Page 62 of Dallas
I feel much better. “Thank you.”
Chapter 23
Dallas
* * *
“You’re the most stunning woman in the world,” I tell my gorgeous bride as we sway back and forth in the foyer. We didn’t exactly have music after the ceremony, but I still want to dance with my wife for a few minutes before we go upstairs.
“You’re pretty handsome yourself, Dallas.”
I bring her fingers to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “It’s so quiet and peaceful here. It’s never been this quiet in this creepy mansion from the moment I arrived.”
Everyone else went into town to stay at a bed and breakfast for the night. They joked that if we all keep marrying every other week, the local B&Bs won’t be able to accommodate everyone for many more wedding nights.
Arriana smiles up at me. “I’m sorry your parents couldn’t be here.”
“I’m sorry yours couldn’t either, baby.” Her situation is more tragic than mine. My father and his wife are alive. They just couldn’t manage to get here from Europe on such short notice. They rarely come to the States, so I’m not sure they would have put forth much of an effort anyway.
“I like to think they know and they’re smiling at me.”
“I’m certain they are.”
She sighs. “For a long time, I was so angry with my father. Why did he have to take my mother from me? It was so selfish. But I had a lot of counseling, and I understand now that he was not in his right mind. He had a mental illness. I’m sure he loved me.”
“I’m sure he did, baby,” I reassure her. How could anyone not love her? I’ve only known about her parents for a few days, so I’m not in the same place as her yet. I would never say anything to upset her, but I’m in the stage of thinking that her father was pretty fucking selfish. I get it, but it’s hard to swallow. He left a fifteen-year-old girl alone in the world.
She’s mine now. I will cherish and worship her for the rest of our lives.
She licks her lips. “Promise me if you ever feel even an inkling of depression, you’ll say something and get help.”
“I promise, baby. I swear to it. I can’t imagine ever doing anything besides worshipping the ground you walk on for the rest of my days, so if you ever notice otherwise, you fucking tell my brother and sister and get help.” I can’t fathom being that off, but I want my girl to feel safe, and the best way I know to do so is to give her permission to get help for me if she ever thinks otherwise.
She leans into me. “I love you.”
“Baby, I love you, too. So much it hurts.”
“Speaking of hurts, I know I’ve begged you to fuck me quite a few times, but please will you be gentle with me this first time? I’m kind of nervous.”
“I’ll be the gentlest lover on Earth, Arianna. I’m a smart guy. I know it will hurt some the first time, but I’ll do everything in my power to minimize that pain.”
I bend my knees, tuck my hands under her bottom, and lift her off her feet to hold her against me, eye-to-eye. I love the way she winces slightly when I grip her butt cheeks. I spanked her right before the ceremony. It helped her relax, especially since I also rubbed her clit, giving her a pre-wedding orgasm.
She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. “Let’s go upstairs.”
I’m not sure who’s more nervous about the next few hours, me or her. I know she’s stressed about having sex for the first time, but I’m also stressed because I want it to be perfect for her. I can only do so much toward that goal.
My girl holds my gaze as I kick our bedroom door shut. Her fingers thread in my hair. “Are you sure you’re okay with staying here instead of going to a hotel this weekend?”
I walk us over to the bed, lower her to her back, and lean over. I don’t have much choice because her legs are still wrapped tightly around my middle, the material of her dress bunched up between us. “Baby, of course. I totally understand.”
She doesn’t like to harp on about it constantly, but being found by the press has rattled her greatly. She’d rather hide out on the grounds of the Wilde mansion than go somewhere and risk being spotted.
“We’ll wait a bit for the madness to die down, and when you’re comfortable, we’ll go away for a week. Maybe a private bungalow somewhere. I’m pretty sure the place Tiago and Reagan just returned from was very private. It was in Florida.”
She smiles. “I’d like that.” She’s trembling. She never gets this nervous around me.
The only way I know to loosen her up and help her relax is to worship her body, so I lower my lips to hers and kiss her. I start gently, sweet nibbles along her lips, but after a few minutes, I stroke the seam with my tongue, demanding entry.
