Chapter 18
***RYAN***
Ryan couldn’t help but pace restlessly as the few guests they’d invited started to trickle into the room.
He wasn’t nervous because he was questioning if he’d made the right choice; he knew deep in his soul that Paula was the only woman for him.
He just wanted the whole thing over, wanted that ring on her finger.
There was a part of him that couldn’t help but think that something was going to go wrong.
He tried not to give in to the negativity, but they’d put it all together so quickly that it wouldn’t take much to derail them.
There was also the chance that faced with the reality of marrying him, Paula might back out.
They hadn’t talked about love, hadn’t discussed what the growing bond between them meant, but he assumed there would be time for that later.
He was very aware that although this was their wedding night, it might not be spent the way it should be.
He wasn’t going to push Paula into anything she wasn’t ready for, married or not.
They had a lifetime together, so waiting until she was as ready as he was might be difficult, but it would be worth it in the end.
The tingle of desire that never quite left him anymore stirred to life and he couldn’t help but smile, thinking his dragon felt differently. “Hey, there he is, hiding in the corner,” Aaron’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Bet you he’s thinking about backing out, bet you he’s chickened out.”
His fraternity brothers were suddenly gathered around him, teasing and joking with him, making him laugh and draining away some of the tension. “I’m just kidding,” Aaron said, slapping him on the back. “You just looked so serious there for a second.”
“I keep thinking that something is going to go wrong,” he said, shaking his head. “But now that you guys are here, I feel better.”
“We’ve got your back. In fact, we have something for you,” Aaron said. “I’ll let Jackson take the lead.”
Jackson stepped forward. “We figured you probably haven’t had much time to give a honeymoon any thought,” he said, holding out an envelope. “So, we all chipped in to get you a couple of nights in a suite downtown.”
“I called in a couple of favors and did a little trading with the owner of the hotel and got a great deal, so don’t go feeling guilty,” Malcolm said. “We just want you to go and enjoy yourselves.”
“It’s not every day you get married,” Taylor said. “And privacy is a scarce thing around here.”
“We just wanted you to have a place to get away from everything,” Walker said. “Downtown seemed like a good idea instead of a cabin in the woods. That didn’t go so well for Maddie and me.”
They all laughed. “We hope that you’ll be happy with Paula no matter where you are,” Gabe said, then sighed. “Aaron and I are the only ones left now. Being single is starting to feel like a big target on my back. I just hope I’m as lucky as you’ve been when my time comes.”
“Don’t sound so down about it, Gabe. Being in love is better than I ever could have imagined,” he said, a big smile on his face. “Thanks, you guys, I can’t tell you how much this means to us, we’ll never forget it.”
“It looks like the girls are back, that means it won’t be long now,” Cooper said. “I think we’d better go sit down now.”
He realized with a start that the chairs behind him had filled up and the justice of the peace had taken his place at the end of the aisle. “I think it’s time, buddy,” Aaron said. “Last chance to change your mind.”
“Not on your life,” he said. “I’m getting married, Aaron, let’s go.”
Later he wouldn’t remember most of the words the justice of the peace spoke during the ceremony, but he would never forget how beautiful Paula looked or the way her eyes sparkled as they pledged their lives to one another.
For as long as he lived, he would remember the way her hand felt in his when he slid the ring on her finger, and he would always be able to recall the sensation that swept through him when she slid the ring on his finger.
When they were declared husband and wife, the words echoed through him, sparking a feeling of joy unlike anything he’d experienced before and he kissed her much longer than necessary.
They parted to cheers and shouts of good wishes from their friends and family, then joined hands and walked away from the justice of the peace a married couple. “We did it,” Paula said, grinning at him. “And it was a beautiful wedding, I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect.”
“I was so worried something would go wrong,” he said, beaming at her. “But we made it, we’re married, and no one can change that.”
Unable to resist, he swept her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. When he finally let her up, they were both breathless. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” he said, the grin back on his face. “You’re just too tempting.”
She laughed, “Well, I think as my husband, you’re allowed certain liberties,” she said, looping her arms around his neck. “But so am I.”
This time, she kissed him, igniting the passion between them and making the world melt away, but someone clearing their throat next to them finally penetrated the pleasure surging through him.
Gently pulling away from Paula, he looked around, wincing when he saw that everyone was waiting for them to eat.
“I think we got carried away again,” he said. “Our guests look hungry, maybe we can save this for later.”
***Paula***
It had been a magical evening, but it wasn’t quite over, and Paula had decided after their first kiss as husband and wife she wasn’t going to hold back.
She wasn’t the kind of person to do anything halfway, and being married to Ryan wasn’t going to be any different.
