“Chuck, I was on the phone.” Then I cried out as he hit a sweet spot, making my head spin with need.
“You were being a temptress. I could see everything. This thong of yours barely covers anything.” I felt his fingers at the sides of my underwear, and then heard the sound of lace ripping. “In fact, I don’t think you should wear it anymore.” He pulled my panties away, leaving me completely bare to his hard, rough fucking. “You’re soaking my cock, Aubrey. Do you like it like this?”
“I like your thick cock inside me.” I pressed my palms to the wall in front of me, trying to steady myself as his thrusts grew more forceful. “I swear, you make me come like I’ve never come before. Every time.”
His hands slid up away from my hips to cup my breasts, and he bent down to kiss my shoulder. “I love you, gorgeous. I love every inch of your body. Especially your tight, wet cunt.”
I groaned as he thrust again and again, wishing I had something to hold onto, something to help keep me from completely spinning off into oblivion as I lost it all over his cock.
Chuck grunted as he felt me let go, and his thrusts grew more erratic until he bellowed out my name as he came.
Panting, I pulled away and turned to collapse against the wall. “Okay, I definitely think I need a shower now. I was going to risk it before, but now I think it’s a must.”
Chuck’s eyebrow raised devilishly as he looked me over. “I’ll join you.”
I shook my head and headed for the bathroom, knowing he would be just a few steps behind. I could’ve protested, but the truth was, I’d gone weeks without Chuck, and I wanted to make up for lost time.
“It’s six thirty. You must’ve been very, very busy.” Caroline winked at me and then looked Chuck up and down. “So, you’re the man who thinks he’s good enough for Aubrey.”
“Chuck Wright. And I know for a fact I’m not good enough for her. I still can’t quite believe she’s slumming it with me.” He held out his hand and smiled.
“Chuck. As in…” She looked at me for confirmation. When I nodded, she smirked. “You’re a brave man, not calling for three weeks, and then just showing up here, out of the blue.”
“I prefer confident. And more than a little hopeful.”
Caroline shook his hand. “Caroline Johnson. If you hurt her again, I will come after you. And I won’t stop until there aren’t pieces of you large enough to be found.”
Chuck pulled out a chair for me, and then took the one next to it. “Trust me, I will never be that stupid again. I was an idiot for letting her go without telling her how I felt.”
Caroline pursed her lips, as if she was weighing what he said to determine its truthfulness, and then she smiled wide. “Okay, let me see the ring. He did bring you a ring, right?”
I held out my left hand, where the diamond-and-rubies band was displayed proudly. “Proposed right in my office at work.”
She raised her eyebrow at him again, and then took my hand to investigate the rock closer. “Well, he has good taste. Which I should’ve guessed, snatching you up like he has.”
“He’s sitting right here.” Chuck smiled and picked up a menu. “But I would be more than happy to get another table, if you two want some girl time. I know I’ve thrown everything off being here.”
Caroline shook her head. “I want my chance to interrogate you. You stay.”
I smirked and leaned back, letting Caroline take the lead. I slid my hand over Chuck’s thigh and gave him a gentle squeeze as Caroline started asking him questions.
Drinks and food came in waves, and eventually conversation shifted from questions about Chuck’s worthiness to more benign topics. I was glad my best friend and my fiancé were getting along.
My fiancé. It was so strange to think. And yet it felt perfect too. Chuck Wright was going to be my husband. No matter what else came along, I knew that was one truth I could hold on to.
31
Chuck
I spent two weeks in New York with Aubrey. Every aspect of her life that she shared with me felt like home.
But I had to head home for Jonah’s birthday. “Are you sure you want to come with me?”
“My client load is pretty light right now, and I can sketch anywhere. These people are going to be my family. I want to make a good impression. And this way, I can meet most of them at once, right?”
“All of them. No one misses a family birthday.”
“Don’t they happen like, once a month?”
I laughed. “Yeah. If not more frequently.” I pulled her closer, glad for every naked moment I could get with her. “But it’s an excuse for all of us to get together.”
“Still, you’re not going to scare me off. I’m going with you.” She kissed my cheek. “They’re going to be my family.”
“Yeah, about that… I haven’t told anyone.”
Aubrey curled into me. “That’s okay. The only one I’ve told is Caroline. Honestly, I’ve been taking the ring off every day when I go to work. I know I shouldn’t, but I wanted to keep you all to myself.”
I tangled my fingers with hers and kissed just above her engagement ring. “As long as you’re mine, I don’t care who else knows.”
She smiled and squeezed my hand. “I already booked us two tickets. We leave tomorrow.”
I laughed and pulled her over on top of me. “I love you, Aubrey Jones, you know that?”
“You’ve said it a few times now. But I never get tired of hearing it. One day though, you’re not going to be able to say that anymore.”
“Oh yeah? Why is that? I’m not going to stop loving you.”
“No, but I’m going to be Mrs. Chuck Wright.”
I kissed her hungrily and hugged her tight.
I pulled up to the chalet midday the day before Jonah’s party was scheduled, glad to have Aubrey’s hand in mine again for this drive.
