Page 86 of Burning Beauty

Maria followed suit, pulling a tissue from her bouquet and wiping her own eyes and, as delicately as possible, blowing her nose. When she felt presentable again, she straightened up, gave Nic a shining smile and spoke her vows in a strong, clear voice. "Niccolo Paul DeLuca, I promise to love you, to hold you and to drive you insane for the rest of our days together."

He chuckled, flashing her a quick dimple.

"You have given me a life that I never dreamed could be mine. And I don't mean the money, cars or pool. I mean acceptance and family. You've brought me into your home, trusted me and embraced me wholeheartedly. Over the past several months we've grown closer than I could have imagined two people could be."

Cassandra cleared her throat loudly.

Maria added, "And of course, by bringing me into your life you've also given me the closest friendship I've ever known."

Ruiz cleared his throat on Nic's other side.

Maria sighed. "And I also love my brother."

Maria was getting the distinct impression that Nic was better at this vow thing than she was. She'd written hers over and over but couldn't come up with anything that described all the feelings in her heart. Nic didn't seem to care though. He took her hand, bent down and whispered, "Thank you, mi amor, I will treasure these vows until my dying day."

Maria grinned up at him.

"You may kiss the bride." The marriage officiant interrupted with the announcement.

Maria tilted her face up to Nic's and grinned, going up on her toes and waiting expectantly. He did not disappoint her, he swooped down, gathering her against his chest and pressing his lips to hers. His tongue touched hers for just a moment, a greeting, a promise of eternal love, and then they separated and turned to accept the congratulations of their wedding guests.

They moved the party inside where Yara, with the help of hired catering staff, had prepared a lavish spread. Maria and Nic mingled, and though Maria could feel Nic's reticence around some of the guests, including Lucy Miller, Mack Hudson and the Carreros, he still allowed Maria to talk to them, to laugh and enjoy her wedding day. He hovered like a hawk about to swoop if anyone looked at her funny, but otherwise he was on his best behaviour.

After an exhausting and successful evening of entertaining, Maria and Nic said goodbye to their guests and made their way upstairs. For some reason, as they were getting ready for bed, Maria felt shy. She was married to a man that was very much in control of himself and everything around him.

"Breathe, bellissima," he said from behind her.

Maria looked at him in the bathroom mirror as she was brushing out her hair. He put his hands on her hips and stood close behind her, and together they breathed, in and out, nice and slow, until Maria was feeling calmer. She was wearing a virginal white negligee that left nothing to the imagination under a matching wrap. Cassandra had helped her pick it out and when Maria balked, her friend took over the purchase and called it a wedding present so Maria wouldn't have any choice but to wear the gorgeous, indecent lingerie.

Nic took the brush from Maria's hand and slowly stroked it through her hair, brushing the thick length until it was snapping with static and soft and smooth to the touch. He put the hairbrush on the counter and leaned in close, his hands on either side of her.

His lips brushed the shell of her ear as he spoke, "Come to bed with me."

Maria tipped her head in a half nod, took his proffered hand and followed him back into the bedroom. He looked down at her, his eyes travelling down and then up her body. He slid his fingers through the lapel of her wrap and pushed it back over her shoulders, allowing it to fall in a puddle at her feet.

"So fucking beautiful," he murmured, his dark amber eyes hot with lust.

"Thank you," she whispered, smiling up at him.

"I should be thanking you. For giving yourself to me with such love and enthusiasm. Your body, heart, everything that is you. It all belongs to me." He gathered her in his arms and pulled her against his chest, holding her. She laid her head against him, listing to his heart beat.

Then he tilted her head back into the palm of his hand and kissed her. His lips were sensual, exploring, drugging. She clung to him as he deepened the kiss, sweeping the inside of her mouth with his tongue and sending a shower of tingles through her body. He never failed to light the fire that constantly simmered between them. One moment they were leisurely exploring each other, touching, kissing, feeding each other's senses, and then the next they were wild with passion, tearing at clothes, fighting for control of the embrace.

Within seconds, Maria's new negligee lay in tatters on the floor. She couldn't bring herself to regret the outfit. It had been purchased with the intent to seduce. Mission fucking accomplished.

Maria sank her nails into Nic's back as he pushed her onto the bed and came down on top of her between her spread thighs. He cupped her pussy, pushing a finger inside. "Mine," he grunted.

She grinned at him, reached down between their bodies and took hold of his cock. "Mine," she told him.

He pulled her hand away and surged into her in one smooth move that left her gasping. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as he fucked her with an intensity he hadn't shown her in a while. Perhaps it was the past week of separate bedrooms that Cassandra had insisted on while they prepared for the wedding, or perhaps it was the overwhelming love they felt for each other and that acknowledgment of their love spoken in front of family and friends.

They made love to each other like they'd never done it before and never would again. Nic held onto her head, framing her face with his hands and staring down into her eyes as he surged into her over and over. Maria clung to him, tipping her hips up into his and wrapping her legs around his back, opening herself to him.

"Come for me, bella." His voice was deep and husky with passion.

For Maria, he spoke the magic words. She'd been enjoying the sensation of his cock stretching her body, but the moment he told her to come it was like a switch was flipped within her and she was hurtling toward that peak, incapable of disobeying that one command.

"Nic!" She shrieked his name, arching her back as she came.

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