“Just how do you know so darn much about buying dresses anyway?” she grumbled as he took her out to his waiting car.
“Surely you don’t expect me to answer that?” he said with barely suppressed amusement.
She shot him a withering look and settled into the car.
As it turned out, he did indeed have a skill for choosing the perfect dress. He nailed it with the second one she tried on. White silk in a very simple design. It had spaghetti straps with a conservative bodice, and the material hugged her belly, drawing attention to the soft mound.
“It makes me look…well, very pregnant,” she said as she turned to allow Chrysander to look.
“You look absolutely exquisite,” he murmured. “I think every pregnant woman should like to look as you do right now.”
The appreciation in his eyes sold her on the dress. She had no desire to look any further. It was carefully wrapped and set aside along with the low-heeled shoes that she had chosen.
“Tell me,agape mou,do you want a traditional wedding dress?”
She pursed her lips then shook her head. “No, I’d prefer something simpler, I think.”
The saleslady set several really gorgeous selections in front of them, and Marley watched Chrysander closely for his reaction.
She fell in love with a peach-colored gown that scraped the floor and fell in soft waves from her waist. It accentuated her pregnancy in such a way that she truly felt beautiful and feminine. It was clear by the look on his face that Chrysander agreed.
To her surprise, instead of returning to the car, he walked her next door to a jeweler and proceeded to choose a stunning set of diamond earrings and a matching necklace to go with her wedding dress. Already speechless, she was reduced to a mere croak when he next selected a sapphire necklace and earrings that he suggested she wear with the white silk dress to the reception.
“They will look beautiful with your eyes,agape mou,” he murmured next to her ear. “And later, I’d love nothing more than to see you in these jewels and nothing else.”
Her face exploded in heat, and she looked around to make sure no one could see her furious blushing.
“You spoil me, Chrysander,” she said as they left the jewelry store.
“It is my right to spoil my woman,” he said with a shrug.
“I find I quite like it,” she said with a smile.
“That is good, because it would be a shame for you not to enjoy something I intend to be doing a lot of.”
Impulsively, she scooted against him in the seat and kissed him full on the lips. A staggered breath escaped him as his hands went out to grip her arms. Her cheek slid down his until she nuzzled against his neck and she hugged him tightly.
“Thank you for today. I had so much fun.”
His hand went to her hair and stroked softly as he hugged her back with his other arm. “You are quite welcome.”
She raised her head and started to move away, but Chrysander held her fast against him.
“Am I a good cook?” she asked, cocking her head at him.
His face registered surprise. “I’m sorry?”
“Cook. Stavros informed me that I liked to cook for you and frequently went to the market for ingredients. I wondered if I was any good at it.”
A peculiar expression lit his face. “That’s right. You did. I hadn’t thought about it in a while, but yes, you did often cook a meal for me on my first night home.”
“Were you gone very often?” she asked.
He paused for a moment then slowly nodded. “I’m afraid I was. I was often out of the country on business. Sometimes we went weeks without seeing each other.”
“I can’t imagine it,” she said softly. “I missed you in just the few hours we were apart this morning.”
He kissed her again. “And I missed you,pedhaki mou.”
