Arranged

by Jennifer Kittredge

  That did me in, the final straw in a barrage of wonder and astonishment. I let the tears stream down my face. Sam had done all of this for me. Even the music was perfect, I realized, as Sam Arthur’s “Say you won’t let go” played in the background. How had he known this was one of my favorite songs? It was then that my gaze found Sam’s. I inhaled sharply at the sight of him. He looked even more sexy than he normally did in a light-grey suit and a tie that matched my dress, and his expression was soft and tender, his gaze never leaving mine.

  “Ready, sweetness?” Mom’s gentle voice intruded, drawing me back to reality.

  Not taking my eyes off Sam, I whispered my response. “Yes.”

  Walking toward him, my gaze locked on his, and warmth spread throughout my body. This all felt so real. Except it wasn’t, I reminded myself, snatching at something to ground me in the sense of surreal perfection I’d somehow found myself in.

  Trembling, I put my hand in his when I reached him.

  Sam hugged my mom quickly, while I gave Bear a pat on the head.

  “I can’t believe you did this for me,” I whispered through my tears.

  “You deserve so much more than this, Sydney.”

  Overcome with emotion, a single tear slid down my cheek.

  “Don’t cry.” He brushed the tear from my face. “This is a happy occasion, remember?”

  “It is a happy occasion. Thank you for doing this.”

  “Shall we get started?” the woman standing before us asked.

  “Yes, let’s get this amazing woman’s last name changed so I can finally call her my wife,” Sam answered.

  Everyone cheered.

  The ceremony went by in a flash. I felt as though I was in a dream, murmuring my responses on cue but somehow both immersed in and separate from them at the same time.

  “You may now kiss your bride.”

  Sam lowered his lips to mine, our kiss intense and fiery. Tingles of electricity shimmied up my spine as applause broke out around us. Julia came up and hugged me tight.

  “I’m so happy for the two of you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I never thought I’d see the day my son finally settled down. You are a special girl, Sydney.” Heat rose to my cheeks as I found myself not knowing how to respond. Emily caught my eye and gave me a ‘come here’ signal with her pointer finger.

  “Excuse me, Julia.”

  I hesitated before walking toward Emily, bracing myself for the third degree. She had worked with Sam for the last five years and knew he wasn’t the marrying kind. In all that had happened and the rush to be married in only a few days, I’d forgotten her inevitable response.

  “So, is there anything you want to tell me?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked innocently.

  “You know damn well what I mean, Syd! You just married the town’s most notorious bachelor. You’ve known him for a little over a week. What the hell is going on?”

  I hated lying to my best friend and wished frantically that someone would come to rescue me before I put my foot in it. “Em, I love you. You just have to trust me with this one, okay?”

  “Are you in trouble, Syd?”

  “I promise you I am not in trouble. I’m fine. Really. Now let’s enjoy the reception.”

  Just then, John saved me from Emily as he made an announcement for everyone to please follow him to the yacht. The reception would take place there, while cruising the bay and watching the sunset. Sam really had thought of everything. His grandmother wished us both goodnight.

  “As much as I would love to stay and enjoy the festivities, I have to get back to your pop. He will want full details and pictures as proof.” She patted Sam’s cheek softly. He placed his hand on hers where it rested on his cheek.

  “I’m sure he will. Tell him we’ll come by in the morning, so he can wish us congratulations himself.”

  “He’ll be delighted, Sammy. He’s wants nothing more than to see you settled down.”

  “I know, Gram. Tell him I finally have.”

  “Sydney, my dear, it was absolutely lovely. You look breathtaking. Keep this one in line.”

  I hugged her. “I will.”

  “I have no doubt about that.”

  The reception was a blur of champagne and laughter. I was surrounded by my favorite people, celebrating my marriage to the handsome Sam Andrews, on a yacht in the middle of the bay, listening to the music that flowed smoothly through the air.

  “Having fun, Mrs. Andrews?”

  I sensed him behind me before he spoke. Turning to face him, a glass of champagne in my hand, I lifted my hand in a toast.

  “I am having the absolute best time. Thank you. I can’t believe you pulled this off.”

  “I had some assistance,” he admitted.

  “How did you find my mom and convince her we had been dating for a few months and were now getting married?”

  “I have a way with women.”

  “You certainly do.”

  I leaned in, kissing him tenderly on the mouth. I wasn’t sure it if was the champagne talking that gave me the courage to blurt out, “I don’t want to sleep alone on my wedding night.” I blushed.

  That thought was not meant to come out of my mouth. Yes, I had thought about making love to Sam numerous time today, but he wasn’t supposed to know about it. It must have been the champagne talking. Biting my lip, embarrassed, I looked down at my feet. Sam took my chin in his hand, pushing it up gently so my eyes were now locked with his.

  “Sydney, you’ve been drinking. Think about that before you step into something you might regret.”

