“I know you’ve been so busy, and you probably don’t remember much about the house, but up on the roof is a terrace.”
“Really? I didn’t see that the last time I was here.”
“We’ve added it since you were here last, I guess. Go up and check it out. There’s a bed swing up there, if you get my drift. It might make a nice place to stay for your honeymoon night. Jill made sure everything was in order for y’all up there. Trust me when I say—go up there.”
I reached out and shook Doug’s hand. “Thank you for everything, Doug. For letting us use your house, for standing in as our witnesses, and for making this easy for Merit, with Jill’s help.”
“Are you kidding? Jill had a blast helping out. It was our honor to get to spend this special day with you both.”
I had to admit I felt guilty that Brock wasn’t here. If I could have had him there to stand in as my best man, I would have. But asking him and Lincoln to leave baby Hunter to go on a last-minute trip would have been selfish. Someday, maybe Merit and I would renew our vows, and Brock could be my best man then.
After a quick bro hug, Doug and Jill slipped away, leaving me and my bride staring at one another.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look in that gown?” I asked as I swept a curl from her face.
“You might have mentioned it once.”
Leaning down, I brushed my lips across hers and whispered, “You look beautiful, Mrs. Littlewood.”
Her lashes fluttered as she fought to keep her eyes open. I felt her body melt against mine.
“Dirk,” she said softly while she wrapped her arms around my neck and started toying with the back of my hair.
“What should we do now?” I asked.
Eyes so beautifully brilliant stared up at me. “I heard about this swing that’s like a bed on the roof.”
Chapter Thirty-One
MERIT
Dirk’s brows rose, and a wide grin spread across his face. The breeze coming off the lake caused his dark hair to blow ever so slightly, and I moved my hand to lace my fingers through it. When Dirk moaned, I felt a rush of wetness between my legs and my body trembled. Lord, how I ached for him all the time.
“Are you cold?” Dirk asked while he ran his hands over my arms.
“No.”
“You’re shivering.”
I could feel my cheeks heat. “I’m thinking about being with you, as your wife.”
Dirk’s eyes turned dark with desire. “As much as I love this wedding dress, it needs to come off.”
I jutted my lower lip out in a pout. “I’ve only had it on for a couple of hours…if that!”
Dirk moved his hand down my arm, and when I felt his fingertips stroke softly over my exposed stomach, I gasped.
He dropped to his knees and stared at my stomach before he placed a kiss on it. I parted my lips slightly and felt a rapid fluttering in my chest. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” I said as I brought my fingers back to his hair.
Dirk drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “That there’s a baby inside of you. My baby, our baby. I’m scared I’m going to be a terrible father, yet I’m so excited I want time to hurry by.”
I grinned. “I can’t wait to meet the baby, as well, but I’m going to be a bit more selfish.”
He looked up with a confused expression on his face. “Selfish? How?”
“I want to spend as much time with you as I can. Making love, talking, learning what your favorite foods are.”
“That one’s easy. You make it, I’ll eat it.”
“You say that now!” I said with a slight chuckle.
Something in Dirk’s eyes changed, and I felt my skin flush from head to toe.
He stood, and I felt a pang of disappointment hit me at the loss of the moment. “Are you hungry?” he asked.
“I am, but not for food.”
Moving quicker than I had ever seen him move, Dirk picked me up, and I squealed. “Where are we going?”
“To the roof.”
I quickly became aware of my own heartbeat hammering away in my chest. A rush of desire pulsed through my veins as Dirk took the steps ever so slowly and carefully.
“You could go faster, you know,” I pointed out.
“I’m carrying precious cargo. This pace is perfectly fine.”
I giggled and buried my face into his shirt. At the top of the steps was a door that led to what I assumed was the rooftop deck. When Dirk opened it, we both sucked in a breath.
“Oh my goodness!” I cried out as I took in the scene before me.
“Did they do this?” Dirk asked, gently placing me down.
“When would they have had time?” I asked, marveling as I looked around at the beautiful sight before me.