Chapter 234

Russo’s POV

Now that my nerves were under control and the ceremony over, I let myself get swept away in the fun of the wedding reception. While I might have chosen more comfortable clothing for a party than the tuxedo, I wasn’t going to complain.

For the first time in forever, we could cut loose and enjoy. The threat of the Huntsman was over, the only lingering reminders were pieces that could be dealt with, and some were already on their way to resolution, like the little fae growing in my bride’s belly.

I’d never seen a woman sexier than Lisa looked today. It wasn’t simply the wedding dress, though it did make her look enchanted. But she loved me, and I loved her. She was bonding herself to me despite my flaws. And she was pregnant with my child, the continuation of my kind.

Several times during the reception, I had the urge to pull her aside for a quickie, but she would have said no. She decided almost a month before the wedding to cut me off in the bedroom. She claimed the wedding night would be more special if we hadn’t had sex in a while.

We were going to be spending our wedding night in the guest rooms of the mansion. Justin kept them for important visitors. Our flight left the next day for Saint Maarten in the Caribbean. We’d take a week to relax and enjoy ourselves on sandy beaches.

By the time we finished the reception, I was glad we weren’t trying to leave tonight. Enough champagne sloshed in my stomach that my body buzzed pleasantly, and dark had taken over the garden. I knew as soon as I had quiet, sleep would be enticing.

Just one thing remained for us to do.

Lisa and I waved goodnight to our friends and headed down the hallway toward our accommodations. When we reached the bedroom, I registered how nice they were. I’d never been down in this part of the mansion before.

Despite Justin and Randy being my best friends in the True Mate’s pack, I didn’t have a job in the administration like they did. So, I rarely found myself in the mansion.

Our room was the size of a large hotel room and just as nicely appointed, with more of a home-like feel to it than a normal hotel. But that was all I took the time to pay attention to the space because what called to me was the plush king-size bed covered with a downy comforter and pillows.

Once Lisa was inside, I shut the door after hanging the do not disturb sign on the outside. Not that I thought anybody would disturb us. After all, nearly everybody in the building knew we were there and that it was our wedding night.

Everybody at the mansion today was either a guest or security. And while the guests would be leaving, the security would be left behind, and they would know what was going on. In some ways, the presence of security made the night even more enjoyable for me because I didn’t have to worry about anything. Since the security headquarters were here, nothing was going to happen tonight, at least not that I didn’t make happen.

I crossed the room to Lisa, hooking a hand around her waist and pulling her to my chest. I kissed her forehead and then between her eyes, and then the tip of her nose.

“Are you happy to be Mrs. Russo? Mated to and mother to a fae?”

She tipped her face up, giggling, and pecked a kiss on the tip of my chin. “It feels strange to be a married woman. It’ll take some getting used to. But, as for being with you and getting ready to be a mother, I couldn’t be happier.”

I ran my hand across the silky fabric of her wedding dress to cup her breast. “I think I could make you happier,” I said.

She sighed and leaned into me. “You have no idea how bad I’ve wanted you. When I suggested that we not do anything with each other, I thought it would be easy.”

“I think I have an idea how bad you want me.” I pressed my hips to hers so that my stiff erection would be obvious against her hip.

She sighed again, wiggling her hips against the stiffness.

“So, how do I get this wedding dress off of you?” I asked.

“The back buttons.”

I turned her around only to want to scream at the row of buttons down her back. What the hell was this? Some sort of modern-day chastity belt?

“Never mind.” I spun her back and grabbed the length of her skirt, pulling it up and over her hips. Then I slid my hand between her legs, my fingers finding their way into her already wet slit.

She pressed her lips to mine, kissing me through a moan before pushing me back by the chest. “No. I am not having sex for the first time in a month around all of this fabric, rushing. This is our wedding night, not a quickie. We’re going to do this right.”

Lisa turned around, presenting the row of buttons to me again. “You’re just going to have to do this. Think of tackling the buttons as anticipation, like foreplay.”

“Usually, foreplay is more enjoyable than undoing buttons,” I grumbled, starting on the row.

Not that I wanted to admit it, but each inch of skin that showed itself as the buttons came undone just made me want her more. Maybe those guys back in the day who were turned on by the sight of an ankle or a wrist weren’t quite as crazy as I used to think when I read stories about history. After not having seen any of her exposed skin for a month, the idea that I could see a little and that we were going to have sex soon sent me throbbing against the confines of my pants.

I let my fingers brush against her skin as I undid the buttons, working my way down the row. Once I reached the ones over the widest spot on her hips, I ignored the rest and shoved her dress down to the floor around her waist.

“There. You’re out.”

Without waiting for her to undress me, I tugged my tuxedo jacket off and yanked the tie free. By the time I started unfastening the cummerbund, she was already at work on the buttons of my shirt. It felt good to get the top layers off, not just for the idea that we were going to have sex, but to let my wings free.

Fae could fold their wings against their back into a fairly narrow line, much like a moth in hiding. But that didn’t mean I enjoyed having them pinned under a shirt and jacket like this. But the tux was a rental, and I wasn’t going to cut holes in it the way that I would make custom slits in a garment of my own.

The minute my shirt left my shoulders and hit the floor, my wings popped free, stretching themselves out. I let out a sigh of relief.

She giggled and pointed. “Looks like everything is sprung to attention already. Do you have anything else you’d like to add?”

I shoved my pants down from my waist, letting my erection spring free, as well. “There, everything at attention and at your service,” I said, lacing my words with rabid expectation.