Chapter 1

The artfully arranged white candles on the night stand next to the bed glowed. That along with the moonlight barely penetrating the thin white curtain hanging on the balcony window was the only light in their hotel room. With the flick of his wrist, he extinguished the match after lighting the last candle and turned down the sheets on the bed. Rifling through his duffel bag, he pulled out a CD with various love songs from different musicians and groups they loved and popped it into his stereo letting the music fill the room.
Stepping back, Malan Hamel surveyed his work. After all, his wedding night was all about seduction and fulfilling fantasies they both had for years. It had to be just right. Perfect. To include how he looked. The 25-year-old thespian caught a glimpse of his self in the rectangular mirror on the wall. Garbed in the black pajamas his bride had given him for Christmas, he ran his fingers through the layers of his brown hair and then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his pajama top. The look made him feel a little like James Dean but definitely gave him a casual, relaxed appearance, one he didn’t quite possess.
To be honest, Malan was extremely nervous and scared. He had no clue what to do on their wedding night, much less how to do the intimate act. Like his wife, Lathal, he was a virgin. His beloved had dreams and wishes of their first intimate interlude that were similar to his own. They’d both had fantasies of this moment for years. He wanted her to have them. He wanted to give them to her. But what if he didn’t satisfy or fulfill them?
Quietly emerging from the bathroom, Lathal appraised the romantic setting of their hotel room with pleasure. The 25-year-old journalist wore a blue long slip trimmed with black lace at the bodice. Her long blonde tendrils of her hair caressed the straps on her shoulders. The pretty negligee had been a Christmas gift from her now husband who appeared distracted by his private thoughts to notice her arrival.
Gracefully she approached Malan from behind; her breath caressed his skin of his exposed flesh before her lips nipped along the curve of his neck. Groaning softly, he turned his head catching her mouth with his bestowing a tender kiss. She tasted the fatigue exuded in his affectionate exchange. Her actor husband desperately needed sleep. She did too. Well, neither of them was getting any tonight; a twinge of guilt tugged at her heart.
Their wedding day had been exhausting for both of them much like the days, weeks and months before their nuptials. Malan’s theatrical schedule including his rehearsals and performances on stage, TV shows and commercials as well as his auditions for movies, plays and shows for the last six months had left him drained. Lathal admired her husband. Personally the young writer didn’t think she could manage doing his line of work even though her work schedule at the newspaper had been just as hectic and demanding as his. The rigorous requirements of diet and exercise, the pace of his theatrical profession hardly gave him time for sleep, himself or them; he always managed to carve out time for them to spend together because their relationship was his top priority. It was extremely important to him. His directors and agent hadn’t complain him getting married but they hadn’t been happy when the thespian had informed them he was taking a month long honeymoon and refused to tell them where he was going. He needed the break! They both did.
Gently pulling her into him, he felt her slim curved body gracefully arched against his body in a perfect fit; enforcing what he already believed: God had purposely paired them together. His soft breath caresses her cheeks, nose and lips. Lightly his lips brushed the tip of her nose before trailing down to seal his mouth on hers. Her lips, soft, warm and wet, filled him with spirals of ecstasy. Her sweet rose petal lips pressed against the firm, moist masculine surface of his mouth with passion, and he savored every tasty inch from her delicious dish. He wanted to romance her but mentally kicking himself there was no denying his fatigue.
“Malan, maybe we should choose a different honeymoon destination.” Going to Europe wasn’t as big a deal as it was to him. Until two years ago, she’d been able to go to take trips to Germany twice a year because the Army let dependents visit abroad as long as they were full time college students and under the age of 23. Lt. Col. Stephen Harvey had been stationed in Germany closing military hospitals until he was medically discharged a couple years before his death.
“Why?” He queried; Lathal bite the edge of her lip. She didn’t want to tell Malan her reasons. He wouldn’t like them and it would probably hurt his feelings. And she certainly didn’t want to get into an argument with him especially not tonight.
