I could hardly dispute that. “Yes, but you seemed to need it, honestly. Besides, I had to get in character.”
He watched me with warm eyes. “You’re the best person I know, Josie. Thank you for doing this. I promise I’ll make the next three years as amazing as possible.”
I wanted to tell him that he better not or I might not want the arrangement to come to an end at all. Instead, I braced myself for the final twirl. Hunter executed the move with perfect precision, just as we’d rehearsed it, but when he pulled me back, he didn’t just catch me...
He kissed me.
I hummed low against his mouth, because I just couldn’t help it. He stroked my tongue lazily, and I couldn’t help but wonder... how was he in bed?
I’d been trying not to think about this, but now I couldn’t keep the thoughts at bay. The way he kissed me... fuck, it was as if he was close to throwing me over his shoulder and leaving the party with me. I had no doubt that Hunter would know how to take care of me, no matter if he loved me slowly or fucked me hard. When he pulled back, there was no mistaking the lust in his eyes.
I danced the whole night. I had so much energy I didn’t think I could sit anyway. I danced with anyone who asked me to. Unfortunately though, our guests were throwing questions at me left and right.
“When did this happen?”
“Have you always been in love with him?”
“How did he propose?”
“Are you pregnant?”
I kept the number of champagne glasses I drank to a minimum, because I wanted my head clear.
For the most part, I had fun. So much fun, in fact, that I had to constantly remind myself this wasn’t really my wedding.
I wasn’t going to go to bed and wake up next to this gorgeous man. One day, another woman would have his ring on her finger, and if we managed to play our eventual divorce as “we were better off as friends,” I’d even be at that wedding, celebrating the happy couple. Instead of cheering me up, the thought made my heart squeeze. Oh, Josie, Josie, Josie, your hormones are wreaking havoc, that’s all. I just had to tell Hunter to stop with the panty-melting kisses. They’d mess with any girl’s head.
I’d tell him just that, starting tomorrow. Tonight, I wanted to enjoy them for a while longer. Once the number of guests dwindled, I indulged a little more in champagne... and in Hunter. I didn’t know if he was buzzed too or if I was feeling everything in a magnified way, but his kisses were becoming a little more frequent. A lot hotter.
By the time we climbed into the car that would take us home, my entire body felt like a livewire. My nipples were too sensitive, pushing against my dress. The pressure between my thighs was unbearable.
I’d never been more pleased by the sheer size of the house, and by the fact that the bedrooms were far apart, because I had to take care of myself tonight. The past weeks had been like foreplay, and today had just been too much.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize what Hunter was about to do until he lifted me in his arms. I shrieked, grabbing onto his neck, holding on for dear life.
“What are you doing?”
“Crossing the threshold with my new bride.”
I smiled. “You think the immigration services have spy cameras around here?”
“No, I just think that you’re an incurable romantic and you secretly like that I’m carrying you.”
I giggled, resting my head in the crook of his neck. I was too tired and too wired up at the same time to pretend with him.
“I do like it, Hunter.”
We were quiet as he walked through the house with me. A five o’clock shadow already covered his cheeks. I stroked them absentmindedly. His skin smelled amazing. The aftershave and cologne had evaporated, revealing the scent of him.
He only put me down when he brought me to the master bedroom. For a brief second, I forgot we’d switched rooms and thought he was laying me on his bed. My nerves lit up in anticipation before I remembered the switch.
I wasn’t ready for the evening to end, and yet, when he left, I didn’t stop him.
Half an hour later, I paced the room, cursing. This damn dress just wouldn’t come off. I’d tried to undo the laces at the back myself, and somehow I’d managed to make a knot of it. Even though I planned to keep the dress, preserve it like the prize it was, I was tempted to head to the kitchen, grab a knife, and just cut the string. I would have done it too, if I hadn’t been afraid I might accidentally stab myself. How could this be so hard?
Brides aren’t supposed to undo their own wedding gowns, a small voice said at the back of my mind. I sighed. I knew that, of course. But Hunter was probably asleep by now. I didn’t want to wake him up. If only I’d started this process sooner. But I’d wasted twenty minutes removing my makeup, and the three hundred or so bobby pins from my hair.
After fifteen more minutes, I gave up. My only choices were to either sleep in it or wake up Hunter. I opted for the latter.
To my astonishment, he wasn’t asleep. His bed was empty, but I could hear the shower in the bathroom.
I sat on the mattress, right up until the water stopped running and the door opened. I leaped to my feet.
“I’m in your bedroom,” I yelled, then lowered my eyes to my lap just in case he was naked.
When I heard him step into the room, I asked, “Are you decent?”
“Yes.”
His voice was a little hoarse.
“Umm... sorry to crash in on you, but I can’t undo the ribbons by myself.”
It sounded ridiculous, like a cheap pickup line. When Hunter didn’t say anything, I added quickly, “I pulled at the laces, but on the wrong one, and ended up with a knot I can’t undo myself.”
“I’ll take care of you.”
I looked up to him as he walked to me. Holy shit. The man only had a towel wrapped around him. His chest was bare. I had a flashback to the moment he’d walked in on me in the bathroom.
I turned my back to him, glad that the room was semidark, or there would be no hiding my blush.
I sucked in my breath when Hunter tangled his fingers in the laces, pulling them open. The corset loosened, and I knew he’d succeeded. This felt so intimate. Even more intimate than his carrying me over the threshold. Each eyelet made a tiny pop when the lace was pulled out of it, and I knew Hunter had opened all of them when I had to press the corset against my chest with both hands to keep the dress from sliding down.
“Thanks,” I said after he was done.
“You’re welcome. It was too tight, I think. You’ve got marks here.”
He touched his fingers to my bare skin in a slow, delicate move, and my knees weakened a little.
“They’ll fade by tomorrow.”
Please, stop touching me, or I might just turn around and kiss you.
“Josie, fuck... what are you wearing?”
It took me a second to realize he’d probably just noticed my lingerie. He only saw the back of it, but still...
“Umm... just... lace, and...”
I felt his fingers curl against my skin before he removed his hand, as if he had to fight his every instinct in order not to touch me.
“You’re so sexy.”
His voice was even lower, gruffer.
“Hunter—”
He silenced me by bringing a hand to the side of my waist. The pressure he applied was light, but it set me on fire.