Free C&A Novella (Marked Heart #2.5) by M. Sembera Page A

square frame and sheer fabric netting draped over the top was perfect.
      Back at Charlotte's side, he took her hand, saying, "Okay."
    Watching her reaction carefully as she opened her eyes, he felt her smile in his heart as the glow from the lantern lit up her expression.
    Appearing as though she had something to say but couldn't get the words out, she stood there staring at the bed.
      "I'll take it down and bring it home tomorrow." He shared before suggesting, "I thought we could stay the night out here."
    "This is ours?" She breathed with tears in her eyes.
    Nodding at her, he took her face in his hands.
      Auggie placed a long slow kiss against her lips before leaning his forehead to hers offering, "We can try it out right now."
    "Help me with my dress." She urged as her face went flush.
    Hating to pull away, even for a second, Auggie let go and stepped to the end of their bed.
    All along he had planned on leaving it up to her, but at the same time, Auggie knew Charlotte wouldn't want to wait any longer than he did.
    Picking up one of four hangers off of the chair he bought, that would also come home with them, he hung it from a partition he used to block the only window in the barn.
      "I figured you would want us to look presentable for pictures at the reception," he informed, letting her know he had taken the time to think of everything.
      There was a slight laugh to her tone as she replied, "You first."
    Smiling at her he complied with her request.
    Standing behind her in his boxers, Auggie ran his fingers across the white ink peacock feather tattooed across her shoulder blade. Slowly unzipping the back of her white satin wedding dress was torture as he forced himself to be thoughtful and take his time. When Charlotte held her arms high in the air, he gathered her dress in his hands and gently pulled it over her head.
    Turning back to her once he had hung her dress next to his jacket, he wasn't sure if he was going to make it. Charlotte's skin, a pair of white satin panties and sparkly blue high heels almost pushed him right over the edge. Auggie gritted his teeth as his entire body flexed at the beautiful sight before him.
    Charlotte slowly turned to face him. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she had a mischievous look in her eyes.
      Glancing down between them, she uttered, "Two feet."
      Moving his hands to her hips, he reminded, "And a quarter."
      "That quarter's important." She laughed, as he nodded, saying, "Damn right."
    Leaning in, he eagerly kissed her.
    As Auggie held Charlotte against himself, the need to christen her under her new title provoked him to break their kiss.
      Seeing her eyes flutter open as she sighed, he placed his hand against her cheek, vowing, "I, Augustus Carrick Caffrey, promise you, Charlotte Persephone Caffrey, the love I have for you will never fade. My desire for you will only grow. And the life we share together will make every day worth living, because..."
    Charlotte placed her fingers against his lips preventing him from finishing his declaration. Scowling as she took a step back from him, he concentrated on the loving expression on her face, instead of wondering why she stopped him.
    Charlotte brought her finger's that were against his mouth to her lips and kissed them. He watched intently as she drug them down her chin to her chest. His heart was racing as her fingers traveled down between her breasts, across her stomach and stopped when they reached the inside of her hip.
    Auggie glanced at her face just long enough to see her pull her lips into her mouth as she took a deep breath. Returning his focus to her fingers, resting against the inside of her hip, he watched her run a finger inside the band of her silk panties as she tugged one side of them down.
    In an instant everything stopped. His heart, his breath, his being, everything escaped him as he went down on his knees in front of her. With a deep scowl Auggie clenched his back teeth together, almost unable