“Then by the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The judge beamed between them. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Stavros’s dark, hooded eyes held the red spark of desire as he took her in his arms. As he lowered his lips to hers, her breasts felt heavy, her nipples taut beneath the sweetheart neckline of the silk wedding dress. Tension coiled low and deep in her belly.
For days, he’d been teasing her with butterfly kisses and little touches. Now, his kiss made her forget all her doubts and regrets. It made her forget her own name.
Then she remembered: her name had changed. From this moment forward, she was Mrs. Holly Minos.
She watched the judge sign the marriage license, followed by Nicole and Oliver, as witnesses. She saw Nicole look at her husband nervously, with pleading in her eyes. Oliver gave his wife a warm smile, put his arm around her and kissed her forehead. Nicole looked as if she was about to cry with relief.
Holly exhaled. Her sister must have been wrong. Oliver couldn’t be cheating on her, not if he kissed her like that. Everything would be fine...
?
?Congratulations, you two,” the judge said, smiling at Holly and Stavros. “Now I’ll leave you—” he winked “—to your private celebrations.”
Holly’s eyes went wide. Private celebrations. She looked up at the handsome, powerful man beside her. Her husband.
She’d only had one lover her whole life, and for only one night. She’d never forgotten the way Stavros had made her feel so alive, or the ecstasy of his touch. The night she’d spent with him last Christmas Eve had been the most magical of her life, before it had all come crashing down the next morning.
But there would be no more rejection. They were married now. For better, for worse. For the rest of their lives...
“We’ll head downstairs,” Eleni said happily, holding Freddie, who looked very sleepy in his baby tuxedo. Stavros had hired Eleni as their highly paid part-time housekeeper. Holly wasn’t sure it was necessary, but how could she object to Stavros giving a job to the woman who’d taken care of him in childhood?
Besides, she liked and trusted Eleni, and was grateful the other woman would be watching Freddie tonight in her new suite downstairs, giving them privacy for their wedding night.
Holly shivered. Their wedding night.
“We’ll go now, too,” Nicole said, leaning back against her husband, who cuddled her close.
“Talk later?” Holly said to her anxiously, thinking of their earlier discussion. Her little sister smiled.
“Stop worrying,” she said cheerfully, patting her on the shoulder. “You need to be more selfish. You’re a bride.”
And everyone left at once. For the first time since Freddie had been born, Holly was alone.
Alone with her husband...
“Mrs. Minos,” Stavros murmured. He slowly looked her over, making her shiver inside. Then, without a word, he lifted her up in his arms, against his chest. He looked down at her. “I’ve waited a long time for this night.”
“Days,” she sighed, thinking of the anticipation she’d felt since they’d left Greece.
Stavros looked at her seriously. “A year.”
He carried her down the penthouse hall, then set her down gently beside the same enormous bed where, last Christmas Eve, they’d conceived their son. She glanced down at it, thinking how much had changed since then.
They had a future. They were a family.
Gently, he pulled off the headband of white silk flowers that held her long veil in place. He dropped it on the nightstand.
The gas fire caused flickers of white light to move against the dark shadows of his face. The room was black, gray and white. The Christmas tree lights. Through the windows, New York City at night.
Taking off his tuxedo jacket, he dropped it silently to the floor, along with his black tie. He unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt. Never taking his gaze off hers, he reached his powerful arms around her and unzipped her strapless wedding gown. It slid down her body to the floor, revealing her white bustier bra, tiny white lace panties and white garter.
She heard the low shudder of his breath, felt the tremble of his hands as he stepped back to look at her.
“You’re magnificent,” he whispered.
The heat in his gaze melted her. All she could think about was that she wanted to make him hers. Forever.