Owning Beauty (Taking Beauty Trilogy Book 3)

by Nikki Wild

  “I do,” Bear replied, his voice a low growl that shot right through me.

  “Being assured that your love and your choice of each other as lifelong companions is in God’s will and that you have your families’ blessings, I now ask: Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

  Mom stepped forward, looking absolutely loving in her burgundy dress.

  “I do.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “Do you have the rings?”

  Max stepped forward, holding out the two wedding bands that Bear and I had spent an afternoon picking out last week. They sparkled under the lights, as brightly as the stars overhead. The priest took them and handed Bear’s ring to me.

  With trembling fingers, I slid it onto his fingertip.

  “Repeat after me, please, Chloe,” the priest began again.

  “I, Chloe…”

  “I, Chloe,” I said, my voice trembling as much as my fingers. It was really happening…

  “Take Bear, as my lawfully wedded husband…”

  “Take Bear,” my voice strengthening, “as my lawfully wedded husband.”

  I lifted my chin, pride rushing through my veins.

  “To have and to hold, from this day forward…”

  “To have and to hold,” I nodded, “from this day forward…”

  “For better or for worse…”

  “For better or for worse,” I whispered as tears stung my eyes.

  “For richer or for poorer…”

  “For richer or for poorer,” I whispered, my heart racing.

  “In sickness and in health…”

  “In sickness and in health,” I said, slipping the ring further on his finger.

  “Until death do us part…”

  “Until death do us part,” I said, my voice breathless with emotion.

  I took a deep breath and slid the ring on completely. I looked down at his hand and then back at up his beaming eyes.

  “Very good,” the priest said. “Bear, repeat after me, please…”

  “I, Bear…”

  “I, Bear,” he said, my head swimming as he peered into my eyes.

  “Take Chloe, as my lawfully wedded wife…”

  “Take Chloe,” he growled with fierce determination, sliding the ring on my finger, “as my lawfully wedded wife.”

  My chest heaved with excitement, my heart fluttering wildly.

  “To have and to hold, from this day forward…”

  “To have and to hold from this day forward.” My heart melted, my legs threatening to buckle below me, my fingers shaking like leaves.

  “For better or for worse…”

  “For better or for worse,” he whispered.

  “For richer or for poorer…”

  “For richer or for poorer,”

  “In sickness and in health…”

  “In sickness and in health,” he said, his words catching in his throat. I knew he was thinking of Bruce and my heart swelled even more, threatening to burst with love.

  “Until death do us part…”

  “Until death do us part,” he said, sliding the ring on all the way.

  He looked straight into my soul, his words a vow on the lips of the gods, a promise of never-ending love, a light so bright it dug into the dark places, healing the past and illuminating our future.

  “By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now grant you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  His lips crashed into mine, a crescendo of emotion that didn’t need fireworks, it didn’t need confetti or balloons, or handfuls of rice thrown by large throngs of people.

  It was quiet, intensely beautiful and perfectly pure…

  Bear

  I was riding a roller-coaster of emotion.

  Elation and grief and lust and love swirled around inside of me until I thought I might burst. I kept it all hidden, kept my armor up and stayed focused on the good parts.

  How could I not?

  I left the grief pushed far away and vowed to thoroughly enjoy my wedding night with the most beautiful woman in the world. Everything else could be addressed later.

  No matter what happened to Bruce, there was nothing I could do to change it. And I knew if I didn’t let it all go for tonight, I would regret it later.

  I wanted tonight to be magical.

  I’d booked us the penthouse suite at the Four Seasons. It was the most expensive room in North America, and I’d stayed there a few times already. I knew that Chloe would love it. And at forty-five grand a night, I knew the staff would ensure every detail was carried out perfectly.

  I couldn’t wait for her to see it.

  “Dinner was lovely, wasn’t it?” Chloe asked me, as Max drove us around Central Park to the hotel.

  “It was perfect,” I said.

  “I feel bad leaving Marie in the city alone,” she said.

  “It’s your wedding night, Chloe, don’t feel bad. Besides, it’s only one night, since she has to get back to work. She’s a big girl, she’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” she said, snuggling into my side.

  We were both a little buzzed from the champagne at dinner and yet I felt like I was drunk. I couldn’t look at her without my heart speeding up and touching her only made me want to rip her clothes off.

  Yes, dinner had been lovely, but it had only prolonged my yearning for what I really wanted—needed—to do. As soon as the priest pronounced us husband and wife, I felt the urgent need to grab Chloe’s hand and escape somewhere with her—anywhere—so that we could be alone.

  I needed to touch her. To kiss her.

  But more than that, I needed to be inside of her.

  And she knew it.

  We’d danced a few songs after dinner, much to my dismay and frustration, but she’d felt it then. Her eyes flashed up at me, reflecting the hunger I was feeling and to her credit, she gracefully sped things up and got us out of there.

  I’d let her call the shots completely for the wedding. I let her make all the decisions, choose every flower and dish and wine and cake. As far as I was concerned, it was her day.

  But tonight? Well, just like I’d claimed her as mine, I’d claimed tonight as mine too. I’d told her as much weeks ago when we were discussing all the work involved in planning the wedding.