His weariness weighing on him, the actor sat down on the edge of the bed. The moment he sat down on the cushy, comfortable, soft blankets of the bed it felt good. He needed that moment to rest and to catch his breath. They both did. But it wasn’t just their wedding and reception that day, he felt he’d – they’d both – been running all week and for months and years before that.
His hand patted the spot beside him and she eagerly complied. His fingers caressed her fingers before their hands entwined. For now Malan was content to enjoy the moment. He’d spent many nights talking to her for hours, and the last time they’d had a chance to talk seemed like a lifetime ago. His hand cupped her cheek as his lips lightly brushed hers teasingly, tauntingly. “Whatever it is, Lathal, you can tell me.”
Not only was The Lexington, a five star-hotel but it was near the airport and that meant the cost to stay there for a night was astronomical. On top of that, the money for a honeymoon in Europe for a month and a Mediterranean cruise was outrageously expensive.
When they’d gone on their Engaged Encounter retreat six months ago, the couple had discussed paying for their wedding on their own. Her conservative mother had nixed that idea saying her father wanted to follow the traditional wedding custom where the bride’s family footed the bill for the wedding and reception leaving Malan or his family to pay the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon. When Stephen Harvey died in December, Malan offered to pay the remaining Harvey family expenses for the wedding and reception, but Andria Harvey refused explaining her late husband had left funds to cover the costs.
Lathal didn’t like the idea of him paying for their honeymoon. It was too much even though he probably had the money considering he was a rising star in his profession. “Maybe we should stay in the states. We could go to Southern California to the beach. I’ve heard New Mexico is enchanting or Wisconsin has some tourist attractions.”
All the destinations she mentioned had family in the vicinity, and while visiting and spending time with family was all well and good but that’s not what he wanted. “I was looking forward to going to your high school reunion in Augsburg.”
She wished she hadn’t told him about the reunion. For her part, the journalist didn’t really have a desire to go. She had been a shy loner without many friends in high school. Most of her classmates would have voted her most likely to be a spinster or nun. Maybe if showed up married to him, everyone would have different attitudes and opinions about her.
Tightness balled up in his neck and shoulders; his fists clenched. His popularity and recognition was growing into fame he’d not anticipated this early in his career. With the success of his shows, “Caped Crusaders,” his movies and commercials and sold old local performances he had, he felt constantly assailed by fans. They demanded him. He couldn’t escape them.
It wasn’t just his fans. It was his directors and agents too. His marriage hadn’t been a problem for them but when he refused to tell them where he was going to be out of contact and gone on his month long honeymoon they were livid. If they had a stateside honeymoon, his directors and agent would eventually learn his location and then he’d be right back to his frantic work schedule. The point of his honeymoon was to be somewhere where he wasn’t so easily assessable, where he would not to be at the constant beck and call of his directors, agent or fans but to enjoy, relax and spend time alone with Lathal, and he had every intention of doing just that.
“I need to get away,” Malan murmured nuzzled his nose and lips next to her face. The light musky scent of his cologne and aftershave filled her nostrils. His warm needing mouth drifted across her cheek, along the curve of her oval face, along her jaw line, down her throat. His lips danced like butterfly wings across her cool, creamy skin ending their talk. An audible gasp escaped her lips as Lathal leaned back, her hair cascading like a waterfall, letting his lips ravish her. Excitement tingled throughout her body. He always made her feel sexy and beautiful. This beloved man treated her like a queen, her every wish was his command as he submitted to her demands.
Lathal's tongue flicked into his mouth like licks of flame deepening their exchange. A husky, soft gasp filled with need and desire resounded in him like a lion smelling its prey nearby. She was breathless as her husband slowly pulled his lips away and adoringly looked at his wife. The 25-year-old wondered how he got to be this lucky. How did it happen that he'd found himself here blissfully married to Lathal Harvey?
He knew when he first laid eyes on Lathal in high school all those years ago that she'd be his. But his shyness and fear of rejection kept him from asking her out when they were teens. Just as they started getting to know each other, Lathal's father had been stationed in Germany; they’d been separated without him knowing where she’d gone.
Malan didn't think that their paths would ever cross again. But fate played its hand. Destiny intervened and they attended the same college in a suburb in central Texas, graduating in December. He vowed not to let her get away this time, and he hadn’t.
