Page 43 of Poison and Wine
After nibbling her bottom lip for a moment, she said, “Thank you for the dress, Callum.”
“You’re welcome.” With a grimace, I said, “Now that I think about it, I probably shouldn’t have delivered it to you myself.”
“Why not?”
Scratching the back of my neck, I replied, “You know, because it’s bad luck on account of seeing you before the wedding."
A laugh bubbled from her lips, which hit me straight below the belt. Fuck me if I didn’t love the way her laughter sounded. She so rarely did it in my presence. “After kidnapping me from a religious order, are you really worried about luck today, Callum?”
“A real man makes his own luck, which is why I’m marrying you.” When the amusement started to fade from her eyes, I added, “But I want our union to be blessed.”
“You just want me not to drive you crazy.”
I shot her a cheeky grin. “Only in the bedroom will I appreciate that, love.”
“As if anything is going to happen between us in the bedroom,” she shot back.
“Already talking like a true wife,” I replied with a wink.
“I’m sure I’ll feel more like one when I put on this dress,” she lamented.
As she ran her fingers over the satin, I said, “I suppose in the end, it only matters that I haven’t seen you in the dress yet.”
“That’s probably right.” After she tore her attention away from it, she motioned her hand to my side. “What’s in the bag?”
"Oh, the stuff to make your face up with.”
“Cosmetics,” she replied with a slight smile.
“Aye, that’s what the woman called them.” I handed the bag over to her. “I know you probably weren’t allowed to wear any in the order, but I thought you might like to now.”
She cocked her brows at me. “Are you sure that it isn’t you who would like me to wear it?”
I threw up my hands. “I could give a shite less if you wear any of it. I think you’re the most stunning woman I’ve ever met just as you fucking are.”
My compliment sent pink streaking across Caterina’s cheeks. “Thanks,” she murmured.
“You’re welcome, Kitten.”
After gazing back into the bag, her expression turned suddenly sheepish. “The truth is I adore makeup. Before I entered the order, I was ridiculously vain, and I had drawers upon drawers of lipsticks, mascara, and eyeliner.”
It was hard to imagine her being that Caterina. The woman before me didn’t appear to have a vain bone in her body. “I’m glad I got some for you.”
When she pulled out a bottle of what the saleslady had called foundation, her brows rose. "But how did you?—”
"I showed the lady a picture of you. She said if the colors weren’t right we could bring them back."
After turning over a few of the tubes and boxes in her hands, Caterina smiled at me. “I think they’ll work just fine.”
With a nod, I replied, “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
After setting the bag down on the dresser, Caterina turned her attention back to the dress. As she nibbled on her lip, I knew there was something she dared not ask. But there was nothing to stop me from bringing it up.
“While I might’ve picked out the dress, the saleslady got together the intimates you would need.”
Instead of seeming grateful that I hadn’t been pawing through her potential underwear, she had the nerve to appear angry with me. “Was there something wrong with that?”
“You seriously have to ask if there’s something wrong with getting me lingerie?”