  “Leave the evening up to me.” I’d promised her a memorable night and I was going to give it to her.

  After saying goodbye to Max, we checked in and boarded the elevator. I was disappointed to see the bell boy get on with us, but it was probably best that I wait to devour my new bride in private.

  Chloe smiled over at me and I winked, hoping she knew how much I wanted her. My cock twitched in my pants as I realized that I would be inside of her in mere moments. I’d been waiting all day, and that was way too long for me to wait for something I wanted.

  The doors finally opened and we stepped out into a lobby with white lacquered walls and mother of pearl inlays. The bellboy left our luggage and I tipped him. When the elevator doors closed behind him I turned to Chloe.

  “This is incredible,” she cried, her eyes wide.

  “Nothing but the best for you, darling,” I said, pulling her into my arms and kissing her gently. She pulled back, staring into my eyes.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too,” I said, my cock begging for attention. She sensed my urgency and pulled away, smiling coyly.

  “Slow down!” she said. “I want to look around.”

  I growled, silently following her as she ooh’d and ahh’d around the penthouse.

  “How many terraces are there?” she asked.

  “Four,” I said. “You have a three hundred and sixty degree view of the city,” I said. We entered into a white carpeted living room with a fire roaring in the fireplace. A huge smile spread across Chloe’s face as she kept walking through the rooms.

  A large library with glowing amber colored wooden walls flowed into a dining room with a table set
up in an alcove against the floor-to-ceiling windows, a four foot tall, cut glass chandelier sparkling overhead.

  The city stretched out forever in the distance.

  “I can see our building from here,” she said, pointing over the tops of the trees in Central Park.

  “There’s more,” I said, grabbing her hand and leading her down a hallway.

  We walked into a second sunken living room, with a black grand piano displayed next to a bay window that circled around it. On one side, stood the Chrysler building and on the other the Empire State Building stood like a beacon of light in the distance. The entire city of New York shimmered below us as we stood at the windows, gazing down below.

  “This is the most incredible view I’ve ever seen, Bear!” she exclaimed. “Thank you so much!”

  “Let me show you the bedroom,” I said, doing my best not to rip off her dress. “I have a gift for you, Beauty.”

  “A gift?” she asked. “That’s not necessary, Bear. You’re my gift.”

  “I think you’ll be pleased,” I said, her hand warm in mine as I led her into the luxurious bedroom suite. It was a large room with a huge canopied bed taking up half of the room, the bed adorned in a white comforter with elaborate gold trim. The warmth of a flickering fire in a fireplace along one wall washed over us. A low slung chaise crouched in the corner. Two entire walls were windows, one of them separated into doors that opened onto a private terrace, the view spectacular as the city disappeared in the horizon.

  I’d come here earlier, and on the bed I’d laid out an outfit I’d bought for her.

  A white leather corset, with white satin ribbon lacing up the front with a matching white leather thong.

  “Are those panties?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

  “It’s a special occasion,” I shrugged. “I figured I’d make an exception. You won’t be wearing them long, don’t worry.”

  She smiled and picked up the white leather whip beside them. The soft skinny straps trailed through her fingers seductively as she looked over at me. A slow grin spread across my face as I watched her reach down and pick up the white tasseled clamps.

  “What are these for?” she asked.

  “Those beautiful pink nipples of yours,” I said.

  She nodded and put them back on the bed. She ran her fingers over the white mink lined handcuffs and then slowly picked up her new collar. I’d had it made out of soft white velvet, with tiny little pearls sewn on, forming the words, “Mrs. Dalton”.

  “I love this,” she whispered, tracing the words with her fingertips. She walked over to me and handed it to me, before turning around.

  I unfastened the black collar she’d worn faithfully every day, smiling at the thought of how amazingly consistent and willing she’d been. She’d surpassed my wildest dreams in a partner. My fingers trembled slightly, my cock twitching as I put the fastened the new collar around her neck.

  Her hair fell in waves around her face, framing her beautiful eyes. I gazed down at her throat, unable to resist the urge to caress her, run my thumb across the words on the collar.

  “Mrs. Dalton,” I growled, my cock throbbing now.

  She bit her lip, staring up at me with pride.

  “I’ll go change,” she said, raising up on her toes and kissing me quickly. I watched her gather her things from the bed with breathless anticipation.

  “Hurry up, Beauty,” I said. She flashed me a look over her shoulder and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve been waiting too long.”

  “I’ll hurry,” she promised.

  I walked around the penthouse, marveling at the pure opulence of this place. It was the exact opposite of my place. Our place, rather. It was hard to believe that soon my used-to-be bachelor pad would be filled with the sounds of a child.

  My child.

  Our child.

  I was so thankful Chloe had finally gotten over feeling ill. She was glowing lately, strong and healthy. And she’d spent the last month doing nothing but worrying about me. Tonight, that all changed.

  It was time for me to be the man she needed me to be. The man I’d been for her in the beginning. There was a reason we fit together and I wasn’t ever going to forget that.

  I gazed down at the sparkling lights of the city. I’d grown up down there and now here I was, way up here, in a place I never imagined I’d be.

