Randle's Princess (19 page)

Lia’s eyes were sparkling at just the site of the foyer as they entered.  The architecture was magnificent with walls and floors of solid shiny marble and the room decorated with expensive vases and paintings.   Thomas went over to the front desk to get their reservation in order then led her over to the elevators.  He placed his hand on her back as if to guide her while her head was turning in all directions trying so hard to soak it all in.

Finally they were entering their suite and again she was aghast.  “This is more like a house instead of a hotel,” she gasped out admiring the matching marble walls and floors as they entered into what seemed to be a living area complete with sofa and arm chairs strategically placed around a huge fireplace. 

“It is one of our finest,” the bellhop informed her as he followed behind with their bags.

Lia watched as he disappeared off through another doorway assuming it to be the bedroom.  She wasn’t quite ready to see that one just yet now remembering why she was here.

“What’s wrong?” Thomas asked seeing her change in expression.

“Oh nothing really,” she tried to cover.  “I’m just hungry.”

“Of course,” he replied.  “We’ll go down to the café.  You’re really gonna love that.”

She wasn’t sure what to expect now but knew it must be grand.  Thomas tipped the bellman then took his wife’s hand and she followed him out the door.  They took the elevator back down and she anxiously followed his lead.

“Oh my!” she exclaimed again as they walked through the door and into a café built overlooking the Grand Canal.  The patio style café was filled with round glass top tables covered with umbrellas and a marble railing all the way around it overlooking the water.  Lia ran quickly to the edge so she could lean and look out to watch as the gondolas slowly made their way by.

“Come on my love,” Thomas then urged as he again took her hand and nearly had to pull her over to one of the tables.  He pulled out a chair and waited for her to finally sit before taking his own seat across from her.  The weather was much cooler than she was used too but she loved the way the cool breeze was blowing threw her hair.

“You’re even more beautiful when you smile like that,” he then complimented.

“Thank you,” she replied again feeling a little embarrassed.  “This is more beautiful than I ever imagined it to be.  Thank you so much.”

Thomas was the pleased one now.  “You’re quite welcome.  I knew this would be the perfect place to get to know you, the perfect place for you to become comfortable with me.”

“I do believe you were right,” she answered softly as she finally met his gaze and began to calm down at last.  She was beginning to feel funny inside.  Am I falling in love with this man? she began to wonder to herself as the waiter now placed their food before them.  She ate as fast as she could but couldn’t stop looking around at her magnificent surroundings and also found herself a little intrigued by her handsome new husband as well.

“Come on my lady,” Thomas then stated as he stood from the table and reached for her hand again.  “It’s time for me to show you around this great city.”

Lia accepted his invitation excitedly.  “The boat first,” she demanded.

“The boat first,” he agreed with a laugh.

They made their way to the wooden pier only a few feet away and Lia watched anxiously as Thomas paid the fare then motioned for her to get in first.  “After you my lady.”

Lia giggled as she hopped inside the canoe shaped boat and sat on the bench and Thomas came to sit beside her.  She watched with envy as the man at the head of the boat took his pole and shoved them off into the water.

“He’s called a gondolier,” Thomas then informed her.  “He will make sure you see as much as possible.”

Next thing she knew Thomas had his arm perched smugly around her shoulder as they glided across the water and she felt as if this were the most romantic thing she had ever imagined in the world.  Pointing and laughing they made their way along the water admiring the buildings that looked like palaces and the smartly designed arched bridges that crossed the water. 

Then the gondolier began to sing to them and her eyes widened at the beauty of it.  She was so amazed that without thinking she found herself cuddling to Thomas as if she’d known him forever, her arm around his stomach and her head reclined on his shoulder.

“This is the most amazing place in the world,” she let out with exasperation.

“Yes it is,” Thomas replied softly, his head now leaned on top of hers, his arm still around her shoulder.

Finally they again dined having dinner at another beautiful restaurant overlooking the water as the sun began to set.  Lia was getting tired but fought it trying to see as much as she could.  Thomas again toasted her glass of wine. 

“Don’t worry my lady,” he started.  “We are gonna be here an entire week.  You can’t see it all in one day.”

“A week?  Really?  That’s awesome,” she exclaimed as she returned the toast and sipped her wine.

They made their way back to their hotel room at last after Lia finally admitted she couldn’t go anymore.  Thomas laughed at her courage for trying. 

“I told you, we have plenty of time,” he assured her again as they now stood in front of the fireplace in the sitting area.  “But if you don’t mind for now I’m gonna take a shower,” he then stated then gave her a quick peck on the nose.

Lia smiled widely at his gesture.  “Ok.  I think I’m about due one too.  I’ll go when you’re done.”

Thomas grinned then disappeared through the doorway at the end of the room.  After she waited a few minutes she heard another door close and knew he must be in the bathroom and she finally got the nerve to check out the rest of their suite.  Slowly she peeked through the door and her jaw dropped again.  The bedroom was massive and held the same design as the rest of the suite with its marble walls and floor.  The bed had a huge fabric covered headboard with carved edges lined with wood painted gold and a huge drape hanging on the wall behind it pulled back as if to look like a window. 

