Nothing to see here. Just a married couple making out like a bunch of teens who have discovered their naughty parts for the first time.
Alice was drunk, but it had nothing to do with the delicious wine Cooper had chosen for their meals. It was because, after enjoying their wedding cake, Cooper pulled out his phone, connected it to a small speaker, and stood.
“Dance with me, wife.” His eyes sparkled as brightly as his smile.
“How can I refuse such a kind invitation, husband.”
They began to dance slowly, letting the music carry their bodies. It didn’t take long for their close dancing to become a bit more erotic. Pressed together as they were, Alice couldn’t help but notice that Cooper was still erect.
She was just as keyed up as him. Her skin was flushed, and her womanly parts reminded her that she hadn’t been touched insolong.Verylong. Probably as long as Cooper’s manhood, judging by what was pressed into her.
“This was such a nice evening, Cooper. Thank you.”
He smiled down at her. “You’re welcome, love. I had to do something to show you that this isn’t just a convenience for me. It’s not just because you saved my life.”
“You’re very kind. Things could’ve been terrible for me without you.”
He grinned. “Well, now you know that I won’t let anything happen to you. Any assassin has to get through me, and you know that I’m hard to kill. Oh, and I have this amazing witch for a wife, and she can pretty much bring me back from the dead.”
She giggled and pressed her cheek against her chest. His heart was beating impossibly fast, and he smelled like her own version of heaven. Smoke and sandalwood. There was a hint of something else, but she didn’t know what it was. She only assumed that it was something that was uniquely Cooper’s. Something that she could only enjoy if she was his wife.
“Maybe you could come back to my room,” she blurted, shocking them both equally.
Alice’s words resonated through the entire ballroom, but Cooper didn’t stop swaying them to the music. The only signs that he heard her were his darkening eyes as he leaned into her. He pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Alice.”
She shook her head. “I know. I want to invite you back to my room. We can keep dancing without an audience.”And maybe keep kissing. And maybe kissing can lead to more. And maybe I’ll find out if my husband fucks as well as he kisses.But, of course, she didn’t want to be fucked, and she really didn’t think that’s how Cooper would treat her.
She was certain that she would be treated gently…even lovingly. Cooper Dawson was not the kind of man who married a woman to save her life only to mistreat her. She was sure of that. She had been sure before this night, but now? After Cooper’s lovely evening plans, Alice knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was married to a good man.
“What audience?” Cooper asked.
Alice pointed over his shoulder where the two imps, Ocho and Thrice, were watching them with wide, bulging eyes. Portia and Lou were also there, gawking at them with gleeful smiles. The pair of mischievous resort workers exchanged a high-five.
“Well, I was way too into our little world to notice that we were being watched. Let’s go to your room,” he acquiesced, taking her hand in his. “If we’re quick enough, we won’t even have to tip the imps at the elevators.”
“Oh, before you too go off to do whatever it is newlyweds do,” Portia’s eyes were shining orbs of mischief as she spoke from across the ballroom. “I should let you in on a little problem with our solution. You two might be married, and you might have the Dawson last name now, but I don’t know how protected you can be if you’re not truly mated …”
“We know,” Alice said.
“We’ll discuss it together and find an appropriate solution,” Cooper said, leading Alice away. “Together. As husband and wife.”
The two matchmakers high-fived in victory, but the newlyweds didn’t notice. They walked away, hand in hand. “We’re a team now,” Cooper said. He squeezed her hand in his, but it was once they were in the elevator that he kissed her softly, truly showing her how he felt.
ELEVEN
ALICE
Alice looked around her hotel suite, trying to see it through Cooper’s eyes. The space was pretty big and devoid of many signs of life. Her luggage was compact and meager. It wasn’t like she had a lot, to begin with, given that she had spent her life on the run. At least she had kept the space clean. The only sign that she was a witch was her book of spells spread open on the kitchenette table. She quickly closed it before Cooper could see that she was researching defensive magic. It would probably hurt his dragon and husband's pride.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m shocked that Portia hasn’t brought my luggage in here,” Cooper laughed.
“Honestly? I thought the same. How can we sell the lie if we’re not sharing a room?”
“Is that an offer to share this room?” Cooper took a step closer to her. “I could take the couch.”
Alice’s breath caught. “I don’t know if it was an offer,” she whispered. “Cooper, I …” She took a deep breath.