs would support her.
When he lifted his head, he had a lusty look in his eyes and was pleased that she didn’t seem to be able to stand. “You go get ready for bed now. I’m going to grab my stuff from your car.”
He went out and got his suitcase, leaving her in the middle of the living room staring after him. She had a nightgown all picked out for her wedding night, and she knew she wanted to wear it. Hurrying into her room, she locked the door and changed into the frothy nightgown her co-workers had given her at a lingerie shower just before school had ended.
She felt incredibly uncertain about the night ahead. She’d been engaged for three years and had still never done more than kiss a man. Now she’d met this man just a few hours before, and he was about to take her to bed. What was she thinking?
Michelle sighed, thinking about the tall, strong, sexy man she’d just married, and she knew what she was thinking. She was thinking he was hot, and he was her husband. She had every right to want to make love with him, and more than that, she had every right not to feel embarrassed about it.
She may not be someone a man could love, but at least she could tell he felt passion for her. It was something they could use to start building their relationship. Right?
Chapter Three
Seth brought his suitcase in and set it on the floor. He really didn’t have anything he needed from it. He’d just wanted to give Michelle time to get herself ready for bed. He walked down the hallway, looking at the only closed door, wondering if he should knock or give her a little more time.
Deciding to err on the side of caution, he went to the kitchen and got himself a glass of water first. He leaned against the counter, sipping it slowly. How long did a man give a woman he had just met a few hours before to get ready for their wedding night? He wanted to laugh, because the whole situation was quite ridiculous, but it wasn’t funny to him. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. He just hoped she didn’t come up with some reason to delay the wedding night.
He finished his water and placed the glass in the top rack of the dishwasher, amazed that the house was so clean. He wondered if she was a nervous cleaner. His mother had been, and every time something big was about to happen in her life, her house had been spotless.
He wandered to the closed door at the end of the hall and knocked, holding his breath as he waited for her to say something. She opened the door to him, wearing a silky white nightgown that ended at mid-thigh. He gulped, his Adam’s apple jumping in his throat.
“You look incredible,” he said, his voice a mere whisper.
“I feel silly,” she admitted. “Wearing something like this for a man I just met a few hours ago is strange.”
“So you’d wear it for a man not your husband?” he asked, knowing what she meant, but feeling the need to bait her anyway.
“I’ve never worn anything like this for anyone.”
“Why not? You look beautiful in it.”
“I—well, I’ve never done this before.”
He blinked a couple of times, finally nodding. “You decided to wait for marriage, I guess?”
“Yes.”
He took a step closer to her, not sure how to respond to the new information. “We’re married.”
She grinned at him, nodding. “Yes, I noticed that.” She held up her hand that wore the ring he’d purchased for her. “You put a ring on it.”
He looked down at her, trailing a hand down her arm. Her head didn’t quite reach the top of his shoulder. He was almost afraid he was going to crush her when they ma
de love. “Well, I did like it. Do you like the ring?”
“I do.” It was a plain gold band, but it meant something to her.
“I thought we’d pick out an engagement ring together. I didn’t know your taste.”
She nodded, not really worried about engagement rings when she stood there in barely nothing in front of him. “That works.”
He caught her shoulders in his hands and pulled her closer to him. “If we do too much kissing standing up, I’m going to get a crick in my neck.”
She giggled. “I always knew I was short, but you make me feel tiny. How tall are you?” She’d always liked tall men, even though she felt dwarfed by them. Bob had only been about five and a half feet tall, and he’d had a short man complex.
“Six-five. Too tall?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think men can be too tall!”
“But women can? Isn’t that reverse sexism?” He stroked her cheek with his thumb, pulling her over to sit beside him on the bed so they’d be closer to the same level.
She shrugged. “I’m not super worried about being politically correct. This is a small Southern town, Seth. Things aren’t quite like they are in Boston.”
“I’ve kind of noticed that.” Seth put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her close to him. He still had to tilt his head to kiss her, even sitting, but it was better than standing. “I think I’m always going to kiss you sitting. Or better yet, lying down.”
Michelle blushed. “I guess that makes sense.”
His lips covered hers, and his hands went to her back, molding her body to his. He wanted to pull her onto his lap, facing him, so they’d be at a better angle for kissing, but he wasn’t sure how she’d handle that. After a moment, he decided to give it a try and pulled her astride him, never removing his lips from hers.
She pressed herself closer to him, loving the feel of his lips on hers. The man could kiss like nobody’s business. She wanted to ask him how he got to be such a good kisser, but she really didn’t want to know about past relationships, so she didn’t.
She wrapped her arms around him, stroking him through the crisp white shirt he wore. He’d removed his suit jacket and left it somewhere, presumably in the living room. Where didn’t matter a whole lot, though. She was just happy she had access to his body.
Most tall men she’d known were very lanky, with few muscles, but Seth must work out somehow. She could feel his bunched up muscles under his shirt. She pulled away from the kiss, her hands tackling the knot of his tie. “Do you work out?”
He nodded. “I run, and I row.”
“I like the affect it has on you.” She winked at him, surprised she could tease that way.
Seth laughed. “Oh, really?”
“Oh, yeah!”
“How ‘bout you? Do you work out?”
She shrugged. “I sometimes run with my girls’ track team.”
“You do?”
She nodded. “It’s a small school, with not enough coaches to go around. When the girls asked for a track team, I decided to coach it myself.”
He shook his head. “I have a feeling you overextend yourself as much as I do.”
“Probably, but I love my job and my students.”
“I can understand that very well.”
She threw his tie to the side and went to work on the buttons of his shirt. “It seems unfair that I’m practically naked, and you’re still fully clothed,” she said with a pout.
