Read One More Rule: The Blindfold Club Novella Online
Authors: Nikki Sloane
“Five . . . four . . .” Logan straightened and his broad shoulders pulled back as he inched forward, as if he couldn’t wait and wanted to meet me halfway.
“Three . . . two . . . one.”
Logan’s hand was extended to my father and the men shook. I leaned in, tilting my head as my dad kissed my cheek.
“I love you, Evelyn. Your mother and I are so happy for you.” I closed my eyes, squeezing back fresh tears. “And I’m outta here.”
My eyes popped open, and I choked on my laugh as my dad scurried behind me, trying not to trip over my cathedral veil. My gaze turned back and found Logan’s. His hand clasped mine and our fingers laced together. We turned toward the altar and went forward, together.
It was a blur after that. Readings, vows, and the rings. I slipped the silver band on Logan’s left hand, and . . . yup, definitely going to hell. More impure thoughts at church. The band symbolizing his commitment to me was undeniably sexy. Our gazes and hands locked together.
The priest’s baritone voice echoed in the vaulted ceilings. “You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife.”
Even though I knew it was coming, the moment still caught me off guard. I wanted to lick my lips, which felt sticky from the long-lasting lipstick the makeup artist had applied this morning, yet Logan didn’t give me time. As soon as he had the go-ahead, his fingertips glided over my cheek, gently drawing me in. His mouth lowered to mine and stole my breath. Soft, warm lips moved unhurried, taking as much time as he wanted, teasing me with a hint of tongue. I melted against his kiss as I always did. It was as shockingly good as it had been our first time that wild, out of control night outside the blindfold club.
No, wait, this was better. A million times better because he was my husband.
His kiss left me woozy, and I swayed when his hands retreated, my body mourning their absence. It was momentary, because he wrapped his hand around mine, holding me steady. His dark, intense eyes sparkled, helping further to pin me back in place.
The ceremony drew to a close, and it was impossible to catch our breath. Pictures. The receiving line. The stretch limo that carried us with our bridal party to the Opulent Hotel where our reception would be.
We’d squeezed together to all fit in the limo, and with my enormous dress, I was practically sitting on Logan’s lap.
“You look amazing, wife.” He murmured it against the side of my neck, and I giggled.
“You look pretty amazing yourself, husband.”
Being in the limo with him was a dangerous reminder of our evening last Saturday, and I shuddered with anticipation. Dinner, dancing, and then we’d be upstairs in the honeymoon suite, completely alone. No more closet or bathroom doors shielding his gorgeous body from my eyes, and no more self-imposed rules of keeping it in our pants.
By the time we arrived at the hotel, cocktail hour was nearly over. Payton hurried to bustle my dress in the handicapped stall of the bathroom while I slammed a bottle of water.
“There you are,” Logan said when we emerged, as if we’d been in there for a century. “We need to line up for introductions.” He threw a pointed look at Payton. “You’re letting her fall behind schedule, McCreary.”
She snatched a glass of white wine off a server’s tray. “Yeah? I dare you to figure out the ribbons of her bustle faster than I did.”
“The only thing I’m going to concern myself with Evie’s dress,” Logan said, “is how fast I can get her out of it.”
I laughed, but it froze in my throat as my grandmother’s head turned our direction.
Shit!
A light smile breezed on her lips, and she . . .
oh my God
. She winked.
Logan and I scarfed down our dinners so we could spend as much time as possible mingling among the tables of our guests. I’d been to weddings where the bride and groom never once spoke to me and was determined not to have that happen at mine.
“I don’t want to whine,” I whispered to Logan as we began our first dance together. We were all alone on the dancefloor while our friends and family watched. “But my feet kind of hurt.”
“Yeah? Mine too.”
I had one hand on his chest and the other resting on the back of his neck as we swayed to the love song that filled the ballroom. Logan took my hand, held it away and led me through a turn under his arm. As I came back into his embrace, I stared up at him, wide-eyed. “What’s this? It’s not eight-grade dancing.”