  “I won’t regret it. It’s my wedding night. Every girl should sleep with her husband on their wedding night.”

  “Be careful what you wish for, Mrs. Andrews.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  A few hours later, the yacht anchored back at the dock. We said our good-byes and were left standing alone in the back yard beneath the twinkling lights.

  “Dance with me, Mrs. Andrews.”

  Sam swept me into his arms, and we began to sway to the music.

  “I’ve been looking forward to being alone with you all night,” he murmured as he leaned down to kiss my neck. Desire rose up within me, hot and heady. I flushed, thankful for the almost dark that would hide it.

  “Sam…” I said breathlessly.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to sleep alone tonight, Mrs. Andrews? There’s no going back if you choose not to.”

  “I’m sure.” I exhaled slowly.

  Sam stroked my face lightly with his fingertips.

  “Sydney, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I’m a big girl. I won’t break.”

  I might get my heart broken but I was willing to risk it. Suddenly, all my concerns had been swept aside by a need that was so much bigger than fear of hurt.

  His eyes searched mine, as if he were looking for any sign of hesitation on my part. He wouldn’t find it. I wanted him desperately. All this playing pretend had heightened my senses. I longed to spend the night in his bed, wrapped in his arms.

  Looking up at him shyly, I whispered, “Please, Sam.”

  He answered by slamming his mouth on mine. Without hesitation, I opened greedily for him, and our tongues entwined. Panting heavily, he tore his mouth from mine. Taking my hand in his, he led me inside and to the staircase. Pausing at the top of the stairs, he looked at me.

  “You’re sure about this?”

  “I’m sure.”

  His eyes darkened, stirring my need with his own flaring response. Then, lifting me in his arms, he walked down the hallway to his bedroom.

  “What are you doing?” I exclaimed, my arms clutching instinctively around his neck.

  “Carrying my wife over the threshold,” he teased.

  He placed me gently on my feet just inside his bedroom door, and my eyes surveyed my surroundings. Sam’s room was massive. Black-paneled walls cloaked the room tastefully. Three black and white photograp
hs fit perfectly above the large poster bed. A beautifully intricate chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling, cascading a soft glow throughout the room. His room was masculine yet romantic, and I immediately felt comfortable in its warmth.

  I felt him behind me. The desire between us, heavy and almost palpable, seemed to bind us together far more effectively than the pretend bonds of marriage.

  “Sydney…”

  “Please don’t say anything else, Sam. I’m here because I want to be.”

  I felt his hands rise to the clasp at the back of my wedding gown. He unzipped it slowly and I took a sharp breath in. I felt him take a step closer and pressed my back against his chest. His lips alighted on my bare shoulder and I moaned. His mouth swept across my shoulder, up my neck, and to the back of my ear.

  “The things I’ve dreamed about doing with you,” he whispered.

  “Do them,” I answered hungrily. I felt his smile behind my ear.

  “So willing, Mrs. Andrews.”

  He slid my dress slowly off my shoulders, letting it fall gently to cascade around my feet. He held my right arm to help me step out of my dress, then turned me to face him. I stood before him in my heels, white lace, low-rise, bikini underwear, with crisscross straps and lace strapless pushup bra. Sam inhaled swiftly. I felt wanton, liberated, a woman reborn into breathless possibilities. Taking my chin in his hand, he lifted my head, making my gaze meet his.

  “You’re absolutely breathtaking, Sydney.”

  I sucked in a sharp breath at his words.

  “We’re past the point of no return it, seems. If at any time you want to stop, just say the word.”

  I look at him, aroused, unashamed of what I was asking for.

  “Undress me, Mrs. Alexander,” he commanded.

  I took a step toward him, unafraid, anticipating what I would find beneath his suit. Slowly, I slipped his suit jacket off him, letting it fall to the floor. I loosened his tie and whipped it quickly from around his neck. Sam grinned, his eyes full of lust. Not breaking eye contact with him, I began to unbutton his shirt, pulling it from the waistband of his pants. My stomach tightened as a rush of heat flooded my entire body. My senses at fever-pitch, I pulled his shirt down each arm until it fell to the floor on top of his jacket. I wasn’t disappointed by the sight before me. Like a work of art, his chest was broad and powerful. Tentatively, I reached my hand out to feel his chiseled contours, and he raised his eyebrow teasingly.

  “You’re not finished, Mrs. Andrews,” he said huskily. “I still have clothing on.”

  I reached my hands to the waist of his trousers and unclasped his belt, then the button. My hand felt his arousal as I slid the zipper down. I ached for him to touch me, but he stood there, not taking his eyes off me. I let his pants fall around his feet. Sam stepped out of them and slowly toward me. My breath hitched as I waited, my gaze locked into his.

