I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. His fingers moved deliberately slowly, freeing me from the dress’s intricate fastenings.
“There,” he announced at last, his voice oddly husky.
Holding the dress against my chest, I was suddenly acutely aware of how close we stood.
“Thank you. I’ll… change.”
Grabbing my suitcase, which someone had brought to the suite, I retreated to the bathroom. Only when I shut the door behind me did I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
After a quick shower, I slipped into a silk nightgown. I heard Christian step into the adjoining bathroom; the sound of the shower running gave me a few minutes of privacy to process everything that had happened. I sat on the edge of the enormous bed, brushing my fingers over the rose petals scattered across the sheets.
This had started as a business arrangement, a contract for mutual benefit. But today-during the vows, the kiss at the altar…
The water stopped. A few minutes later, Christian emerged, dressed in simple pajama pants and a plain T-shirt- a startlingly casual version of the always immaculate CEO. His damp hair made him look almost vulnerable.
When he returned to the room, he found me at the window, gazing at the vineyards bathed in moonlight.
“A penny for your thoughts,” he said softly.
I turned, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
“Just admiring the vineyards. There’s something magical about them at night.”
He stepped closer, stopping beside me to take in the view.
“They’re yours now too,” he said, his intense gaze lingering on me. “Welcome to the Kensington family, Zoey.”
One more glass of wine later, the day’s exhaustion finally caught up with me. I yawned, unable to stop it, and Christian chuckled.
“Should’ve warned you- that wine’s dangerous,” he teased, taking my empty glass. “Go to bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I replied, emboldened partly by the wine. “The bed’s huge. We can share it like civilized adults.”
His eyebrow arched slightly, but he didn’t argue. I slipped under the soft covers, sinking into the perfect mattress. After a brief hesitation, Christian joined me, keeping a respectful distance.
We lay there in silence, staring up at the ornate ceiling.
“It was a beautiful wedding,” I murmured at last, my voice already thick with sleep.
“It was,” he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Without thinking, I rolled toward him, resting my head on his chest. I felt him tense for a heartbeat, surprised, but then his arm shifted, wrapping around me tentatively.
“Goodnight, husband,” I mumbled, already losing the battle against sleep.
I drifted off, I thought I heard him whisper something back, his fingers gently combing through my hair-but maybe it was only the start of a dream.
I woke with the first rays of sunlight slipping through the half-drawn curtains, my head still heavy from the wine the night before. It took me a few seconds to register where I was-and more importantly, with whom. Christian was still asleep beside me, one arm draped loosely over my waist. His face, relaxed in slumber, looked so different from the carefully controlled expression he wore while awake.
Carefully, I slipped out of his embrace and stood. We had a flight to catch to Valentia. The thought still felt surreal, almost laughable. Me, who had never even left Verdania, about to board a plane for a honeymoon in Montelira.
Thankfully, I had a valid passport. Edward had once insisted that everyone in Sunvale’s PR team keep their documents up-to-date, claiming it was for possible international wine fairs. One of the few useful things he’d ever done for me, in the end.
As I dressed, Christian stirred awake, his eyes locking on mine with that same intensity that always unsettled me.
“Good morning, wife,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
“Good morning, husband,” I answered, surprised at how natural the word felt on my lips.
“Ready for Valentia?” he asked, sitting up in bed.
“As ready as someone who’s never left the country can be,” I said with a nervous smile. “I just hope my soap- opera-style Maravinese-Valentian accent will be enough.”
Christian laughed, rising to his feet.
“Don’t worry. Between my Valentian and the staff who speak Maravinese, you’ll be fine. Besides, there’s something about the language of wine that transcends barriers.”
Over breakfast, my family and Joseph joined us. Annabelle was especially animated, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she poked at her croissant.
“So, Valentia, huh?” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “The fashion capital of the world! You should definitely go shopping-especially for lingerie.”
“Annie!” I hissed, my cheeks burning.
“What? You sold all the ones Christian gave you, remember?” She shrugged innocently. “It is a honeymoon, after all. And you do have a husband who’s…” Her eyes drifted appreciatively toward Christian, who was deep in conversation with my father. “Let’s just say-a very good reason to invest in some high-quality Valentian pieces.”
“I’m not going there to shop,” I retorted, though the idea wasn’t entirely unappealing. After selling nearly all the expensive clothes Christian had given me, my wardrobe was considerably more modest.
“If not for shopping, then for romance!” Annabelle insisted, her tone dripping with innuendo. “An Valentian honeymoon, wine, Castoria… even I would get romantic in a setting like that.”
Joseph appeared then, effectively rescuing me from my sister’s inappropriate commentary.
“My dear, you’re going to love Montelira,” he said, clasping my hands warmly between his. “The estate has been in the family for generations. It’s where I met my Sophie.”
His eyes softened with that familiar nostalgic glow he always carried when speaking of his late wife.
“There’s a terrace overlooking the vineyards…” He sighed. “On warm summer nights, we would sit there for hours, just talking and sipping the harvest wine. I hope the two of you find the same kind of peace we found there.
His eyes shone with emotion.
“You’ve brought light back into this family, Zoey. You are the gift here.”
The goodbyes were more emotional than I’d expected. My mother hugged me as if I were leaving forever instead of just two weeks.
“Enjoy every minute,” she whispered, smoothing my hair the way she used to when I was a child. “And take lots of pictures – I want to see everything!”
My father clasped my hand firmly, that meaningful expression I knew so well-he trusted me, but wanted me to remember I’d always have a place to come back to.
“Call when you arrive,” he said simply.
“Have fun, but not too much,” Matthew teased, giving me a quick hug. “Bring gifts.
“On the contrary,” Annabelle whispered in my ear as we hugged. “Have lots of fun. And tell me everything afterward. Especially after shopping in Virelia.” She pulled back with a mischievous wink. “Oh, and don’t forget- they say Valentian is the language of love, so learn a few useful words…”
“Annie!” I exclaimed, though I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
When we finally climbed into the limousine bound for the airport, I felt a strange mix of nerves and anticipation. It was my first time traveling abroad-and I was going with Christian. My husband.
“Nervous?” he asked, noticing my restless fidgeting.
“A little,” I admitted. “I’ve never been on a plane crossing the Aurelian Sea before.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.