New Beginnings (33 page)

When we moved on to cut the cake, I was so tired it was difficult to stand. The cake was a beautiful three-tier piece with perfect, smooth, white icing decorated with white icing swirls. Red roses and sprigs of holly were on top of the cake and cascaded down the side of it. It was almost too gorgeous to cut into.

At 11:15 p.m., we began to say our thanks and goodbyes to our guests. Xavier said he had a surprise for me to ring in the New Year. A lot of dirty thoughts ran through my head, but I somehow doubted that that was what he had in mind.

He surprised me when he stopped at our room to grab our coats making sure that I was completely bundled up. Grabbing my hand, we made our way to the elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor.

I frowned giving him a sideways glance. “Are you going to tell me what you are up to?”

“Nope.” He shook his head.

I was shocked to discover he was taking us out onto the roof. It was cold and overcast, but thankfully it wasn’t raining. He guided me over to one specific corner of the roof. I snuggled into him as he wrapped his arms around me. Glancing at his watch over my shoulder, he was counting down until midnight.

Minutes later, he gripped my chin in his hand. His lips hovered over mine. “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year, wife.”

“Happy New Year, husband.” He sealed his mouth over mine.

Distant booms made me jump causing me to break our kiss. Way off in the distance, fireworks were exploding off the top of the Space Needle. It was a spectacular sight. It made the Space Needle look like a giant sparkler as the colorful fireworks shot out in all directions.

“Wow! This is beautiful. Thank you.” I beamed up at him.

“Thank you, sweetness. You have no idea how incredibly happy you’ve made me today.” He beamed back at me.

Suddenly, I no longer had eyes for the fireworks. The love and passion shining out of his brilliant, blue eyes immediately captivated me. Desire exploded inside me like the fireworks off the Space Needle. I felt warm in his embrace even though I was standing on the roof of the hotel with the cold wind whipping around us.

Grabbing his hand, I pulled him to the door. He pulled back on my hand stopping me in my tracks. “What are you doing? The fireworks aren’t over yet.” He frowned at me.

“I’m ready to make our own fireworks. Bring me back to the room, husband. I have a garter that’s burning my leg ready to be peeled off by your teeth.” I gave him a salacious smile.

That was all it took. He swept me off my feet and dashed back to the elevator. He didn’t put me down until we were over the threshold of our hotel room.

“Are you thirsty or hungry?” he asked, as he helped me out of my coat.

I nodded at him.

“What can I get you, sweetness?” He gave me a hooded look as he shrugged out of his coat.

“You,” I whispered.

His hands dove for my hair so he could firmly hold me in place while his mouth claimed mine fiercely. His touch held a desperation that hadn’t been present before as if becoming his wife unleashed a new sexy side of Xavier. Whatever it was, I didn’t care. I loved how he made me feel like he couldn’t survive another minute unless he was touching me, kissing me, or claiming me.

Without breaking our kiss, he lifted me and carried me to the bedroom. There was no hesitation as he set me down on my feet and untied my sash tossing it on the chair next to the bed. His jacket and tie quickly followed.

Slowly, he unzipped my dress. The rustle of the fabric and the feel of my dress sliding off my skin had me moaning. His warm lips trailed kisses down my back. He lowered my dress to the ground so I could step out of it then tossed it on the chair. I was left standing in my strapless, white lace bra and matching panties. My blue garter was high around my right thigh. He wrapped his arms around my waist. His hand, low on my abdomen, gently pressed my back into the front of him. His arousal pressed in my lower back.

As he continued to stand behind me, he swept my hair back and trailed searing hot kisses down my neck. “You look incredible, Mrs. Hart,” he whispered into my neck before sinking his teeth into the sensitive flesh where neck meets shoulder. I gasped as it sent a jolt of pure desire right to my core.

“Please,” I begged certain that I was going to explode if I didn’t have him in me soon.

He chuckled. “We’re just getting started.” He undid the clasp of my bra and tossed it on the chair then lifted me and laid me out on the bed.

Great, he wanted to do this slowly. I threw my head back and groaned then I heard the jingle of his belt coming undone. The bed dipped so I got up on my elbows. He was kneeling at the foot of the bed, and I was happy to see that he was stripped down to his tight boxer briefs.

He kissed, licked, and nipped his way up my leg until he had the garter firmly grasped between his teeth. Just like he said he would, he slowly dragged it down my leg. It was torture. It was bliss. It was driving me insane.

He tossed it aside. Running his hands up my legs, he hooked his fingers in my panties and just like he did with the garter, he slowly dragged them down my legs. I was stripped bare before him, breathing heavily as he climbed back up my body. He pressed me down into the mattress as he nestled firmly between my legs.

He moved slowly, reverently. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on all of the sensations that were coursing through me due to our bodies being joined in such an erotic way.

“Eyes on me, Mrs. Hart,” he whispered.

As soon as I opened my eyes, the fire radiating out of his consumed me. He moved more urgently, quickly pushing us both to our release together.

Afterwards, he curled up next to me resting his head on my chest. I casually ran my fingers through his sex-mussed hair. The smell of Xavier’s scent mixed with mine was sexy. It hung heavy in the air, clinging to the sheets.

He placed a hand on my abdomen. “You’re getting a nice little bump,” he said softly before he leaned down and kissed it reverently.

“I know,” I groaned. “I don’t want to be reminded of how big I can expect to get carrying twins right at this moment.”

“It’s beautiful.” He turned his penetrating gaze on me. “You’re beautiful. A new year. New lives. New beginnings.”

He said exactly what I was thinking. I pulled his face up for a kiss.

