“Christ, Raina. You’re killing me.”

Her small breasts pressed against his chest and he could feel the stiff tips of her nipples. He couldn’t wait to have the tight points on his tongue.

He opened his eyes and the first thing he saw were the roses next to the bed. The sight sobered him, reminding him of what he was trying to accomplish.

Romance.

“Raina. Hey, let’s slow down for a minute,” he whispered.

“Uh uh.” She shook her head and tightened her legs around his waist. “Don’t want to.” She made the sexiest little sound, like a whimper, in the back of her throat before she took his bottom lip between her teeth and nipped gently. It was all he could do to stay upright when she was kissing him like she wanted nothing more than his tongue in her mouth.

“I just want to light the candles, sweets. I can’t have you telling your friends how unromantic I am.”

She pulled back and then looked around the room in surprise. “Nick, what in the world?”

She hopped down and walked over to inspect the rose petals sprinkled on the bed and the bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket on the dresser. He’d arranged for their room to be prepared while they were gone. It was hard to be romantic when they’d had such a tacky ceremony but he was determined that at least their wedding night could be up to his standards.

He wanted her to cherish the memory of their first time making love as husband and wife.

Raina’s eyes were wide with wonder as she looked back at him. “I can’t believe you did all this for me.”

“Of course I did. I hope there will come a day when you won’t find it unusual for me to surprise you like this.” He walked up behind her and pulled her back against his chest. She relaxed against him and he kissed the soft skin behind her ear. Her right hand came up and caressed his neck, holding him closer as she pushed back against him.

He breathed in deep as he nuzzled her throat. How long had he imagined this? If he was honest with himself, he’d probably been dreaming about having her beneath him since the last time. He took deep breaths, trying to calm down, but her scent was intoxicating, warm and rich like vanilla.

“Nick?” she whispered.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

She turned in his arms and took his face between her hands. “This is beautiful. Thank you for making this special for me.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly.

Then she turned her head and gently bit the lobe of his ear. “Now, get your clothes off before I rip them off.”

Instant molten arousal raced through Nick’s veins at her words. She made quick work of the buttons on the front of his shirt, then stepped back and pulled her blouse over her head. Any blood that was still left in his brain flowed south as she pushed her khaki shorts down. She stepped out of them and stood before him in another lacy panty set, this one a bright, fire-engine red.

“You’re trying to drive me crazy, aren’t you?”

She pushed him and they tumbled onto the bed in a jumble of arms and legs. She rolled over and climbed on top of him, running her hands over his chest.

Then she reached behind her and unhooked her bra. Mercy. Looking at her would never get old. She was beautifully built with small, perky breasts and dark, tight little nipples. With her long hair wild around her shoulders, she was a wet dream come to life.

“You are so beautiful. You stagger me.” He took one of her hands and pressed it between his legs. Even through the denim there was no doubt she could feel his arousal. She massaged him through the fabric and then helped him push his jeans and boxers down. Once he was naked, Raina took him between her hands, lust in her eyes as she caressed him. The tip of her tongue came out to wet her lips a second before she dipped her head.

“Oh my God,” he breathed. Her warm, wet mouth danced over his flesh, teasing him with quick little laps of her tongue. She giggled and moved away so she could pull her tiny panties off.

He tried to use the time to get his sanity back, but before he could even breathe, she straddled him again.

“You feel so good.” She skimmed her palms over the tips of her nipples. It excited Nick just to watch.

There was nothing in the world so arousing as a confident, sexually aggressive woman. Raina never played coy or pretended to be bashful. Their one night together was seared in Nick’s brain not just because of how electric their connection was, but because he couldn’t forget how erotic it was just to watch her. She was a living siren, an entrancing creature that was completely aware of her own sensual power.

Her hands stroked lower until she gripped him firmly, stood him straight up, and then sank down until he slid deep.

“Oh shit.” Nick couldn’t hold back as she rocked against him, taking him deeper and deeper each time. “Give me your hands,” he ordered. She grabbed his hands and used him as leverage to hold herself steady as she worked him.

He squeezed her hands, rewarded when she met his gaze. Her mouth fell open and she moaned as he rocked up under her, meeting her motions until they moved together in perfect rhythm. As overwhelming as the physical sensations were, he didn’t want to close his eyes. He didn’t want to miss the moment when she let go.

He wanted more than just to have her for a tumble. He wanted to possess her. He wanted everything she had to give.

It was a heady thing to realize that he already possessed her in the legal and moral sense.

She was his wife.

“Please, please…” Her soft chant faded into incoherent mumbling as he reached between their bodies and stroked her in time with his thrusts. She shuddered over him, her body clamping down on him like a tight wet fist.