Tori
Chapter 6
“Wow,” I breathed, taking in the view.
“Impressive enough for you?” Stefan asked.
We’d reached the apex of the wheel, Prater Park and the whole city spread below. Everything in Vienna was a feast for the eyes, with so much lush greenery and incredible, castle-like architecture surrounding us that I felt as if I’d woken up in a fairytale.
I smiled, shaking my head. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I mean I’ve been to the Skydeck at Willis Tower, but seeing Chicago from a skyscraper is nothing compared to this.”
The ferris wheel cars, painted red with white trim, were huge—instead of small pods of single benches, they were spacious cabins with windows looking out on every side, big enough to hold several tables and chairs. Our car could have fit at least two dozen people, but Stefan had paid for us to take the ride alone. He’d even put his phone down to take in the sights with me.
The cabin gave a slight lurch, and I gasped in surprise, the two of us rocking back and forth above the city. That’s when his hand found mine and gave a reassuring squeeze.
My pulse leapt into my throat.
But before I could turn to him, he released my hand to pull out his phone, his focus back to his work life as if the tender moment had never occurred.
Even if he didn’t want to acknowledge it, I knew that gesture would stay with me for the rest of the day. The five seconds he took to let his guard down was all the confirmation I needed that there was still something real between us. My fingers still tingled with the pressure of his hand. It boded well for the night we’d be spending together.
After a long day of sightseeing, during which I spent more time talking to our tour guide than with my husband, we returned to the hotel. The whole excursion had felt more like a business trip on wheels than a honeymoon, but I’d still loved every minute of Vienna.
Now that I was finally stepping out of the car and craning my neck to look up at our hotel, I was just as awed. It was like a palace—everything accented in gold.
“I feel like we’re staying in a castle,” I said.
Stefan nodded. “I thought you’d like this better than something stark and modern.”
I smiled at him. “I love it. Thank you.”
All the details inside were ornate and luxurious, from the lush patterned carpet to the heavy embroidered drapes that were pulled back from the windows with silken cords. The place felt historic and expensive. There was no doubt in my mind that it was both.
We got to the suite and I walked through each room with my jaw hanging open. There was a sitting room, a living room, a small office and of course a huge bedroom, complete with a carved four-poster bed and inlaid antique furniture.
“This room is straight out of a Jane Austen novel!” I yelled over my shoulder at Stefan.
Even from across the room, I could see that the bed was pure luxury, a high mattress draped in thick down bedding and piled with fluffy pillows. Unable to help myself, I ran over and jumped onto it, sinking down into the cool softness with a satisfied sigh.
I heard a throat clearing from the doorway and I sat up with a jolt.
“We’re going out for dinner,” Stefan told me.
“Come lie down for a minute,” I said as I patted the mattress next to me. “You’ve been working all day.”
It was the first time we had been truly alone since leaving the honeymoon suite in Chicago. My skin was tight with anticipation, but Stefan didn’t move an inch.
“We leave in an hour,” he said. “Wear something nice.”
Then he disappeared to another section of our enormous suite, his ubiquitous laptop tucked under his arm. I was starting to really, really hate that laptop.
“Going out” probably meant a date, didn’t it? Dates were for couples to connect. Dates led to sex. He’d take me out tonight and when we returned to our hotel, refreshed and completely finished with his workday, he’d have more energy for me. And more desire. Unless…
Was our chemistry completely one-sided? Our first kiss had felt so real, so intense. Had it only seemed that way to me because of my lack of experience?
I headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
True to form, I was surrounded by gold fixtures and gleaming marble floors. There was a clawfoot tub and a separate shower walled in by glass, stacks of fluffy towels and Turkish cotton robes waiting to be used. I took advantage of the well-stocked cabinet of luxury bath and shower items and then stepped under the spray, imagining the hot water washing away my insecurities.
