Page 128 of Keep This Promise
“And then we’ll have our wedding night.”
She smiles, leaning against me. “But not in the loo this time.”
“I think we did all right.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Fine. No bathroom sex,” I agree.
We go into the chapel, pay them one hundred and nineteen dollars, and get married. Sophie and I take a ridiculous photo for the mantle because I want to remember this always, and then we take a few selfies.
We head back to the suite we booked, and I carry her over the threshold into the room. The colorful lights of the strip dance across the walls, but all I see is the woman in front of me.
“I love you, Sophie James.”
She smiles. “I love you too, and I like this new name.”
“I do too.”
“I like that it’s us.”
“I like that you’re mine.”
Her blue eyes twinkle as she walks toward me in the simple pink dress she brought to get married in.
“I’ve always been yours, Holden. In a way, you’ve been with me since the day we met. I carried a part of you with me for nine months, and I’ve seen you, even though I didn’t really know you, for three years. We will always belong to each other.”
My hands grab her waist, and I pull her against my chest. “I want to make love to you, wife. I want to strip you down, kiss every inch of your perfect skin, and love you until you beg me to stop.” I slide my fingers against the satin of her dress and then up to her neck. “Tonight, in this city, I’m going to undo our first time and give you a new memory to hold on to.”
The flutter of her pulse beneath my fingers speeds up. “I can’t wait.”
I walk over toward the wall, turning the lights off and moving to see the view. “Come here,” I summon her. “Years ago, we came here, unaware of what we’d find.”
She smiles. “In the darkness again?”
“No, baby, look at all the lights.”
I shift so her back is against my chest as we look out over the city.
My fingers move the strap of her dress, sliding it down, and then I push her hair to one side so I can kiss her soft skin. Sophie moans softly, head falling to my shoulder.
Skimming my lips up her neck to her ear, I run my tongue along her lobe and whisper, “I want you naked in the lights. I want to watch them dance across your skin while I pleasure you.”
Her breathing sputters, and I guide her hands up so they are pressed against the cold glass. “What if someone can see?” Sophie asks.
“No one can see, my love.” The hotel has a gold film on the windows, so when there is no backlight, it’s impossible to see anything. “Not to mention we’re on the top floor.” I remove the dress completely, leaving her in only her heels.
She pants slightly when I move my hands to her breasts, kneading them gently before pulling the fabric down. “Holden . . .”
“Yes, love?” I ask as I cover her with my hands, pinching her taut nipples. When she moves her hand, I stop. “Keep your hands on the glass, Sophie. I want you to watch the world move around us while I focus only on you. My wife. My love. My heart.”
She moves her head to the side, and my hand slides to her throat as I take her mouth, moving my tongue with hers, kissing her while she stands like a fucking goddess.
I step back, wanting to taste every part of her. Moving around, I pull my tie off and toss it to the floor before unbuttoning the top two spots on my shirt. “You’re so beautiful. So perfect.”
It’s been over a month since we’ve been able to do this, to kiss or make love. Her ribs were much too sore, and she needed to heal. Each night, I held her, wishing I could make love to her, but she’d only just gotten the all clear to resume light activity, which includes careful sex.
I asked, and I don’t even feel bad about that.
