The reception was hell. Every touch, every look. The dances. The slow music while he held her in his arms, her body moving in perfect rhythm with his. She loved dancing with him. Loved it. Being in his arms and floating across the floor together was an experience she never thought she'd have. She didn't know too much about dancing, but he was extremely good at guiding her every move.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that grieving for Ryuu when he didn't love me, when he conspired to help Osamu kill all of us, me, you, your entire family, even Nao, was ridiculous." Even saying it still hurt. Her brother. Her one family member wanted her dead, refused to even acknowledge a connection between them.
"Don't apologize, Mariko. You loved him. There's nothing wrong with your feelings for him. You loved him all these years, just as you should have. He's the one who was poisoned." He brushed her mouth gently with his.
The touch of his lips against hers sent butterflies winging through her stomach. She knew she'd always feel that way just looking at him.
"I'm just sorry it took so long to come to the realization of what I had in my life."
He whirled her out of danger when another couple came too close. "The truth is, amore, I would wait a lifetime for you."
There was honesty in his voice and it set her heart beating double time. She had a family. A man who loved her. It was everything she'd ever wanted. They danced the evening away, Mariko feeling like a fairy princess. The limousine took them home. She loved the sight of their house, the high fence and iron gates surrounding the extensive gardens.
"I can't wait to get you inside," Ricco said.
The sensual lines carved deep in his face took her breath. She felt as if she'd been waiting a lifetime, her body so sensitive and ready for his. She was grateful she wasn't alone in the way she was feeling.
He held her hand into the house as if he thought she might run from him. He led her straight to the elevator to the second floor instead of taking the stairs. In the elevator, he began slipping the long row of pearl buttons down her back from their loops. She loved that he was so focused on getting her out of her dress that he stopped in the hallway to finish, encouraging her to step out of the lace concoction. Mariko did so, standing in the hall in her ivory lace, barely there, thong and garters, high heels and stockings. He unsnapped her matching bra at the door of the master bedroom, leaving her breasts bare.
"We're flying out of here for our honeymoon in the morning," he promised. "We own an island and we can have it all to ourselves. I won't mind imposing a no-clothes rule."
"I'll just bet you won't." She held her breath, waiting.
He turned his head and looked at their bed, dripping with rose petals and covered in bundles of rope of all colors and textures. She was talking to him. Telling him she loved him and she needed his Shibari to ground her as much as he needed it.
Ricco reached for her, pulling her close to him. "You're certain?"
"Absolutely. I realized we both need it. You've been capturing our journey together on film, and this is our wedding night. We should have at least one picture, even if it's simple." She hoped he knew what she was saying to him. He'd spent the last month pounding the heavy bag when he needed relief from his demons. She'd gone to the tea house out in the Japanese garden. Shibari joined them together in their struggles.
"It makes me stronger, Ricco. I realized I need it as much as you do."
He draped her dress across the bed, the rose petals all around it. He placed three coils of rope near the ivory lace and then her bra over one of the coils of rope.
"You already know what you want to do."
"Get ready."
His voice was that voice, the one she had become so familiar with. She nodded and headed for the bathroom, excitement coursing through her. She couldn't wait to see how he tied her. Already her sex was hot, clenching and so damp. She knew her wedding night was going to be spectacular, and then she had the honeymoon to look forward to …