A soft glow highlighted her eyes as her eyes traced his frame as if memorizing it. Her eyes flirted with the tent he had in his pajama pants; her body trembled with exhilarating pricks racing across the light colored hairs on her fair skin. His bulging sex made her feel alive, nice and all woman, but would she be able to handle him? Would she be able to satisfy and fulfill all the fantasies and desires he had of her in that moment?
Gently pulling her into him, his fingers brushed across the strap of her sapphire blue lingerie gown on her shoulders. The firm round mound of her right breast was exposed and her slim figure seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. Her smile was warm and loving. Her bluish-green eyes glittered like diamonds. She was more beautiful than he remembered.
There was only a small breathing space between them. Malan leaned into her giving her sweet ribbons a gentle taste of his. In a flurry his hands moved around her body, he grabbed her head, his fingers clawing through the long blonde strands of her hair, as he pressed his mouth against hers with full force. His fingertips caressed her breast and piqued nipple; she moaned as she shuddered feeling the rain dew between her thighs. Her graceful caress roved along his thigh, caressing the peak in his pants; he passionately groaned, “Lathal.”
Kissing him softly and slowly, she purred into his ears. “Husband.”
A thrill shot through him upon hearing his new role in her life. His affectionate gaze locked on his wife, her body showing signs of desire for him; he nodded. “Wife,” he murmured; she trembled, thrills coursing through her, at the way he’d affectionately had said the new role she had in his life. Locking his lips on hers, Malan gently pulled her down onto the bed with him. As their lips gently brushed each other, they situated themselves so they had more correct, comfortable positions on the bed. His hands felt slightly rough as they roved over her taunt breasts. Her delicate fingers stroked his bare chest. Next they tiptoed down his chest and navel to his waist, stroking his aroused sex.
His hand that had cradled her neck now glided curving around her check, the tips stroking her skin. Love and concern swam in his dark eyes. With a graceful maneuver, she stood, slid her other lingerie gown strap off her shoulder letting her gown flutter like a colorful butterfly mobile spilling onto the bed and he shoved it away to the floor. His eyes worship each sensuous, shapely curve of her body.
Crawling like a lion on the prowl, she brought her lips to his devouring both his breath and savoring his essence. Slipping her hand into his pajama bottoms, lovingly caressing his manhood, he writhed excitedly beneath her. Didn’t she know the way she was touching him had turned him on? He was as hard as a rock. He felt wet. God he wanted her! He needed her. His lips dry, he helplessly moaned, “Lathal!” She kept touching his hard member; he writhed excitedly. He desperately wanted to be naked beneath her. “Please!” After gently stripping him of his restraining clothing, her fingers caressed the small of his back near his spine, and Malan arched his back, bringing her closer to his body, so she could feel his stirring organ brushing against her bare leg. A combination of teeth and lips grazed her ears, his voice a raspy whisper, “Let me show you how much I love you.”
His hands caressed her swollen mounds, her nipples perked up beneath his hand. Her tongue licked his neck and ears; his heart soared as his passion increased as his mouth suckled her breasts. Malan's fingers touched the hot, wet spot of her feminine essence. “Oh my God, Malan,” she gasped, her longing and pleasure apparent in her voice.
She gently guided his hips, moving him on top of her. While he didn't mind being on top, that wasn't what he wanted. He smoothly twisted his body, keeping himself beneath her. He murmured, "I’d liked it if you're on top, Lathal."
It didn't matter to her. Right now she was so hot and needed him so badly that she'd take him anyway she could get him.
Her taunt breasts grazed his chest as he gently slid himself inside her. She slowly and seductively gyrated her hips. He was inexorably gentle with her. “Malan,” she panted in a seductive purr. His fingers stroked down the curves of her hips to the V of her nether region, brushing her soft intimate folds.
