Chapter Eight
Kleya stared at herself in the full-length mirror.
The white dress she wore was a simple, long-sleeved vintage lace dress that flared at the hem, reminiscent of a nineteen fifties bride.
She thought the dress was elegant and was pleased with her choice.
Her hair was swept up in a messy topknot, with tendrils hanging down to frame her face.
Baby’s breath wove through the strands and the only jewelry she wore was a pretty pearl necklace that had once belonged to her grandmother.
It had been a week since Harold was buried. Each day she had left the kitchen to meet with James for dinner or drinks. She’d also been moving her things into storage, giving up her apartment downtown. From there, she would only bring to Veilstone once James became the Coalition’s new leader.
Currently, she stood in James’s high-rise, where their family and Coalition members waited for her to walk down the aisle. A knock sounded on the door and with one last glance in the mirror, she turned to open it. Her father stood there, in a dark suit with a button-up vest and tie, beaming at her.
“You look beautiful, my dear.”
“Thank you, Father.”
He held out his hand. “Ready to get married?”
“I am.” She placed her hand in his and he draped it over his arm.
Arnold led her from the main bedroom, where the stairs had been decorated with flowers.
At the bottom stood an arch, decorated with white flowers.
It wasn’t much, but it was perfect, much to her mother’s lamentations.
She expected a huge church wedding blaring out the wedding march from an organ.
A church full of people Kleya didn’t recognize so she could brag to all her country club cronies. Basically, the whole kit and kaboodle.
Her father marched her up the very short aisle to where James waited. He was gorgeous in a black tuxedo, dark eyes glittering as they perused her up and down. The heat in them almost scorching her in their passionate depths.
When she joined him in front of the justice of the peace, he took her hands in his, holding them loosely as they stared into one another’s eyes. Over the past two weeks, they’d gotten to know each other well. A united front for all to see.
Vows were spoken. Rings were exchanged, and a kiss placed on her lips.
Sealing them together until death do they part, just like what James had mentioned.
After, a low-key celebration with catered food and drink allowed everyone to mingle, and her new husband kept her by his side as they greeted and thanked the handful of people who bore witness to their nuptials.
Then, finally, it was time for the guests to leave. She and James were going to have a very brief honeymoon at the seaside and would be leaving first thing in the morning. When the door closed on the last guest, James turned to the staff.
“Please, go home,” he told them. “Worry about cleaning up in the morning.”
They gave a small bow and did as he instructed.
Once they were alone, James faced her. Lust filled his eyes as he marched to her, then swept her into his arms. Fittingly, in a bridal style.
A thrill filled her, as well as some apprehension, and as she stared into his dark eyes, something shifted inside.
This man had transformed from a stranger into her partner.
They might still be learning about one another, but she welcomed that.
Two people could spend years together and still learn something new about one another, and she hoped that would be the same with James.
Somewhere along the way, he turned into her best friend.
He carried her across the bedroom threshold, then carefully lowered her to her feet.
The only sound that echoed through the room was her jagged breathing.
Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, she wondered why he couldn’t hear it.
James took hold of her hand and led her into the ensuite bathroom.
LED candles were everywhere, their flickering light setting an intimate mood.
“Let’s shower together,” he murmured.
Kleya nodded, not sure she could trust her voice.
Her mouth dried and she kept licking her lips.
He walked over to the huge rainforest shower to turn it on, and steam swirled around them.
Facing her, he reached for his tie, loosening it to slip it off, methodically undressing while he stared her in the eye.
As the room filled with steam, James continued undressing, until he stood completely naked before her.
Then he reached for her dress, and slipped each button through its hole, until the material slid off her shoulders and pooled at her feet.
Then this man, this dangerous alpha male, knelt before her to unhook her nylons from the garter belt in order to roll the silky material down her legs.
Taking off each one seductively slow. Lightly scraping his short nails across her skin.
Kleya shivered in anticipation as she stared down at him.
He placed a kiss on the inside of her thigh, then lifted her leg to lay on his shoulder, which opened her up.
His warm breath blew against her core, and it felt so good her eyes almost rolled into the back of her head.
One swipe of his tongue, and she couldn’t hold back a moan.
He feasted on her. Licking. Sucking. His finger circled her clit, the feather-like touch caused her hips to buck. She sank her fingers in his hair, holding him as she undulated her hips. Higher and higher she wound, until the coil sprung.
“Oh, James!” she cried as the tsunami of ecstasy crashed over.
He kept her riding the edge, wringing every drop of pleasure out of her. Then he picked her up and brought her into the shower.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. He squirted body wash in his hands and then glossed her skin with the slippery soap.
