The Chalet

by Tara Sue Me

  Not far from where I stood in the tiny church, Abby was waiting, preparing to become my wife. I closed my eyes against the wave of emotion that thought brought with it. We had traveled so far, crossed so many miles to get to this point. Yet I knew within my heart that the twisted path we had taken to reach this day had been worth every minute, every heartbreak. Our journey had not been easy, but every difficult step had drawn us closer and we’d become better people for it. My heart was full knowing our journey was just getting ready to start in earnest.

  I wondered what she was thinking. At this exact moment, what was going through her mind? We’d been together long enough for me to have a pretty good idea of what she was thinking based on her expression. If I could just get a quick look at her right now, it would put my mind at ease.

  I took a deep breath to calm my mind and focus. Everything was fine. Not too long from now, we’d be married. Tomorrow we’d take off for two weeks alone.

  I didn’t want to think too much about our honeymoon. It would be horrifically embarrassing if I had to walk down the aisle with a hard-on. But after a month-long abstinence, I couldn’t help but imagine collaring her for the first time as Abigail West. My fingers itched to lock my collar around her neck, push her to her knees, or bend her over the bed.

  Better think about something else.

  I glanced out the window. The snow had stopped, but left everything with a thin film of white. Numerous cars and taxis had pulled up outside.

  “You ready?” Jackson asked, coming up behind me and clapping me on the shoulder.

  I captured him in a one-armed hug. “Never been more ready.”

  “I stopped by and saw the women.”

  “How’s Abby?”

  “Beautiful, happy, and ready to become Mrs. Nathaniel West. Which she’ll be in about an hour.”

  I looked at my watch. “Thirty minutes. I asked for an abbreviated ceremony, but I’m not sure the minister understood. I don’t think he understands English all that well.”

  He laughed. “There’s a church full of people waiting for you guys.”

  I straightened my jacket. “Let’s go.”

  I’m sure the church was lovely. Abby had worked hard to make certain everything was perfect. But my eyes barely took in the stone walls, candles, and roses. I didn’t pay attention to the gathered crowd either. My eyes were locked on the front of the church, focused on the spot where Abby would become mine forever.

  The minister, Jackson, and I made it to the front and I rocked back on my heels and waited. Before long, the music changed: the soft strands of a harp and violin replacing the piano. The doors at the back of the church opened and I straightened my shoulders.

  Felicia walked down the aisle, but I didn’t give her more than a glance. My focus was on one thing: Abby. She was waiting at the back of the church, waiting to become my wife.

  It was almost absurd to think it possible.

  And then she stepped into the doorway and my breath caught. She was exquisite. As she made her way toward me on her father’s arm, I’m sure I was grinning like an idiot and I didn’t even care.

  Her dark hair was piled on top of her head with a few wayward tendrils escaping. I longed to reach out and touch one, tuck it behind her ear. Her neck, of course, was bare.

  I felt fiercely possessive as she walked toward me. I couldn’t take in her beauty all at once, it overwhelmed me. Her gaze locked on mine and I finally had the answer to the question I had wondered about earlier. She was fine. She was beyond fine. She was radiant.

  Finally, Abby and her father reached the front of the church. Though we didn’t touch, the energy between us seemed tangible. I tried my best to listen to the minister as he began the ceremony, but I kept glancing out of the corner of my eye at Abby.

  When it came time for her father to give her away, he kissed Abby’s cheek and shook my hand. Then he placed her hand in mine.

  “You’re a good man, Nathaniel,” he said. “Take care of my girl.”

  “With my life,” I promised.

  I took both of her hands in mine, awed by the love I saw in her eyes.

  “Abby,” I whispered, rubbing the top of her hand with my thumb.

  Her eyes glistened.

  We had decided on traditional vows and as we stood with our family and friends, repeating the words that would bind us forever in the sight of God and man, I felt a deep peace within my soul.

  She slipped my father’s wedding band on my finger, all the while looking into my eyes. As the ring settled in place, it was as if everything in the world made perfect sense. I took her wedding band of princess cut diamonds set in platinum and placed it on her finger. For a few precious seconds, we stood gazing into each other’s eyes and I felt her love and desire sweep over me. I knew she found the same passion reflected in mine.

  The minister stepped forward. “By the authority vested in me by the state of New York and our Heavenly Father, I pronounce Nathaniel and Abby husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Nathaniel, you may kiss your bride.”