“My mom informed me I had to up my game. That’s at least a tenth grade move I just gave you.”
“Nice.”
I was torn between not wanting the evening to end and my desire for it to be over so we could go upstairs. We laughed with our family, posed for pictures with friends, and ate a piece of our wedding cake.
My feet were aching and screaming for relief as the deejay played the final song of the night. Our crowd had thinned once the bar closed at eleven, and as soon as the song was over, the lights in the ballroom brightened. It had been an amazing day, but also exhausting.
Dominic’s arms were tight around Payton’s waist. “Logan,” he said, his tone serious, “it’s been a while for you. Let me know if you need any pointers for the wedding night.”
“Thanks, Dominic. By the way, go fuck yourself.”
Payton laughed. “He has me for that.”
As soon as the elevator doors sealed us in alone together, Logan was on me. One warm hand splayed on the bare skin of my back while his other gripped my ass tightly, pressing me into him, crushing my dress. He held me into his kiss that was an assault on all fronts. My heart, mind, and body
needed
this man. My hand dove inside his tuxedo jacket, seeking the hardened muscles beneath the crisp dress shirt and three-button black vest.
“You have too many clothes on, boss.”
“I’m fucking aware.”
We hit our floor, he grabbed my hand, and tugged me down the hallway.
“Slow down,” I gasped. “Not all of us are runners.” He was dragging me along at break-neck speed.
“Is it faster if I carry you?”
I had no idea if he was kidding or not. We’d been together more than a year, and it wasn’t any easier to tell. “I dunno, maybe.”
A yelp escaped when his hands gripped my waist, lifting me, and not the sexy swept-up-into-his-arms kind, but the thrown-over-the-shoulder, caveman style kind of carry.
“Shit,” he groaned. “Your skirt is huge.” He banded an arm around my thighs, tucking the fabric out of his way so he could see, and took off. I bounced on his shoulder and the shorter, elbow-length veil I’d switched into for the reception hung down, trailing on the carpet.
“You don’t like my dress?”
“I didn’t say that. You took my breath away, Evie.”
My heart thumped in my chest and my face warmed with a flush, but that also could have been the blood rushing to my head because I was upside-down.
“Hey, put me down before you hurt yourself.” Although, if I were honest, I kind of liked this. His ‘I have to have you now’ attitude was seriously hot.
We were through the door and into the honeymoon suite. I couldn’t see much, but the room was softly glowing with flickering light. His strong arms braced me as I slowly slid down his body until my feet were back on the ground. The veil was flipped over my head, and Logan lifted it, brushing it back.
“Are you thirsty? There’s champagne.”
“Oh?” I turned in his arms to face the room, “. . . my God.”
A white, king-sized bed was against the left wall, decorated with a gold satin comforter and eggplant purple accent pillows. Mirrored, square lamps were perched on the nightstands. Everything was elegant and luxurious.
The back wall was like our apartment. Floor to ceiling glass with a view to die for, only this wasn’t North Beach, it was the heart of the city, and the yellow-orange windows glowed in the night.
Also glowing were glass votive candles that lined just about every flat surface in the room. No lights were on, and it was breathtaking. I stood motionless as Logan went to the ice bucket and pulled out the bottle of champagne.
My desire for him was so strong I could taste it, but instead I remained still, watching him open the bottle and pour me a glass. I gestured to the room. “Did you arrange this?”
The only answer he gave me was a half-smile, but it confirmed he had. He held out the glass of champagne and I took it, letting my gaze fall to the other focal point in the room . . . the large Jacuzzi tub. It sat opposite the bed in a corner, the walls wrapped in mirror and the tile ledge around it was covered with more flickering candles.
It was romantic and seductive.
