Diamonds and Toads: A Modern Fairy Tale by K.E. Saxon Page B

by saying, “I’ve never seen you with one before
me. Your ex was rail thin and gorgeous—she could have been a runway
model.”
    He shrugged. “I hadn’t met you yet—for the
second time—and now that I’ve gorged myself on a banquet, I’ll
never go back to rations.” He kissed her cheek and whacked her
dazzling derrière. “Not an ounce. Understood?”
    She smiled and settled into his embrace,
resting her head on his shoulder. “Understood,” she said on a
sigh.
    “You know, now that I think about it, I’ll
bet I got this appetite for ample curves from my dear ol’ grandpa.
He loved the bombshells from the fifties: Marilyn, Jane Russell,
Jayne Mansfield.” He smiled, reminiscing. “Yeah, I spent a lot of
Saturdays watching old movies with him when I was a kid.” His eyes
went wide and he sat up. “Holy shit!” He hooted and looked at
Delilah. “I just remembered something hysterical!”
    She laughed too. “What?”
    “One time, when I was about sixteen or
seventeen, he took out this ancient magazine from a drawer in his
desk—do you know who Bettie Page is?”
    Her brow furrowed. “No. Who is she?”
    He laughed again, he couldn’t help it. “Only
the most famous fetish model in American history.” He relaxed
against the back of the chair again. “Anyway, he showed me a couple
of pictures of her in full domme attire: leather, sky-high pumps,
and a whip in her hand. I was seriously turned on.”
    Her grin broadened. “Well, that explains a
lot.”
    So did his. “Yeah, doesn’t it just?”
    * * *
    Delilah hummed as she closed the door a
little later that morning, listening for Chas’s car engine to
start, waiting until she heard him pulling out of her driveway
before she turned to go back to her bedroom. Tonight was the gala
and they both had a long list of things to do before it began. It
was past time for her to be dressed and out the door herself. In a
state of unutterable happiness, she sighed and smiled. Last night
had been…her mind revolted for a split second, but it was what it
was: magic. It had been magic. Romantic, sexy, fun, full of love
and laughter. Richer in texture and emotion than their first night
together, the recurring memories of it gave wing to her heart. He loved her. Oh, he hadn’t said it, but it hovered in every
action, in every look, it was there.
    She’d had her doubts, of course. After he’d
left her at her doorstep the night of their engagement party she’d
had plenty of time to worry over his motives. And their brief
encounter yesterday morning had only fed her anxiety more. He’d
been distant and rushed. Hadn’t even mentioned wanting to see her
that evening, and she hadn’t been ready to push, so she’d left,
conflicted and heartsore, believing they wouldn’t see each other
again until tonight.
    That’s why it had been both a thrill and
surprise to find him on her threshold last evening. In fact, she’d
nearly come to terms with the fact that she’d been duped into
believing he had fallen for her, when the knock came on the door.
And when he’d swept her up in his arms, had been so crazed to have
her that he wouldn’t even let them undress first, that’s when her
doubts had begun to take flight. But, she had to admit, it had been
the emotion, the longing, in his voice when he’d spoken of the
children they would have together that had sent the demon doubts
fleeing for good.  
    * * *
    Chas hung up the phone. It’d been a bit of a
struggle, but he’d managed to keep his tone light and carefree. Sam
Slade, his best friend from college, had agreed to fill the last
spot at their table this evening.
    Chas had learned that Sam was in town just
before his engagement party and had invited him to that with the
intention of asking him to be his best man, but Sam had left the
party early, and Chas hadn’t gotten the chance to ask him. He
supposed, now that the engagement was most likely going to be
broken, it was a good thing he hadn’t gotten to talk