by Tia Wylder
“Honey?”
“Oh, yeah,” I said quickly. “I’m sure you’re right.”
I’d barely finished talking to Mom when the doorbell rang. A courier was standing there with a giant box.
“This is for Miss Emma Rogers,” he glanced down at his clipboard. “Can you sign?”
When I saw the name on the box – one of the most exclusive designers in New York City – I blushed. I could barely wait for the courier to hand the box over to me before running upstairs in excitement and locking my door. When I opened the box, I actually gasped – the dress before me was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It was emerald silk, with beading on the front. Short tea sleeves kept it from looking too old or too fussy, and the mid-length hem would be especially flattering on my curvy legs.
My fingers were shaking nervously as I plucked the beautiful dress from its box and laid it gently on my bed. As I undressed, I kept my eyes closed. Groping for the dress, I pulled it over my head and reached behind myself to zip it up. I was relieved – it fit perfectly, almost like it had been custom-made.
When I opened my eyes, I gasped. Standing in front of the mirror was a beautiful woman – not some dumb, shy girl. I grinned. This is perfect, I thought. I can’t believe he got it so right!
“Emma!” Mom yelled from downstairs. “How does it look?”
“You’ll see,” I called back. I couldn’t keep from grinning. Closing my eyes, I took hold of the skirt and twirled around in a long, slow circle, feeling like a princess. It had to be one of the first times in my life where I’d ever felt truly beautiful.
I went into the bathroom and did some light make-up – nothing too heavy, just a light swipe of mascara, some mattifying powder, and a little blush and lip gloss. Then I curled my hair and left it in a half-up, half-down style that I’d seen in the most recent beauty magazine Michael had shoved under my nose. Wait until I tell him and Ana, I thought, giggling. They won’t believe this!
Derek hadn’t just sent a dress – there was a matching pair of high heels, of green silk, nestled in a mess of tissue paper at the bottom of the box. Like the dress, they fit perfectly. I grabbed my purse, gave myself one last look in the mirror, then skipped downstairs with a grin plastered on my face.
“Honey, you look so beautiful,” Mom wiped a tear from her eye.
I rolled my eyes, although I could tell she was being sincere. My mom wasn’t the type to make fake compliments.
“Well, I never went to prom, so now you get to see what I would’ve looked like,” I grinned. “Is Derek here yet?”
Mom shook her head. “It’s just after three,” she continued. “I wouldn’t be worried. He’s very punctual.”
Yeah, I thought, pressing my nose to the kitchen window and looking outside for any hint of Derek’s car. He’s the nice twin, remember?
Still, I couldn’t deny that thinking of Damien made my heart start to thud in my chest. I didn’t know what it was – he was so arrogant, so cold, and yet I was drawn to him. Whereas sweet Derek was just that…sweet. I felt grateful and lucky that he was taking me to the wedding, but I couldn’t imagine anything happening between us.
Then I remembered the steamy make out session in Derek’s car and blushed.
Seconds later, a gorgeous silver limousine rolled up in front of the house. When I saw Derek emerge from the back, I gasped.
Derek looked almost nervous as he walked up to the house. He rang the bell, and I darted into the foyer, almost slipping in my heels. When I pulled open the door, Derek smiled.
“You look beautiful, Emma,” He reached for my hand. I pressed my fingers against his and Derek lifted them to his mouth, kissing the back of my hand. I flushed hotly.
“You got a limo? Really?”
“Yeah,” he grinned. “I thought it might be fun.”
I blushed again. “That was nice of you,” I swallowed hard. I couldn’t even begin to think about how much this was costing Derek. Between my dress, shoes, and the car…he had to have spent at least five thousand dollars.
Derek shrugged self-consciously. “Least I can do,” he said. He winked mischievously, and my heart fluttered inside my chest.
He’s so handsome, I thought. I can’t believe he’s taking me out!
“Come on, Em,” Derek said. “There’s champagne inside.”
“Wow,” I grinned. “You really did go all out!”
Derek chuckled modestly. I could tell the attention embarrassed him. That surprised me – somehow, I’d always assumed that he was just as prideful as Damien. But I was starting to realize that Derek and Damien were two very different men.
The driver was waiting by the back doors of the limo. As he pulled one open, Derek gestured for me to crawl inside first. Once inside, I couldn’t help but gasp again. It was the most beautiful car I’d ever seen – the panels on the side were inlaid with ebony, ivory, and mother-of-pearl. The seats were a plush navy velvet, and sure enough, there was an ice bucket with champagne on a small tray that also held two delicate flutes, strawberries covered in chocolate, and a small bowl of what looked like caviar.
“I was hungry,” Derek settled across from me. He gave me a guilty smile. “I hope you don’t mind the spread.”
I blushed.
“Champagne?” Derek asked.
“Yes, please.”
Derek twisted the cork out of the bottle with practiced ease and handed me a flute filled nearly to the brim with golden, fizzing liquid. We clinked glasses, and I tilted mine to my throat. The limo was such a smooth ride that I barely felt like I was moving.
