Chapter 25
Vulcan
My meaning behind saving her energy and Karina’s were two different things.
Her mind went to sex, while mine was focused on where to take her ring and dress shopping.
Is she thrilled to do this? I look over at her as we walk into the jeweler’s.
Nope, not thrilled at all. The huffing and puffing have stopped, but the pout is still on her face.
The precious metals and the sparkle of gems encased in velvet-lined displays surround us as we walk deeper into the store.
Karina’s hand feels small in mine, and I can sense her tension.
This isn’t where she imagined picking out a wedding ring, not by a long shot.
Karina doesn’t like to spend money on herself, but I’m prepared to show her she’s more than deserving.
“Something modest,” she murmurs, pointing to a delicate band that is undoubtedly beautiful but lacks a certain… grandeur. It doesn’t scream Karina Reyes to me.
“You need something that reflects how extraordinary you are.” My gaze meets hers, willing her to understand that she’s timeless, just like these upscale pieces gleaming brightly at us.
She bites her lip, her eyes flickering between the rings and my face. “Vulcan, I don’t need—”
“Karina,” I cut in. “I’ll be damned if my wife doesn’t have a ring that makes her feel as valued and cherished as she truly is. Arrangement or not,” I add, lowering my voice.
The fight leaves her with a slow exhale, her shoulders relaxing. She nods, finally allowing the smile I love so much to curve her lips. “I see I’m not going to win this fight. But nothing too flashy!”
“No promises.” I grin and signal the associate.
“Fine, let’s take a look.” She smirks.
Karina is more stubborn than she lets on, but we finally agreed on one.
Two fucking hours later. It’s a stunning and tasteful ring, a fitting symbol for our unconventional union.
She caved and let me get the five-carat marquise diamond.
We head to Galia Lahav next—the best bridal store in New York City, according to Val—and are immediately surrounded by an endless sea of white, ivory, silk, and satin.
Karina disappears into the changing room with armfuls of dresses, and I take my place on the plush sofa.
One after another, she emerges in a whirlwind of tulle and lace, each dress transforming her into a vision of bridal elegance.
The first is a classic A-line, lovely but not quite right.
The second is mermaid-style, accentuating her hourglass frame, but it’s too constrictive.
The third, covered in intricate beadwork, seems almost there, but it’s still missing something.
Every time she steps out, her expression is one of displeasure.
If given the choice, I know she would prefer to don her scrubs and white coat down the aisle instead.
“Number four,” she says, and when she steps out, I’m in awe. This one’s different. It’s her—the flowing skirt, the fitted bodice. Karina catches my eye in the mirror, and her cheeks flush with a glow that no dress could ever replicate.
“Looks like we found the one,” I rasp.
“I do like this one, but there’s one more I haven’t tried on.
” She walks back into the changing room, her steps light with an excitement that’s been absent so far.
Minutes tick by, and then I hear her calling out for help.
The associate is off with another bride-to-be, and I can’t seem to find any other available attendants.
I push off the chaise and walk to the dressing room, half expecting another round of taffeta and satin.
But Karina… She’s something else in this last dress.
It’s as if every other gown was just a prelude to this one—the finale that leaves your heart thumping.
I’m rooted to the spot, breath hitching in my throat.
My God, she is perfect.
“Could you…” Her voice trails off as she turns to face me in the mirror, the ivory fabric hugging her in all the right places. “Vulcan—”
“Wow.” The word barely escapes my lips. My hands are itching to touch her, but I have to keep myself in check. We’re in public. I close the door behind me, locking it.
She bites her lip, the flush on her cheeks spreading. “I think it’s stuck,” she murmurs, reaching a bare arm around her back.
“Let me.” My fingers find the delicate track of the zipper, brushing against her skin.
There’s an electric charge in the air, and it hits me all at once, what I feel for this woman.
I love her. I find myself daydreaming about how to broach the topic more often than not these days.
Sometimes, I wish Minji had never shown up at the station that night, and we could’ve started things off differently.
I give my head a subtle shake and continue working at the dress, freeing the stuck zipper without snagging the delicate fabric or her skin. “There,” I say. “Perfect fit.”
“Vulcan…” Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and there’s that look.
“If we weren’t in this bridal boutique, I’d—” I lean in close, whispering the words into her ear. “I’d have you against this mirror, showing you exactly what being mine looks like. Making you come undone on my tongue first, and then my cock.”