  I removed my jacket, hanging it in the closet. My silk tie ran through my fingers as I loosened it, enjoying the relief it brought. I unbuttoned my shirt, sliding it over my shoulders and pulling it from my pants. Once I’d kicked off my shoes and taken my pants off, I stood in my boxers, hard, waiting, impatience beginning to thread through me.

  I sat on the bed, my heart in my throat.

  I wanted this night to be everything she dreamed of but if she didn’t get out here soon, my cock was going to pop off on its own. Of course, maybe she didn’t realize I was on the verge of ripping the door right off of its golden hinges.

  “Chloe!” I called out, just as the door opened.

  I gasped, my breath jagged and rough as she walked into view.

  She was a vision of heavenly beauty, the leather corset hugging her curves and pushing up her creamy breasts. It was maybe a size too small and now that I saw her in it, I realized that a size too small was absolutely perfect.

  “I think my curves are getting a little curvier,” she said, a shimmer of shyness falling over her face.

  “You’re sheer perfection,” I whispered, drinking in her luscious voluptuousness, the swell of her swollen breasts, the tuck of her waist, the generous sway of her hips as she shifted from one bare foot to the other. “Come here.”

  She walked over to the bed, standing in front of me, her hands landing on my shoulders. The feel of her skin on mine, the caress of her warm palm, sent shocks of electricity straight to my cock.

  I moaned as I reached out for her, pulling her close to me.

  I buried my face in her breasts, the smell of leather intoxicating me. My hands reached around, cupping her ass cheeks, my fingers dipping under her leather panties, inhaling the scent of her, letting the sweet essence of her wash over me.

  I stood up, my lips consuming hers. I kissed her hard, firmly, the first of millions more, with absolute determined intention of claiming her, taking her, loving her, owning her.

  I pulled away, staring down into her eyes, my fingers reaching up and caressing her face.

  “Hello, Mrs. Dalton,” I whispered.

  Chloe

  His lips crashed into mine and I melted into his embrace. He was everything I needed and more. I knew, from that moment on, that I would never be the same. Bear had become a part of me, as essential as a limb, as important as oxygen.

  I knew I’d never be the same, because I’d never be able to live without him.

  He’d made me his wife. I’d never been more proud.

  I’d never been happier or so sure of anything in my life. I stood on that terrace tonight, declaring everlasting love to him, with such confidence and ease and now, as he kissed me, his warmth radiating into me, his passion a fiery flame that ignited everything inside of me, I knew one thing.

  I loved him.

  Pure, unconditional, deep love.

  He’d given me my perfect day…and now, he was giving me my perfect night.

  He pulled me down over his lap, the leather corset tightening as my newly formed curves strained against the soft leather.

  I knew what was coming and I had never been more ready for it.

  He teased me, though…making me wait for the delicious blows…running the soft straps of leather over my back, then over my ass, down my thighs and back up between them. I shuddered, waiting, wanting.

  But tonight, he was taking his time.

  He used his hand first. Lightly tapping my ass, until I was quivering on his lap, anticipating the sweet sting of the leather. His caress became gentler and gentler, until he was barely brushing his fingertips across my ass, faintly sliding his
fingers into the side of the panties, running over my pussy, trailing lightly down one thigh and back up the other, over and over. I was holding my breath, waiting for more, dying for more.

  Finally, I cried out.

  “Bear! Please!”

  “Hmm,” he moaned, “what is it, babe?”

  “You’re killing me!” I cried, the words bursting forth like water from a dam. His touch was so light it almost tickled and I couldn’t handle it.

  I needed something entirely different.

  I needed the full force of him right now.

  “What do you want, baby?” he asked, teasingly.

  “You know what I want!” I whispered, wiggling my ass.

  He laughed.

  “Lift up,” he said, as he slid the panties over my hips and thighs.

  “Much better,” he said, thoughtfully, slowly tracing a fingertip over my clit. I shuddered, pushing into his hand.

  “You’re so wet,” he said, sliding a finger along my lips.

  “Yes,” I nodded.

  “Is there something you want?” he asked, his tone playful and light.

  “Yes…”

  “Tell me,” he said, his finger lingering at my entrance.

  “Please…” I shifted my hips, trying to press his finger into me.

  “You know the magic words, Beauty,” he said, pulling away.

  “Oh, Bear, please!” I cried, looking over my shoulder at him. “Please give me what I want.”

  “But those aren’t the magic words, and you know it, darling…”

  I groaned, peering deeply into his eyes.

  “Bear Dalton, my beautiful husband, please, I beg of you, please fuck your wife!”

  His grin lit up his face and warmed my heart. When his finger finally slid inside of me, I gasped loudly, his touch ricocheting through my entire body and igniting a fire at the very center of my clit. I thrashed wildly on his lap as he slid another finger in, my pussy pulsing, my pleasure flowing over his hand as he fucked me slowly, my body writhing with every thrust.

  “Is that what you wanted, Mrs. Dalton?”

  “Yes…” I nodded, my head hanging down. His cock was rock hard, twitching against my hip. He reached over, grabbing a handful of hair and pulling my head back and growling into my ear.