I watched as Derek loaded a small plate with caviar and small crepes from a heated dish. He laughed and shook his head.
“What is it?”
“You’ll think this is ridiculous,” Derek said. “But when I was a kid, I hated caviar. I hadn’t even tried it – but someone told me it was fish poop, and I didn’t even want to taste it after that.”
I giggled. “And now you love it?”
Derek laughed. For a moment, he almost looked embarrassed.
“Yeah,” he said. “I tried it finally when I was maybe fifteen…and oh my god, then it was my favorite food. But I was too embarrassed to tell Dad and Damien – they’d spent years making fun of me and calling me a pussy because I wouldn’t eat it. So I kept it on the sly. Dad finally figured it out when I had a case of Siberian caviar delivered to the office on dry ice.”
I burst out laughing. “That’s hysterical,” I reached for a strawberry and nibbled the tip, savoring the rich chocolate as it melted in my mouth.
Derek nodded. “Yeah,” he shook his head. “Damien still won’t let me forget about it, so let’s just keep this a secret, okay?”
I blushed. That’s not the only secret I’m keeping, I thought as I watched Derek swallow his champagne.
We weren’t in the limo for long – talking and laughing with Derek made the time pass by more quickly than ever. When the limo stopped, I gasped.
“Oh my gosh,” I shielded my eyes from the glare of the sun and looking around. “Are we in Europe?”
Derek laughed. “No, but I can see why you’d think that. This place is like a castle.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration. The huge stone building towered over Derek and me as the limo driver let us out of the back. It was the most beautiful home I’d ever seen, with flagstone and lots of stained glass window details.
“The ceremony is out back,” He offered me his arm. After a second, I accepted.
“Thanks for taking me,” I said in a hushed voice as we walked towards the elaborate set-up of chairs under a silken canopy. “This is really nice.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know anyone here,” Derek said. “And trust me, weddings aren’t the place to hang out with the bride or the groom. I know Kenny’s fiancée, she probably invited five hundred people.”
“Oh, wow,” I swallowed hard and tried not to look surprised.
Derek nodded. “Yeah.”
The chairs were
filling up quickly, and Derek guided me to two empty seats in the back. As the ceremony began, I was on the edge of my chair as I stared at the lavish gowns and flowers surrounding me. The bride looked beautiful – like a supermodel – and her bridesmaids were equally lovely. The groom was movie-star handsome, with a killer smile.
When the ceremony was over, Derek guided me over to the bar for cocktail hour. I noticed many people smiling and waving at Derek, but no one came up and said hello.
“Why isn’t anyone talking to you?” I asked, sipping on my gin fizz.
Derek shrugged. “I have a feeling it’s because of Empire Mesa,” he shook his head. “It sounds bitter, but I think they’re jealous.”
“Well, your dad’s company is doing really well,” I bit my lip. “I’m sorry if it means you lost your friends, though.”
“It’s fine,” he shrugged. His expression was dark and stormy. “I’ve always cared too much about work and not enough about my personal life,” he added. “But enough of that. What about you? What do you want to do?”
“You mean when I grow up?” I joked.
Derek didn’t laugh. “This is a really important time of your life, Emma,” he said. “I know it sounds cliché, but you’ve really got to plan for the future. You’re smart – you’ll go far if you want to.”
I nodded. He’s so serious! I thought. It wasn’t difficult to imagine Derek at the office – probably buried in a pile of paperwork, creasing his forehead. Derek already had the beginnings of creases and crow’s feet, but they only added to his handsome looks.
“I know,” I said, even though my future was literally the last thing I wanted to be talking about with Derek. “I’m thinking, but I’m not sure.”
“Well, you mentioned the Serenity Corps, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, but some of my friends don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Derek shrugged. “I think you could get much valuable experience, but I’m not sure how a potential employer would see it. They might think you weren’t serious about jumping into the workforce right away after college.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Frankly, I’m not sure I am serious about getting a job.” I bit my lip. “This’ll sound so immature, but I’m not exactly in a rush to sit behind a desk for the rest of my life.”
“Trust me, I know how it feels,” he threw his head back and laughed. “That’s why it’s so important for you to find something you’ll enjoy doing. Or, something you won’t hate,” he amended.
From inside the castle, music began to play. Derek took my hand.
“Enough talking about business,” he said. “Come on, let’s dance a little bit.”
I blushed and nodded. “That sounds wonderful,” I admitted.
Derek and I danced most of the evening. The food was delicious – gourmet Italian, as the bride’s family was from Sicily – and I had so much cannoli and tiramisu at the end of the night that I felt like I couldn’t eat for a week. It was one of the most fun nights I’d ever had. And the setting was gorgeous. Even though it wasn’t my wedding, I felt like a princess twirling around in Derek’s arms.
It was so perfect, I never wanted it to end.
“Hey, come with me,” He pulled me away from the dance floor and outside. The evening air was crisp and chill. I shivered. When Derek saw, he took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. It smelled like spicy, musky cologne and I sighed happily.