“Chuck, what are we doing here? Not to make assumptions, but I sort of thought, after all the living in sin and the engagement and everything, I’d be staying at your place.”
I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I actually talked to Luke about that while you were busy working. This is the place I fell in love with you. It’s the place my heart remembers you. So, Luke’s in the process of filing papers to switch the owners of record on the chalet and my cabin. With the slight adjustment of also adding another name to the deed for the chalet. I want it to be our home.”
Aubrey gasped and stared at me, eyes wide. “Chuck, are you sure?”
“I have a notary coming over in the morning before the party to finalize the paperwork. But if you prefer to stay in my cabin, I can always call this off.”
She unbuckled her seatbelt and moved closer until she could kiss me. Her hands slid into my hair, tugging a little as her tongue plunged into my mouth.
I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my lap, but the steering wheel was in the way. Instead, I broke the kiss with a groan and cupped her cheek. “We should go inside. Especially if you’re going to keep kissing me like that.”
She grinned and ran her hand down my chest and over the front of my pants. “If we go inside, I’m definitely going to want more than just a kiss, Chuck.”
I tossed my keys to her as I unloaded our bags, and then I took a moment to just appreciate her, standing in front of our house. I knew it wouldn’t be year-round—her work in New York demanded her time there as much as my real estate company took time here. But we’d talked it out, and even if we racked up a ton of frequent flyer miles, neither one of us were willing to let our jobs or our love go.
“Are you just going to stand there staring? Or are you going to get your ass into my bed?”
“Ours.”
She blinked a couple times. “What?”
“Our bed.” I lifted the bags, and grinned. “I think you’ll like the improvements I made since you were here last.”
“Did you finally fix that hot tub out back?” She smirked and stuck her tongue out at me. “I think we’ll have to t
ake our first dip in it together. Naked.”
I shook my head as I brushed past her to get to the front door. “Always trying to get me naked. A man could feel taken advantage of.”
“Maybe if he wasn’t just as eager to get a woman naked too.” Aubrey unlocked the door and together, we walked into our home.
“Chuck, hurry up! I don’t want to make a bad impression. You promised there would be time to stop and pick up flowers and a bottle of wine.”
“I’m coming, gorgeous. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” I grabbed the wrapped present I’d picked up for my dancer brother in New York, and then took one more quick glance in the mirror. Normally, I didn’t care what I wore to these things. They were my family and they’d seen the best and the worst of me. But I knew the ring on Aubrey’s finger wouldn’t go unnoticed for long, and I wanted to look halfway decent when they realized, out of all thirteen of us, I was the first one to find the person I wanted to spend my life with.
Aubrey called out from the living room, “Who says I’m wearing any, Chuck?”
That got my attention, and I nearly ran from the master bedroom out to meet her. “Are you seriously going to meet my entire family without panties? You’ve got bigger balls than I do.”
“No, but I knew if I brought up my naked pussy, you’d be out here faster than a speeding bullet.” She grabbed the gift and held it up. “What’s this?”
“It’s for Jonah. It is his birthday, you know. And I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’ve heard it’s customary to give a gift to the person celebrating.”
“Oh, is that what it is?” She rolled her eyes. “It’s got my name on it. You’re giving your brother a present from the both of us? And you’re not even going to tell me what it is?”
“Nope, you’ll just have to wait and be surprised with everyone else. I don’t think you’ll be opposed to having your name on it, though.”
She slipped her hand in mine, the band of her engagement ring just barely pressing into my finger. “I want them to like me. And if you’ve done anything to jeopardize that…”
“Gorgeous, I love you. That, in and of itself, will be enough to make them like you. But if you must know, after the Broadway show we watched, while you ducked into the bathroom, I snuck backstage. I got a few of the actors to sign the playbill. And then I framed it. Back before Jonah realized hip-hop dancing was his passion, he’d considered Broadway. This might be as close as he ever gets.”
“Chuck! You snuck backstage?”
“What? I had a plan, and I executed it flawlessly. You’re going to have to learn, soon-to-be Mrs. Wright, that none of us Wright kids are scared of spending a night or two in jail for the ones we love. Or for the thrill of a good time.”
She shook her head and handed the gift back to me. “Great, I’m marrying a wannabe felon. Just promise me that for my birthday, you won’t break any laws.”
I just grinned and pulled her to the door. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”
Aubrey’s eyes grew wide and she hurried to the Jeep. “You promised we’d have time to get flowers.”
I opened the door for her and helped her up into her seat, stealing a kiss before I pointed to the back. “I already took care of it while you were in the shower. Since you wouldn’t let me join you.”
“If I had, we definitely would’ve been late.” She grinned. “Thank you, Chuck. For everything.”
I kissed her again, and then closed the door. As I walked around the Jeep, all I could think was if either of us had reason to thank the other, it was definitely me. She gave me more than I could’ve ever hoped for, and our romance was just beginning. I could easily see her with a couple of towheaded kids, playing in the backyard or teaching them how to ski. I wanted to make her as happy as I felt in this moment for the rest of our lives.