The thought of what would happen later that night made her stomach fill with butterflies and her entire body begin to tingle with anticipation, leaving her a little breathless as she followed Connie back into the dressing room to get ready to leave.
“I packed you an overnight bag,” Connie said when they got inside. “A little birdy told me you might need one.”
“Ryan won’t tell me where we’re going,” she pouted, turning her back so Connie could unzip her dress. “Surprises are fun, Paula. Besides, I know for a fact you’re going to love it.”
She looked at her friend over her shoulder. “Were you involved in this?” she asked. “You’d better tell me where we’re going.”
“Nope, not going to do it,” Connie said, helping her out of the wedding dress. “But I do have something for you but don’t get your hopes up that it’s going to tell you where you’re going.”
Connie laid the dress across the back of a chair, then got a box from the corner of the room. “Go on, open it,” she said, a grin on her face.
She lifted the lid to find a complete set of lacy underwear, including a garter belt and silk stockings.
They were nicer than anything she’d ever owned, and she was almost afraid to touch them.
“Oh, these are beautiful,” she said. “I’ve never had anything like this. I’m not sure I know how to put it on.”
Connie laughed, “I thought just in case…I mean, it is your wedding night,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at Paula. “We didn’t get to have a bachelorette party or a wedding shower, so I saved them for now.”
“They’re perfect, Ryan won’t know what hit him,” she said, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “We haven’t…I mean…well…with all the wedding planning and everything, we haven’t been alone.”
“Well, then tonight will be very special,” Connie said, hugging her. “He’s a great guy, Paula, you were right, I just know the two of you are going to be very happy.”
They received a big sendoff, complete with a shower of birdseed, as they got into the car, and they left everyone cheering on the sidewalk as they drove away. “Okay, you can tell me where we’re going now,” she said, looking over at him. “The suspense is killing me.”
“I don’t want to ruin the surprise,” Ryan said, shaking his head. “It’s not far, just try to hang on for a few more minutes.”
He wound his way through town, then turned onto the road that led up to the mountain looming over the town, shooting her a smile while he kept driving.
About a mile up the road, he turned again and started up a dirt road.
She was sure she knew where they were going, but she stayed silent, excitement bubbling up inside her.
When they pulled up in front of the old hotel, she sat staring up at it. “I’ve always wanted to stay here, it looks so romantic,” she said, looking over at him. “This is perfect, I can’t believe we get to spend the night here.”
“Two nights,” he corrected her, then got out of the car and came around to open her door. “I wish I could take credit, but everyone chipped in. This is our wedding gift from all of them.”
“It’s perfect, I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she said, letting him help her out of the car. “I can’t wait to see inside.”
They were greeted by the owner and whisked up to the top floor and the honeymoon suite.
“I hope you enjoy your stay,” he said, opening the curtains to reveal floor to ceiling windows that gave them a view of the entire town.
“I’ve included complimentary breakfast with your stay, just call room service and order anything you like.
Congratulations, I hope you’ll both be very happy. We love having newlyweds stay with us.”
When he was gone, she walked over to the window and stared out at the twinkling lights. “It’s like everyone is celebrating our wedding,” she said, looking over her shoulder at Ryan. “I feel a bit like a princess.”
“And you should,” he said, stepping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her. “You deserve to and not just today, every day.”
“I like that you know when to say the right things, you make me feel special, Ryan,” she said, then turned in his arms to face him. “I’m glad we got married. It was scary at first, but I know it was the right decision, and I think it would be really nice if you kissed me right now.”
“I don’t have to be asked twice,” he said, then lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss that ignited the passion between them instantly.
The world around them melted away, and she was only aware of Ryan’s hard body pressed against hers, the way he tasted, the way he smelled, and for the third time that day, she was lost to the pleasure surging through her.
This time there was nothing holding them back, no curious eyes watching, and when his hands began to roam over her body, she answered with a moan in her chest as every nerve suddenly came alive.
When his hand found her breast, her nipple hardened through the thin fabric of her dress and this time it was Ryan letting out a moan.
Pleasure raced through her as he explored her breasts, kneading the tender flesh and teasing her hardened nipples with his finger and thumb.
She was trembling in his arms when he pulled away, her body demanding more, her brain right in line with the desire flooding her system for the first time.
Ryan tried to pull away, tried to put some space between them, but she held on, then reached up and slowly stripped his jacket off, then began to unbutton is shirt.
“Paula, hold on,” he said, grabbing her hands.
“Are you sure about this? There’s no rush, we can take our time, get to know each other better. ”
“I know everything I need to know,” she said, peeling off his shirt and running her hands over his chest. “I want you, Ryan, I’ve wanted you since that night in the woods, and I don’t want to wait. Nothing is going to change the way I feel about you.”