Chapter 314: The Wedding Night (1)

“Rest?”

Catherine wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.

After everything that had happened, they had been swallowed by wedding preparations, investigations, family obligations, and the endless mess Dorian had left behind.

Somehow, despite sleeping in the same bed and kissing whenever they had a moment alone, they hadn’t had time to think about anything more.

But tonight was different.

Tonight was their wedding night.

And Catherine had been waiting for it.

She had even gone to bed early the previous night because she wanted to be well-rested. She had avoided drinking at the wedding because she wanted to remember every moment. She had practically destroyed part of the ceiling just to make sure they could have some privacy. She even locked her door.

She had prepared.

She had waited.

And now this man was telling her to rest?

Seriously?

Catherine stared at him, searching his face for even the slightest hesitation.

There was none.

He was completely serious.

She knew Maximilian was selfless when it came to her. She knew he would put her comfort before his own without thinking twice.

But this was getting ridiculous.

And, frankly, it wasn’t very attractive.

She shouldn’t have been thinking about him like this on their wedding night.

Her mind betrayed her anyway.

Where was the man who had once kissed her bare back and murmured that she was torturing him when she hated him?

What had happened to that man?

She supposed hitting his head had done something to him.

Still… Why did he have to be this selfless?

Catherine quickly put on her sweetest smile. “You’re right. I should wash off all this hairspray and go to bed.”

She stretched exaggeratedly.

“Man, I’m so tired…”

Then she turned and walked toward the stairs.

Maximilian blinked.

Was she really that tired?

Didn’t she know what night this was?

He stared after her. Then slowly lowered his head until his forehead met the wall.

Why did I even ask that?

He had wanted to make sure she wasn’t exhausted. He had wanted her to know there was no pressure, no expectation, nothing she had to do simply because they were married now.

But now that she had agreed to rest…

Didn’t he have to respect her decision?

Maximilian sighed.

With the expression of a man who had just voluntarily walked away from his own happiness, he followed her upstairs like a kicked puppy.

Catherine lingered at her door to see Maximilian walking up like a defeated knight. Her lips curved to a smile.

What an adorable man!

She left her door open.

“Help me with the buttons, Husband!” she called.

She was not letting him walk away. She was going to give him a chance. Not just for him. She wanted it too. She had been waiting for this night, after all.

Maximilian walked in, trying to take a deep breath to have a handle on his desires. There were long lines of buttons on her back.

That perfect back…

He stepped closer.

Catherine felt him before he even touched her. The warmth of his body seemed to settle against the cool air around her, making her suddenly aware of every inch of exposed skin.

He gently pushed her hair to the front. His finger gently grazed her neck.

Catherine’s jaw tightened.

His finger reached for the top button. And one by one he opened them.

The contrast of his warm finger and the cold air… Catherine closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his fingers on her skin. Each button he opened exposed a little more of her back, and with every soft brush of his knuckles, anticipation curled tighter inside her.

When he leaned close, his warm breath fell on her back, and she felt her blood warming and desire pooling.

The last of the button opened.

Maximilian gently traced his finger on her shoulder and slipped down her straps.

He was running on desire alone.

Catherine could feel it in the way his breathing had changed, in the careful restraint of his hands. She could almost feel the effort it took for him not to simply pull her into his arms.

He leaned closer, his hands settling around the beautiful curve of her waist before moving to rest against her stomach

“Hmm…”

Catherine leaned on him and turned.

He smelled good.

So good.

The familiar scent of him made something inside her melt. She had missed this closeness, this warmth, this man. Tonight, there was no interruption waiting behind a door, no investigation, no enemy, no reason for either of them to pull away.

She gently nudged his face with her nose as his hands moved up, cupping her breasts.

She felt his breath catch.

She turned and bit his lips, and his hold on her chest got more confident as their kiss turned passionate.

The kiss stole the air from her lungs. Catherine curled her fingers into his hair, drawing him closer, and felt the familiar heat between them build with every breath.

He turned her, lifted her up, and pressed her against the wall as the kiss deepened.

Catherine felt her heartbeat racing.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, unable to stop the smile that touched her lips between kisses.

Finally.

After everything they had been through, after all the times they had been interrupted, tonight she had him to herself.

The dress slipped down, and Maximilian leaned back to see her. The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable.

“You look smashing, my dearest,” he said and immediately pressed his lips on hers.

She held his shoulder, and he interlocked his finger with hers and slammed her hands against the wall. She arched her back, unwilling to have even a single space between them.

His kisses left her mouth and moved to her neck. Her chest heaved, feeling the wetness of his lips on the sensitive spots of her neck. A shiver ran through her as his mouth lingered there, each kiss sending another wave of heat through her.

She could only moan as he kissed her collarbone, and she could feel the hotness of his desire on her.

For a moment, Catherine forgot everything except him. The warmth of his body, the roughness of his breathing, the way his hands held her as though he had spent far too long restraining himself.

But then, she pushed him back.

“It’s getting late. I’ll take a shower first,” she said, and left a kiss on his lips.

And while Maximilian stood there, stunned, with his desire so apparent, Catherine simply picked up the towel and walked into the bathroom.

Maximilian hit his head on the wall.

Me, and my damn mouth!

Catherine turned to look at him as she entered the bathroom. Her lips curved to a smirk.

She left the door unlocked and turned on the shower.

Maximilian stared at the door.

She must be tired… I should let her rest tonight…

Inside the bathroom, Catherine pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

She had left the door unlocked for a reason.

Now, whether her husband was going to figure it out was another matter.

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