My gaze went back to him, starting at his feet and drifting upward over that sexy tuxedo, all the way until I could meet his eyes. Those chocolate brown eyes had been my undoing our first night together, and they were just as devastating now. Especially since they seemed to be filled with the same sordid thoughts he’d had then.
He poured another glass for himself but didn’t take a sip. His intense focus was on me. “Lose the dress.”
chapter
TEN
I swallowed thickly and smiled. I was eager, but . . . “I’m going to need your help.”
Logan took a sip of his champagne and set it down, then shrugged out of his jacket. He tossed it on the chair nearby, and I’d learned he only disregarded his neat-freak status when he was impatient.
I loved how I did that to him.
“I’m happy to help, naughty girl.”
I turned around and swept my veil over my shoulder so it wouldn’t be in his way. “There’s a hook at the top.”
His tone was displeased. “And a shitload of buttons.”
I smiled to myself. “Calm down, there’s a hidden zipper.”
Fingers drew a line where the fabric on my strapless dress stopped, tracing over my skin, and paused at the center to undo the tiny metal hook. Then, the zipper must have been discovered beneath the panel of buttons, because it began to drop, one tooth at a time.
I shivered as his lips floated over my shoulder, ghosting kisses. His hands were inside the back of my dress, pushing the bodice down, and sliding up over my belly. Making me tremble and insane with lust. My fingers fumbled in the small of my back to undo the knot holding my crinoline in place.
The cups were sewn in, so I wasn’t wearing a bra, and my sigh of relief was loud when he palmed my breasts. I leaned into him, putting my back against his hardened chest. My eyes fell shut as I waited for his next move. I never knew what kind of sex I’d get with Logan. Did he want to make love tonight? Have a quick, hard fuck? Maybe both?
He enjoyed touching me, moving at an unhurried pace, but my body’s response was too strong. I couldn’t last much longer, so I shimmied out of the dress and my shoes. A tight noise came from behind.
“I like these.” He ran a hand over the swell of my ass, admiring the blue panties I wore that had ‘Mrs.’ written in tiny rhinestones across the back.
“They were my ‘something blue.’”
“Holy shit. It stands up on its own.”
He was talking about my dress. “Yeah. No hanger required.” The layers of stiff netting and boning supported the dress and kept it upright, defying gravity.
His fingers slipped under my arm and turned me to face him. His gaze traced each centimeter of my naked flesh like it was the first time he was seeing it, and he looked appreciative of the view. The only things I wore were the panties and the veil still attached at the base of my up-do. His expression shifted and grew more intense, mimicking one of a predator. This was the darkest version of Logan I only saw when he was overwhelmed with lust and losing his grip on control.
“I’ve missed these.” Once again, his hands fondled my breasts, only this time he wasn’t gentle. He moved on me urgently, forcing me backward until I slammed into the wall, but he didn’t let up. Hands pinched at my already-tight nipples, making me ache while his mouth locked on mine. His tongue thrust deep, and I moaned.
But he stepped back abruptly and the heat of his body vanished, making my eyes fly open in surprise.
“Fuck.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“Yes,” I said, already breathless. “That’s what we should do.”
“We’ll get to that, don’t you worry, but I want to get in the tub.”
I glanced at the large, deep Jacuzzi and gave him a dubious look. “You want to take a bath?”
“You mentioned your feet hurt.”
They did, and now that I had it off, I was realizing just how heavy the dress had been. A bath with massaging jets and my gorgeous new husband wrapped around me suddenly sounded like the best idea ever.
While he ran the tap, I went to the mirror and began the process of removing my veil. I said it loudly over the rushing water. “There are a thousand pins inside my hair, just so you know.”
“Awesome.”
Movement from beside the tub stopped me mid-process. Logan was getting undressed and I wasn’t about to miss the show. The vest was already open, and the tie hung loose around his neck. Sexy. Then, the shirt was unbuttoned and cufflinks undone. I gasped when he peeled one shoulder out, followed by the other, and dropped all of it to the floor in a heap.