Roman ...

Nick announced the final farewell after Hannah and I ended our dance together. We hugged my parents and told them goodnight. Lori ran up to Hannah and embraced her.

"I had so much fun," Lori said. "I loved planning and I loved the wedding and everything."

I let Hannah have a moment with her sister as Lauren came over to wish me well. "Enjoy your honeymoon, Roman," Lauren said, "and congratulations." She gave me a hug and whispered, "I’m still working on finding a contact to help you bring that place down."

"Thank you," I whispered back to Lauren, and we parted.

Hannah and Lori joined us. "I don’t want Lori going home, Roman," Hannah said to me. "Especially not after what happened between me, Freddy, and Edward earlier. I’ll worry about her."

"She can stay at our house while we’re gone," I said to Hannah.

"Alone?" Hannah asked me.

"She can stay with me," Lauren offered. I glanced at Lauren, who smiled and hugged Lori.

"You don’t mind?" I asked Lauren.

"Of course not," Lauren said. She and Lori smiled at one another. "I could use her help with the interior design business. We’ll call it an internship," Lauren said. Lori squealed in delight and hugged Lauren again, thanking her for the opportunity.

"This means a lot to me, Lauren," Hannah said. "Thank you so much."

Lauren waved a dismissive hand. "It’s no problem at all. Lori has a natural talent for design. You two go have fun on your honeymoon."

"You’re alright, Lauren," I said jokingly before pulling her into another hug. Once hugs were done, Hannah gave her bouquet to her sister before the guests ushered me and Hannah out of the front doors of the museum, throwing flower petals and rice as we went down the stairs toward the waiting limousine. Someone had taken the liberty of tying white streamers and balloons onto the limo with the words "just married" written in silly string all over the windows.

"I know this was you, Nick," I called back into the crowd of guests. Nick, Wade, and Gabe howled with laughter as Hannah and I climbed into the limo, rolling our windows down to wave goodbye to everyone as the driver pulled off. When we were far enough away, we rolled the windows back up and Hannah sank into my arms. We sat in the silence of the car with only the hum of the road passing beneath us. I stroked Hannah’s hair.

"We did it," she said, glancing up at me. "We’re married."

I smiled at her. "We’re married," I repeated, glad to finally be alone with her. Without warning, Hannah sat up, placing her hands on my cheek she pressed her lips against mine. I immediately complied, pulling her up onto my lap and wrapping my arms around her. She parted her lips and we deepened the kiss, swirling our tongues together and creating a rhythm with our mouths that started slow but became faster and hungrier. Hannah’s a*s rubbing against my crotch made my dick hard, but I broke the kiss before I decided to do anything untoward to Hannah in the backseat of the limo.

"We’re almost at the hotel," I said to her, seeing the need and hunger in her green eyes.

"I can’t believe you booked us a hotel," Hannah said to me, sliding off of my lap and back into her seat.

"It’s closer to the airport," I said. "The officiant, Nick, and Lauren are going to stop by in the morning so that we can all sign the wedding license before we fly out."

"You thought of everything," Hannah said to me with a smile that was driving me wild with desire for her.

"I did," I said to her. "I want to make sure everything is correct and in order for our marriage. I want us to stay married, Hannah, for as long as we can."

Hannah’s eyes searched my face. "You want us to stay married?" she asked me in confusion. I took her hands in mine.

"Yes," I said to her. "I want you to be my real and true wife, Hannah, I don’t want this to be a temporary fix."

Hannah held my gaze. "That’s a lot to take in, Roman," she said. "It’s a big commitment."

"It is," I said, "but if you’re not ready, I understand." It pained me to say it, but I couldn’t force Hannah to stay married to me.

"I’m willing to try," Hannah said. I searched her resolute face and my heart soared. I pulled Hannah into a kiss just as we pulled up to the hotel. It was a luxury hotel on the edge of the city with a beautiful stone facade. The staff opened the doors for us and helped Hannah out so that she could maneuver the long train of her dress. Other staff took our luggage from the trunk of the limo as we were led into the hotel. The entryway was breathtaking, with vaulted ceilings and dazzling light fixtures. I gave our names at the desk and was given our two room keys.

"You’re on the eighth floor in our luxury honeymoon suite," the front desk staff member said to us. "Enjoy your stay, Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus."

"We will," I said, smiling at Hannah, who was gazing around in awe at the decor. I escorted her to the elevators and we kissed on the ride up to the eighth floor. When we stepped out of the elevator and walked to our room, the staff was waiting by our door with luggage. I tapped the sensor on the door with the key card and opened the door for Hannah to step inside.

"This is amazing," Hannah said. The room was decorated in gold, white, and brown with a massive bed in the center of the room. The bathroom was surrounded by glass walls that could be given privacy with heavy, dark curtains on sliding rods. On the opposite side of the room was a balcony with a view of the city in twilight. The staff brought our luggage inside, and I tipped them both before they left, closing the door behind them. Hannah was marveling at the suite as I watched her walk around the room in awe. She stopped at the mini bar, popping open a bottle of champagne and laughing. I joined her and she poured both of us a glass.

"To us," Hannah said, raising her glass, her green eyes sparkling in delight.

"To us," I repeated, and we clinked glasses before taking a drink.

She put her glass on the minibar table and turned around. "Help me out of this dress," she said. Gladly, I unzipped the back of Hannah’s wedding gown and watched it slip off of her shoulders, down her waist, and onto the floor. She was wearing a white strapless bra and a lacy white thong. I turned away from her as my dick throbbed with longing. Pulling off my suit jacket, I began to unbutton my shirt, glancing over at Hannah as she picked through her luggage. Did she know what she was doing to me while she was hunched over her luggage half-naked? I pulled off my button-down shirt, revealing the white shirt beneath, and I drank the rest of my champagne.

"I’m going to take a quick shower," Hannah said. She was clutching a robe and bag to her chest, slightly covering her exposed body. I nodded, pouring myself more champagne as she went into the bathroom and slid the dark curtain over the glass walls of the bathroom. I sighed and sat on the bed heavily, unbuckling my belt and pants and slipping them off. I tossed my clothes over a chair beside the bed. Damn, I wanted Hannah badly. All the kissing we had been doing was just making me want her even more every time our lips touched. Thinking about the way her body pressed against mine made my dick harden and ache with longing. I could hear the shower water running, and I imagined what Hannah looked like in there naked. Needing a distraction, I found the remote and clicked on the TV, scrolling through until I found the history channel. There was always something interesting to learn. I pulled off my socks and reclined on the bed in my white shirt and black satin boxers.

Although I was engrossed in the show, I was very aware when the shower water stopped. A moment later, Hannah reentered the bedroom wrapped in a soft brown bathrobe, her hair bright red and damp. I watched her walk around the bed and climb up to join me. We had never shared a room, but Hannah seemed to be at ease, which was good. She trusted me.

"What are you watching?" she asked me, moving in close to cuddle against my chest.

"A documentary on the mafias and gangs of New York in the 19th century," I told her, wrapping an arm around her. I could smell the sweet, flowery scent of her shampoo.

"I love the history channel," she said, and we laid there quietly while I wanted nothing more than to turn off the TV and make love to her. I couldn’t focus on the TV show anymore; instead, I stroked Hannah’s hair and imagined myself touching her in ways that she would never forget.