Chapter Eight
Kleya stared at herselfin the full-length mirror.The white dress she wore was a simple, long-sleeved vintage lace dress that flared at the hem, reminiscent of a nineteen fifties bride.She thought the dress was elegant and was pleased with her choice.Her hair was swept up in a messy topknot, with tendrils hanging down to frame her face.Baby’s breath wove through the strands and the only jewelry she wore was a pretty pearl necklace that had once belonged to her grandmother.
It had been a week since Harold was buried.Each day she had left the kitchen to meet with James for dinner or drinks.She’d also been moving her things into storage, giving up her apartment downtown.From there, she would only bring to Veilstone once James became the Coalition’s new leader.
Currently, she stood in James’s high-rise, where their family and Coalition members waited for her to walk down the aisle.A knock sounded on the door and with one last glance in the mirror, she turned to open it.Her father stood there, in a dark suit with a button-up vest and tie, beaming at her.
“You look beautiful, my dear.”
“Thank you, Father.”
He held out his hand.“Ready to get married?”
“I am.”She placed her hand in his and he draped it over his arm.
Arnold led her from the main bedroom, where the stairs had been decorated with flowers.At the bottom stood an arch, decorated with white flowers.It wasn’t much, but it was perfect, much to her mother’s lamentations.She expected a huge church wedding blaring out the wedding march from an organ.A church full of people Kleya didn’t recognize so she could brag to all her country club cronies.Basically, the whole kit and kaboodle.
Her father marched her up the very short aisle to where James waited.He was gorgeous in a black tuxedo, dark eyes glittering as they perused her up and down.The heat in them almost scorching her in their passionate depths.
When she joined him in front of the justice of the peace, he took her hands in his, holding them loosely as they stared into one another’s eyes.Over the past two weeks, they’d gotten to know each other well.A united front for all to see.
Vows were spoken.Rings were exchanged, and a kiss placed on her lips.Sealing them together until death do they part, just like what James had mentioned.After, a low-key celebration with catered food and drink allowed everyone to mingle, and her new husband kept her by his side as they greeted and thanked the handful of people who bore witness to their nuptials.
Then, finally, it was time for the guests to leave.She and James were going to have a very brief honeymoon at the seaside and would be leaving first thing in the morning.When the door closed on the last guest, James turned to the staff.
“Please, go home,” he told them.“Worry about cleaning up in the morning.”
They gave a small bow and did as he instructed.Once they were alone, James faced her.Lust filled his eyes as he marched to her, then swept her into his arms.Fittingly, in a bridal style.A thrill filled her, as well as some apprehension, and as she stared into his dark eyes, something shifted inside.This man had transformed from a stranger into her partner.They might still be learning about one another, but she welcomed that.Two people could spend years together and still learn something new about one another, and she hoped that would be the same with James.Somewhere along the way, he turned into her best friend.
He carried her across the bedroom threshold, then carefully lowered her to her feet.The only sound that echoed through the room was her jagged breathing.Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, she wondered why he couldn’t hear it.James took hold of her hand and led her into the ensuite bathroom.LED candles were everywhere, their flickering light setting an intimate mood.
“Let’s shower together,” he murmured.
Kleya nodded, not sure she could trust her voice.Her mouth dried and she kept licking her lips.He walked over to the huge rainforest shower to turn it on, and steam swirled around them.Facing her, he reached for his tie, loosening it to slip it off, methodically undressing while he stared her in the eye.As the room filled with steam, James continued undressing, until he stood completely naked before her.Then he reached for her dress, and slipped each button through its hole, until the material slid off her shoulders and pooled at her feet.Then this man, this dangerous alpha male, knelt before her to unhook her nylons from the garter belt in order to roll the silky material down her legs.Taking off each one seductively slow.Lightly scraping his short nails across her skin.Kleya shivered in anticipation as she stared down at him.He placed a kiss on the inside of her thigh, then lifted her leg to lay on his shoulder, which opened her up.His warm breath blew against her core, and it felt so good her eyes almost rolled into the back of her head.One swipe of his tongue, and she couldn’t hold back a moan.
He feasted on her.Licking.Sucking.His finger circled her clit, the feather-like touch caused her hips to buck.She sank her fingers in his hair, holding him as she undulated her hips.Higher and higher she wound, until the coil sprung.
“Oh, James!”she cried as the tsunami of ecstasy crashed over.
He kept her riding the edge, wringing every drop of pleasure out of her.Then he picked her up and brought her into the shower.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured.He squirted body wash in his hands and then glossed her skin with the slippery soap.