From her lips poured repetitive passionate animal sounds as she moaned, “Malan, you feel so good. You’re so hard,” she rocked her body a little more quickly. Her hair cascaded down her back, her back arched and she rode his stick. Breathless, her fingers clutched his shoulders. Her fingertips raked through the waves of his hair, she nipped lovingly at his ear. Aching to touch her, he rained kisses over inch of her body. The feel of her body rocking against him made him want her more and ignited his desire. “More. Malan. Inside me.”
His movements were slow, tender and gentle even though the urgency and need he felt he wanted to take her fast and hard. He had to restrain himself because it was their first time and he didn’t want to hurt her. Gently he plunged his throbbing, pulsating manhood inside her; her legs tightened around his waist as she rode the high tide. Mouths flew like fireflies to flame as they joined in an elaborate, intimate slow dance.
Slipping off his manhood for a moment, her lips brushed down his chest. She softly kissed the inside of his thighs, licking and sucking on his manhood. Her tongue flicked over the tip of his erection in seductive caresses. Aroused even more, he gasped passionately as he writhed excitedly beneath her. His hands caressed the swell of her breasts as he felt the heat and wetness of her womanhood on his leg. He seductively slid his hand down her thigh; his fingers stroked her wet womanhood. She panted, her noises heavily laden with desire and love. "Malan, I want you inside me."
Willingly obliging her, he slid himself inside her. She was so wet and ready and so was he as he rode her harder and faster. He moaned softly, "Lathal! Our lovemaking …” The rest of his comment died as their lips feasted on each other. His heart hammered in his chest as the thought of the possibility their act could result in pregnancy. The idea excited him but dissipated as her rhythmic movements and wetness seemed to increase as she approached her zenith. Her long blonde hair cascaded around her face and shoulders as she bucked on top of him like a wild horse riding across the prairie. He just couldn't get enough of her, so he thrust himself deeper and deeper within her. He was very close to his zenith.
She felt this. Tightening her womanhood around his manhood, she quickened the rhythm of her gyrating hips. She purred sweetly, "Malan, make me."
He mumbled with pleasure, desire and passion as he ejaculated inside her.
"Yes. Yes. Yes," she canted, having her orgasm.
Satisfied, sated and complete, they lay spent.
**
Wrinkled, tangled sheets. The glow of passion still showed on their naked bodies intertwined in the bed. His bare leg crossed over hers. His right hand rested on her cool stomach. Her left hand covered his right while her right lay on his left thigh. Shifting, she slowly opened her eyes, finding him, her husband, lying naked beside her.
What a way to wake up in the morning, Lathal thought smiling as she snuggled into the crook of his arm draped over shoulder feeling the warmth and intimate familiarity of his masculine body. Her head lay on his bare chest; she listened to the rhythmic sounds of his breathing and his heartbeat. Then as her fingers traced a line from his chest to his stomach because even though she had intimate knowledge of him now she still wanted to familiarize herself more with her lover and husband. Her finger traced down his navel where he had a small scar that she recalled he’d told he’d had since the appendix surgery he’d had his sophomore year of high school. She gazed at his right hand, bearing his wedding band, laying flat on her stomach.
Their marriage and their intimate interlude had been so perfect that both had seemed like a fairy tale, but it was very real. It was a dream come true for both of them.
Her fingertips stroked his face and she smiled as they lightly grazed the rough surface. Her fingers slowly moved across his cheek to move through the layers of his brown hair. He wore a content, dreamy expression on his face. It was sweet; he looked so cute. All she wanted to do was lay there beside him and watch him sleep.
The journalist glimpsed the clock on the stand. It was 10’o clock. Two hours before checkout. She wanted to let him sleep. It was too early for him. Most days he didn’t wake up till noon or later.
She really hated to wake her husband up. He really needed the sleep. They both did. Today would be another long day for them. After breakfast, she had to get her passport, their friends the Johnsons were having a gift opening for them at the couple’s home later that afternoon and their flight to their first honeymoon destination in London was that night. So they had to be at the airport two hours prior to their flight. Plus, it was Sunday and she’d like to go to Mass. If they got up now, they could make it to the 11 o’clock Mass at their home church, Holy Family.
