Apparently, I was going first.
I picked up the plate and cut a small piece with the fork. Ever so gently, making sure I kept my thong rights intact, I fed my bride a tiny piece of cake. A bit of triumph swam in those crystal-blue eyes as she took the plate from me and began the same process.
I watched her pick up the piece of chocolate cake with her fingers, just as I had. Amusement painted her porcelain skin as she came toward me, and then shrieks of hysteria were heard throughout the ballroom after she’d shoved the piece of cake in my face, smearing frosting and cake crumbs all over my skin.
I should have known.
My tongue darted out and licked a piece of frosting hanging on the corner of my lip as people giggled.
“Mmm . . . it’s good,” I said. “Really good. Want to try?” I asked Lailah.
She backed away. “No!” she squealed right before I grabbed her waist.
“Jude!” She laughed as I caught her lips in a sugary-sweet kiss.
“Cheater,” I whispered.
“Just keeping you on your toes.” She reminded me.
“You always do.”
And she always would.
“I about died when your brother caught my garter,” Lailah exclaimed, falling back into the corner of the limo with a giggle.
“I don’t even think he knew what he was doing over there. He looked completely confused when the little blue lacy thing landed on his head,” I replied.
I sipped on a bottle of water as we came to a brief stop.
The wedding was officially over, and we’d just had our grand departure. We could have stayed at the hotel where the reception was held. It was a beautiful and well-known establishment in New York, but for our wedding night, I wanted to be as far away from our friends and family as I could be—or at least as far away as the city would allow.
Tomorrow, we would board a private plane and begin our honeymoon, but tonight, I wanted Lailah to be comfortable and relaxed. I knew the day had probably already drained her. Adding a flight to that was more than I would be willing to risk. Her health was always the most important thing to me. I would never take the chance.
“I have a feeling that Marcus might have had something to do with that,” she interjected, lifting her feet up onto my legs.
I slid off her shoes and began rubbing her sore feet. “Oh?”
“Well, I saw them talking minutes before you dived under my dress,” she said, giving me a hard stare.
“That is how you’re supposed to do it!” I feigned innocence. “I looked it up on the Internet.”
“I’m pretty sure you gave some of the old ladies in attendance a heart attack.” She laughed.
I shrugged. “I was just doing my job as a new husband.”
“Anyway,” she went on, “Marcus seemed to be herding Roman in that general direction after I’d tossed the bouquet. He must have decided Roman needed a bit of fun.”
“I’m not sure my brother really understands the word unless it involves alcohol and hookers.”
“Jude!”
“Come on, Lailah. Why do you keep defending him?”
Her focus shifted to the passing building as we drove down the streets of the city. “I don’t know. I guess it’s just the fighter in me. I’m hoping that, somewhere deep inside him, there’s someone worth saving.”
I leaned forward, my thumb grazing her cheek. “How do you always manage to see the good in people?” I asked.
“Because everyone deserves to have someone on their side.”
“Even Roman?”
She smiled softly. “Especially him. He’s your brother.”
“You’re entirely too good for this world.” I sighed as the car finally pulled up to our destination.
I’d picked one of the oldest, most grand hotels in New York and requested only the best for our wedding night. I wanted her to feel like a princess. In my eyes though, she was a queen.
“Hopefully, not too good,” Lailah commented offhandedly as I moved toward to the door.
“Huh?” I turned to see a wicked smile curving around her lips.
“I mean, it is our wedding night. I don’t think you want me to be a saint.”
She bent forward to crawl toward the car door. It was practically necessary, but the way she did it was not. Slow and sultry, she made the most of whatever was underneath that dress, so deliciously jutting her breasts forward as she squeezed her arms together. It accentuated every deep curve, and I suddenly felt my mouth go dry.
“I think we need to check in—quickly,” I said hoarsely.
“Agreed.”