Page 77 of Falling Again
CHAPTER 22
Natalie was currentlyexperiencing a wonderful whiplash. It still felt surreal that she’d just left her own faux-wedding reception in the middle of the work week. Mere hours prior she had been ranting and raving in her office about the demise of her relationship with Anthony. Now the man in question was holding her tightly in his arms, trailing his lips down her neck.
“I still can’t believe you got all this together,” she breathed, leaning in to close the distance between them.
“I had a little help,” he said in between kisses. Anthony moaned as she wiggled closer, his teeth grazing her earlobe before he stepped back. “We should probably continue this at home. It would be ridiculous if we fooled around in the diner’s parking lot for a third time.”
Natalie raised an eyebrow, not quite done with her husband. “Or it could be ridiculously fun.”
“I vote ridiculous. Get out of here,” CeCe’s voice echoed behind them. “Besides, you’ll get your dress all dirty.” With her signature smirk, she disappeared back into the diner.
“Home,” they both said in unison.
Anthony held the passenger’s door open and waited for Natalie to adjust her skirt. “Oh no, my car.” She lamented, not wanting to drive home separately. Even though they were only ten minutes from home, she couldn’t stand to be apart.
“Already taken care of.” Natalie cocked her head, and Anthony laughed. “This might surprise you—and you should probably know since we just got remarried—but I’m the mayor of this town. No one will tow the mayor’s wife’s car, especially on their wedding day. It goes against everything the fine folks of Buckeye Falls stand for.”
Natalie laughed, utterly besotted with her playful husband. Her gaze followed Anthony as he ran around the car and hopped behind the wheel. Reaching up, he loosened his tie before turning on the air conditioning. As he put the car in reverse, Natalie placed her hand on his thigh and gave a gentle squeeze. “Thank you,” she said through a lump in her throat. “For all of this.” She gestured toward the diner.
Anthony put the car in park and turned to face her. “You’re welcome. I’m so relieved you enjoyed yourself. This wasn’t at all what I had in mind for our anniversary party, but somehow it worked.” He lifted a shoulder and sighed. “I need to get you home.”
Removing her hand from his thigh, Natalie turned on the radio and leaned back in her seat. “Then I better stop distracting you.”
Anthony grunted. “I didn’t stay stop.”
When they arrived home, the lights were off, and the house was eerily silent. “I don’t think I’ve seen the house this quiet since we bought it.” Natalie toed off her heels as soon as she stepped inside the backdoor. Before she knew what was happening, Anthony lifted her to his chest and carried her over the threshold. “You’re really buying into the whole wedding theme of the day,” she teased, but she was deeply touched by his enthusiasm.
“I’m intoyou, Nat,” he said as he carried her into the kitchen, stopping only for a moment to snag a bottle of wine. “Now let’s continue the ridiculous display from the parking lot.”
Natalie giggled the whole way up the stairs. She savored the way Anthony’s skin felt as she traced his growing five o’clock shadow with her fingers. His pulse was visible in his neck, hammering out a rhythm that matched her own racing heart. When they reached the bedroom, Anthony carefully placed her on the edge of the bed.
Kneeling before her, Anthony took her foot in his hand. “How are you feeling? I heard you took a tumble earlier.”
Natalie tried to keep the busybodies of Buckeye Falls out of her mind as Anthony slowly rubbed her foot. “That feels amazing,” she said on a groan. “And it was only a stumble, so don’t worry.”
“Yeah, try again. I’ll always worry about you.”
Natalie’s eyes fluttered closed as she let Anthony’s words wash over her. This was all too perfect, too good to be true. Right on cue, her brain kicked into overdrive as she worried it was all too easy.
Sensing the tension in her body, Anthony released her foot and scooted onto the bed. “Talk to me,” he ordered, taking one of her hands and drawing it to his lips for a quick kiss. “You remember the rules.” He said it lightly, but Natalie could see his eyes were laser-focused on her.
“Are we good now?” Natalie asked, hating the timid sound of her question. “I mean...”
Anthony nodded, keeping her hand held firmly in his. “I know what you mean. Here’s the thing,” he started, his tone shifting. “We are going to have bumps in the road, right? Nothing will ever be smooth sailing. But I think it’s like our trip to the lake house. Sure, you started off with a twisted ankle, but we ended that trip connected and communicating.”
Natalie helpfully added, “And thoroughly sexed up.”
Anthony smirked. “That was a given. I was trying to be a gentleman here.”
“I don’t know if I want you to be a gentleman now, but I appreciate what you’re saying.” Natalie rested her head on his shoulder and Anthony kissed her temple. “No more back sliding?” she asked, hoping he could read her mind and know what she meant. Because right now, Natalie couldn’t put her emotions into words. She knew this felt too right to lose, too right to ruin.
Pulling her thoughts back to the moment, Anthony said, “No more back sliding. We talk to each other, end of story.”
“Agreed,” Natalie said as she reached back and unzipped her dress. “But do you mind if we stop all unnecessary communication for a while?”
An animalistic growl erupted from Anthony as he flung his jacket across the room. Natalie didn’t have a chance to react though, as he covered her body and kissed her like it was the only way he’d live; the only way he’d survive.
Two hours, one bottle of wine, and countless orgasms later, they lay twisted in the sheets, smug expressions on their faces.
