Chapter 3
MELISSA
“Well, Mr. Prescott, you got me to the door but not over the threshold,” I say when Wade sets me on my feet in the middle of the corridor. I’m glad the champagne has worn off; otherwise, my upside-down trip from the captain’s stateroom would have ended very differently.
“We have a decision to make. Where do we want to start our honeymoon, Trouble?”
“Definitely my room,” I say. “This dress has more layers than Shrek. Tammy helped me into it. I’m going to need a hand getting out of it.”
“Never let it be said that I didn’t volunteer to help a lady in need.”
I fumble my purse as I try to remove my key card. When Wade crouches to grab it, I swear I see Bob staring at me from down the hall. But when Wade stands again, my ex is nowhere in sight.
Wade opens the door and locks it behind us.
I don’t blink. I’ve fantasized about him for years, but this is for real.
All I can hope is that the real Wade measures up.
I pull my highlighted, honey brown hair over my shoulder, exposing the criss-crossed ribbons holding the back of my dress tightly around my waist. I feel a gentle tug, and then I can finally take a full breath again.
Warm fingers brush my spine before I hear the zipper whisper and feel cold air hit my skin.
“I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home.
” It’s a squeeze to fit me and my dress into the tiny bathroom at the same time.
Luckily, it’s simple enough to drop the gown to the floor, then pick it up and hang it in the shower.
I take a minute to brush my teeth, fluff my hair, and check my make-up.
I am a forty-year-old divorcée, and I look damn good.
I’m not going to have any regrets. If it’s only one night with my temporary cruise husband, I intend to make the most of it.
I take a breath and step into the cabin. My strapless bra matches my fuchsia panties. I didn’t know what to expect on my first cruise, but I was determined to be prepared for all eventualities.
Wade has flung his jacket and tie over the back of a chair. He’s unbuttoned half of his shirt, revealing a smattering of coarse black and gray hairs across his chest. He looks at me and freezes. “Goddamn, Trouble, you really are making our wedding night one to remember.”
I move toward him, but he holds up his hand. “How are you?”
“Fine,” I say, confused.
“I’m asking you, how drunk are you?”
“The champagne wore off half an hour ago.”
“Are you sure? It matters.”
I love that it does. But he’s put my wedding night on pause, and I’m not having any of that. “I wouldn’t drive, but I’m in full control of my faculties. I promise.”
“Thank fuck. You look delicious.”
“And you look overdressed.” I take another step and grab the hem of his shirt. I pull it apart and the last three buttons pop open until his entire chest is exposed. “I should get some condoms. I’m not going to want to stop once we get started.”
“Trust me, I have that covered.”
And then he kisses me. This time we don’t have an audience. I barely notice him weave his fingers into my hair, but he brings it to my attention when he clenches his fist to hold my head still while he plunders my mouth. Wade is all heat and whiskey and I’m drowning in it.
The man is smooth. I don’t even feel his other hand on my back until my bra falls open.
He palms my breast. The heat of his hand against my sensitive nipple sends a shiver down my spine.
When he finally ends the kiss, his lips move to my jaw.
I squirm as his mustache and beard tickle my neck and collar bone as he works his way across my chest and stomach.
I hook my thumbs through the sides of my panties, more than willing to push them out of the way, but Wade grabs my hands.
“This is my job.” He slides the satin down my thighs.
I feel his breath, hot on my pussy, but he doesn’t touch me except to tap my ankles, one at a time, as a hint to lift my foot so I can step out of my lingerie.
“Goddamn, Wade, you know how to get a girl’s attention,” I breathe as he lets his slacks drop to the floor.
He grabs my waist and tosses me onto the bed. I bounce once on the mattress before he is on top of me, his hard cock pressing against my stomach. “It’s going to kill me to go as slow as you deserve.”
“Wade, we’ve had years of foreplay. Right now, I’m good with fast if you are.” I wiggle, hoping the extra friction on his arousal convinces him of my sincerity.
“I wouldn’t want to keep a lady waiting.”
“You said something about condoms?” Tomorrow I’ll explore Wade inch by inch, but tonight I’m in the mood for a fast, fun fuck. We only have three nights on board, and we’ve already lost half of the first.
Wade bends and snags a condom from his pants on the floor. Then he kisses me again and my wriggles are more for my own relief than to tease him. “Wade, what are you waiting for?”
“Are you ever going to call me Duck?”
“If I promise to call you Duck in bed, will you do something?” I practically beg.
He slides his hand between my thighs. I’m already slick for him. His skin is rough, his callouses scratching my hot, delicate skin. He presses two fingers between my folds. The stretch is almost an ache. “Duck, I really, really need you to get this honeymoon started.”
“This cruise lasts for three nights, Trouble.”
“I expect three whole nights, Duck, and you’re wasting time.”
The crinkle of the condom wrapper warns me that I’m going to lose his weight for a moment.
Then he’s back, his beard rubbing against my clavicle as he lays a trail of kisses up my neck.
He presses his knee between my legs, and I open for him.
“I like it when you blush, Trouble. But I think I’d like it more if you screamed my name. ”
I feel him nudge my entrance. I thrust my hips and take him as he comes down, and in a blink, he’s fully seated in me.
I am full. He rocks twice and I catch his rhythm immediately.
As we move together, the part of me not being distracted by Wade’s mouth produces a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time: happiness.
Being with him feels good and fun and light and everything that has been missing in my life for the last few months.
Wade’s mouth moves to mine. When he bites on my lower lip, all my attention slams back to him. Our tempo increases until he shifts slightly, and then I lose all ability to think at all as I come around his cock.
I sigh and settle into the mattress. “Duck, that was totally worth the wait.”
Wade falls to the mattress onto his side. “It totally was.” He pauses. “Wanna do it again?”