I woke the morning after our wedding in almost the same position I had fallen asleep in. Xavier was wrapped around me with his head resting on my chest and his hand resting protectively and reverently over the little bump that was our babies. I hated to disturb him but nature was calling. Carefully, I extricated myself from his arms.

As I stood at the sink washing my hands, thoughts of climbing back into bed with that handsome husband of mine dominated. Just as I exited the bathroom, the shrill ring of his cell phone started. I slipped my robe on to cover my nakedness as Xavier fumbled for his cell on the nightstand. Groggy with sleep, he rasped a hello into his phone.

“What?” he shrieked as he bolted upright. His eyes, looking wild and wide, locked with mine. What the hell could have happened? Feeling shaky, I sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Are you certain? … When? … Do you know when are they due back? … Thanks … Yes, first thing tomorrow … Thanks for letting me know.”

He sat in bed staring at his phone for a moment before returning it to the nightstand. I waited for what felt like hours for him to start talking.

“You aren’t going to believe this.” He turned to look at me. “I had invited Carline’s parents to our wedding but they declined. They said they were going to New York to be with Stephen and Carline for the New Year.” He paused for a moment. “It would seem they actually went out there for a wedding.”

I stood for a moment allowing what Xavier said to sink in. A wedding? Who’s wedding? Carline and Stephen? My eyes widened. Xavier nodded at me as if he could read my thoughts. No. It can’t be. I got up and walked out of the room.

“Ella?”

I ignored Xavier and kept walking until I got out to the living area. I sat down on the couch and put my head in my hands.

Shit! I’m never going to be rid of him. The realization that he will forever be connected to me in some way made my stomach roil. That feeling of freedom that I had when I first arrived here in Seattle was euphoric. Sure, I was scared shitless at the prospect of being on my own for the first time in my life, but it was worth it if it meant I would be free of the emotional pain that Stephen had caused. All I wanted was to be able to move on, to start over. I thought that was going to happen with Xavier, but that bastard Stephen just won’t go away.

Xavier came rushing into the living room. A frown marred his beautiful face. He knelt down before me and took both of my hands in his. There was nothing but pain and confusion on his face.

“You want to tell me why you seem so upset over the news of your cheating ex-husband remarrying?” He sounded hurt.

I frowned at him. “You don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?” He gave me a puzzled look.

I pushed past him heading for the window not wanting him to see the tears that threatened to stream down my face.

I pulled the curtain back and stared out at Seattle. The angry-looking clouds matched my tumultuous mood. Breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, I attempted to calm myself, knowing that stress was the last thing I needed.

Minutes later, those warm, strong arms that I loved to feel on me wrapped around my waist. He pulled my back against his muscular front. I let my head fall back against his chest, which expanded as he took deep breath.

“What don’t I get, Ella?” he asked for the second time. “Please talk to me. I’m not sure why you were so upset by the news, but you’re leaving me to think that you still have feelings for him. I realize how ridiculous that sounds. Of course you don’t still have feelings for Stephen, but I wish you would help me to understand why you’re so upset.”

I spun around in his arms breaking his hold on me. “You’re right. I don’t still have feelings for him. That bastard killed any feelings I had for him the day he decided to stick his dick in someone else. I do not have any feelings for him, and I will not ever again.” I sighed heavily and turned to look back out the window.

“Carline’s father is a part of your life. With the two of them married that only means that I will never be rid of him. He will always be around and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. All I wanted was the chance to start over. To flee from him and the pain he caused. But there’s no respite for me,” I said sadly.

“Ella, you make it sound like Carline and I are best friends. So we might see them on occasion at some company function. That’s no big deal. Honestly. Don’t worry about this, baby. You’ve escaped the pain he caused. You started over with me. Don’t you see? I’m your respite.”

I looked back to Xavier. He was right. I knew this, but I loved hearing it from him anyway. We stared at each other not saying a word. The air between us seemed to shift and then I felt it. I felt that familiar tingle across my skin that raises the hair on my arms and the nape of my neck, and that magnetic pull that always exists between us. I knew he felt it too when a small smile played on his lips and his azure eyes darkened.

He pulled at the belt of my robe causing it to fall open. A low rumble broke from his chest when he found I was completely naked underneath. Without hesitation, he scooped me up. With long, determined strides, he headed for the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I tangled my hand in his hair. His breaths became faster as I nuzzled my face into his neck.

“We are going to forget any of this ever happened. I’m going to show you exactly how I planned on us waking up this morning,” he rasped.

He set me down on the floor beside the bed. Quickly, he pulled my robe off and tossed it on the floor. “Get in,” he said in that commanding tone that I loved. A shiver ran down my spine as I hurried to comply. My eyes never left him as he walked around the bed, removed his robe, and climbed into the bed.

Rolling over, he tucked me under him. Before I could do or say anything, his mouth crashed against mine. He kissed me hungrily, running his hand along my ribs under my breasts causing the ache in my core to throb.

Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I dragged my nails down his back. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against mine as he softly moaned.

“Ella,” he rasped between quickened breaths.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, pushing my heels into his backside urging him to take me.

“Please,” I whispered. It was all the coaxing he needed.

A few hours later, we sat in bed enjoying some room service. Breakfast was no longer being served by the time we got around to calling, but being who Xavier is and the suite we were staying in, he somehow managed to coax them into making omelets for us.

After scarfing down the food, I placed my empty plate back on the cart. Collapsing back into the bed, I started yawning like crazy.

“I’m exhausted now. I could use a nap.”

“We have a few hours before we have to meet your parents for dinner. Get some rest, sweetness.” He kissed me on the forehead as he tucked the blanket around me.