  I pulled her to me. “Finally,” I said before my lips pressed against hers in a kiss.

  I’d never felt more alive, more in love, more more.

  “I love you,” I whispered against her lips.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” the minister said when we pulled away, “it is my pleasure to present Nathaniel and Abby West.”

  Holding hands, we turned and greeted our family and friends as husband and wife.

  Chapter Four

  Abby

  The day couldn’t have been more perfect. Everyone we cared for and loved was in attendance to share our day. But best of all, Nathaniel and I were finally married.

  I’m not sure I’d ever seen Nathaniel look more handsome. It wasn’t the tux or his gorgeous eyes and chiseled jaw; it was the emotion visible in his expression: the love, joy¸ and overwhelming look of bliss. He was merely handsome the day I met him. Today, he was breathtaking.

  We held hands as we walked to the back room of the church where I’d gotten ready. Everyone else was on their way to the reception hall in the city, but we had a few minutes before our hired car arrived to pick us up.

  When we made it into the room, he closed the door behind us, turned the lock, and pushed me against a wall.

  “Abby West,” he almost growled.

  “Mmm.” I trailed a finger down his chest. “Say it again.”

  “Abby West,” he repeated before teasing me with a soft kiss.

  My hand made it to his waist. “Now say it the other way.”

  His eyes grew dark with pent-up desire as he spoke the name he used when I wore his collar. “Abigail West.”

  My knees threatened to give way. Holy hell, what it did to me when he called me Abigail.

  “How long until the car gets here?” I asked, desperate to have his hands on me.

  “Not long enough. Just enough time for this.”

  He dipped his head and his lips met mine in a kiss that was long and deep and gave a hint as to what would follow. He entwined our fingers, and pulled our hands above our heads. His lips were strong and insistent, but I knew mine were just the same.

  “We could skip the reception,” I suggested when he finally pulled back.

  “Don’t tempt me,” he said. “As it is, that gown is temptation enough. Is that a corset?”

  Sweet, sweet victory.

  “It is.” I gave him a teasing smile. “I hoped you’d like it. Felicia had to lace me up in it.”

  His finger danced along the bodice. “Is that so?”

  “Yes. In fact, I doubt I can get out without help.” I batted my lashes at him. “Think I’ll be able to find someone willing to give me a hand?”

  “Oh, trust me, I’ll get you out. It’ll be like unwrapping a present.”

  “If I had a decent change of clothes, I’d let you do it right now.”

  He shook his head. “If I did it right now, there’s no way we’d m
ake it to the reception.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “Come on.” He slipped a wrap around my shoulders, then took my hand and led me outside. “If we miss the reception, we’ll regret it when we’re old and gray.”

  One of Nathaniel’s business associates owned a large penthouse he rarely used that included what could only be described as a ballroom. It was the perfect place for the reception: private, with a stunning view of the city. When he heard we weren’t getting married at our country estate, he’d offered to let us use it.

  I’d given Felicia free rein over the decorations, telling her I only needed to know the barest minimum. She had flawless taste, so I wasn’t worried at all.

  Nathaniel and I rode in the back of the limousine to the penthouse, sipping on the ice cold champagne that had been waiting for us. The driver was separated from the passenger section by a glass partition, so we had our privacy. We sat side by side and I laid my head on his shoulder while I twisted his wedding band around his finger.

  “What time do we need to leave?” I asked. I still didn’t know where we were spending the night. I’d given him my overnight bag earlier.

  “No specific time.” He grinned. “I know exactly what you’re doing and it’s not going to work.”

  “I wasn’t trying to get information out of you, I was just wondering.”

  He gave me his I don’t believe you one bit look.

  “Okay,” I admitted with a smile. “Maybe I was trying to find out just a little.”

  He kissed my forehead. “You’ll have to wait and be patient.”

  “I used up all my patience during the last month.”

  “Mr. West,” the driver’s voice buzzed in on the intercom. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a call for you.”

  “It’s my wedding day, I’m not taking calls.” He had told me earlier he’d left his phone in his carry-on luggage. Unless it was an absolute emergency, he wanted to be unreachable.

  “It’s your pilot, sir.”

  We looked at each other. His pilot? The one taking us to Switzerland tomorrow? This didn’t sound good.

  Nathaniel picked up the handset in the back of the car. “Yes.”

  His expression didn’t change the entire time he listened. That in and of itself told me something was wrong. Nathaniel asked a few questions, which confirmed my fears, especially when he said, “What are our other options?” Then he told his pilot he’d call him right back, and hung up.