Derek took my hand and led me up a steep stone spiral staircase. When we made it to the top balcony, I gasped.
“This is so beautiful.”
From where we stood, I could see all the castle ground. They were immaculately groomed and beautiful. Derek took my hand and pointed towards the horizon.
“Look.”
Just as I looked up, brightly colored fireworks filled the sky. Red and blue and green swirls exploded in front of my vision.
“It’s beautiful,” I cooed.
Derek wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. I sighed with contentment as I nestled against his body. Being with him didn’t give me the heart-thumping adrenaline rush of being with Damien, but it was nice and pleasant. Safe, really. Now that I’d gotten to know him a little better, I wasn’t worried about Derek hurting me.
Derek slid his fingers under my chin and tilted my head back. We stared into each other’s eyes for a moment before he pressed his lips to mine. I purred into his mouth and stretched on the tips of my toes, eager for more.
Derek gently guided me backward. The sounds of fireworks exploding filled my ears as my body began responding to Derek’s touch in a sensual, wonderful way. I felt my back meet the stone wall as I wrapped my arms around Derek’s neck and slid my tongue into his mouth. Derek groaned. He nibbled on my lower lip and ran his hands down my body. Goosebumps sprang out over my flesh, even though I wasn’t cold.
When Derek’s hands reached my waist, he hesitated for a moment. I reached between our bodies and took his hand, guiding it between my legs.
“It’s okay,” I whispered in Derek’s ear. “I want you.”
Derek pushed my skirt up with urgency. He kissed me passionately, twisting his face against mine to find the best angle as his tongue explored my mouth. I melted in his arms – his tender passion was so different than Damien but no less welcome.
When I felt Derek’s fingers stroking the crotch of my panties, I moaned and shifted my body, spreading my legs to allow him greater access. His gentle touch made me feel fiery and aroused. Lust flowed through my body like golden wine, and I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the stone as Derek’s fingers slipped inside my panties and began gently rubbing my clit.
“God,” I moaned softly. “Take me, Derek. Make me yours.”
I fumbled with Derek’s belt and trousers, yanking them down his narrow hips. His hard cock pressed against my thigh and I shivered as I thought about how it would feel when he slid inside of me for the very first time.
Derek pulled his wallet out of his pocket and grabbed a foil packet, ripping it open with shaking hands. Of course, he has a condom, I realized. Not because he’s a Lothario like Damien…just because he’s careful.
I kissed Derek passionately and pulled him close, spreading my legs even wider until my thighs were aching from the strain. Derek pushed my panties to the side and steadied himself with a hand on my hip as he slid inside. Delicious sensations exploded in my lower belly, and I moaned loudly. Derek pressed his mouth to mine and kissed me deeply. He bit my lip, and I shivered in his arms. For a moment, he stayed locked inside of me. Then he reached down and grabbed my thighs, pulling them around his waist. As Derek began to make love to me, I closed my eyes and tilted my head back. Pleasure filled my body, and soon I was panting and squirming, pressing my body against Derek’s in a desperate hope for sweet release.
Derek groaned into my neck. He kissed and bit at the delicate skin. The fireworks were still exploding overhead – they matched the explosive, stimulating sensations in my body. We moved together like a perfect, graceful machine and I tightened my grip around Derek’s neck as his cock plunged deep inside of me, again and again.
“God, Emma,” Derek grunted in my ear. I shivered at the sensation of his voice against my hot earlobe. “I’m gonna come.”
I closed my eyes and pressed my body against Derek’s, rubbing my clit against his pubic bone as he thrust deeply inside of me. With a shudder, I felt my own orgasm wash over me like a powerful tidal wave. I gasped and moaned and screamed, biting my lip as I surrendered to the delicious sensation that crashed over me over and over.
Derek plunged deep inside of me, gripping my hips and straining. I could tell that he was close – he arched his back and grunted, throwing his head back. I kissed him deeply, savoring the salty taste of sweat on his lips. When Derek came, I felt his cock pulse and twitch inside of me.
Derek kissed me gently, then kissed my forehead. He lowered me to the ground, and I reached between my legs to adjust my soaked panties. My hea
rt was thudding in my chest – I couldn’t believe that I’d just slept with Derek!
Derek smiled at me and pulled me into a tender hug. He held me close and kissed the top of my head.
“That was amazing,” Derek pulled away and leaned down to kiss me once again, chastely, on the lips.
I smiled. “It was,” I said in a shaky voice.
The fireworks were slowing to a finale, and Derek and I watched as the sky was filled with magical, colorful explosions.
“Wow, this is beautiful.”
Derek kissed my cheek, “You’re beautiful.”
I flushed. I couldn’t believe it – how were Derek and Damien so different, yet equally intoxicating in their own way? Derek had set this whole thing up like a fairy tale. I never expected to be making love on the roof of a castle, with exquisite, costly fireworks in the background and a belly full of tiramisu. But Derek had shown me something completely unexpected – that making gentle, passionate love could be just as thrilling and satisfying as explosive, fiery sex.
