“This is cozy. Thrice, give me the camera, will you? I think my skills, not to mention myheight, will make these pictures a bit better.”
The imp immediately obeyed his mistress, relinquishing the camera before scampering away. Portia began to snap away pictures of the cake and them, giving the couple instructions. They stood and cut the cake.
“Now feed him a piece, Alice,” Portia called out.
“What? No,” Alice gasped.
Portia chuckled. “Don’t be a prude. This is a classic picture, not to mention … I am going to need one of you two kissing.”
Cooper and Alice glanced at each other, and he threw his hands up, shaking his head. “We’ll only kiss if you want to, Alice. I swear. I know I kissed you without permission at our wedding yesterday, but I won’t do it again unless you’re okay with it.”
How was she supposed to tell her husband that she was totally okay with kissing him? In fact, since their wedding kiss, she had thought of nothing else. The man knew how to kiss, and she had been so surprised by his embrace that she hadn’t been able to fully enjoy it. This time…next time…she would soak it all up and make it last a whole lonely lifetime.
“Alice?” Cooper asked. “You’re very quiet.”
“Let’s just start with the cutting of the cake,” Alice’s voice broke on the words because she was so nervous and excited.
Cooper stood and reached out for her hand. He helped her up, and together, they held the small silver knife to cut through the cake. Portia snapped away on her camera, taking picture after picture, but Alice was soon able to pretend the succubus wasn’t there.
There were more pressing and interesting things happening.
Cooper took a small piece of cake and brought it to Alice’s lips. She tentatively and carefully took the bite from between his fingers.
On a whim…and because shehadto be losing her damn mind…Alice licked the tips of Cooper’s fingers. His breath caught, and his eyes darkened with desire. She was playing with fire. Well, actually, she was playing with a dragon, but there was no real difference there. Both were hot and dangerous in their own way.
“Your turn, love.” His voice was hoarse.
Alice took a tiny square of the cake and offered it to Cooper. His eyes looked deeply into hers, and Alice could barely take the heat she saw burning there. It was desire. It was pure and true desire. For her. For his wife.
He took hold of her wrist, keeping her hand and fingers hovering near his mouth. He leaned down ever so slowly until his lips brushed her fingers. It was her turn to be breathless, but Cooper pushed the boundaries of her sanity when he took the bite from her, letting his tongue twirl around one of her fingers.
The soft, wet touch went straight to her core, and she moaned, pressing her thighs together from need. Alice had never been a very sexual person, but Cooper sure brought it out of her.
It wasn’t simply because the man had more sex appeal and was hotter than any other man in the world. It was more than that. He was sweet and thoughtful, and though he was right…they did need wedding pictures…he didn’t need to be so open with his attentions.
He chose to do it. Why? Because he was also feeling some intense things for her? Because he was starting to develop feelings for his wife? Was that even possible after so short a time?
Cooper twirled his tongue again, and the deepest parts of her quivered, longing for the touch of his tongue elsewhere. It was all too much.
Alice pulled her hand away, threw herself into Cooper’s arms, and placed her arms around his neck to press herself into him. She lifted herself up to her toes and kissed him.
She poured everything she could into the kiss. Her years of loneliness, the hope this marriage gave her, and the new lease on life Cooper offered her because she did the decent thing and saved his life.
Cooper was shocked but only for one second. He soon joined in on the kiss, his mouth moving with hers. His tongue delved into her mouth to explore every inch of her. His hands went down to her hips, where he gripped her, bringing her closer to him.
If Alice had any doubt that her husband was attracted to her, it vanished at that moment. His erection pressed into her, pulling a moan from such a deep place inside of her that Alice didn’t even know she was the one who had moaned.
“Alice,” he whispered against her swollen lips. “You can’t kiss a man like that by surprise. You gotta give me a warning so I can fully appreciate just how delicious you are.” They stared deeply into each other’s eyes, neither one wanting to be the first to move or speak. “Oh, fuck it. I want you, Alice.” He sealed his mouth to hers once again.
When they came up for air a little while later, they were alone, the camera left on the very corner of the table. They burst into peals of laughter before kissing again.
Now,this, Alice thought, was more in line with the wedding day she had hoped for as a little girl. Of course, it would take a man…a dragon…like Cooper Dawson, to make it come true.
“If we’re gonna keep on kissing like this, I want to tell you …” Cooper sobered, but his eyes were still hazy with desire. “I don’t expect anything more.”
“I heard what Lou said,” she met his gaze. “Wonder why they wanted us to marry so urgently? If we had all taken a breath, maybe we would have realized that marriage doesn’t meanmated.”
Cooper was shocked by her boldness. “You don’t mess around. Straight to the truth.”