Page 39 of After the Vows

“Too bad it’s already dark outside. I bet there’s a gorgeous view of the ocean from the patio.” She opens the patio doors and screeches.

I rush after her. “What’s wrong?”

She points to the hot tub. “I didn’t bring my swimsuit.”

“You can wear your underwear. I don’t mind.”

“Um.” She bites her bottom lip. “I don’t have a bra with me.” She indicates the front of her dress. “I couldn’t exactly wear one with this.”

My cock twitches. I’ve wanted to peel her dress off of her since she walked down the aisle several hours ago. I’ve been fighting a hard-on for most of the reception.

“You can borrow a t-shirt from me.”

Shit. What am I thinking? Chloe in my t-shirt. Wet and see-through from the hot tub. All of her alabaster skin exposed to me. I won’t be able to keep this marriage professional in that scenario.

I clench my jaw and fist my hands to stop myself from reaching for her.

She creeps backward away from me. “Maybe we should go home.”

“Why?” I know she loves this place.

“You seem angry.”

I blow out a breath. I’m not angry. I’m sexually frustrated and fighting to stop myself from attacking her.

We agreed there would be no kissing and no sex during our marriage. I’m trying to keep up my end of the bargain, although I’m finding it difficult to remember why I insisted there would be no sex in the first place.

“Sorry. It’s been a long day.” Lamer words have never been spoken.

“Are you missing Natalia? Maybe she shouldn’t be alone tonight.”

“She’s not alone. She’s with Lily and Jack.”

“She’s in good hands. Sophia’s parents are the best.”

“What about your parents? Where are they?”

She shrugs. “I never met my dad and my mom left the island the second after I graduated high school.”

“And you don’t know where she is now?”

She glances away to stare out at the ocean. Except it’s dark and the ocean isn’t visible. But I can nearly feel the water. The waves crash against the shore and the air smells of the sea.

“Don’t know. Don’t care.”

She might say she doesn’t care but the hurt in her voice says otherwise. I wrap my arms around her waist from behind. She leans into me.

We stand there staring into the dark night for a while. It’s calm and peaceful. I don’t want to ever move. I could stand here with Chloe this way forever.

Damnit. I’m not supposed to get attached to my wife within hours of marrying her. I squeeze her middle once before dropping my arms and stepping away.

“I’m going to change,” Chloe says before fleeing.

I’m going to miss her walking around in that dress. Her wedding dress doesn’t hide anything. All of her delicate curves are on display.

But it’s better if she changes. I don’t know how much longer I can resist temptation.

I decide to change into more comfortable clothes while she’s in the bathroom. I open my overnight bag and a box of condoms falls out. Damn, Weston. I throw the condoms in the bottom of my bag and pull out a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.

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