I glare at the clock as it blinks big red numbers at me. A mockery of my ability to sleep with her so nearby. Her presencehas taken over my cabin. The shawl I purchased for her to wrap herself in on the particularly cold nights, hanging off the kitchen shelf.
The romance novel is sitting by the rocking chair, along with the half dozen cups of half-drunk tea that she leaves throughout the day. The ones I gather without complaint and wash every morning before she wakes, just so I can run my fingers around the rim of the cups, wishing I, too, knew the feeling of her lips.
“Ughh,” I cover my face and try to forget the longing I feel for her.
All I see when I close my eyes is her happy smile when I surprised her with a birthday cake. The way the light shining off the candle sparkled on her cheeks as she blew out the flame, wishing for god only knows what.
“Bruno?” Shit, I woke her.
“Hey, sorry,” I sit up on the couch and run my hands through my hair.
“I can’t sleep either. Pre-wedding jitters.” She smiles at her joke, but I nod in complete understanding.
“Cold feet?” I join in so she doesn’t feel bad bringing it up in jest.
“Well, with this draft,” that one gets a genuine chuckle out of me, and I finally look her way.
Good lord, she looks like a fucking angel with the premorning slow streaming in the window, hitting her just right so that it looks like the light is coming from her.
“We have time. We can wait a little longer.” She shrugs and steps into he living room fully.
She’s wearing an old sweatshirt that hangs off one shoulder and covers her to mid-thigh, with a pair of the sherpa socks that come right above the knee. She is a vision to behold, and I can’t fucking believe that she’s here with me or that in a few hours she’ll be mine.
I mean my wife.
Yeah, that’s not any fucking better. Every cell in my body wants to crawl inside her and never leave. I wasn’t supposed to want to marry this girl. I shouldn’t care about her at all. This was not part of the plan.
“How about some breakfast. I promise not to burn the toast.” I snort as she walks past me, but I reach out and grab her around the waist, pulling her down into my lap.
“No, you are a disaster waiting to happen, and I would rather not have the fire department up here to give the town more to gossip about. I’m sure our wedding will be enough for one day.” I don’t know what comes over me, but I dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose, drawing a gasp from her.
And then it hits me.
After all the talking and getting to know each other we’ve done over the last few days, I never bothered to ask one of the simplest questions of all.
“Rosario, have you ever been kissed?” She turns her face away, but not before I see the blush.
“Look at me, please. I ask because it’s required at the wedding. I don’t want you to be embarrassed or caught off guard.” I turn her face slowly and cup it in my hand, using my other hand to tuck her hair behind her ear so I can see both her eyes.
“No,” she looks at my lips, and I will my dick to fucking behave.
Morningwood is one thing, but she’s on my lap, and I don’t want to scare her.
“How about we practice. It’ll make it more natural looking for today.” She narrows her eyes at me, and I grin.
“I’m serious, but if you want your first time to be in front of strangers,” I drop my hands away and lean back so she can stand up freely.
“One kiss?” My smirk grows as I nod.
“I’ll even sit on my hands and let you take the lead. No reason to be shy. Just lean in and touch your lips to mine. It’s a very natural instinct. Just let your body lead you.” She frowns but then sighs and looks at my hands.
I quickly tuck them under my legs and sit up straighter so she isn’t laying ontop of me.
“Ready?” She asks, and I resist the urge to laugh.
“Whenever you are.” She leans in and then stops.
“Should our eyes not be closed?” I tilt my head to the side in amusement.
