Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
“W ell, Mrs. Jenkins, are you ready to step into the next chapter of our lives?” Antonio asked Scarlett as they approached the door to their hotel suite.
She glanced up at him and her gaze was as soft as a caress.
My wife . The woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with, and he couldn’t be happier than he was in that moment.
His gaze raked over her, and Antonio had never seen her look more radiant than she did today. She wore a stunning, strapless white dress with pearls and gemstones covering much of the top part of the garment. The skirt of the dress was soft like silk and molded over her hips and stopped just above her knees. If the outfit didn’t have her looking sexy as hell, her high-heeled shoes, which had to be at least four inches tall, added to her allure and made her shapely legs look incredible.
“I’m ready, my handsome husband,” she said and giggled. “I’m sorry. I know I keep saying this, but I can’t believe I’m married!” she whispered-shouted.
Antonio laughed, something he’d been doing a lot of today. He never knew he could be this happy. Between marrying Scarlett and starting the adoption procedures for Bella, his life was perfect.
“All right, let’s do this,” he said and handed Scarlett the keycard.
She shrieked, then burst out laughing when he swung her up into his arms.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to you carrying me around,” she said, then cupped his cheek before kissing him slowly. “But I like it.”
“Yeah, I like it too,” he admitted. “So get used to me holding you close like this.”
Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck. “If you insist.” She smiled, and his heart softened even more, if that were possible. “Have I told you how much I love seeing you in a tuxedo?” she asked and adjusted his bowtie.
“No, I can’t say you have.”
“Well, you look smoking hot.”
“I am hot. Hot for you,” he said, and they laughed. “I know. My comebacks still need work.”
She grinned, then kissed his cheek. “Well, it wasn’t as cheesy as some of them. You’re getting better.”
“Gee, thanks. Shall we go in?”
Scarlett nodded and unlocked the door. Careful not to bump her against the doorjamb, Antonio angled his body and carried her into the suite. The door slammed behind them, and he continued forward to where the hallway opened into a large living space.
“Oh, this is beautiful,” Scarlett said when he set her on her feet. She gravitated to the small kitchenette, and on the counter was a bouquet of flowers and a huge fruit basket.
She plucked the card from the flowers. “We’re thrilled you two found each other. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your special day. We love…”
Scarlett stiffened and the last of her words trailed off.
“Who are they from?” Antonio asked, thinking they were from Ben and Mahogany. He glanced over Scarlett’s shoulder at the card.
He should’ve known they were from his parents. They’d gifted them with the hotel suite for their wedding night. Unfortunately, the gifts reminded Scarlett that she hadn’t let her mother in on the plans. Antonio knew she regretted that decision, especially when Ben made a toast and said something about how the family was growing. Had it been up to Antonio, Mrs. Amelia would have been there, but it had been Scarlett’s decision not to tell her mother about what was going on.
“I’ll have to make sure we send a thank-you card to your parents. They’ve done so much for us,” she said quietly.
A knock sounded at the door, and Antonio assumed it was their luggage being delivered. He dug into his pants pocket for his wallet as he opened the door.
“Your luggage, sir,” the bellhop said and brought in the two small suitcases.
After tipping him, Antonio double locked the door before returning to the living room. While Scarlett stood gazing out of the floor to ceiling windows, he carried their bags and the fruit basket into the bedroom.
Since their honeymoon consisted of one night in a luxury suite, he wanted to make full use of the time and space. He glanced into the huge bathroom and spotted the oversized jacuzzi tub and a plan formed in his mind.
A short while later, Antonio returned to the living space and found Scarlett looking through the refrigerator.
“Did you know there’s food and drinks in here?” she asked. “Are your parents behind that too?”
When she finally looked at him, her eyes went wide as she let the refrigerator door close. “Wow, you look… naked. I like.” She grinned and started toward him.
He still had on his boxer briefs, but the lust in her gorgeous eyes made him feel as if he were wearing nothing. He loved that he could turn her on so easily and planned to take full advantage.
“Come on. Let me see if I can take your mind off everything except me,” Antonio said, guiding her into the bedroom and then to the master bathroom.
“Oh, wow. This is so romantic,” she said, glancing around at the large tub full of bubbles.
