Ian leaned down and whispered in Kate’s ear. “This is our first kiss as husband and wife, and it will forever be known as the number eight.”
He held her face gently in his hands and gave her a deep openmouthed kiss with tongue. But he dipped her at the end, just so she wouldn’t confuse it with the number five.
She loved that.
Their guests applauded loudly.
He had never been so happy in his life.
They moved inside to the comfort of an air-conditioned reception room where they dined on fresh seafood and beef medallions. After a few drinks, Chad announced he was going to give a speech.
“Oh no, here it comes,” Kate said softly.
Ian laughed and put his arm around her.
They were sitting at a long table set for eight. Chad was sitting next to Kate, and he stood and cleared his throat. “First of all, on behalf of Kristin and myself, I’d like to congratulate Kate and Ian on their special day. May you have many years of wedded bliss. To my little sister, Kate: I love you and I wish you a lifetime of happiness with Ian. Clearly, you love this guy a lot. To my new brother-in-law: you have impeccable taste in both automobiles and women. You’ve brought excitement to the Watts family, the most we’ve seen in a long time. Or ever, for that matter. Something tells me there’s more to come, and I’m okay with that as long as Kate is. It’s kind of cool having a hacker in the family, even if you are a bit of a wild card, and I look forward to getting to know you better. Take good care of my little sister.”
Ian smiled, nodded once, and raised his glass. Chad leaned down and clinked it with his.
Kristin clapped her hands together and laughed. “Okay, let’s wrap it up.”
After dinner, there was dancing. Kate and her dad shared a father-daughter dance. Steve was actually smiling as he and Kate swayed to the music, so maybe he hadn’t drawn up the rough draft of an annulment just yet. Then Ian and Kate shared their first dance—and several slow, deep kisses.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look?”
“More than once,” she said, and that earned him another kiss.
He ran his hands down the soft silk of her wedding gown until they rested on the small of her back. He loved Kate’s body. Naked, she was truly a sight to behold. But there was something about seeing her covered in bits of tulle and lace that drove him wild. He knew what it was hiding. Knew what was waiting there for him and how it would feel.
Her soft skin.
Her warmest places.
“I can’t wait to see you in your lingerie.” Kate had insisted that he not see her in her wedding gown until right before the ceremony, which meant he hadn’t been around to see how she looked in what was underneath it.
“You really outdid yourself this time. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”
He’d given her La Perla again. The bustier was the same off-white color and tea rose pattern as the Chantilly lace babydoll nightie he’d given her for Christmas, and the Brazilian lace thong was likely going to drive him out of his mind. He’d also included a tulle garter with a silk-and-satin ribbon that he pictured encircling her long, slim thigh. When he took everything off later, he was going to leave that on.
After they cut the cake, Ian ditched his tie and shared a piece with Kate who was now sitting on his lap. She twirled the stem of her wineglass between her fingers and opened her mouth so he could feed her.
When they’d finished the cake, he set the plate on the table and reached for her hand, clasping it tight.
“I will be such a good husband to you.” He said it with conviction, and he meant it.
Her response was every bit as resolute. “And I will be a good wife.”
“My wife.” He kissed her tenderly. “You are my future, Kate Bradshaw.”
“And you, Ian Smith Merrick Bradshaw, will be my adventure.”
THE END