The drive over to my parents was quick. The Wright Manor, as Dad humbly called it, was situated just outside of Aspen, tucked away down a dirt road you’d hardly see if you didn’t know where to turn off. It had sprawling lawns in both the front and back, but the best part, in my opinion, was the huge wrap-around porch that circled the whole place. Mom and Dad had installed heaters and big fans all along the roof of the porch, so that no matter the time of the year or the weather, we could treat it as just another room of the house.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I squeezed Aubrey’s hand and kissed her knuckles.
She pointed at the house and smirked. “Are you?”
Standing next to my mother were two people I didn’t recognize, and Caroline.
“You invited people? You really are meant to be a Wright.” I leaned over and kissed her. “Who are they?”
“My parents. And you already know Caroline.”
I shook my head. “You just couldn’t face down the firing squad alone, could you? Had to bring some ammunition of your own?”
“I figured we could tell everyone at once. That way, Mom doesn’t feel slighted that your family knew before her, and…” She trailed off and let out a sigh. “And part of me just really hopes that she won’t make a scene if she’s in a party situation.”
“Why on earth would she make a scene? I can’t imagine she’d want you to be anything less than as happy as you are with me.” I bit the inside of my lip. “You are happy with me, right?”
Aubrey pulled away and shook her head. “Seriously, Chuck? I’m about to meet your entire family, wearing a ring that only symbolizes one thing. I know I made a stupid mistake before, accepting the wrong man’s proposal…” She sniffled and brought her hand up to wipe away a tear. “But I have never been as happy as I am with you. I couldn’t have possibly imagined meeting you, and I never thought I’d fall for you. But I’m glad I almost made the worst mistake of my life. Because if it hadn’t been for Greg, I would’ve never booked a chalet in Aspen, and the hot tub would’ve broken down on someone else, and then you might’ve fallen for her instead.”
I leaned across the seat and kissed her hungrily, not caring that any one of my siblings could walk past, or worse, my parents. I just had to kiss her. I had to show her no other woman would’ve stood a chance, even if I hadn’t met her.
The sound of someone rapidly slapping my Jeep door nearly made me jump out of my skin.
I turned and saw Rick standing outside the window. “You coming in? Or you just going to stay out here all night, making out with your girlfriend?”
I bit back the urge to correct him. “We’ll be in in a second. But if I want to make out with her, I will.”
“I’m just glad your mopey ass got on a plane. We were all sick of watching you pout.” Rick walked up the driveway, leaving us alone again.
“You were pouting?” Aubrey smirked at me.
“Like you weren’t. I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you.” I grinned and waggled my eyebrows at her.
“Oh, so romantic. Make sure you put that in your vows. I’m sure to swoon then.” She shoved open the door and reached back into the back seat to grab the flowers and wine. “I’m taking all the credit for this.”
I stuck my tongue out at her. “Great, you’re going to look like the perfect future daughter-in-law, and your parents are going to look at me like I’m an ass. Since someone didn’t warn me that her parents were coming.”
“My mom’s not the hostess. It’s a hostess gift.” She licked her lips and smiled. “Come on, let’s go face our firing squad.”
I hopped out of the Jeep and ran around to help her down. Even though she’d told me more than once she was capable of getting out on her own, I liked being there for her. I liked that every time we were in the car together, I knew I’d get to hold her hand.
Aubrey took a deep breath as we walked up the front steps.
“Don’t worry. They’re normal people. Who just happen to have been famous actors. Well, really just my parents. And then you’ve got Liling, but she’s only famous to people who pay attention to models.” I nudged her with my hip playfully. “Brea
the. They’re going to love you.”
Aubrey smiled softly, but I could feel the tension in how tightly she gripped my hand as I opened the front door.
“Hello? Anyone home?”
Almost as quickly as I said it, my mother came around the corner, Caroline hot on her heels.
“It’s about time. I was beginning to think I’d have to send Isabis out to get you.”
Aubrey tilted her head. “Not Rick? I’d think the cop would have better luck bringing people in.”
I grinned proudly at my fiancée’s memory. “Oh, don’t worry. He found us.”
“I had no doubt Broderick would find you, but Isabis knows how to make her siblings move.” Mom smiled and leaned in to kiss my cheek, and then she looked over Aubrey. “So, you’re the woman who had my son in knots.”
Aubrey shifted nervously and held out the flowers and wine. “These are for you. Thank you for letting me join your party today. And invite a few people. I hope Caroline’s not being too much of a pest.”
Mom grinned and pulled Aubrey into a warm hug. “Dear, we’re all family here. You’re welcome any time. As long as you make my son smile like that. And you really didn’t have to bring gifts.”
“Unless it’s for my birthday.” Jonah danced past, stealing the wrapped present from under my arm. “Everyone’s gathering in the back. You’re the last one to show up. Some of us are hungry.”
“You’re always hungry, Jonah.” I shook my head and slid my hand over Aubrey’s lower back.
Mom led the way to the back of the house, and Caroline leaned in close as soon as Mom and Jonah were out of earshot.
“You didn’t tell me one of your future in-laws is Bex!” She practically hissed my sister’s name.
Aubrey furrowed her brow and looked at me. “Your sister’s a rock star?”
Seducing the Runaway Bride (The Wrights Book 1) Page 22
