The Mistaken Escort's Pleasure: A Liaison Novel (22 page)

Lucian had thrown together their wedding in ten days, insisting that he had everything taken care of when she had offered to help.
 
They had spent all of their time at her apartment several miles from his penthouse, but this place afforded them the privacy they needed for a lavish wedding.

She tore her gaze from the dress and walked to the window, gazing upon the lights of the tall buildings that sparkled, a beautiful backdrop to the most important day of her life.

They had chosen to be married on the last day of the year that they’d met.
 
It had been Lucian’s idea and she loved how sentimental he was, and as long as they were married, she didn’t care when or where.
 
He loved her, and told her so as many times as he kissed her, and she repeated the words, enjoying being open with him about her true feelings.

A knock on the door pulled her out of her musings.
 
She turned to see Rebecca and Nina’s smiling faces.
 
They were both wearing lovely Grecian-style lilac dresses that matched the embroidery on her dress, and tears welled in her eyes.

“You both look beautiful.”

Rebecca hugged her first.
 
The glow from having two wonderful babies made her practically radiate happiness.
 
The new mother rubbed her back, a reassuring gesture that made her smile.
 
When she pulled back, Rebecca stepped back, and soon Nina had pulled her close, her eyes misty with tears.

“You make an exquisite bride,” Nina whispered.

“Wait until Lucian sees you,” Rebecca said.

“Thank you both for being a part of our wedding.
 
How are the babies?” she asked.

“Spoiled rotten.
 
My parents have them and refuse to let them out of their sights.”

All three laughed.
 
As she took in the scene in front of her, she realized how much her life had changed since she’d met Lucian.
 
His parents had been so welcoming, embracing her as if she were their own, that she felt comfortable with them from the beginning.
 
They flew down as soon as Lucian called them and told them about the wedding.
 
Unbeknownst to her, Lucian had told his parents all about her when they’d first met, and what Lucian left out, Rebecca filled in.
 
His parents loved to laugh and wanted their children to be happy, and were ecstatic to celebrate their wedding.
 
Ellie was accepted, and to her, it made their wedding day even more extraordinary.

She turned to Nina.
 
“You and Ben?”

Nina smiled and flashed her left hand.
 
The ring that Ben had picked out was beautiful, and Ellie pulled her friend in close to hug her.

“That’s wonderful.
 
I’m so happy for you two.”

Another knock on the door interrupted their small celebration, and when it opened, Ellie froze in place.
 
“Mom?”

Her mother hesitated near the door for a moment before she walked into the room, her head held high.
 
She was dressed in a pearl-colored pant suit, and Ellie thought she looked radiant, but still standoffish.
 
As her mother glanced at her in her dress, the corner of her mouth lifted a bit and she wrapped an arm around her waist, giving her a squeeze of affection.
 
She was shocked that her parents had made it to her wedding.

Her mom pulled away before she met her gaze.
 
“Congratulations.”

“Thank you for coming,” Ellie said.

“Lucian invited us,” was her mother’s explanation.

Ellie nodded, unable to form any words.
 
She refused to let this ruin her wedding to Lucian.
 
When another knock brought her head up, she watched as Gabriel walked into the bedroom and she sighed in relief.
 
She smiled when he glanced at his wife before his eyes found Ellie’s.

“Lucian’s getting impatient for the wedding to begin.
 
Are we ready?” he asked.

All four women nodded, and Ellie’s mother walked out of the room with another shy smile.
 
Nina and Rebecca hugged her before they headed downstairs.
 
She glanced at Gabriel, who hadn’t left with his wife.

“Aren’t you going downstairs?”

He shook his head and walked toward her.
 
“I thought I would walk you down the aisle, if you don’t mind.”

She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.
 
It was the first time she hugged him first, and by his deep laugh, he thought it was wonderful.
 
When she pulled back, she gave him a watery smile.

“I would be honored if you walked me down the aisle.”

“You sure you don’t want your father—”

“No, you,” she insisted.

He nodded and held out his arm for her.
 
He walked them to the top of the staircase and when the wedding march started, he clasped his other hand on top of hers and they descended the stairs.

The nerves in her stomach disappeared as soon as her eyes found Lucian, standing near the window, the New York skyline as a backdrop to their wedding.
 
The smile that he gave her made her heart lurch in her chest, and she wished time forward so that she could be his.

As Gabriel walked her closer to Lucian, everything else faded away.

Gabriel placed her hand in Lucian’s and squeezed both of their arms before he released them.
 
She took the time to offer him a small smile and a thank-you.
 
He kissed her cheek, and took a seat next to his radiant wife.

Lucian walked her closer to the minister, his eyes never leaving hers.
 
When the minister cleared his throat, Lucian spoke.
 
“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The ceremony began, and despite her fear of being the center of attention, she managed to say the right words when she was asked a question.
 
But it wasn’t until they were pronounced man and wife that the fog that surrounded her once she spotted Lucian in his tux faded.
 
A cheer rang through the room, and when Lucian cupped her face, she smiled at the happiness that radiated from him.

“Finally, you’re mine,” he whispered.

“I think I’ve always been yours,” she said truthfully.

His kiss took her breath away, and when they faced their friends and family, she knew that she found the one place where she belonged.

The rest of the night was a whirlwind of hugs and congratulations, and they topped off the night with a countdown to the New Year.
 
It was the best day of her life, and she was thrilled that she was married to Lucian.

As the last guest left, they shut the door to quiet, and she took a minute to savor the moment.
 
Closing her eyes, and listening to the silence of the room, and an occasional muted firework explosion as people continued their celebrations, she smiled.
 
