AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He slipped the keycard inside and then stepped into the room, a penthouse that had a living room with a dining table, a separate bedroom, and an enormous balcony that overlooked the private gardens of the hotel.
I could hardly breathe. My palms were covered with streaks of sweat, but my arms were pebbled with bumps from the chill. This was the moment I should be excited for, but the nerves were too much.
Axel immediately stripped off his jacket and tossed it over the armrest of the nearest couch. Then he yanked his tie free, looking out the window to the balcony as he pulled on the silk. He dropped the tie on the jacket and kept going, unbuttoning his crisp white shirt until it opened across his chest. He yanked that off too, showing his muscled back and the bulging triceps at the backs of his arms. “I hate wearing suits.” He left his slacks on, low on his hips, and turned back toward me.
My eyes immediately flicked away so it wouldn’t be obvious that I had stared at his perfect body with appreciation. I’d slept with him before so this shouldn’t be hard, but now it felt different. He was my husband, but it felt rushed. I didn’t expect to get a say in the matter.
He walked to the dresser and grabbed a leather-bound book before he moved to the dining table. “Sit down.” He pulled out the chair for me at the head of the table.
I hesitated as I stared at the chair. “Why?”
“All you’ve eaten today is that scone. Come on, let’s order something.”
I’d expected him to rip off my wedding dress and throw me on the bed.
His hand rested on the back of the chair as he studied me. “We can consummate the marriage another night.”
My eyes lifted to his in surprise. “I assumed that’s what you wanted?—”
“I do want it, but it’s very clear that you don’t.” There was no anger or disapproval in his words. “That’s not how I want our first time to be, out of obligation. So, let’s have dinner. Change out of your dress.”
I’d been wearing the gown all night, and it was heavy and restrictive.
He took a seat in the other chair then opened the menu, shirtless in just his slacks, the sexiest guy I’d ever seen.
But I just couldn’t…not right now.
I stepped into the bedroom and shut the door before I began the painstaking task of popping all the buttons and getting out of the dress that weighed at least ten pounds. I finally got free and hung it up on the hanger, leaving it in the closet, unsure where else to put something so large.
I opened my suitcase that had been delivered and pulled out my pajamas, dark blue silk pants with a white t-shirt. I left my bra on so he wouldn’t have to see my nipples through the thin fabric. When I returned to the other room, he was where I’d left him, flipping through the pages of the in-room dining menu.
I returned to the seat at the head of the table, and he slid the menu toward me.
Now that the pressure was off, my appetite roared to life. All I’d had was that single scone all day, and I hadn’t eaten the day before either. How I didn’t feel like I was going to pass out was a mystery to me. “What are you getting?”
“You really have to guess?” A charming smile moved to his lips. “Pizza.”
I gave a slight nod before I looked at the menu again. “Of course.” The memories that once brought me joy now brought me sadness.
“What about you?”
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was until now.”
His gaze was hot on my face. “Because you’ve been stressed all day.”
I closed the menu. “I’m ready.”
He pulled out his phone and opened the app. He handed me the phone so I could put in my order, and when I was done, I handed it back. He added his items then grinned. “So, you did get the pizza.”
“It sounded good.”
He continued to smile. “And fries…and a milkshake…excellent choices.” He finished the order then set his phone aside. He relaxed further in the chair then crossed his leg, resting his ankle on the opposite knee.
We remained there in silence, at midnight, sitting together at the dining table instead of rolling around in the sheets.
He continued to stare at me, his blue eyes soft, taking in my features like I was a painting rather than a person.
It was hard to believe we were husband and wife, legally and spiritually bound. This was the man who’d broken my heart into so many pieces that I was certain it would never fully heal. He was the man I’d fallen for almost instantly, but I was too scared to admit that, especially to myself.
