“We both know leaving isn’t an option,” she said, fondling the necklace cushioned against her bosom.
She’d chosen the bridesmaid dresses to match the amber stone in the pendant. The pendant and the necklace it hung from had been the first piece of jewelry she’d received as a little girl. They’d never had much, but her mother had always made sure she was comfortable, and every now and again, they splurged on little luxuries.
The necklace had been a luxury. When she’d received it, she’d felt so grown-up. After her mother’s passing, she’d worn it more often in an effort to feel closer to her. Eva regretted her mother wasn’t alive to see the birth of her grandchild, or to see her daughter get married, even if it wasn’t for love.
A soft knock preceded one of the other two bridesmaids poking her head through the door. “It’s time.”
Eva took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She took one last look at herself as a single woman. The sweetheart neckline of the dress showed off her slender neck and collarbone. She smoothed her hand over the layered organza skirt and made a final adjustment to the amber-colored satin sash wound around her waist.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
****
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” At Pastor Jamison’s words, Derrick lifted Eva’s veil.
The ceremony went by even faster than he’d anticipated. It never ceased to amaze him how a wedding caused so much stress, but the ceremony took less than thirty minutes to complete. Had it been up to him, they would have had a small civil ceremony, but he’d wanted to give Eva a little bit of what she undoubtedly had hoped for, and had instructed the coordinators to get her anything she wanted. No request was unreasonable.
Eva made the majority of the decisions, and he hadn’t thought much about the wedding during the preceding days, too busy concentrating on the task of sorting out his father’s business affairs. But when he’d seen her walking down the aisle on her uncle’s arm, all extraneous thoughts fled his mind, and he concentrated solely on the vision coming toward him.
The sudden clenching of his stomach had taken him aback. A fierce possessiveness filled him as he watched her move slowly, bouquet in hand, smiling sweetly at their guests beneath the lace veil. Right then he’d decided he’d made the right decision to make her his wife, and any remnants of doubt left his mind. They may not be in love, but they had chemistry. Plenty of marriages survived on less.
With the sole intention of giving her a quick peck on the lips, he lowered his head. But his memory had failed him, because when had he ever been able to touch her and quickly distance himself? After months without her, today proved no different.
When he pressed his mouth to hers, a surge of hot hunger swept through him, heating his blood. He lifted his head a fraction, noting her closed eyes, and right away dipped again to taste her soft lips. His hands settled on her bare arms to hold her in place and allow him to prolong the kiss, his mouth lingering over hers. The soft sigh she whispered into his mouth caused the muscles in his body to tense in response, and his hands tightened on her soft flesh.
His tongue made a gentle foray into her mouth. When she allowed him entry, he swept in past her teeth and delved deeper to stroke with unerring skill along the inside of her cheeks and the roof of her mouth, making an erotic promise of future pleasures to come. Subconsciously he knew this wasn’t the time or place, but she had cut him off abruptly and for so long. This was the first time in months he’d had a taste of her, and he couldn’t get enough.