She blinked away tears when Joseph slid her one-of-a-kind wedding band onto her left ring finger. Completely original, the band mimicked her cuff, with a single thumbprint on the otherwise smooth, glossy gold. It nestled against her diamond engagement ring, and the rings would be soldered together after they returned from their honeymoon. She hadn’t known what he had planned, but she loved it, and loved him even more.
“I can’t tell you how much I love this dress,” he murmured as they greeted their guests as Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hazelle for the first time. His hand slid down her spine, caressing and tantalizing her until he reached that sensitive spot at the small of her back where the lace began.
“Then you’ll also appreciate that I’m not wearing any panties at all.” She smiled innocently at him and shook her head. “Not a stitch…Beastly.”
Click.
The French doors at the rear of the mansion were all opened, and reception guests mingled between the lounge, the dance floor set up on the veranda, and the white reception tent. Strings of white lights had been hung by the Hazelle House staff, giving the event a warm and festive atmosphere.
Joseph chuckled as Bunny sat in his lap in the lounge and they watched Samson finally corner his prey. Cassie blushed as she looked up at him, clenching her champagne glass so hard it looked as if the stem might snap.
“There’s a story there,” Joseph said as he sipped from his rocks glass, which contained a shot from the bottle of Glenlivet XXV that Hector had given him as a wedding gift. His growl as he swallowed moments later made her think of a contented bear, and she nestled against his chest.
“Cassie said she knew him and his brother from years ago. I didn’t know he had any siblings.”
“Yes, a twin in fact. Samson and Ivan. So, she is an old acquaintance?”
“Yeah, he didn’t tell you?”
“No. Samson doesn’t talk about his young years much.”
Bunny grew more intrigued by the moment as Samson reached up to touch one of the curls that had come loose from Cassie’s up-do, and she blushed scarlet as he caressed her shoulder and up her throat. She didn’t seem to know where to look until he spoke to her, and she finally looked up at him. A moment later, he held out his hand, and she let him lead her to the dance floor.
Bunny said, “Cassie is a sweet person. I wonder if she knows he’s a sadist.”
“That remains to be seen, fiammetta. There’s lots worse things than being a sadist, you know,” he added with a grin as he nuzzled her throat.
“Speaking of sadists, did you give any more consideration to my idea about having a Sadie Hawkins Switcheroo Night at Hazelle House? Subs dressed in leather, wielding whips and taking names. Doms feeling the sting. It would be awesome.”
“I told you, little flame, I’d have a mutiny on my hands. No way in hell.”
“Okay, well then, can we talk about switching?” she asked, sliding her fingers through his tuxedo shirt and teasing one of his nipples to a tight nubbin.
He chuckled and finally gripped her fingers. “That tickles. You’ve been doing your research, haven’t you?”
“Uh-huh, can we?”
“Absolutely. I have a pretty new willow switch I’d love to try out on your lush little ass.” The humor in his eyes told her he knew exactly what she was talking about…and he wasn’t having any of it.
“You suck—Sir.”
“So do you, fiammetta. Beautifully, I might add. So, is that your final answer on the willow switch?”
“I’ll consider it, if you’ll let me redecorate the dungeon.”
He gave a soft chuckle and stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “With your beauty and your fire, you already have, love.”
“Oh, Beastly.”
Click.
THE END