“It doesn’t suck, baby. It meant a lot to me and brought tears to my eyes.”
“Oh yeah, sure,” he said. “You and all the angels in heaven.” He chuckled and rolled his eyes toward the weeping angels above them. They were probably weeping because it had been so ridiculous and stupid.
“My turn,” she said and squirmed sideways. “But I want to look at you when I say mine.”
He gave her just enough space to turn around before drawing her against him again, belly to belly. He was surprised to see she really was teary eyed. So many females in his past had used tears to try to get him to respond or react in a certain way, so usually tears didn’t affect him. But these tears—even though they hadn’t left her jade-green eyes—had his heart clenching in his chest. Or maybe it was the look of utter adoration in her eyes. His Jess was really his now. He stole a kiss—unable to help himself—and then stared into her eyes as she spoke her heart to him.
“We will share many perfect and happy moments in our lives together, Sed. Unfortunately, we will also share heartaches and tragedies. For all the good times and the bad, as well as everything between, I promise to be by your side and ever in your corner—to support you and defend you. You are my greatest champion and my most difficult challenge, which is why, no matter what life throws at us, I know we’ll make it through. Our love will be stronger for our efforts. It’s a true and lasting love. One that cannot be denied or destroyed. It’s forever, Sed.”
She took his hand and rubbed the wedding band she’d already placed there, reminding him that these were her vows to him. “Today I take you as my partner in life and in love. I trust in you and in us. Separately, each of us is strong, but together, there is nothing we can’t overcome. I promise to cherish each moment with you, my husband, and occasionally let you get your way.”
She winked at him, and he laughed. He hugged her against his chest, his hand cupping the back of her head to hold her as close to his achingly full heart as possible.
“Well no angels are weeping over my spiel,” she murmured, snuggling even closer.
He blinked the moisture from his eyes and kissed her hair. “No angels,” he said in gruff voice, “but maybe one sinner.”
“I’m not going to look,” she said to his chest. “Or I’ll be a blubbering mess.”
He gazed out over the countryside as he held her close. The sun was beginning to set on the distant horizon, and as much as he loved embracing her, he couldn’t rob her of such a beautiful sight.
“I think you should watch our first sunset as husband and wife,” he whispered.
She lifted her face from his chest and turned her head. Brilliant pinks and streaks of orange decorated the few residual clouds in the sky.
“Breathtaking,” she said, turning in his arms to face outward once again.
He stepped close behind her and cradled her lower belly in both hands. Resting his cheek against her hair, he closed his eyes and treasured the feel of her in his arms. He was definitely breathless. No sunset did that to him. But she did. “That’s what he said,” he murmured.
“I think you should grab your trench coat,” she said. “Put it on now. You must be chilled.”
Sed stiffened as he recognized what her suggestion meant; she wanted him to make love to her right here, right now. With nothing but a long leather duster to shield them from prying eyes. The pilot had assured him that he’d give them their privacy, but the basket was relatively small. There was little privacy to be had.
“You sure?” he asked, remembering a time when their lust for public displays of affection had nearly destroyed her happiness and her career.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m sure.”
He retrieved the trench coat from the floor of the basket and slipped his arms into the sleeves. It draped him all the way to the ground and was a few sizes too large on purpose. He wrapped his arms around her, completely enveloping her with his body and the cover of the heavy leather. She took the free edges of the coat in her hands so the sides would cover most of her and leave his hands free to do as he would. He’d touch her, he decided, and give her release, but he wouldn’t risk penetrating her. Not here. He could wait.
He cupped her firm breast with one hand, massaging gently. She shuddered against him. Recently her breasts had become incredibly sensitive. He touched her far more carefully than he would have liked, but knew she couldn’t handle rough treatment since he’d gotten her pregnant.
“Sed,” she said breathlessly, “touch my bare skin.”
He slipped the straps of her dress and bra down over one shoulder and lowered the fabric so that the top half of her breast was exposed. Arm crossing her body, his fingers delved beneath the cup of her bra to stroke her stiff nipple.
“Oh,” she gasped.
While he had her distracted with pleasure, his other hand moved to her thigh and slowly slid the skirt of her dress upward. Her bare flank quivered beneath his feather-light touch. He glanced quickly over his shoulder to find Gary paying them absolutely no mind as he watched the scenery and controlled the balloon’s flight.
Sed slid his fingers beneath the elastic at the leg of Jessica’s panties, rubbing his fingertips against her skin from her hipbone to one soft, swollen lip. Her body jerked in response, thrusting her breast into his hand and pressing her ass against his burgeoning erection. Yeah, he could wait about five minutes before penetrating her, he decided. She did bring out the beast in him.
“Please, Sed,” she whispered breathlessly. “Take them off.”