Reaching the Edge

By Jennifer Comeaux

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Comeaux

Smashwords Edition

Discover other titles by Jennifer Comeaux at
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Life on the
Edge

Edge of the
Past

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Acknowledgement

To Sharon and Melisa at Critique Circle, thank you so
much for your help and your words of encouragement!

The limousine pulled up to our Cape Cod
townhouse, and Sergei kissed the back of my hand. He raised his
deep blue eyes to mine.

“Finally home,” he said, his breath warming
my skin.

I smiled and waited as he hopped out of the
car and walked around to open my door. The ride from our wedding
reception in Boston had been long, but it was nice to have time to
unwind after the whirlwind day. Not that my mind had been able to
fully relax, thinking about the momentous night ahead of us. I
remembered my best friend Aubrey’s words when she’d hugged me
goodbye at the reception – “Have the time of your life, Em.”

Smoothing the front of my white strapless
“going away” dress, I thanked the driver and stepped out into the
cool summer night. Sergei wrapped his hand around mine, and the
gesture felt different, just as all the looks and touches we’d
shared during the ride had. There was an added electricity between
us, a new level of tension that made my body buzz with
anticipation.

Sergei and I walked up to the porch, and he
unlocked the door of the townhouse and motioned inside. “After
you.”

I stared at him, wondering if he’d forgotten
the tradition of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold.
Maybe it’s not done in Russia?
I didn’t want to make a big
fuss about it, so I started toward the doorway.

Sergei laughed and grabbed my waist. “You
thought I forgot.”

He swept me up into his strong arms, and I
giggled as he took a slow, dramatic step into the foyer. After
kicking the door shut behind us, he leaned his head down, and we
kept smiling as our lips met with sublime sweetness. Our first kiss
as husband and wife in our home.

Sergei set me down, his eyes not leaving
mine, and the bit of nervousness I’d felt all evening fluttered
stronger in my stomach. I slid my hands down the lapels of Sergei’s
gray suit jacket. We’d waited so long for this night, and I wanted
it to be all that we’d expected. Two and a half years of waiting…
and we didn’t have to hold back any longer. That was both
incredibly thrilling and slightly scary.

“So…” I tapped my fingers against Sergei’s
jacket. “I think I’ll get changed.”

“Do you need help with any zippers or
anything?” He grinned and peeked around the back of my dress.

I laughed. “I think I can handle it.” I
tugged on his sea foam green tie and whispered in his ear, “Your
turn is coming very, very soon.”

He hummed softly and kissed my shoulder.
“I’ll get the wine and meet you on the terrace.”

I scooted up the stairs to my bedroom –
our
bedroom, the butterflies in my stomach reminded me – and
from the dresser I pulled out the short and silky ivory nightgown
and matching robe I’d bought for the occasion. The gown was simple
with no lace or frills. Two skinny straps and a deep neckline made
it my perfect kind of slinky and sexy. And I didn’t think Sergei
would have any complaints. After all the waiting, I could probably
wear flannel pajamas and he’d be turned on.

I brought the lingerie into the bathroom and
undressed. My long, loose curls fell around my face as I removed
the pearl barrette from my hair. While I slipped into the nightgown
and touched up my lip gloss, the faint sound of classical music
came through the door. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, my
blue eyes shining. Sergei knew exactly how I’d pictured the setting
for our first night together.

I stared into the mirror, combing my fingers
through my hair and skimming them down my nightgown. Leaning in
close to the glass, I studied my reflection. From a young age I’d
worn make-up and skating costumes that made me look older, but I’d
never felt more grown-up than I did at this moment. And it wasn’t
just because of the silky gown that dipped low over my bust and
clung to my petite curves. It was knowing that my husband was on
the terrace waiting for me. A tiny shiver rolled through me.
My
husband.

What if I disappointed him? What if the whole
experience was a letdown for both of us? I tried to put those
thoughts out of my mind as I fiddled with my dark blonde curls,
twisting them around my fingertips and then brushing them over my
shoulders.

Not until I’d examined every pore, every inch
of my creamy skin did I step back from the mirror and put on my
robe. I tied the sash loosely around my waist and went back into
the bedroom. It was dark except for two candles burning atop the
dresser. The scent of lavender and the passionate strains of
Barber’s
Adagio for Strings
filled the room.

I left the dreamy romantic scene and walked
across the hall to another one. Stopping at the glass door of the
terrace, I took a moment to admire the view, especially that of
Sergei. He’d shed his jacket and tie and had untucked his shirt and
rolled up the cuffs. He was pouring white wine into two glasses,
and more candles cast a soft glow over his face. I imagined running
my fingers through his short golden brown hair as he pressed me
against his long, lean body.

I couldn’t tear my eyes from him, and my
heart began to pump harder. Sergei was mine. This sweet, amazing,
loving,
smoking hot
man was all mine. And I could finally
show him the full depth of love in my soul.

A lilting breeze tickled my cheek as I
stepped onto the patio. Sergei looked up from the wine, and his
gaze traveled slowly over me, growing hotter with appreciation. He
set the bottle on the table and came toward me, still speechless.
Moistening his lips, he finally spoke.

“You look… wow.”

My face warmed, and I smiled and dipped my
head. Sergei gently lifted my chin and brushed a whisper of a kiss
on my mouth. I just then noticed there was music on the patio,
also. “With or Without You” played low on the stereo.

“I love your music choices,” I said.

“I thought we’d do a little edgy out here and
then soft inside.”

“It’s perfect. Everything’s perfect.”

Sergei continued to gaze at me, and he only
looked away for a moment to pick up the wine glasses. He handed one
to me. “Let’s make a toast.”

