The Tycoon's Seductive Revenge (21 page)
Read The Tycoon's Seductive Revenge Online
Authors: Kristi Avalon
“Agreed,” she said, the lovely glow returning to her face.
“I suspect they know,” he affirmed to ease her wistfulness. “Those we’ve lost. I think their love stays with us, in our memories.”
Ellie glanced at the locket necklace spiraling around the stems of her bouquet. “I believe that, it’s just…I miss my parents so much.”
“Who’s to say they weren’t here today? Looking down on us, sharing the moment. I think that’s possible, don’t you?”
“I think so,” she whispered.
He passed her one of the glasses, even though he knew she wouldn’t drink it, then took his and held it up to her in a toast. “Cheers to those who came before, and to our children, who’ll know our best memories.”
Ellie smoothed her hand over abdomen. “Do you think our baby girl will want to know about her grandparents?”
“I know she will.” Carter leaned forward and kissed Ellie’s eyebrows, her temples, her cheeks, her nose, her chin. They’d found out two days ago they were going to be the proud parents of a baby girl—and Carter had never experienced a more profound joy than to know Ellie was pregnant with his child. He dipped his head and brushed his lips reverently over Ellie’s. “But if our little princess thinks she’s going to run off with some no-name scoundrel from El Dorado Island, she’s got another thing coming.”
Ellie scoffed at him. “Hey, she can grow up to love whoever she wants.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.”
“And so it comes full circle,” she murmured, her eyes shining with laughter at the irony.
He released a sigh that came from the bottom of his heart. “I’m so happy you’re my wife. And I’m proud of you for agreeing to live with me in Miami. I think the hotel will be in fine hands, with Matilda and James running the place.”
“Summer vacations on the island will be wonderful. Still, I don’t want our children to grow up in the same prison I did. They should explore this world the way I never could.”
“Our first stop, the Grecian Islands.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “You expect me to fly for twelve hours and then travel around the Mediterranean?”
He glanced at his watch. “Okay, I’ll give you another twenty-four hours to acclimate yourself to life beyond the island. Then, we’re hitting the road, baby. There’s too much you’ve missed out on. I want to show you everything.”
She blew out a breath. “Well, I couldn’t ask for a better traveling companion.”
He grinned. “That’s my girl. Always up for new adventures.”
“I remember you saying the same thing when we found the blueprints of the hotel. I wasn’t feeling very adventurous back then.”
“I think you’ll be up for plenty of them in the future. You’re the strongest, bravest woman I’ve ever known. Besides my mom, of course.”
“Of course. I’m honored to be in her league.”
He pressed his lips to her palm. “Our parents made a lot of sacrifices for us. Probably more than we’ll ever know.”
Ellie nodded. “Although if we’d ignored their ‘better judgment’ and listened to our hearts from the start, we would’ve been just fine.”
“Your heart wasn’t ready to hear what I had to say.”
“It is now,” she whispered. The glitter of passion illuminated her amber eyes.
Responding to her unspoken request, Carter eased her down to the mattress. Leisurely, seductively, he unwrapped her from her wedding dress, kissing each new body part he exposed—her wrists, her forearms, her elbows, her collarbones…
He took his time, enjoying the way she arched as he nibbled and sucked each breast, as he kissed his way down her abdomen, as he inhaled her erotic scent and tasted her with hungry laps of his tongue. Even after she reached climax, he refused to stop until she begged him to make love to her.
Then he removed the rest of his tuxedo, climbed in beside her and pulled the soft sheets around them like a satin cocoon. Their lips never separated as he eased inside her and slowly, tenderly made love to her. Their unhurried, indulgent sensual rhythm made her sigh, smile, arch with pleasure.
“More,” she coaxed, lightly scraping her nails down his back.
Their noses touched as he shook his head. “Easy, baby. Just lay back and relax.”
They rocked together, and when she reached her peak, tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. He kissed them, then kissed her lips and reached his own climax.
Enjoying their mutual ecstasy, he remained inside her, until he grew hard again. Ellie bit her lip. “Again?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you. My beautiful wife.”
They made love once more. Every time with her felt like the first. Passionate, mind-blowing, unforgettable. He never thought he’d find this again, this perpetual bliss that still left him craving more.
Carter rolled onto his back, tucking her against his side, holding her tightly against his heart. He had no words to describe what he felt.
Well, maybe three. “I love you.”
He urged her chin up and kissed her. At a loss to explain the depth of his feelings, he admitted, “I wish we were like the French, who have as many as twenty ways to describe the word love. If I knew them all, I’d say them to you every day.”
The most beautiful glow lit her face as she released a sigh of pure contentment. “Then we’ll have to make Paris a stopping point on our trip to Greece.”
Propping himself up on an elbow, he stroked her skin, reveling in her softness, her serenity. “My business may take me around the world, but there is only one place I will ever call home.” He settled his hand over her heart.
She seemed to understand. “I feel the same way when I’m in your arms. On El Dorado Island, or here in the Bahamas, or Miami or France or Greece—wherever we are, when I’m with you, I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
Then she kissed him with an intensity that took his breath away and made him the happiest man alive.
He couldn’t wait to begin the rest of their journey, the rest of their lives together. The way they were always meant to be.
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