  He turned to me with a sigh. “There’s a major winter storm coming. We either need to leave tonight and beat it or wait until it passes.” He frowned. “I’m sorry. I checked the weather last night. Everything was supposed to go north of us.”

  I placed my hand over his fist. “How long would that be?”

  “The storm will be over in a day or two. But it might take longer for the airports to be operational.”

  “And if they’re not?”

  He grimaced. “No honeymoon.”

  While it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to not have a honeymoon, it was something I’d really been looking forward to. Two weeks alone with Nathaniel in a country where no one knew us, where we had no responsibilities but each other. That was too hard to give up. Would I risk that for spending more time at our reception?

  I looked up, caught his eye, and lifted an eyebrow. The corner of his mouth uplifted in a half smile.

  No, it wasn’t a risk either of us wanted to take.

  “There’s no decision to make,” I said.

  “That’s what I thought. We leave tonight.”

  Nathaniel spent the rest of the car trip on the phone with his pilot making arrangements. From the way it sounded, we were going to have to cut down our time at the reception. I took hold of Nathaniel’s left hand and checked the time. Just past seven thirty.

  He hung up with a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. “We need to take off no later than ten. That gives us just an hour and a half at the reception,” he said just as we arrived at the penthouse.

  “So we eat quickly, talk to a few people, and then leave.”

  “I hate that we’ll have to spend our evening watching the clock.”

  “It’s okay with me,” I said. “If that’s what it takes to ensure we have a honeymoon, I don’t mind keeping the chitchat to a minimum tonight.” I slid closer to him. “I have plans for the next two weeks and nothing about them involves New York.”

  He cupped my face. “You always know just how to look at something to make it seem completely all right.”

  “Honestly, choosing between honeymoon with you for two weeks and an evening with a group of people I see all the time?” I kissed him softly. “Not much thought had to go into that one.”

  He smiled and took my hand. “I just wanted today to be perfect.”

  Stepping out of the car, I took his arm as we made our way inside the building. “We’re married. Nothing could make this day less perfect.”

  Chapter Five

  Nathaniel

  Abby, of course, had been correct. The reception was simple, but perfect, and if anyone thought it a bit rushed, they kept it to themselves. The small crowd pulled us apart shortly after we arrived and we spent some time chatting with our guests. As I accepted congratulations from a colleague¸ I scanned the crowd looking for Abby. She stood in the center of a group of women I recognized from the library. Everyone was ohhing and awwing over her ring.

  I doubted she’d had much, if anything, for lunch, so I excused myself to get us a plate. I chuckled at the first food station I came to and filled our plate with tapas. I was sure there was still a smile on my face when I approached the group Abby was speaking with.

  “Ladies,” I said with a nod to them all. “I hate to interrupt, but I’m going to steal my bride away for a quick bite and hopefully talk her into a dance.”

  Everyone was all polite with smiles and “yes, of courses” and “don’t mind us.” I led her to the head table, pulled her chair out, and pushed mine close enough for our knees to touch. I figured we probably had between five and ten minutes before well-wishers approached us again.

  I held up a banderilla. “You didn’t tell me we were having tapas.”

  “You didn’t ask,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eye.

  Tapas was our favorite playroom snack. Usually, I’d have her feed me first and then I’d serve her. She might have caught me off guard slightly by having it at our reception, but I planned to turn tables on her.

  She reached for a skewer of vegetables.

  “Put it down,” I said in a low voice and her hand stilled. I picked up a skewer, slid a cucumber off, and held it to her mouth. “Open.”

  Her lips parted and I slipped the vegetable inside. She placed a kiss on my fingers. Next I offered her a meatball and then nodded toward the plate. “We only have a few minutes.”

  She took some bread and lifted it to my lips. “When I planned the menu, we had more time to do this. I just wanted a discreet way to honor our weekend time.”

  I wrapped my hand around her wrist, my chest full of awe at how she’d planned our reception. Once more, the need to have her in my collar pulled at me. “I wish we had more time so we could serve each other adequately. Why don’t I get someone to wrap this up for us so we take some of it with us? That way we can properly enjoy it on the jet.”

  Joy filled her eyes. “Thank you.”

  I leaned forward, meaning to kiss her, but before I could, someone slapped my back.

  “First dance, man,” Jackson said. “Felicia said for me to get