She did the same, and roamed her hands over chest, up and down his arms while he buried his nose in her hair.
Breathing her in, nuzzling the top of her head.
For a moment, it felt like they were the only two souls in the universe.
She wanted to learn everything about her husband.
Tracing the sinewy strength of his muscles with her fingertips, over his torso and down his stomach.
The sensitive nerve endings contracted with her delicate exploration, hesitating when it reached his fully engorged cock.
“You can touch me.”
The shaft hard as granite, she encircled it to caress it up and down. A groan rumbled from his chest, and he leaned his head back. Hot water sluiced over his body, running down his toned abs.
“Tighter,” he directed. Then he reached for her hand and demonstrated how he liked to be touched, squeezing upward from the base and giving a twist. Adjusting the pressure, his hips snapped to the rhythm where their joined hands held him.
Watching desire cross his face as she pleasured him was powerful.
Suddenly, he pulled her hand off him and turned off the shower.
He left the shower only far enough to grab a towel and proceeded to wipe most of the water from her body.
Then he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
Her heartrate spiked as a smidgen of fear bloomed. How painful was this going to be?
“Open your legs,” he ordered, his voice low and guttural.
****
Her pretty pussy waited, all plump and swollen with her desire. Moisture glistened around the curls covering the hood, and he ran a finger gently through them, barely brushing against her slit.
“Fuck, you’re wet,” he murmured. Then he kissed her, right on the spot he’d just touched and her hips jerked up, and he loved how responsive she was. “This body was made for me.”
As soon as his tongue rasped against her sensitive nub, her body arched like it had touched a live wire.
Her hands buried in his hair, pulling it almost too aggressively, but he loved it.
It gave everything an edge that pumped through his blood, lighting him on fire.
He licked and sucked, sliding one finger into her heat.
Breathless little moans echoed around the room, and her body tightened beneath him.
She was close, and he wanted to make sure she saw stars.
Her pussy clamped down on his fingers and one more lick broke her apart.
James had never seen anything more sensual, more desirable, than Kleya falling apart with a lustful cry.
When her body finally relaxed and she sagged back onto the bed, he kissed her inner thigh before rising.
“Have you ever pleasured yourself?”
Kleya languidly opened her eyes, piercing him with a passionate gaze. “Mm,” she all but purred.
“Show me how.”
He rose, waiting until her fingers trailed across her flat stomach to find her clit, rubbing leisurely.
Her gaze stayed glued to his body, with all his tattoos on display.
Reaching for his hard cock, he slowly stroked himself.
He was in no hurry to have this end too soon.
She was so God-damn beautiful that she took his breath away.
Then she held out her hand to him. He moved onto the bed, pushing her thighs open further.
Running his hands up her legs, her body arched into his touch. Narrow hips, tucked in waist. Breasts heaved as she breathed in her excitement. He nestled between her splayed legs and held himself up on his forearms as his fingers combed through her hair.
“This is going to hurt.”
“I know,” she said, cupping his face. “I trust you.”
Her words humbled him. They made him vow to always take care of her. To protect her. He hated that the first thing he had to do after this affirmation was, in fact, give her pain. Reaching down, he positioned his cock to lay against her opening.
“Ready?” he whispered.
She gave one nod of her head, her breathing harsh in the space between them. With a quick thrust, he claimed her virginity. A wail cried out, and she pushed against him in a moment of self-preservation. He held still.
“Sh,” he said. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She clenched her eyes shut, and a tear rolled from one corner. It broke his heart to see that. Minutes ticked by, and little by little, her face relaxed.
“It’s getting better,” she said.
“We don’t have to rush.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Taking your time.”
He smiled softly down at her. “Always for you.”
“I’m okay now.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
She enveloped him like a glove, and he closed his eyes against how good she felt wrapped around him. Something shifted inside, like a puzzle piece falling into place. Like he’d found his home.
Starting out slow, he didn’t want to hurt her any more than he’d already done. He knew it was always bad, a woman’s first time. They stared into each other’s eyes, and brackets still framed around her mouth and eyes.
“Do you want me to stop?”
“Y-you’d do that?”
“Immediately. I don’t want to hurt you.”
When he pulled back, she grabbed his arm, halting his retreat. “It’s okay. Please. I want this.”
He surged back into her body. Her breasts bounced as he rocked, slowly at first then gaining traction with every thrust. The entire time, he studied her face to make sure she wasn’t hurting too much. All he saw reflected back was pleasure.
Faster. Deeper. He never wanted the moment to end. She just felt too damn good wrapped around him, skin to skin. Her pussy tightened around him and he couldn’t hold back as his balls drew up and he came with a hoarse cry, falling into an abyss that he never wanted to come back from.