Chapter 5 - Maxim

I can still feel the kiss on my lips as we navigate the reception, my eyes constantly on Chiara in that dress that makes her look like a goddess and teases me in unexpected ways.

That kiss was much more than I was intending for it to be, but as soon as I pulled her against me, my body took over and I lost control of myself. It was as though the entire world faded away with her body touching mine, and her lips, so soft and luscious, took me to a different universe.

Now, I can’t stop wondering, if just one kiss can make me feel so alive, what will it be like to have her whole body? Her naked, heated skin beneath my hands, to hear the sounds she makes as I bury myself inside her.

She moves through the different groups of people, as graceful as ever, and displaying etiquette far beyond her years. She is made for this. Trained, created to be the perfect hostess. But, at the same time, I smirk, because if someone has something stupid to say, she cuts them off with such sharp wit that it leaves them blinking and stunned.

“A girl should not study business economics; I imagine it would be completely wasted.”

“I studied business economics,” she replies curtly. She is speaking to one of my family”s allies, a strong force in the business world, and not someone I would want to upset, as our partnership is a good one.

“And? Don’t you regret it, now? Doesn’t it feel like a waste of time, seeing as you were never going to actually use the degree. I guess you’ve had your adventure, gotten that out of your system, and now you can begin your real life as a wife and a mother.”

“My real life? Are you suggesting that a woman isn’t living her ‘real’ life unless she is married with kids?” she says, her tone sharpening.

This is not going to go well. I can already feel the tension growing between the two of them.

I know the type of man she is talking about. His generation is set in an older world with outdated thought patterns. Basically, he is a misogynistic asshole, but he has a good heart, despite the ridiculous shit he is saying to her right now.

“I think it is refreshing to see a lady as young as yourself embracing her true, natural way of being. To get married, as a priority over everything else. To want to be a wife and mother. It’s a beautiful thing to see. It’s not common these days at all.

You aren’t falling for all of the brainwashing nonsense that society pushes onto young women these days—insisting that they have to think and act like men, working in difficult business positions that they just aren’t cut out for—”

“Are you joking? Do you have any idea how the real world works, or do you live in some chauvinistic—”

I lean forward and grab her waist, pulling her onto my lap.

“Hey, beautiful,” I say loudly, pretending I have no idea what they were talking about. She is about to pull away from me, her eyes still bright with anger from his words.

So I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and press my lips against hers again.

I can feel her ass on my lap, my arm still around her slender waist. My lips are hot against hers, and I slip my tongue into her mouth as she begins to respond to my kiss.

Her hands wrap around my neck, and she pulls me tighter against her, fueling my own fire, as much as I think I”m fueling hers.

The kiss worked, and the building confrontation is fading away into the backs of our minds, but now I can’t stop kissing her. In a room full of people, my cock is growing hard as her body presses into my lap. She can feel it too, and she rocks slightly over me, knowing she is teasing me.

When my cock is so hard that it begins to throb, pressing up against the material of my pants and rubbing against her ass, she leans back and stares into my eyes.

The grin that spreads across her face is a dark one as she moves to stand up.

My eyes shoot wide, knowing that the evidence of what she has done to me is not something I can hide.

She slips off my lap, and I quickly pull my chair closer to the table, pretending to reach for my drink. Her fingers trail across my shoulders, and glances down at me,grinning and saying loudly, “Why don’t you stand up and come dance with me, husband? I think it is time for our first dance, as husband and wife?”

“I think you should ask the DJ to play something slower, my love,” I reply, sipping my whiskey.

She tilts her head, and the naughty expression on her face makes me want to throw her over the table and fuck her in front of everyone.

The music changes, and the lights dim. It is time for our first dance, but my body has not calmed down yet.

Luckily, the lights grow even darker, and a spotlight falls on the dance floor. I stand up and grab her waist, pulling her in front of me as we walk toward it.

As soon as we reach the dance floor, I spin her around to face me and grip her tightly against my body.

She smiles when she feels me still hard against her.

