The First Summer of Forever

Chapter 5- Moon and Stars

Belly

The room was gorgeous. My jaw dropped when I caught a glimpse through the door. There was a stunning canopy bed in the center of the room, sleeker than Susannah's. The railings were adorned with sheer white fabric draped from all four sides, and the bed was dressed in a fluffy white comforter with an array of pillows. Rose petals formed a heart shape on the bed, reminiscent of the romantic setups I'd seen in Sandals resort photos. It was cheesy, but it was my kind of cheesy.

Flameless candles were scattered throughout the room—on the dressers, nightstands, and any available surface. The fireplace crackled with a warm fire, and it instantly brought back memories. A rush of heat spread across my cheeks, and I was relieved that the room was dim. Still holding my hand, Conrad's fingers intertwined with mine as he guided me inside. We stood by the bed for a moment, our hands still clasped together. He gently brushed a strand of hair from my face, his gaze shifting from my eyes to my lips.

"Conrad, do you mind if I take a minute to freshen up?" I whispered.

"Of course not, go ahead," he murmured with a small smile.

"Can you unzip me?" I asked, turning around to present the zipper. And I heard Conrad swallow hard before slowly unzipping my dress, his hands brushing against the skin of my exposed back.

I slipped into the master bathroom, and the first thing I noticed was the old clawfoot tub. I had always dreamed of bathing in a tub like that. There was something so romantic about it. Maybe it was that scene from Pretty Woman that cemented it in my mind.

Taylor had brought my bags into the bathroom and placed them on the dressing chair. Thank God for Taylor. I grabbed my toothbrush, checked my reflection, and turned on the water. I brushed my teeth hastily, then checked my breath—minty fresh.

I pulled out the Victoria's Secret lingerie Taylor had gifted me at the bachelorette party. It was sheer, a creamy white fabric with an empire waist and soft ruffles that barely covered my bottom. The plunging neckline and tiny sparkles added a touch of shimmer. The matching panties completed the set.

I had never worn lingerie before—it wasn't really my style. But, carpe diem, right? It was my wedding night. I checked myself one last time in the mirror, dabbed on a bit of lip oil, brushed through my hair, and wiped away the smudged eyeliner under my eyes. I rolled a dab of my favorite perfume, Daisy, on my wrist and behind my ear. Its light, sensual scent always drove Conrad wild.

I cracked open the door and called, "Are you ready?" playfully.

"Um, what do you think, Belly?" Conrad's sarcastic tone made me smile.

"Get over here," he said more seriously, his raspy voice making me swoon.

I opened the door fully and stepped out, stopping just outside the frame. In the warm candlelight, Conrad was lounging at the foot of the bed, his ankles crossed and hands propped behind him. He had changed out of his suit, now wearing only a white shirt, unbuttoned at the collar with sleeves rolled up, and gray suit pants.

He froze, his eyes locked on me. I felt a flutter of unease. What was he thinking? "Can you please say something?" I asked, my voice tinged with insecurity.

He shook his head as if trying to wake himself from a daze. "My wife is hot," he said, drawing out the last word. I let out the breath I had been holding.

Conrad got off the bed and walked over to me. His large hands cupped my face, holding my cheeks tenderly. "You are absolutely the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he said, his eyes locked on mine. He pulled me in for a kiss, his hands still framing my face. I wrapped one hand around his wrist and let the other rake through his hair. He kissed me deeply, pulling me closer and pressing my body against his.