She doubles down on that look, like she’s inviting a predator in. And it’s all the encouragement I need. I slide my hand under the skirt of her wedding dress, fingertips grazing the lace of her panties. A shiver runs through her, and I can feel her warmth through the thin fabric.
“Vulcan,” she gasps, a warning or a plea; I can’t tell which. It could be a mixture of both, and my cock hardens instantly.
“Shh,” I whisper. “Just let me touch you. Just for a second. Please.” She doesn’t say anything, and I think I may have pushed it too far. I’m about to pull my hand away when she grabs my wrist, holding me in place. Her eyes are dark with desire as she nods almost imperceptibly in the mirror.
I slide my fingers beneath the lace, finding her wet and ready. She bites back a moan as I start to stroke her, slow and teasing.
“Please,” she whines, tilting her head back against my shoulder, giving in to the moment, to the rush that’s always there when it’s just the two of us.
“You have to promise to be quiet.” She closes her eyes as my lips press against the pulse point on her neck. “Put your hands on the mirror,” I tell her, and she does as I say. She’s ready for me, hot and eager, trembling slightly in my arms.
I unbutton my jeans and they drop to my ankles, taking my boxers with them. I move her panties to the side and then thrust into her as deep as I can go. We stifle our moans as I stretch her completely. The mirror fogs up from her breath.
Her eyes meet mine in the reflection, wide and wild. I move slowly, painstakingly so, prolonging every sensation as I pull back and push into her again.
Karina’s fingers curl against the mirror, leaving streaks as she struggles to stay quiet. I can see the tension in her shoulders and the way she’s biting her lip to hold back her cries.
“That’s it,” I murmur in her ear, driving into her. “You’re doing so well, baby. So good for me. Fuck you feel fucking amazing.”
I slide one hand around to her front, finding her clit and circling it with my fingers. Karina’s entire body jerks at the touch, a strangled gasp escaping her lips.
“Quiet,” I remind her as I increase the pressure on her clit. “We can’t get caught, remember?”
She nods frantically, pressing her forehead to the mirror. I can feel her getting there, her inner walls starting to clench around me.
“Close,” she whispers, and I nod because I am too. My other hand finds hers on the mirror, fingers lacing together as I increase my pace just a fraction. The slight shift has her head falling back onto my shoulder, a silent scream of pleasure that makes my cock twitch inside her.
No doubt I’ll be buying two wedding dresses today.
But it doesn’t matter, it’s worth it. She’s fucking worth it.
Finally, as another couple laughs outside our door, oblivious to our escapades, Karina clamps her hand over her mouth as she comes, her body locking tight around mine.
The sight of her like this pushes me over the edge too, and I follow swiftly after her into blissful oblivion.
We remain still for a moment longer as reality seeps back in—the hush of voices outside, the gentle rustle of fabric. We disentangle ourselves, and then suddenly, Karina turns around and drops to her knees.
“What are you—fuck.” I groan, grabbing a handful of her hair, and my eyes roll back as Karina’s mouth envelops me. She looks up at me through her lashes as she swirls her tongue around my sensitive tip. I have to bite my lip to keep from moaning too loudly.
“Karina,” I whisper urgently, tugging gently on her hair. But she just hums around me, the vibrations sending goose bumps all over my body. She grips my thighs as she takes me deeper, her throat relaxing to accommodate my length.
My hips start to move of their own accord, thrusting into her willing mouth.
Just then, we hear a knock at the dressing room door. “Ms. Reyes? Is everything all right in there?”
Karina pulls off me with a soft pop, her lips swollen and glistening. “Si, just a moment!” she calls out, her voice only slightly breathless.
Our eyes lock and a silent conversation passes between us. Then she grins wickedly and takes me back into her mouth, doubling her efforts.
I grip her hair tighter, my knuckles turning white as I fight to stay quiet. The pressure is already building rapidly again, my release hurtling toward me like a freight train. Damn, the hold this woman has over my body needs to be studied.
“Karina,” I moan. “I’m gonna—”
She doesn’t pull away; instead, she takes me impossibly deeper. With a stifled groan, I come down her throat, my body shuddering with the intensity of it. She moans in delight as she drinks every drop. Karina rises gracefully, smoothing her dress and hair.