We move together, her body brushing against mine as I fight for control.

Her wide eyes stare up at me, and I know she is as turned on as I am. She is touching me, intimately, gently, her fingers brushing across my cheek. Her eyes are warm and inviting.

I lean down and kiss her, softly this time, as the music continues to play. She lifts herself toward me and responds to each move I make.

I cannot wait to pull this dress off her in the privacy of our honeymoon suite.

The spotlight fades off us, and the music changes as other couples join us.

“I think I need to get another glass of champagne,” she whispers, stepping slightly away from me.

“Don’t you dare move,” I growl, pulling her tighter against me, knowing she is doing it on purpose. “You will stay exactly where you are until what you have done to me settles.”

“And what have I done to you, Maxim?” she smirks.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t feel exactly the same way, Chiara. I can read your body like a book. I know what you want.”

“Mm,” she hums noncommittally, resting her head on my chest as we continue to dance until my cock relaxes and the next song begins.

During our very elaborate dinner, and throughout the speeches, I keep her close to me, my hand resting on her leg when we sit next to each other and my arm around her waist when we walk through the room. I can’t seem to let her go, and to anyone watching, we must look like the perfect couple.

Finally, after a long night of entertaining our guests, the reception comes to an end. My mind is tired from all this socializing, and I can’t wait to get Chiara into the bedroom alone.

I don’t even know how she will respond to me when we aren’t in public view, but I know what I want, and I”m struggling to be patient about it.

She excuses herself, telling me she is headed up to the room now, while I”m still stuck in a conversation with someone.

I nod. “I will be up in a moment, my love.”

She tilts her head, presumably at the term of endearment I”ve assigned her this evening, then turns to walk away from me. I stare after her, watching the way the wedding dress flows around her body like water.

“Your wife is beautiful. You are a very lucky man, and you two look so happy together.”

“Thanks,” I say, not taking my eyes off her until she disappears from my sight.

“So, shall we get together next week to discuss that new client? I think he will be interested in what you have on offer.”

“Yes, of course. I”ll hand his details over to Paval, he handles that side of things. But it”ll be good to meet.”

I want this conversation to end. I”m not at my own wedding to talk about business.

The man drones on for another fifteen minutes before I can’t take it anymore.

“Let’s continue this conversation another time. I have my beautiful wife waiting for me, and I”d like to spend the rest of the night enjoying my time with her,” I wink.

“Oh, yes, of course,” he chuckles, saying his goodbyes and walking away.

Before anyone else can rope me into another conversation, I rush out of the reception venue of the hotel and step into the elevator, making my way to our honeymoon suite.

My heart is pounding, and my body is tense with anticipation.

When I arrive, I notice that the door is slightly open. She must have left it that way for me. This is a really good sign.

I walk through the sitting area to the bedroom and freeze in shock.

Stefano, her stepbrother, is standing very close to her, and practically has her pressed against the closet door. She looks annoyed, and when I walk in, their hushed whispering tones come to a sudden stop.

“What the hell is this?” I demand, walking over to them.

“Stefano was just leaving,” Chiara says, glaring at him. He does not make a move to step away from her, so I take another, threatening step toward them.

“Stefano, she said you were just leaving,” I snarl, my voice dark with warning.

Stefano stands his ground and throws me a sideways glance.

He is pushing his luck with me. No one stands that close to my wife, and I can see the discomfort in her expression. I don’t know what the fuck he thinks he is doing, but I will tear him apart if he wants to challenge me on this.

I grab the back of his jacket and yank him away from her. He stumbles, looking shocked at my sudden use of force. I quickly step between him and Chiara, blocking his view of her.

His fists clench.

“Are you telling me I”m not allowed to talk with my sister?” he snaps.

“I am telling you to walk away from my wife before I rip your throat out.”

He hesitates for a moment, but I don’t back down.

“I”m done here, anyway,” he says, trying to sound casual, but the anger ripples in his voice.

He turns to march out of the room, and I wait until I hear the door to the suite close before I turn to face Chiara.