He closed the distance between them, answering her with a gentle kiss. Her hands slid up his chest, his hard, muscled chest she longed to see without a shirt, and the kiss grew hotter as his tongue licked her lip.
She responded by gliding hers along his, exploring the depths of his mouth as his hands fisted in her blouse. He pressed her against the railing, hugging her close while the water gurgled beneath them.
She smirked, imagining falling over that railing and into the water. The distance wasn’t that far, and there were no rocks she could see. At most, they might wind up with bruised asses. Reaching back to her impulsive days before the accident, the adventurous side of her poking its head up out of the sand after so long, she turned them both and they fell over the railing and into the water.
They came up sputtering, but she shrieked with laughter as Vincent stared at her in surprise, sitting in the middle of the shallow brook, soaked from head to toe. She was just as wet but couldn’t have cared less.
“Really?” he asked, and at first, she thought she’d misread him until a boyish grin stretched across his face and he splashed her, soaking her even more.
She clambered to her feet, shrieking with glee as she splashed him back, and they fell back into the water again as she tackled him. Yells reached them from the hotel and several faces stared down at them from the bridge and the edge of the brook.
“Ah, Billy,” Vincent called out as he helped Natalie to her feet.
“What are you two doing?” he asked as he leaned down and took Vincent’s arm. “Please tell me you’re drunk.”
“Sorry, not even close. The Mrs. fell in, and what type of husband would I be if I didn’t go in and fetch my bride?” The older couples smiled and leaned into each other as they observed the hopeful Congressman and his wife step out of the brook, unable to control their laughter. “Don’t worry, folks. Thankfully, we both know how to swim.”
More laughter met their words, and a hotel employee rushed towels to them from the nearby pool area. Vincent took one and draped it around Natalie’s shoulders.
“Thanks,” she whispered, and he leaned in, kissing her deeply before he drew back, letting her catch her breath.
He took a second towel and wrapped it over his shoulders before drawing her into a warm embrace. She rested her cheek against his chest, and the past week of awkwardness and annoyance seemed like a distant memory. They followed everyone into the hotel, and once they were no longer dripping wet, Vincent offered her his hand and motioned to the dance floor.
“So we can dry off faster,” he suggested.
Natalie ditched her towel and her heels and followed him willingly to the dance floor. The band played lively music for the rest of the evening, and lights burst around them as pictures were snapped of the happy newlyweds. This was how she pictured a wedding reception. Others joined them on the dance floor, but all too soon, the reception came to an end. Vincent and she wished everyone a good night before leaving the hall themselves and walking to the waiting car. She stopped dead, peering into the back seat.
“You’ll be fine,” Vincent promised in her ear. “I’m right here with you.”
She nodded and climbed into the car. The engine started and she flinched, but Vincent tucked her head gently against his shoulder.
“Just close your eyes and before you know it, we’ll be home.”
“Home,” she repeated.
“It probably doesn’t feel like it because of my shitty attitude.” He sighed and kissed the top of her head sweetly. The chill from the water and the air-conditioned hall disappeared and Natalie snuggled closer instinctively. “I’ll make it up to you.”
She yawned and nodded at the same time. “I like the sound of that.” The fingers on her left hand closed around the ring she was growing used to, but she sat up so fast, she nearly smacked her head into Vincent’s chin. “Shit! My ring—it must’ve fallen off in the water. Damn it!” Frantically, she looked around the car, hoping it fell somewhere in there, but Vincent grabbed her hands and chuckled. “I don’t find this funny. That thing probably cost a fortune and I screwed something else up.”
“It’s just a ring, Natalie. Besides, I was going to take you shopping for a new one.”
“You were?” she asked, wrinkling her brow. “Why?”
“It’s hard to pick out a ring for a woman I’m still getting to know,” he whispered and brushed the pad of this thumb over her lips. “We’ll go shopping for one soon.”
Not sure why she did it, but she bit down gently on his thumb. His eyes darkened as he grunted. A mischievousness filled her, but before they could do anything else, they were at the house and the moment was gone. Once inside, Vincent walked her upstairs to her bedroom and stopped, leaning against the doorframe.
“Tonight went well, I think,” she told him, tossing her heels behind her.
“Thanks to you.”
“Eh, I just knocked some sense into your stubborn head.”
“Exactly what I need,” he murmured and let his body hang forward, held up by his hands on the doorframe. “A good night kiss for your husband?”
“How can I say no?” Her lips barely caressed his. She pulled back and reached for the doorknob. “Night, Vincent.”
His shoulders sagged but he stepped back with a nod of his head. “Night, Natalie.”
She closed the door and rested her back against it, her heart racing and palms sweaty. “Holy shit, girl, talk about a rollercoaster of a ride.” She fell into bed grinning and dreamt of falling into Vincent’s arms and drifting away on a raft in the middle of the sea.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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