Antonio had also carried a black, wrought iron stand from the bedroom and set it next to the tub, and it held the basket of fruit, as well as two glasses and a bottle of champagne. To add to the romantic vibe, a love ballet played through his phone speaker, and he had dimmed the lights. Whoever had thought to add the dimmer fixture switch to a hotel bathroom was a genius.
Standing behind her, Antonio wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed the side of her neck. He liked it when she wore her hair in an updo. It gave him easy access to her graceful, scented neck.
“Though I think this dress is stunning on you, let’s get you out of it.”
He unzipped the garment and helped her step out of it. When she turned to face him, his breath caught in his throat. She gave him a full view of her luscious body in the sexiest, skimpiest, see-through underwear he’d ever seen, and her sky-high heels only added to the vision.
He almost dropped her dress to the floor but thought better of it. Instead, he rushed out of the bathroom, tossed it in a nearby chair, and returned within seconds.
Scarlett started laughing. “I would’ve dropped it to the floor,” she said as she approached him looking like a damn sex goddess.
“Umm… wow,” Antonio said, unable to form a complete sentence.
He had planned on them taking a relaxing bubble bath while he fed her grapes, strawberries, and sipped champagne. That idea was out. There was no way he’d be able to do either with her looking like a wet dream.
“You… Damn, Scarlett.”
She flashed him a grin, and her gaze went to his erection that had tented his boxer briefs. His body was always ready for action whenever she was around. And when she looked at him the way she was doing now, all he wanted to do was take her to the nearest bed and have his way with her.
She boldly slipped her hand into his underwear. “I can tell you like what you see,” she said as she began gliding her soft hand up and down his shaft and stroking him slowly.
Antonio gasped for air as she increased the pressure on his dick. He was so aroused, there was no way in hell he’d be able to take much more of her touch, but he didn’t want her to stop. It felt too good as she continued gliding her hand up and down, squeezing and gently tugging his length to the point of him seeing stars.
When he felt his control slipping, he reluctantly gripped her wrist. “I’m already about to lose it,” he rasped, his breathing shallow as he struggled to get air into his lungs. “If you keep doing that, this—this will be over quicker than either of us want.”
Ignoring his words, she continued what she was doing—wreaking havoc on his dick, and he stumbled back, bumping into a nearby wall.
“Aww hell,” he ground out as his hips moved on their own accord with each stroke of her hand.
This was not what he had planned. This was not how he wanted things to go the first time they got together as husband and wife.
“Okay,” he growled, and jerked out of her hold.
Breathing hard, he spun her around and backed her to the wall, catching her totally off guard if her wide eyes and mouth hanging open were any indication.
“I had planned on a nice romantic bath, but you’ve shot those plans to hell,” he said gruffly, as he quickly removed her shoes, tossing them behind him, then made quick work of stripping her out of her underwear.
Scarlett yelped when he lifted her, her back braced against the wall.
“I want you so damn bad,” he ground between gritted teeth. He had barely pulled his dick from his briefs before he was buried balls deep inside of her.
“Oh, yes,” Scarlett cried out as she held on to him, her arms tightening around his neck as he thrust in and out of her.
Antonio’s lips found hers, and as their tongues mated, he thrust into her like a man possessed. In the back of his mind, he feared he’d hurt her with the way her back was plastered against the wall, but he couldn’t stop. His pace increased as he pumped his hips, going deeper each time he drove into her.
One of her hands gripped the back of his neck as their kiss grew more intense, more frantic with each lap of their tongues. The erotic moans and the way she whimpered into his mouth, let him know she was nearing her release.
He dug his fingers into the bottom of her thighs, hanging on to her as his own orgasm lingered nearby. She was so damn wet, and as her juices coated his—
He ripped his mouth from hers. “Oh shit! Condom!” he panted.
“Don’t you dare stop!” Scarlett screamed. Her frantic words and how good it felt to be deep inside of her lit a fire in him that he couldn’t extinguish.
Flames of passion licked at every nerve in his body. His wife had him so hard and out of control, Antonio couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. Intense heat charged through his body as he drove into her over and over again, going deeper with each thrust.
“I—I’m coming,” Scarlett cried. Her interior walls tightened around him as her body bucked, and he lost it. He came right along with her with such force, it shook him to the soles of his feet.
Shuddering, they held on to each other tightly as their chests heaved, and they struggled to breathe. Scarlett’s head rested on his shoulder while his forehead was plastered against the wall. Antonio couldn’t move. He could barely think straight. Still buried inside of her, he had Scarlett pinned, but even knowing that he couldn’t move.
