You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors #1) - Layla Hagen Page 0,37

more pleased by the sheer size of the house, and by the fact that the bedrooms were far apart, because I had to take care of myself tonight. The past weeks had been like foreplay, and today had just been too much.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize what Hunter was about to do until he lifted me in his arms. I shrieked, grabbing onto his neck, holding on for dear life.

“What are you doing?”

“Crossing the threshold with my new bride.”

I smiled. “You think the immigration services have spy cameras around here?”

“No, I just think that you’re an incurable romantic and you secretly like that I’m carrying you.”

I giggled, resting my head in the crook of his neck. I was too tired and too wired up at the same time to pretend with him.

“I do like it, Hunter.”

We were quiet as he walked through the house with me. A five o’clock shadow already covered his cheeks. I stroked them absentmindedly. His skin smelled amazing. The aftershave and cologne had evaporated, revealing the scent of him.

He only put me down when he brought me to the master bedroom. For a brief second, I forgot we’d switched rooms and thought he was laying me on his bed. My nerves lit up in anticipation before I remembered the switch.

I wasn’t ready for the evening to end, and yet, when he left, I didn’t stop him.

Half an hour later, I paced the room, cursing. This damn dress just wouldn’t come off. I’d tried to undo the laces at the back myself, and somehow I’d managed to make a knot of it. Even though I planned to keep the dress, preserve it like the prize it was, I was tempted to head to the kitchen, grab a knife, and just cut the string. I would have done it too, if I hadn’t been afraid I might accidentally stab myself. How could this be so hard?

Brides aren’t supposed to undo their own wedding gowns, a small voice said at the back of my mind. I sighed. I knew that, of course. But Hunter was probably asleep by now. I didn’t want to wake him up. If only I’d started this process sooner. But I’d wasted twenty minutes removing my makeup, and the three hundred or so bobby pins from my hair.

After fifteen more minutes, I gave up. My only choices were to either sleep in it or wake up Hunter. I opted for the latter.

To my astonishment, he wasn’t asleep. His bed was empty, but I could hear the shower in the bathroom.

I sat on the mattress, right up until the water stopped running and the door opened. I leaped to my feet.

“I’m in your bedroom,” I yelled, then lowered my eyes to my lap just in case he was naked.

When I heard him step into the room, I asked, “Are you decent?”

“Yes.”

His voice was a little hoarse.

“Umm... sorry to crash in on you, but I can’t undo the ribbons by myself.”

It sounded ridiculous, like a cheap pickup line. When Hunter didn’t say anything, I added quickly, “I pulled at the laces, but on the wrong one, and ended up with a knot I can’t undo myself.”

“I’ll take care of you.”

I looked up to him as he walked to me. Holy shit. The man only had a towel wrapped around him. His chest was bare. I had a flashback to the moment he’d walked in on me in the bathroom.

I turned my back to him, glad that the room was semidark, or there would be no hiding my blush.

I sucked in my breath when Hunter tangled his fingers in the laces, pulling them open. The corset loosened, and I knew he’d succeeded. This felt so intimate. Even more intimate than his carrying me over the threshold. Each eyelet made a tiny pop when the lace was pulled out of it, and I knew Hunter had opened all of them when I had to press the corset against my chest with both hands to keep the dress from sliding down.

“Thanks,” I said after he was done.

“You’re welcome. It was too tight, I think. You’ve got marks here.”

He touched his fingers to my bare skin in a slow, delicate move, and my knees weakened a little.

“They’ll fade by tomorrow.”

Please, stop touching me, or I might just turn around and kiss you.

“Josie, fuck... what are you wearing?”

It took me a second to realize he’d probably just noticed my lingerie. He only saw the back of