He laughed. “Is that what you’re doing then? Making us more equal?”
She nodded, blushing again. “Of course it is. What else would I be doing?”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t know.” He loved watching her, thrilled again that she was the girl chosen for him. He needed to send Dr. Lachele a huge bouquet of flowers to thank her.
She pushed his shirt off his shoulders and pushed it to the floor. “There. That’s better.” Her hands moved to knead the bare muscles of his shoulders. “I definitely like.”
He grinned. “I’m not sure you’re supposed to tell me that?”
“Well, I don’t know any of the rules for this. I guess you’ll have to teach me what I need to know.”
“I like that idea.” He pulled her toward him, kissing her again, his mouth more ravenous on hers than it had been. His hands stroked down the front of her, cupping her breasts in his hands. His thumbs finding her nipples through the silky fabric.
She gasped, pulling her mouth from his. “Why does that feel so deliciously naughty?”
“Deliciously naughty? I’ll take that as a compliment!” He kissed a path down her neck and across her shoulder.
She tilted her head to one side, giving him better access. “That feels so good!”
He caught her hips in his hands, pulling her closer to him so she was pressed up against his erection which was trying to drill a hole through his pants. “I’m not sure how much longer I can wait,” he said against her lips.
She pulled away from him for a moment, looking into his eyes. “I don’t think I told you to wait.”
He smiled, pushing her off his lap, and standing before pulling the blankets back. He glanced over at her, wanting to memorize the picture she made standing there in her nightgown, her hair flowing down around her shoulders. “Have I mentioned how beautiful you are yet?”
She shook her head. “I’m so glad you think so.” Bob had always acted as if she was lucky he paid any attention to her, and he’d been her first and only boyfriend. Having a man shower her with compliments of any kind was surprising.
“I do.” He closed the curtain behind the bed, hating the thought of anyone looking in.
“That just looks out to the swamp behind my house. No one can see in,” she told him.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I want it closed.”
“All right.” She stood there awkwardly, wondering what he wanted her to do. She’d always thought that agreeing to have sex would be the hardest part, but really, she had no clue what she was supposed to do now that she had agreed.
He approached her, catching the hem of her nightgown in his hands and pulling it over her head. She blushed for a moment, wanting to cover herself. “You’re not supposed to steal my nightgown!”
“Steal it? I’m not! It’s not like I plan to wear it. I like it…but right now, I like it better on the floor.”
She shook her head at him. “I had no idea you could act so—unruly!”
He laughed at that. “Unruly? Maybe I’ll get sent to the principal’s office, and you’ll have to punish me.”
She shook her head. “Behave!”
He pushed her onto the bed, following her down. His lips covered hers before she could tell him to do anything else. She was turning out to be a bossy little thing. When he touched her this time, it wasn’t to explore, but instead he worked at bringing her to the same fever pitch he’d already attained. He wanted her to be just as ready for him as was possible.
He moved one hand down to stroke up the inside of her thigh, his fingers going to her core.
Michelle gasped as his hand touched her where no man had ever touched her before. She arched into his hand, her arms going around him and kissing him back passionately.
It wasn’t long before he stood to remove his pants and covered her body with his. “Tell me if I crush you,” he said, attempting to catch most of his weight with his elbows.
She shook her head. “You’re not hurting me.”
He leaned down to press his lips to hers, his hands stroking her body. “Are you ready for me?” he asked softly, even as he moved between her spread thighs.
“I think so.” She wanted him, but she was nervous at the same time.
He reached a hand down to guide himself to her core, pressing inside. He pressed until he felt her barrier, and then, pressing his lips to hers to stifle her gasp of pain, he pressed hard, seating himself completely.
For a moment he lay still atop her, and then he slowly began moving. His hands never stopped
stroking her and his lips stayed pressed to hers. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he’d come too far to stop. The best he could do was make sure she finished before him.
When she arched beneath him, letting him know she’d reached fulfillment, he let himself go, finishing quickly. He rolled to her side and drew her close beside him, pillowing her head on his shoulder, his heart still pounding.
Michelle pressed a kiss to his shoulder, her eyes already drooping. It had been a long, exhausting day. Surely getting married did that to every bride. She was asleep within moments, leaving Seth awake to watch her sleep.
*****
Michelle woke early the following morning, as was her habit. She’d always been one to get up before the sun was up, simply because that’s when her body woke her. She’d envied her roommates in college who could sleep until the alarm woke them.
She always woke up suddenly with full knowledge of everything around her, remembering what had happened vividly the night before. She slipped out of bed, looking back down at Seth for a moment before wandering into the bathroom to shower quickly. Their flight was at noon, so they didn’t need to leave for the airport until nine or so.
She hurried into the kitchen to fix a quick breakfast, which she wanted to serve Seth in bed, hoping to brighten his first full day of marriage a bit. She couldn’t believe the effect he had on her, and couldn’t seem to stop smiling and blushing.
It was just after seven when she crept into her bedroom with a tray laden with breakfast for Seth. She sat on the edge of the bed, and reached out to wake him. When his eyes opened and met hers, she smiled. “I made you breakfast.” She set the tray over his lap once he’d sat up, and went back to the kitchen for her own.
Seth looked at the feast in front of him. Michelle had made French toast, eggs, and bacon. There was a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice as well. “You’re spoiling me.”
Michelle laughed, sliding back into bed beside him with her own tray. “Don’t get used to it. Once school starts I won’t have time for much.”
“I guess I’ll have to be happy with stolen moments during the school year.”
Longing in Louisiana (At the Altar Book 8) Page 3