Chapter 13
Kissing. Kat mused there was nothing like it. Even if it was in a dream.
And as her new husband’s mouth took hers in a long, passionate kiss, a deep and longing ache consumed her; as real as the simulation might be, Kat was inwardly aware that the moment wasn’t real.
Still, she tilted her head, fisted the back of his hair, and gave into one of the most glorious kisses she’d ever known. Slow, smooth, and so very sweet. “Duke.”
A sudden clank sounded, tearing the vision out of her head in a flash. Her eyes fluttered open, but she was quick to clench them shut once more.
She groaned. Go back to sleep. Go back to sleep. Please please please go back to sleep.
But it was already too late. More senses were waking as the savory aroma of bacon wafted into the room for the second morning in a row.
Kat propped herself onto her elbows, puffed out a sigh, and forced her eyes to flutter back open. It took a moment for them to adjust to the brightness, but soon she was focused on the sight through the wall-sized windows surrounding the room.
It was hard to complain about waking up to an endless view of the Maldives. The gorgeous sight provided an ocean of endorphins to rush in. It was a wonder anyone could sleep past sunrise with a view like that.
A quick glance at the nearby couch said Duke hadn’t bothered to fold up the blanket he’d used last night. He probably had some sort of cleaning service at home. His pillow lay crumpled on the floor beside it, and Kat couldn’t help but wonder if the bungalow-provided luxury—made with real down feathers—hadn’t been flat enough for him.
She chuckled to herself, recalling their conversation that night at the buffet. He was so…adorable. And handsome. And wonderful in a whole lot of ways. Kat had been surprised to discover—on their first morning at the bungalow—that her groom liked to cook. Only morning foods, he’d stipulated while gliding an omelet gracefully onto her plate. He was good at it too.
She was certain he was good at other things as well, like the kisses he gave her in her dreams, but he hadn’t put those skills to use since their wedding day. And while Kat had wanted to keep a slow pace during the honeymoon—they were just getting to know each other, after all—she was ready for more. In fact, she had been ready for more since they’d arrived.
Another day had come and gone since their arrival. And what a beautiful day it had been. Yesterday, she and her new groom had gone snorkeling along the coral reef, picnicking on the glistening white sand, and watching a school of stingray swim right beneath their bungalow while they enjoyed drinks on the patio at sunset. All while the cameras rolled.
And though the day had—in a lot of ways—been like a dream of its own, there had been one thing missing: his kiss. Kat wasn’t sure if her groom was camera shy or simply concerned about being a gentleman, but she was determined to find out.
A third option had come to mind on more than one occasion, one that said he might not be interested in her romantically. But if that were the case, Kat would have sensed it, right?
Despite her limited relationship experience, she knew what chemistry felt like. And when it came to her and the man cooking breakfast for her in the other room, the chemistry was like a life force of its own. Urging them to explore it.
Maybe today they would.
With that thought, Kat climbed out of bed, pulled the sheets tight, and smoothed the ivory comforter over top. A quick toss of the colorful throw pillows she’d removed last night, and the bed was picture perfect. Her mind drifted back to the moment she’d removed those pillows. She’d been nursing a pretty big disappointment, one that explained the dream she’d just had.
It was just that, after flirting the entire day, and sharing a few almost-kisses as well, Kat had been certain Duke would kiss her goodnight. Instead, he’d ended the evening with a friendly embrace and headed over to his couch for the night.
The incident breathed life into that third option she didn’t want to believe was really an option—that perhaps the chemistry really was one-sided.
The thought was a very dark cloud in her head, a stark contrast to the brightness illuminating the bedroom. Don’t focus on that, Kat. Your intuition could be right. He’s probably just being polite. She tried to focus on the view once more.
Such beauty. Turquoise water that glowed like crystal against the white, sandy beach. A magnificent sun in the cloudless sky, shining its glorious, faithful rays. Warmth. Promise. Paradise.
“Thank you, Lord,” she said under her breath. “Help me make the most of this day.”
A round of taps sounded at the glass, and Kat spun to see Marsha standing outside the patio door. “We’d like to get a video diary in the next ten minutes or so. You up for it?”
Kat glanced down at her PJs—a silk camisole and matching shorts. “Sure. Just let me get dressed real quick.”
“Okay,” the producer said. “We’ll pull Duke out of the kitchen for a bit and get his first.”
“Sounds good.” With that, Kat hurried into the restroom, snatched her toothbrush, and squeezed a dab of minty toothpaste on top. And as she hurried to get ready, several questions invaded her mind.
Did Duke like her as much as she liked him?
And if it weren’t for the cameras and the crew that ran them, would he have kissed her by now?
And what would he do if she made the first move?