I smiled up at him. “Can I start?”

“Of course.”

I raised my glass and tried to gather my
thoughts, not easy to do with the way Sergei was looking at me. I
took a long breath to slow my racing pulse.

“To my husband.”

Sergei’s mouth curled upward, and I
continued, “You make me feel so loved… in everything that you do.
Being with you is like a dream.” My voice caught, and I needed a
second before I could go on, “A wonderful dream that’s only going
to get more and more incredible. I love you so much.”

Sergei touched my face, sweeping my cheek
lightly with his thumb. His admiring stare deepened into an even
more intense look, one that quickened my pulse further.

“To my wife,” he said, his voice thickening.
“You amaze me every day. Not just on the ice but with who you are.
You have the most beautiful heart, and I feel like the luckiest guy
in the world that you’ve given it to me.”

Tears watered my eyes, and I blinked a few
times.

Sergei raised his glass. “I love you, now and
always.” He tapped his glass to mine, ringing a crystal chime.

I took a long sip of the sweet wine and then
set my drink on the table. Sergei did the same and brought me into
his arms. “Do you know how happy you make me?”

Still choked by emotion, I answered with a
kiss, and Sergei drew me nearer. His tongue caressed mine in slow,
soft circles as his hands slid inside my robe and closed around my
waist. The lump in my throat melted into scorching desire.

Sergei’s lips moved down my neck, making me
feel more liquid, like I could pour myself all over him. If simple
kisses were that intoxicating, how good was it going to feel to
cross all the boundaries?

“Sparks” began to play on the stereo, and I
squeezed my arms around Sergei’s shoulders. “Would you dance with
me?”

He left one more lingering kiss below my ear
before lifting his head to face me. “I’d do anything for you.”

I stared into his eyes, not doubting for a
second what he’d said. I pressed my mouth to his, and as we swayed
to the music our lips hovered within a breath of each other. This
was a moment I wanted to hold onto forever.

Sergei brushed his hands up and down the
plunging back of my nightgown, leaving a trail of goose bumps on my
skin and an aching need for more of his touch. Soon, he would know
every part of me – every part of my body, my heart, and my soul.
And as much I couldn’t wait to give myself to him, I still felt
anxious.

The song ended, and Sergei’s feet stopped
even though the music quickly resumed with the next song,
“Sunshower.”

“Can we keep dancing?” I asked.

Sergei massaged the small of my back. “I’ll
dance with you for as long as you want. We can take this as slow as
we need to.”

I tenderly grasped his face. God, he was
amazing. I hugged him closer and held on tight.

“I’m just a little nervous,” I said quietly.
“I wanna be everything for you.”

Sergei pulled back slightly so he was looking
into my eyes. “You already are.”

My heart melted again, burning like the
candles on fire all around us. Sergei was doing exactly what I’d
said in my toast – making me feel immeasurably loved. And I wanted
to give him that same feeling.

His open collar beckoned, and I reached up
and touched my lips to his throat. He took a long swallow as I
kissed my way north to his jawline. Pausing between kisses, I
rubbed my nose against his faint stubble, breathing in his spicy
scent. Who needed alcohol – I could get drunk off the essence of
him.

Sergei sank his fingers into my hair and
captured my mouth with his. I moaned softly and clung to his
shoulders. The breadth and depth of his kiss left me dizzy,
overcome by the heat singing in my veins.

Sergei stopped to look at me, tracing his
thumb along my bottom lip. He didn’t say anything, just kept his
eyes fixed on mine. They’d become more hooded with passion. The
aching within me grew stronger, and I leaned into him, feeling all
hesitation disappear, letting my body take the lead. I wanted to
feel Sergei’s hands on me. I
needed
to feel his hands on
me.

“Why don’t we go inside?” I whispered.

He trailed one hand down my arm, lacing my
fingers through his, and he held onto my hand as he blew out all
the candles and turned off the stereo. Covered in darkness, I
couldn’t see his face clearly, but I could feel the wanting in his
touch as he walked behind me to the door, his arms circled around
my waist.

The melody of a soft piano concerto met us in
the bedroom. I turned to Sergei, and he stole my breath again with
a long and searching kiss. My robe fell at my feet, and Sergei
gently nudged down one strap of my nightgown with his mouth,
placing his lips on my shoulder. My pulse pounded in my ears and
raced in my chest.

This is finally happening.

I grasped the front of Sergei’s shirt and
undid the top button. He gave me a little smile and I returned it,
watching his eyes sharpen as I slowly unbuttoned the rest. I wanted
to savor each and every second.

Laying my palms on Sergei’s chest, I slipped
his shirt over his muscular shoulders and down his tight biceps.
His skin was so hot, so smooth. With the lightest touch, I ran my
hands across his sculpted abs and around to his back as I kissed
him just below his silver pendant. His heart was beating as fast as
mine.

Sergei’s hands settled on my hips, and he
clutched my nightgown, sliding the silky material up and over my
head. I stood almost completely bare before him, trembling with
anticipation. He took in all of me, electrifying me with the fire
in his eyes.

“You’re even more beautiful than I imagined,”
he said, enveloping me in his arms.

He was hard all over, and as I pressed
against him he grew harder. We spun into a flurry of hands and
kisses everywhere – on my mouth, his neck, my breasts, his chest –
not stopping until my fingers found the button of Sergei’s pants.
His breath hitched as I opened the zipper, taking my time and
enjoying the response of his body. Knowing how desperately he
wanted me gave me a heady feeling of power. I hooked my thumbs
through his belt loops and tugged downward, letting gravity do the
rest.