Chapter Fifty Hollis
Chapter Fifty
Hollis
Five and a half weeks later
I gripped the ivory-draped railing of the terrace Jason had rented for us. Below, the French manor spilled into the water’s edge, a painting come to life. Gas lanterns flickered along the curved stone path, their glow brushing the jasmine climbing the walls.
Beneath strings of tiny lights swaying in the coastal wind, the world fell away to just the water and the weight of my husband’s hands as they framed my waist. He pressed his chest to my back, steady and warm, anchoring me.
Less than an hour ago we’d married at the church where Trevor worked security, officially becoming one like his tattoo promised.
Only our closest family and friends were in attendance.
Although I’d met his parents in Houston two weeks ago, he’d decided not to invite them, and there was no way I could handle having Lyra at my side tonight.
At some point, we’d have a bigger reception to celebrate, but this moment was for us.
“Peaceful here,” he murmured, his voice sending anticipation shivering up my spine. “You could’ve picked anywhere in the world for our honeymoon, but you wanted to stay local. Why?”
“Mm. Easy. It’s the home I’ve always wanted. Why go anywhere else?” I angled my head back to meet his eyes. “Plus, no way was I waiting a whole plane flight to”—I playfully lifted my brows twice—“you know.”
He smiled against my mouth, breathing, “My wife,” and I swallowed the words.
“Husband,” I returned, kissing him before facing forward, leaning into him. “You know, you could’ve married me on my birthday last month. One date to remember both.”
“I would never take the easy way out like that.” His grin curved against my skin, and his laugh slipped down my neck.
“You thought about it, though.”
“Only because it meant we’d be married sooner.” He swept my braid over my shoulder and lowered his mouth to my ear. “But I’ll never forget either date. You have my word.”
I heard the promise beneath the tease, the shadow of his father’s condition threading through it. Maybe one day Tristan or Diana would find a cure and we could add another miracle to our list.
We’d waited forever to be together, but the wait would be more than worth it. That thought sparked another, and I slid my hands into his pockets, searching.
“Not what I was hoping you’d reach for,” he said darkly, catching my wrist as I tugged his phone free.
Holding it between us, I smiled. “Time to change your reset point.”
He took the phone and placed it on the small table. “After,” he said, voice low. “I plan to make love to you first.”
I stepped back against the railing to better look at my husband. The tuxedo fit him like a second skin, broad shoulders tapering into a frame that looked both lethal and devastatingly refined. A man who could move mountains, and tonight, he’d be moving mine.
His eyes drifted over my dress—simple silk, elegant and timeless, slipping against my skin with every movement and light enough to sway in the breeze.
He closed the space between us and went for my braid, tugging loose the pins until the woven strands unraveled into waves. His fingers combed through until my hair spilled free over my shoulders. He framed my face with both hands, tilting my head just enough to kiss me like we owned the moment.
When his mouth broke from mine, his eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his skin. “I love you.” The words settled over me, warming me up.
“I love you, too. So much.” My palm slid up his chest, catching the glint of the diamond on my finger.
My grandmother’s ring. She’d died young in battle before Tristan was even born.
Though I’d never met her, I knew how deeply she’d loved my grandfather, and he’d set it aside for his future granddaughter.
He’d saved the book for Tristan.
The love of his life’s ring for me.
While I hadn’t wanted Solomon’s ring, this one was a symbol of grace and happiness. I could carry my family forward with me in this way and on my terms.
Jason caught my hand and kissed my palm, his lips tickling my sensitive skin. He lifted me easily, carrying me inside.
The lantern light followed us through the open doors as he set me on the edge of the bed and lowered himself to his knees in front of me. His hands moved under the skirt of my dress, to my calves, my thighs. His eyes locked on mine with a heat that made my pulse stumble.
He ducked beneath the dress, and his mouth replaced his hands, a slow burn up the inside of my leg that had me trembling. My fingers buried into his shoulders as he slipped my panties aside and pressed a tender kiss to me there, my breath stuttering.
Panties back in place, he retreated, then rose over me, loosening his bow tie.
“Tease,” I protested.
“Only for you,” he said huskily, unbuttoning his shirt.
“Damn right, only for me.” A soft laugh escaped me, filling the quiet.
His eyes darkened as he undressed with precision, like this was the mission he’d been born for.
The tuxedo fell away piece by piece.
I stood and slipped my dress from my shoulders and let it pool at my feet. I kept on my white lingerie, and he pulled me against him, our vows echoing in the night.
I kissed his neck, and he angled it to give me better access as his hands dragged along my silhouette.
Every touch from him was calculated to unravel me, every kiss deeper, hungrier, until his control slipped.
He moved aside the silk between my legs and pushed two fingers inside me. A gasp ripped from my mouth, caught by his tongue.
He cursed under his breath while pumping his fingers, then dropped to his knees, sliding my panties off completely. His fingertips sank into my thighs as he tasted me like a man starved. He licked and sucked, flicking his tongue, pushing me to the edge without letting me fall.
“I want . . .” I panted, clutching him, “ . . . our first time to be together.”
He gave me one last, slow sweep of his tongue before working his way up my body, taking the time to shift my bra cup over to draw my nipple into his mouth before moving to my neck.
I reached between us and wrapped my hand around him. He swore and fisted my hair gently, tugging my head back as his other hand found my throat.
“I wouldn’t do that. I’ll explode,” he growled before kissing me.
His hand went from my throat to my jawline, his lips following. I forced myself to let go so he wouldn’t come yet.
He lifted me and laid me out on the bed, covering me with his body as his mouth crashed over mine. The kiss was desperate and consuming. The kind that stole the air and returned it as heat.
Impatient hands slowed to skim along my body, racing over my curves, mapping me with calloused palms and reverent touches.
“Be with me,” I pleaded.
He lifted his head, and his brows knitted together as I clung to him, nails raking his shoulders. Finally, he gave us both what we wanted and needed.
My body opened for him, tightening around him as we joined as one flesh. Once I adjusted to his thickness and length, we began to move together with purpose, every thrust threaded with love and months of tension breaking apart in one fierce, shattering release.
Pleasure tore through me, a rush of heat that left me crying out, shaking, undone. He followed with a groan that vibrated against my mouth, his body pressing me deeper into the mattress as he gave himself over completely.
When it was over, he collapsed against me, chest heaving, skin slick. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him as tightly as he held me.
We stayed like that for a few quiet minutes before he got up to fetch a warm, wet towel to clean me up. He took his time, eyes blazing as they swept over my body.
“My wife,” he murmured, voice trembling. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’ll be the man you need, every day of my life.”
I whispered my own promises back to him, then stole the towel and tossed it so I could draw him closer—flesh to flesh, heartbeat to heartbeat. No drug, no anything, would ever take these memories from us. I knew that deep in my soul.
Emotional, teary-eyed, I urged him on top of me. On my forearms, I pressed up to find his lips. “Let me know when you’re ready to go again. I miss you already.”
He laughed against my mouth. “I’m only just getting started, darlin’. You have no idea how much I have planned for us tonight.” He licked my lips open before setting his mouth to my ear. “Can you handle that?”
I bucked against him in anticipation, greedy for more of him. “Mmm. Bring it on. Give me everything you have.”
“I’ve already given you my heart to keep,” he whispered. “Now I’ll give you the family we both want.”