Gently she kissed his lips. Gripping her shoulder, he murmured in pleasure, “Mmm." He moved his hand from her stomach to her cheek, kissing her with drowsy emotion which quickly evolved into passion. Her long blonde hair was a mess around her oval face and shoulders. At the moment she definitely didn’t look like the fairy tale wife. Yet, somehow from the heat of his body and tenderness in his brown eyes, she saw he loved her deeply. “Good morning.”
"Morning.” He returned pleasantly as he turned on his side and propped himself on his elbow. “How long have you been up?”
Her bluish green eyes danced at his apparent arousal she’d felt against her thigh. “You tell me.”
His appreciative laugh warmed her to her soul. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her hungrily. Matching his passion with her own, she temptingly brushed her womanhood against his erection. Writhing excitedly, he moaned with pleasure and deep love. Not only did he want her, he desperately needed her. A teasing note in her voice, she whispered into his ear, "What happened to the shy Malan Hamel I use to know?”
“Oh, he’s still here,” a broad amused grin crossed his lips. His hands fondled her breasts as he pulled her on top of him. “But I think he’s turned into a sex fiend.”
Before their intimidate exchange become more heated, Lathal gently pointed out. “I don’t think we can make it a quickie and I want to go to Mass and we have to check out by noon.”
So much for spending the whole day in bed, he grinned as he shifted slightly. They began the tasks of getting ready for the day and he beat her to shower. Usually the bathroom was a private sanctuary where Lathal wouldn’t have infringed but her body was singing with desire from their tender exchanges that morning. She saw his fit medium build frame through the glass of the shower and heard him whistling a happy little tune. He -- well, actually it had been mutual -- started it and now they were going to finish it, she unabashedly stepped in the shower.
His layered brown hair was damp and soap had been lathered all over his body and his fingers scrubbed shampoo in his brown hair as he arched his eyebrow at her in amused interest. The appreciative smile he wore was definitely inviting. It beckoned her. Her hands grabbed at the soap in his hands; he didn’t need any encouragement as they washed they caressed each other with the soap. Kissing passionately, they were soon making out heavily in the shower, wanting and needing each other.
Her fingertips ran through his damp brown hair and shampoo that the water sprays had started to wash out. She gracefully moved her soft touch, lightly stroking the droplets of water along his spine. He arched his back, bringing her closer and a husky groan escaped his lips. His desire and need hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn’t stand it. Switching off the water, he picked her up and carried her back to bed. Her lips trailed hot kisses on his neck before moving to his cheek and along his jaw line before feeding on his mouth. The passion he returned became needful and urgent. As he tossed her into the bed, she giggled with pleasure and he crawled on top covering her body with his. Without any foreplay, he thrust himself deeply within her. Locking her legs around his butt, she rocked with pleasure and passion beneath him.
She was so wet as she gyrated sensually exciting him. So much so that he needed to take her. He closed his eyes as they made love. If he didn’t stop doing this, he was really going to get her pregnant. The ache and pleasure he felt during their inmate interlude caused the thought to become quickly dismissed. As he quickened his pace and rhythm, she panted heavily and so did he. She bucked like a bronco as he rode her harder and faster. She moaned as she came; he ejaculated inside her.
They kissed and held each other close for a few moments. Then they got dressed and finished packing as they had to check out by noon. They also had to hurry if they wanted to get to Mass by 11 a.m. They’d promised Father Joe that he’d get a chance to see them before they left on their honeymoon.
After Mass, there was time for breakfast before they had meet Col. John Barthy Bird at Fort Abe Lincoln to get Lathal’s passport at 1 p.m. Around 3 p.m. they had a gift opening at Johnsons house and his final apartment inspection by Ms. Augsburg and he’d turn in his key that afternoon. Then they’d be taking a late evening international flight to London.
She grabbed her purse and hotel keys and he, his wallet, cell phone and their baggage. He gazed at her invitingly as he kissed her. Her fingers curled into his shoulders; she savored his love. Feeling the heat rising between them, she gently disengaged. His hands in his khaki pants pockets, she linked her arms around his and they headed for the doorway with their bags in tow. At that moment, he wished they could just spend the whole day alone together making love in bed instead of everything else they had to do.