Chapter 11 #3
When everyone else had said their goodbyes, a small group remained. Charity sat in the chair next to Dustin, their fingers firmly linked as they spoke with Fern and Cody. The band had packed up, but someone had turned on a speaker, and country music played softly in the background.
“It’s been a great day,” Cody stretched his legs in front of him. “God, you Stones know how to throw a party.”
“I can’t believe Ginny and Kelli lasted until ten. They’re eight months pregnant. They’ve got to be exhausted,” Charity said, sipping water.
“I can’t believe the littles all lasted until then as well.” Fern shook her head. “Watching the kids dance to “Good Times” was wild.”
Cody squeezed her fingers. “What do you mean kids? You hauled my ass up there for that one.”
Laughter swelled as the lights flickered. Dustin glanced to the edge of the party venue to see Tamara’s sister Karen and her husband Finn giving them a little wave.
“You guys are gluttons for punishment,” Finn offered. “Time to go home, okay? Since you do have places to go home to.”
Cody raised a hand in the air. “I’ll lock up.”
“Great job tonight,” Dustin offered to Karen and Finn, pulling Charity to her feet. “Sorry we stayed so late.”
“Not at all,” Karen said with a grin even as she and Finn turned for the door. “Lisa bet you’d be the last ones standing.”
Of course she had.
Charity was quiet on the ride back to their cottage, but the two of them couldn’t stop exchanging smiles, so he figured she felt like him. Head and heart so full, there was no need to say anything.
They were greeted by a very excited Patchwork Annie. “Yes, I know you missed us,” Charity said as she rubbed Annie’s head. “Tomorrow we’ll go for a big, long walk to make up for leaving you behind.”
When Dustin pulled Charity to a stop on the porch, she raised a brow.
“Indulge me,” he said. He pushed the front door open then swung her up into his arms. Staring into her dark eyes as he put every bit of love possible into his voice as he carried her over the threshold. “Welcome home, Mrs. Stone.”
He lowered her down his body slowly, the hint of tiredness that had snuck in on the quiet drive vanishing as she dragged her nails down his back.
“You good to keep partying?” he asked, his voice going deeper as lust rose.
Charity undid his tie and slipped it free. “Party for two, absolutely.”
There were far too many buttons on her dress. Hell, there were far too many on his shirt and vest and the belt and the boots—
Trying to get free of his own clothing would have been a challenge but damn…
Every button on her dress that he released exposed a hint of creamy brown skin, and a chance to kiss and lick and drive her wild until the gown finally slid off her shoulders and hit the ground.
Charity held up a hand. “One second. Hold that thought.”
She scooped up the dress and laid it on the table. The empty table that usually was covered with a million things.
Dustin stalked toward her, amusement growing. “You prepared for that.”
She lifted her chin. “I did. My dress is safe. Now…where were we?”
Exactly where they were supposed to be. Dustin took her hand and twirled her slowly, taking in the delicate undies and bra that still stood in his way. “You’re so gorgeous.”
She trailed her fingers down his naked torso, landing on the fly of his jeans. One quick snap, and the button was open and she was guiding the zipper downward. “Thank you. Now it’s time to get naked so I can have my wicked way with you.”
It still took a while. Dustin stripped his clothes off in record time, but then he picked her up and laid her on their bed and savoured the slow, thorough taste of her skin above her lacy bra then below it. Then he eased his tongue over her skin as he stripped it away.
Charity squirmed, hips lifting toward him as he did the same to her panties, dipping his tongue intimately between her folds to tease her clit.
Her breathing loud in his ears, she caught hold of his hands and quivered as she tipped over the edge. Dustin moved before she was done, sliding inside with a groan as his body tightened on him.
“So good,” Charity whispered. “So, so good.”
“Hell, yes, it’s good.” He rocked his hips, gently at first, then faster. Following her lead as she urged him on, wrapping her legs around his hips and pulling with quick, strong squeezes.
Lightning struck, and pleasure sizzled up his spine. Dustin pressed in deep and took her mouth with a kiss that said everything he couldn’t. He wanted her, he needed her, he was hers. Forever.
Afterward, they lay on tangled sheets, breath still uneven as they held hands and stared into each other’s eyes.
“That,” Dustin said, “was perfectly us.”
Charity smirked. “The wedding or the sex?”
“All of it.” Dustin gave an enormous happy sigh. “Except I want to do the sex again as soon as possible and the wedding…never. So take that as you will.”
She laughed, rolling over and tickling his side.
Which set off another round of desire. Good thing they were on their official honeymoon, because neither of them was getting any sleep tonight.