We say our goodbyes and get stopped by congratulators no fewer than a dozen times on the way out. I think Dad’s nurse, Marge, must’ve told every person in the building about our wedding in my dad’s room.
We get into the black sedan Sin has spent too much time in over the last few weeks. “Sterling. Mrs. Breckenridge and I need a moment of privacy, please.”
My new husband pulls me close and kisses me like crazy. I’m lightheaded, drunk off his lips. And I want more, so much more. “I’ve been dying to do that since I listened to you say your vows.’”
“It was a turn-on, huh?”
“Aye.”
“More so than my initiation ceremony?”
“Absolutely. So much so that I think I want to kiss you like that again.”
When he’s finished, he holds my face with his hands. “I have a very important call to make.”
Sin takes his phone from his jacket. With my hand in his, he brings it to his mouth for a kiss as he waits for Abram to answer. “I love you so much, Bonny. Thank you for marrying me.”
He straightens in his seat and clears his throat. “Aye, Uncle. All is well. I’ve found her.”
I listen intently to the one-sided conversation. Dammit. I can guess at the things Abram is saying based on Sin’s replies, but I wish I could hear for myself what the psychopath is saying.
“No. I didn’t kill Bleu. I married her instead, so I’ll be needing you to call off the hit on my wife.”
I put my hands over my mouth and giggle beneath my breath while imagining the fit that damn evil bastard must be having. “Tell Uncle Abram I said hello,” I say.
Sin grins and takes the phone away from his mouth. “You’re so bad,” he whispers.
He places a quick kiss on my lips before returning to his call. “No, Abram. As my wife, Bleu is protected under Fellowship code. ‘You must never violate the wife or children of another member.’ Contravene our code and you will face the consequences.”
Based on my studies, the ramifications could include anything from a physical penance to the death penalty, depending upon the degree of the offense committed.
My husband is protecting me. And it’s fucking hot.
I twist in my seat and move over to straddle Sin. I loosen his tie and open the top of his shirt. I kiss the dip at his throat and move my mouth up his neck until I reach that sensitive spot below his ear.
He moves his free hand to my lower back and pulls me close. “Dad already knows, Abram, as well as Mum. They are quite fond of Bleu and were very pleased to know she would be their daughter-in-law.”
He’s quiet for a moment before speaking again. “We’ll discuss all of that when I return to Edinburgh—with my new wife. Goodbye.”
He ends the call and tosses his phone on the seat next to us. “That went as well as I expected.”
“I assume the psychopath is unhappy?” I can’t not laugh.
“Aye. He’s demanding a lot of explanations but he forgets his place. He has no right to challenge anything I say or do.”
“And yet he does.”
“My father has put up with his tyrannical behavior for years. He chooses to pacify his brother but I will not tolerate him.” He sighs. “And that, my sweet bonny one, is going to cause problems. Big ones. Especially since I’ve finished my traineeship.”
“Let me guess. He’s feeling threatened?”
“Aye.” He runs his hands up my back. “Maybe it’s time I consider taking my rightful place and knocking Abram out of his leadership role.”
No. It’s too soon. I want to have Sin to myself—if only for a while longer—before I have to share him. “I really need to not talk about this or The Fellowship right now. Can we make tonight about us?”
“Tonight is about nothing but us.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. He tugs on my bottom lip with his mouth. “And if I’m not mistaken, we have a marriage to consummate.”
“Yes. I believe you’re right.”
He taps me on my bottom so I move off his lap to my seat. I straighten my dress while he lowers the window. “Sterling. Please take my wife and I to The Peabody Hotel.”
* * *
Memphis isn’t Edinburgh. It’s not spilling over with luxury hotels but The Peabody is a perfect place to spend our wedding night. It’s classic southern elegance at its best.
Sin opens the door and follows me into the living room of the presidential suite. “Oh wow. This is beautiful.”
“You’ve never been inside?”
“No. I’ve lived in Memphis my whole life but I’ve never been any farther than the lobby and convention hall.”
“They offer a Romeo and Juliet suite but this one is better.” He takes his jacket off and tosses it across the arm of the sofa. “It came highly recommended by your sister as well as the Brazilian steakhouse on the corner.”
“Ellison loves that place.”
“You don’t?”
“I like the food but I got sick both times I ate there. In their defense, it was probably my meds causing me to feel nauseated, rather than the food.”
He looks a little miffed. “You’ve not seen a doctor about that yet?”
“I did but she said the benefits of the medication outweigh the side effects. She increased my dosage.” And it’s made my nausea much worse.
“What are the benefits?”
“It helps my body use insulin, which reduces my risk of developing diabetes.”
He’s frowning. “I don’t like this. You’re going to be evaluated by another doctor as soon as we’re back in Edinburgh.”
I suppose a second opinion won’t hurt.
He takes my hand. “Come. I want to have a look at where we’re going to consummate this marriage.”
He leads me up the staircase. We stand just inside the bedroom doorway. “Not bad.”
Not bad, hell. It’s gorgeous. Wall-to-wall luxury in tones of aqua and chocolate. The lavish bed linens are calling out to me. “Come. Lie in splendor. Your husband can join us too.”
“They left something for us.” I walk over and peek inside the basket and ice bucket. “Mmm … champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.”
“Do you want to have them now or wait until later?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it depends on what you have planned for us.”
“Hmm … it’s technically our wedding afternoon and not yet our wedding night.”
I hope he’s not suggesting we postpone this until later. “Is there a rule that says a husband has to wait until sundown to have his wife for the first time?”
“No, but I don’t want to ruin any ideas or dreams you might have about the things you expect.”
I go to him and slide my hands over his shoulders. “The only expectations I have are us in that bed together with you inside of me as soon as possible. That’s it. All the other stuff is variable.”
He glides his nose down the side of my neck. “Do you want to slip into the wedding-night attire you wouldn’t let me choose?”
“I’ll need my bag. Would you mind bringing it up?”
“It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Breckenridge.”
He’s back so quickly I almost wonder if he sprinted. “That was fast.”
“An anxious husband wastes no time stopping to admire the wall color.”
I take my bag from him. “I won’t be long.”
“See that you aren’t.”
I went with an ivory lace baby-doll top and matching G-string for tonight. I adore the lace pattern and satin ribbon sash below the bust. It’s very bridal yet has the innocent undertone my husband loves so much.
I’m certain I’ve made the right lingerie choice when Sin sees me for the first time. “Bonny Bleu. I swear I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”
I strike a sexy pose with a hand on my hip. “Then my husband approves?”
“Aye. One hundred percent.”
His chocolate eyes never leave mine as I narrow the distance between us. W
hat I see there tells me it doesn’t matter how many times we’ve had sex in the past. Tonight is going to be different; it’s about a husband taking his wife for the first time.
He pushes my hair away from my shoulder and slides the strap of my top down my arm. He presses a kiss against my bare skin. “I can’t believe you’re mine forever.”
I loosen the knot of his tie. “Yours forever. I like the sound of that.”
I slip his tie over his head and begin on his shirt. He works on his cufflinks as I unfasten the front. When it’s open, I place my hands on his pecs and push the shirt away.
I love his body—fit without being overly muscular. I’m not the least bit attracted to meatheads.