I’m now Lucian’s wife
.

He brushed a kiss across her lips, and she sighed as she reached her arms up, around his shoulders.

“Thank you for today.
 
It was perfect,” she whispered.

“It was for purely selfish reasons.
 
I couldn’t wait for you to be my wife.”

Without a word, he lifted her in his arms and dashed up to the same bedroom where she had dressed for the wedding.
 
When she met his eyes, the desire in them took her breath away.
 
She stood, shaking with need for him, as he unzipped the lovely wedding dress.
 
She removed the delicate material that wrapped around her like a second skin and stood before him in white sheer panties and bra decorated with delicate embroidery, and shivered when heat flared in his eyes.

“You look very handsome in your tux, husband of mine,” she whispered.

He ripped off the tie, unbuttoned his jacket and dropped them both at his feet.

She watched as his hands untucked his shirt, before he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside.

He closed the distance between them and captured her mouth in a scorching kiss that left her breathless.
 
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and he tilted her head.
 
He delved in deeper, tasting her.
 
She captured his groan in her mouth when he slid his hands against the lace that covered her.
 
He pulled his mouth away from hers and he buried his face against her neck, inhaling deeply.

“Mine.
 
My wife.
 
God, I love how that sounds.
 
I love you, so much,” he growled.

She smiled.
 
“I love you, too.
 
Thank you for everything.
 
The day, flying my parents in, and arranging for Gabriel to walk me down the aisle.
 
But most of all, thank you for marrying me.”

He lifted his head and his heated eyes captured hers, and she couldn’t look away if she tried.
 
“It was my pleasure.
 
I’ll do anything for you, as long as it makes you happy.”

“You make me happy.”

A loud growl rumbled from his chest at her words, and when his mouth met hers, his hands were jerky as he removed the rest of their clothing.
 
He pulled back as his gaze wandered over her body, and he took a moment to appreciate her skimpy underthings before he unhooked her bra.
 
He brushed delicate kisses around her already sensitive breasts, giving both equal attention, and when she breathed his name in reverence, his hands traveled down and tugged, ripping the panties off her body.
 
His fingers teased her with light touches around her hips; he brushed against her core, sending a shudder of need throughout her body.
 
Everywhere he touched, her nerve endings flared to life.

“So beautiful, my wife.”

He removed the rest of his clothing, and her eyes wandered over his sculpted chest.
 
When she locked on his thick erection, she leaned toward him and licked the drop of liquid that had tantalized her.
 
She scooted her body closer, and as her hand squeezed around the base of his cock, she sucked him into her mouth, moaning at his taste.
 
To her, it felt as though he was growing larger in her mouth, and when a growl burst from deep in his chest, she sucked harder, needed his pleasure.
 
She clamped her legs together, moaning as the pleasure from her core shot through her entire body.

He slid his hand into her hair, and when she pulled out to tease the tip of his cock, he removed himself and tucked his hand under her chin, lifting her head so he could catch her gaze.

“Lucian,” she moaned.

He shook his head and captured her mouth in a kiss that made her melt against him.
 
Without removing his mouth, he slid one arm underneath her ass and moved her up the bed, laying her down before he broke the kiss.

“Please,” she begged.

His eyes flared with desire, and when he pressed down on her hip to keep her from moving, she gasped as she felt the head of his cock enter her.
 
He continued to torment her by entering her, inch by inch.

The love in his eyes took her breath away.

She relaxed her body but kept her arms and legs wrapped around him.
 
His mouth lowered to hers and kissed her with such exquisite tenderness that it brought tears to her eyes.
 
He chose that moment to plunge deep inside her, and he swallowed her gasp of pleasure as she felt him deep inside of her.

Each thrust was methodical, drawing out every pleasurable sensation.
 
His hands wandered over her breasts, down her sides, and lodged underneath her hips.
 
Sighs and gasps poured out of her throat, and she gripped him close, never wanting to let him go.
 
He seemed to understand the desperation clawing at her, because his next kiss was merely a brush against her lips, before he caught her gaze.

“I will never leave you, love.
 
You were mine from the first moment we met.”

“I love you, so much.”
 
Her voice broke as she tried to explain.

“As I love you,” he moaned.
 

He kissed her and at that moment, her body tensed with a release so powerful, all she could do was cling to him and ride out the pleasure he pulled from her body.
 
She whispered his name, over and over, until his hoarse shout echoed throughout the room.
 
His release triggered another, smaller orgasm in her body, and she held on tight as he left her breathless.

It was several moments before she realized he had rolled to her side and held her close, her head cradled on his chest.
 
She absently traced patterns on his chest, loving his low growl that erupted whenever she brushed over his sensitive skin.
 
She smiled into his side.

“I never imagined I could be this happy.
 
I’m so glad that you never gave up on me.”

He nibbled on her lips.
 
“You make me happy, love, and I knew it from the moment I saw you.”

“I think I’m going to love being Mrs. Ellie Cole,” she whispered and yawned.

He growled and pulled her closer.
 
“I already love it.
 
Sleep, love.”

She closed her eyes, and couldn’t help the smile that remained on her face as she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
 

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lucian heard Ellie’s voice as soon as he opened the door, his body always aware whenever he was close to her, tensed with a need.

Earlier that day, he’d headed to the office for an emergency, and finished up in the early afternoon.
 
He hated to leave her, more so on their first anniversary, but she insisted.
 
He knew that with her new graphic design business, and the steady stream of requests for her paintings and drawings, she had been busy this year, but she always took time for him.
 
She understood when something had come up at work, and when they were close to a software rollout, that he had to put out the fire.