“You’re not going to join me?”
“Not this time,” he said. “I’ll shower in the guest bath.”
“Waste of water if you ask me.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
He kissed my cheek. “We have plenty of time.”
For someone who had been initially opposed to my suggestion of no sex for a month, he certainly had been patient about it for the last ten hours.
Well, if you didn’t count those five minutes the night before.
Regardless, I left him to deal with the luggage and I walked inside the stunning home that would be our refuge for the next two weeks. The interior was an odd mix of log cabin and contemporary, but it somehow fit together to create a warm and inviting space.
I decided to do the bulk of my exploring later. Ever since he mentioned a shower I felt grimier with each passing second. I breezed past the living room and kitchen, up the stairs, and into the master bedroom.
From the third-floor windows, I could see down the mountain to the village. I felt almost vulnerable surrounded by all the windows even though I knew there was no way anyone could see me. Nathaniel had selected the chalet for its privacy.
I dropped my overnight bag by the bed and walked into the bathroom. Seconds later, I’d stripped my clothes off and was soon enveloped by the soothing warm water of the decadent shower. Outfitted with two rainfall showerheads and numerous smaller vertical ones, the shower could easily fit two people. Nathaniel and I would certainly put the space to good use over the next two weeks. For the time being, though, I simply closed my eyes and let the water and steam revive me.
My skin was wrinkly when I finally got out. I honestly hadn’t meant to stay in for so long, but it had felt so good. I glanced outside and saw the shadows were growing long. I wondered if Nathaniel had finished doing all the things he wanted to do and if he was finished with his shower yet. Since I didn’t know if Nathaniel had brought up my bag with my clean clothes, I pulled on a robe I found hanging on the bathroom door. I debated leaving my hair wet, but decided I’d regret it, so I dried it as quickly as possible.
He was waiting in the bedroom when I left the bathroom. He must not have spent the time I did in the shower. Not only was his hair still wet, but he’d pulled heavy curtains across the windows and lit candles. The room was decorated all in white. A huge bed made up with an inviting downy duvet and fluffy pillows faced the windows. At the moment, the candlelight cast the entire room in flickering shadows. Nathaniel had been sitting in a plush white chair, but stood at my entrance.
“There you are,” he said. “I was afraid you might never come out.”
He walked to me, my husband, and I swallowed around the lump in my throat at the thought that this man was mine forever.
“I couldn’t help it,” I said, taking in his bare chest and the way his pants hugged his hips just so. I could see the bulge of his erection in the front. “The shower felt so good.”
He didn’t say anything, but walked until he stood before me, framed my face with his hands, and kissed me. His lips were strong and insistent and I felt his need sweep over me. Combined with my own, it would have made my knees buckle except for the fact that I had my arms firmly around him.
“Nathaniel,” I said in a soft sigh.
“Mmmm,” he hummed, entwining his fingers with mine and then he quoted:
In that book which is
My memory . . .
On the first page
That is the chapter when
I first met you
Appear the words . . .
Here begins a new life
I pulled our clasped hands together. “Dante?”
He nodded and our foreheads touched. “It seemed appropriate. I never knew that day I saw you at the library so many years ago that you would be the start of my new life. But I wonder, did it truly begin then, or the day you walked into my office the first time—or when you accepted my collar the second time?”
His body was warm against me and his breath was hot on my skin. I lifted my head and kissed him. “I don’t know.”
“I think,” he said. “That maybe it starts tonight. With us here like this. Coming together as husband and wife.” He kissed my wedding band. “And renewing our vow as Dominant and submissive.”
He moved to the nightstand and took something from the top. My heart pounded, knowing what it was, and I hurried to my purse to get its mate. He was back in front of the bed when I turned around and he watched me with dark eyes as I made my way back to him.
He held up a ring made up of three intertwined platinum bands. Its meaning was found inscribed inside.