Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
That was only partly true. “Actually,” he replied, “I’m thinking about you.” There was only one person he could imagine being married to, and she was standing next to him.
He might have said more, but Tim and Florentine were finishing up their first dance out on the beach, whirling together in a way that kicked up a small storm of sand.
“Come on,” Tamara said, grabbing his hands and pulling him out to join in the dancing. “Do you remember what happens when we hit the dance floor?”
How could he forget? This was the same thing she’d done at the launch party, but he didn’t even try to resist this time.
They found a spot among the other guests, and it wouldn’t have mattered what music was playing, because they wrapped their arms around each other and danced a slow dance. Nate could feel every breath Tamara took, and yet, he still wanted to be closer to her.
They pulled back a little and, with their foreheads touching, gazed at each other. All around them, people were laughing, the sea breeze whispered, and the sun shone brightly, but it was as if nothing else existed. The energy changed, and all Nate knew was that one moment they were staring deep into each other’s eyes, and the next they were kissing, as naturally and passionately as the moment demanded. It was as if they would die if they couldn’t embrace. Nate needed the taste of Tamara’s lips. He needed to run his hands through her hair, holding her close while her tongue found his and her hands slid down his back. It was magic.
“Get a room, you two!” his sister called out, joined by a few others. Nate knew they wouldn’t have any more worries about whether or not they looked like a couple.
They broke their kiss and smiled a little sheepishly.
“I think your relatives may have a good idea there,” Tamara whispered in Nate’s ear. “We should get a room.”
Nate grabbed her hand and led her away from the dancers. “We already have one.”
They slipped away from the party, but no one noticed. The families were in full party mode. The ceremony might have been simpler than his family usually went for, but no one was going to skip the opportunity to make the celebration special.
“You don’t think they’ll miss us?” Tamara asked as they entered the beach house.
Nate shook his head. “Are you kidding? They’ll be too focused on devouring all that amazing food. You don’t know my family.”
“But I know you, and you’re the one I’m interested in.”
They kissed again in the kitchen, empty apart from a couple of waiters, and it felt like the most obvious and natural thing in the world. When they reached the stairway to the upper floor, Tamara began to undo the buttons of his shirt.
“Easy,” Nate said with a laugh. “At this rate, we won’t make it to the room.”
“I’m not sure I care,” Tamara whispered in his ear. They made it upstairs, still stealing kisses and exploring each other as much as they dared through their clothes, holding back just enough so that it wouldn’t be embarrassing if a stray aunt wandered past.
“This is what I thought might happen last night,” Tamara said, murmuring the words between kisses.
“What do you mean?”
“When we were in bed last night, I whispered your name,” Tamara said, her fingers working their way through more buttonholes. “I thought… Well, I hoped for a lot of things. But you were asleep!” Playfully, she shook her finger at him.
He was stunned. If it had been any other moment, Nate would have asked questions. Why hadn’t she woken him, for one? Or, what did it all mean? But it wasn’t another moment. It was now, and now was everything.
“When you didn’t answer me, I figured you didn’t want me,” Tamara said.
“Trust me,” Nate replied, looking at her with love and then pulling her closer. “I want you. I’ll always want you.”
They stopped at the top of the stairs for a moment, breathless and excited and giddy. Laughing, they raced down the hallway to their room and slammed the door shut, not intending to come out until morning.
Chapter Twelve
With the sun shining through the bedroom window, Nate was content to lie in bed and watch Tamara packing. Not that there was a lot of packing to do. It was mostly a question of picking up rumpled wedding clothes from the floor and finding a way to shove them back into their bags. Tamara was dressed more casually today, back to normal, back to looking like she might go down to the beach at any moment. In fact, that was a good idea before getting in the car to drive home. A walk on the beach. A beautiful view. He could declare himself then, and it would be perfect.