Wedding Eve Goodbye novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Mrs. Haldane

At three o'clock, by the marriage certificate, the Marden house belonged to me.

At six, Odile's people had boxed up everything of Rhonda's and left it on the porch.

By dark the guests had gone, Mina had gone into the kitchen to find something to eat, and I stood in my father's front hall with my husband.

Dominic shut the door behind us.

The house was silent.

"Mrs. Haldane," he said.

"Say it again."

"Mrs. Haldane."

"It sounds better every time."

He took my hand and I led him up the stairs, past the framed photographs.

I took him to the big room at the end of the hall.

Rhonda's silk sheets were still on the bed.

I tore them off in one pull and threw them in the corner.

"Better," I said.

Dominic laughed, deep and soft, and it was the first time I had heard that sound.

I turned my back to him and lifted my hair.

"The zipper," I said.

He did not rush.

He lowered it an inch at a time, and his knuckles brushed the bare skin of my spine.

I shivered.

His mouth came down on my shoulder, and the plain white dress slid off me and pooled around my work boots.

"You wore boots to your wedding," he said against my skin.

"I'm wearing them to this too, if you don't hurry."

He turned me by the hips and backed me against the bedroom door.

His mouth found mine, and I could taste the champagne Odile had made everyone drink.

"I'm going to take my time," he said. "Three years of get lost. I owe you every minute of this."

"You owe me nothing. I'm choosing it."

"Then let me give it."

He unhooked my bra with two fingers and let it fall.

He kissed down between my breasts, and then he took one in his mouth, slowly, and I banged my head against the wood.

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