A round nightstand sat on each side of the bed with table cloths made with fabric to match the headboard and a glass lamp with gold shades sitting on each.

Then she saw their luggage sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed.  She picked up her bags one at a time and began to open them and hang some of her things in the closet.  If they were to be here a week she figured she may as well make herself at home.  Then she became nervous again hearing the bathroom door open.  She looked toward it not knowing what to expect.  Thomas appeared wearing his white hotel robe exposing only the leg portion of his blue satin pajama bottoms and bare feet.  Relief bestowed her. 

“Your turn,” he exclaimed as he neared her standing next to the bed then leaned over to kiss her cheek from behind. 

She closed her bag and placed it back on the floor.  “And I sure need it,” she answered back a little embarrassed.  She then reached for another bag she knew contained her night clothes and a few other make up and accessories.

“I saved you plenty of hot water,” he then added trying to relax her now seeing she was again becoming nervous with his presence.

“Thank you,” she meekly uttered out.  She made her way inside the door and again was flabbergasted.  “This is a bathroom?” she exclaimed out loud.  She could hear Thomas laughing behind her.

“Yes, that’s a bathroom,” he chuckled out.

Lia’s eyes scanned again at the long narrow room made of marble, amazed at the huge sunken Jacuzzi tub on one side of the room, the gold double sinks on the other with marble counter tops and an elegant golden little table at the end of the wall for decoration purposes only.

Slowly she closed the door and put her things on the counter top and began to undress nervously not knowing what to expect when she again emerged into the bedroom.  She chose to shower instead of getting in the huge tub.  As she swirled under the water she felt her wedding rings spin around her soapy finger reminding her again she was now a married woman.  She lifted her hand high in the air and gazed admiringly at its sparkling beauty.

I can do this she again told herself.  Thomas is an amazing man and I think I could fall in love with him easily.  Finally she turned off the water and grabbed her huge fluffy towel and rang it through her long hair then dried her body.  She emerged and now faced the huge mirror in front of her as she dried her hair and brushed it through.

She then opened her bag and stared at its contents for a moment trying to decide what to wear.   She didn’t want to seem too forward but didn’t want to look old fashioned either.  Finally she slid on a pair of her skimpiest white laced panties and her white satin nighty that slightly snuggled to her body and dropped barely down to her upper thigh and covered it with a matching robe that fell just a bit lower and tied it closed.  Again she reached into the bag to get a bottle of perfume, just the right one, nothing too strong and sprayed it quickly at her chest.  She closed the bag and faced the door then took a deep breath.  Finally she reached out and opened it.

The room was dark now except for the dim light coming from the lamp on the table next to Thomas.  She saw his head turn in her direction and he grinned as she slowly neared her side of the bed.

“Feel better?” he asked cheerfully.

His jolly demeanor automatically made her feel relaxed again and the tumbling in her stomach went away.  “Much,” she finally answered as she sat on the edge of the bed.  Her eyes scanned his body already covered with the blanket except from the chest up.  This made her even more relaxed.

Finally she slowly rose and untied the robe and dropped it to the floor and sat again.  Then she raised her legs up onto the bed pulling the blanket back and quickly covered herself with it as she now came to lie next to him.  He was staring back at her still smiling as his head reclined on his pillow.

“Are you okay?” he then asked.

“I’m fine,” she replied again showing her nervousness as hard as she tried not too.  She turned to her side so she could face him.

To her surprise Thomas reached over and pulled her against him, their faces now only inches apart.

“Look Lia, I don’t know what you think,” he started softly.  “But I’d never force myself on you against your will.”

Her big brown eyes only gazed into his not knowing for sure what to say.  Then he neared her more and kissed her gently then drew back to look at her again.  She didn’t resist so he approached again and this time kissed her even more passionately then ever before.  Lia found herself wrapping her arms around him at the same time she felt his curling around her body then he slowly pulled back the blanket but stopped again to face her.

“If you’re not ready I will understand,” he stated as if to give her one final chance to resist him.

Lia felt overwhelmed instantly at his compassion for the situation she was in.  It was as if he had warmed her body with his concern and she had a sudden feeling come over her that she had never felt before.  And this time it was she that approached him and initiated the kiss.

Thomas looked a little surprised as he stared back at her now.  “I
am
ready,” she whispered out.

Without another word he yanked the blanket back from both of them.  Lia couldn’t believe this was happening to her but she liked it.  Never had she felt so good than she did with this man.  Thomas was now on top of her making love to her as a man and wife should and she never imagined it to be so wonderful.  She only held him tightly and returned his love and enjoyed every moment of it.

The next morning Lia opened her eyes only to come face to face with her sleeping husband.  She gazed down realizing their naked bodies were only covered now by the blanket and their legs were still entwined together as she watched him sleep and she was still smiling.  Finally he opened his gleaming eyes and met with hers.