The Sweetest Thing (24 page)

Troy had turned to face them and he locked gazes with the young woman. Her eyes smiled a second time.

The woman had the most stunning gaze. Her eyes were wide, sitting against a pale caramel canvas. The color was a light hazel with a hint of green and they shimmered beneath the streetlights that had just come on outside the businesses that lined Beale Street. He didn’t realize he was staring until the nervous sister called out the woman’s name.

“We have to go!” the young woman whined.

Troy shifted his stare from one to the other. “Will you ladies be okay by yourself?” he questioned.

The older sister nodded. “We will. Thank you,” she said as they turned to go back in the direction they’d come from.

As they reached the corner, he suddenly called after them. “Please come back,” he called. “We’ll be open again tomorrow.”

The woman lifted her hand in an easy wave, then turned, her sister pulling her along. Troy watched until both had disappeared from sight. He smiled, nodded his head, and lifted his eyes to the sun setting in the distance. He whispered a quick prayer skyward, then headed back into the bakery. Inside, the band was blowing a joyful noise and Troy jumped onto the dance floor, sliding and gliding with his family.

 

 

Quentin had rented a luxury suite at The Peabody Memphis for their wedding night. The legendary hotel, renowned for its elegant décor and charming ambiance, was the perfect getaway to start their life as a married couple. Its close proximity to Beale Street and the bakery allowed them the feel of a getaway all the while enabling them to get back to business quickly. It had been Harper’s idea since the wall between the bakery and building next door was scheduled to be demolished the following morning and renovation to their new business spaces would begin.

They’d left their wedding reception early, kissing their family and friends good-bye just in time to see the Peabody ducks take their early evening stroll across the red carpet. Harper was still giddy with excitement, the entire day having fulfilled every one of her little-girl dreams. She’d had the perfect engagement, the perfect wedding, the perfect celebration, and had married the most perfect man.

She’d asked for a fire in the fireplace and one burned nicely, the glow of it dimly lighting the room. Soft blues playing from the surround stereo in the living space and the soothing crackle of the firewood were the only sounds that reverberated through the suite.

Harper felt just a little giddy from the little bit of champagne she’d drunk, her whole body warm and toasty. Quentin eyed her as she lay across the sofa, her legs propped high. Her bare feet peeked beneath the hem of her gown and as she sprawled comfortably against the cushions he thought she was absolutely ravishing. Her wedding gown revealed enough to excite every one of his senses but left much to the imagination.

The intensity of the look he was giving her was melting and Harper felt like her whole body was shifting to putty. They locked gazes as he entered the room and she felt her breath catch in her chest. Heat wafted from the center of her core and Harper imagined that every day with a man that beautiful was going to be a very good day.

Moving to her side, Quentin extended his hand and pulled her into his arms. Harper felt herself disappearing into his beautiful eyes, his stare so deep she couldn’t help but get lost. There was nothing but love for her in the gaze he was giving her, the depth of it running shivers deep through her soul. Wrapping his arms around her he let his hands lightly trail the line of her body, drawing his fingers across her buttocks, up her back to the curvature of her neck.

Quentin gently caressed her face, trailing his finger across her profile, his gaze still locked with hers, and then he leaned forward and kissed her softly, taking her breath away. Harper gasped, savoring the softness of his mouth on her mouth. As he probed the line of her teeth with his tongue she parted her lips ever so slightly and allowed him in. The kiss slowly intensified and Quentin trailed his lips and tongue to kiss her neck. As her head fell back he caressed her throat with his mouth, his touch so soft and sensuous that Harper felt as if the lightest feathers were tickling her skin.

He kissed her collarbone and each shoulder, caressing her until her whole body tingled. As he held her close to him his hands slowly released each button down her back, the gown beginning to fall open. When the back was finally open Quentin eased her dress off her shoulders, allowing it to fall off her arms and drop to the floor. He gently touched her, caressing each breast. He lowered his head to lap at one nipple and then the other, kneading the tissue as gently as he kneaded the phyllo dough for his favorite baklava pastry.

Harper gasped as Quentin swept her into his arms. Her mouth locked with his as he took her into the oversize bathroom. He set her gently back onto her feet as he turned off the faucet he’d left running, the spa tub filled with warm water and bubbles.

“I drew a bath for us,” Quentin whispered as he helped her step out of her panties. His fingers gently tickled her delicate folds and Harper felt her knees quiver, threatening to send her to the floor. Her body fell against his for support and he let her lean on him as his hands danced across her curves.

Harper held his hand as he helped her into the tub. Her nipples had hardened and Quentin drew his hand through the water, palming the wetness over one and then the other. Harper smiled, the sensations teasing. Her breathing was becoming labored and he kissed her again, still dressed in his tux as he rested on the edge of the porcelain pool.

Harper pulled at his jacket and shirt, her damp hands undoing the buttons. Quentin smiled and stood up, slipping out of his clothes. His skin was flushed from the heat in the room and every muscle had hardened with wanting. She smiled, love and desire painting her expression as he stepped into the warm water with her. As he sat down, Harper eased between his legs, leaning back against his hardness. The water lapped over her breastline.

Wrapping his arms around her, Quentin lay back, savoring the sensation of their two bodies pressed together, heat from the water and from their rising desire surrounding them. He held her, both of them occasionally drawing handfuls of water over each other’s torso and limbs.

“How do you feel?” Quentin asked.

Harper smiled as she snuggled against him. “I feel amazing. I didn’t think it was possible to be as happy as I am this very moment.”

He nodded his head. “I know the feeling,” he said as he planted a kiss against her hair.

“Was it worth the wait?” Harper questioned.

Quentin chuckled. “I think our waiting made everyone else comfortable. I think you and I knew from the beginning.”

She nodded. “I know I did.”

Quentin tightened the embrace he had around her torso. “I love you. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

Harper wrapped her arms around his. “I love you more,” she answered.

As Harper drifted into the soft lull of her new husband’s breathing she couldn’t imagine a more perfect ending.

Don’t miss the next book in the
Just Desserts series . . .

 

 

Available in August 2014!