“Baby,” she gasped, her breath hot against his heated skin. “That was… that was…”
“So not what I had planned for us, but it… it was mind-blowing,” he said, still unable to move.
“Exactly.”
Antonio didn’t know how long he held her there before he was finally able to breathe normally. He slowly lowered Scarlett until her feet touched the floor, but he didn’t release her.
“I’m sorry about the condom.”
“It’s okay, I’m on the pill, but I guess this is yet another thing we’ll need to talk about, huh?”
“Yeah, but not today. I’m not done with you.”
With an unexpected burst of energy, Antonio scooped her up, loving the way she squealed. Carrying her to the bedroom, he already knew making love to his wife was going to be his new favorite pastime. And since they had the rest of the day and all night, trying a few different positions was definitely in order.
* * *
Hours later, as they lounged in the oversized tub, Scarlett marveled at how every muscle in her body ached. It was a delicious ache brought on by several rounds of the most intense sex she’d ever had. The pleasure Antonio had given to every inch, every dip, and every curve of her body had Scarlett ready for more. The man knew how to please her sexually.
She was sitting in front of him, wrapped in his warmth as bubbles came up to her chin. If only they could stay like this forever. For the last few days, she’d been imagining what it was going to be like being married to Antonio. So far, the experience was exceeding her imagination. First their small, intimate, but beautiful wedding was more than she could’ve asked for. Her sister and Makena had come through big time.
Mahogany had helped her find a dress and shoes at the last minute for her and Bella. While that happened, Makena took care of the backyard setting, music, and even a small wedding cake.
And Antonio. The man had made her feel like a queen in the way he catered to her every need and desire. He had even rented a limousine that only added to the fairytale-like day. The driver was great, and Scarlett felt like royalty as he drove them around the city while she and Antonio munched on snacks and drank champagne.
The day had been perfect.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Antonio asked as he ran a soapy washcloth over her tender breasts and sensitive nipples.
Scarlett closed her eyes and moaned. “I can’t think straight when you touch me like that.” Especially when his hardness was pressed against her lower back. She might be sore, but he made her feel so good, she’d be open for another round with him.
“Oh, sorry,” he murmured close to her ear, and stopped with the washcloth.
Her eyes popped open. “What are you doing? I didn’t say stop.”
Antonio laughed, and Scarlett smiled. She loved this laid-back side of him. Hopefully, she could keep him like this. Not that she didn’t adore his more serious in-charge persona, but she loved his laugh, and his smile, and his cute dimples.
He wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the way some of the water splashed onto the floor. Thankfully there was a large, absorbent bath rug next to the tub.
Kissing the side of her head, he said, “Are you ready for Sunday brunch tomorrow?”
“Not really,” she said honestly.
Mahogany was tasked with inviting their mother to brunch. Scarlett was sure she’d attend since she had gotten close to several members of the Jenkins family. By having her there, Scarlett and Antonio would be able to share their news with everyone at one time.
It was going to be a big day. Not only would they announce their marriage, but they’d also be celebrating Bella’s birthday. Her actual birthday wasn’t until Tuesday, but Antonio wanted to celebrate it early. He wanted her to get the full Jenkins family treatment. Apparently, the kids’ birthdays came with a huge cake and lots of presents. Once again, he’d gotten Martina’s help with that.
“Which part of tomorrow are you concerned about?” Antonio asked, probably already knowing the answer.
“When my mother finds out about us, I don’t know if she will ever forgive me. I should’ve listened to you.”
He had wanted to fill her mother in on everything, but Scarlett honestly hadn’t thought it would be a good idea. Now, she had to reap the consequences of her decision.
“My mother thinks you’re amazing, Antonio, but I was afraid she’d say something that would change my mind about our arrangement. Actually, I know she would’ve. She would’ve thought logically and would’ve said something like— You’re overreacting. Bella’s other grandparents would never do anything to harm her. ” And Scarlett hadn’t wanted to hear it. Maybe she had overreacted, but she believed Cynthia and her concerns about Alberta and Theodore.
“Well, whatever happens, just know I’ll be right there with you,” Antonio said, tightening his hold around her.
Snuggled in his arms made her feel cherished and safe. Like he could protect her from the big, bad world.
“It’ll be okay,” he said.
“Yeah, I hope you’re right.”