  Taking a firm hold of the back of my head, he guided my lips to his. I melted into his mouth. The kiss was slow at first, as if he were holding himself back from me. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer, willing him not to hold back. He lifted me greedily into his arms. With my legs wrapped around his waist, he walked us over to his bed, never breaking our kiss, his mouth devouring mine with deep strokes of his tongue.

  Sitting me on the edge of the bed, he unhooked my bra while his lips kissed down my neck. My nipples stood erect, aching for him to take each one in his mouth. Finally, when I thought I couldn’t bear the wait a minute longer, he reached my breasts. I felt my yearning culminate at the center of my being where I was drenched with need.

  Gently, he laid me down on the bed, his body moving over mine. His mouth took possession of my breast, capturing my nipple between his lips. I gasped in pure pleasure as my hands moved to the back of Sam’s head, urging him on. He licked and nibbled each one, never giving one more pleasure than the other.

  Waves of desire built within in me as reality receded, leaving only this moment of need. His mouth kissed its way down my abdomen to slip his tongue under the waistline of my panties. My stomach fluttered, then clenched. With slow precision, he slid my panties down my legs, dropping them to the floor. After taking each heel off my feet in turn, he kissed the inside of my right ankle. Slowly, almost painfully he kissed my inner thigh. His tongue began moving toward my warm center. I was on fire, moist and ready for his tongue to breach my sacred flesh. I cried out as he kissed my moist folds tenderly, relinquishing all control to this man. In acknowledgement, he bit down gently on my bud as his fingers dipped into my pleasure.

  “You taste amazing, Mrs. Andrews. Don’t hold back from me.”

  Sam continued his welcome assault on my flesh. His tongue and fingers worked together in joyous unison, bringing me to the brink of ecstasy.

  “Sam!” I cried out.

  “Let it go, Sydney. Don’t hold back.”

  With Sam’s permission, I shattered into his mouth. My climax came hard and fast. He lapped it up as tremors coursed through my body. Moments later, he found my mouth, possessing my lips hungrily. The taste of me on his lips was addictive, a sultry combination of us mingled in perfect intimacy.

  “You’re lovely, Sydney.”

  I smiled up at him.

  “You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Andrews,” I teased.

  He positioned himself between my legs.

  “I’m not done with you yet, Mrs. Andrews.”

  He cupped my right breast in his hand, pinching my nipple between his fingers. God, that felt good, a heady mixture of pleasure and pain.

  “Tell me what you want, Mrs. Andrews.”

  “You.” I moaned my need, unashamed. “I want you.”

  “Mmmmmm, I like the sound of that.”

  Dipping his head, he took my nipple between his teeth, biting down just enough to make me cry out in pleasure.

  “You like that, don’t you, Mrs. Andrews?”

  “Yes,” I exclaimed through a shuddering breath.

  “I like that you like that.”

  He moved to my left breast again, biting down on my nipple. I felt moisture between the heat of my thighs.

  Sam teased my breasts mercilessly as I began to build again.

  “Sam, please,” I begged.

  He was relentless, knowing I would come undone simply by his mouth on my breasts.

  “Let go, Mrs. Andrews.”

  I lay slick with need and panting with desire as he continued his attack on my breasts. He bit down a little harder on my nipple. I cried out in response, swept away by the waves of pleasure he gave me. Frenzied with the build-up of another orgasm, I couldn’t hold on much longer. I’d never come twice in a row in my life, and I lost control. He bit down harder on my nipple, while pinching the other between his fingertips. I let myself go with a gut-wrenching cry. Before I could even come down from my orgasm, his mouth was back on mine as he parted my legs to enter me. I dimly heard the tear of a condom wrapper. Sam slid it down his rock-hard arousal and scant seconds later, I felt the tip of his length at my entrance. I wanted his hard length pounding into me. I lifted my hips toward his shaft.

  “So willing, Mrs. Andrews.”

  “Yes.” I panted, uncaring in my desperation to have him possess me.

  He dipped into me slowly, teasing me mercilessly with his penetration. His hard shaft felt amazing inside me, and I wanted more of him.

  As he thrust his arousal deep within me, I felt the buildup in the bottom of my abdomen. How was this even possible? I didn’t know and at that moment, I didn’t care. He pounded into me, harder and harder, and my need rose to meet his. His mouth came down on my nipple, sucking, nipping, and biting, bringing me to the edge of my desire.

  “Sam. Oh, my God. I can’t hold on any longer.”

  “Let go, Sydney.”

  I came undone beneath him as he continued to thrust into me. I felt the throbbing at the base of his shaft, letting me know he was close. Wanting to give him deeper access to me, I wrapped my legs around him.
His thrusts quickened as he took my mouth in his. With one last plunge, he let himself go.

  We lay there for a few minutes, breathless, then Sam raised his head to look at me. Leaning down, he captured my mouth in a tender kiss.

  “You are amazing, Mrs. Andrews.”

  “As are you, Mr. Andrews.”

  “I’ll be right back.” He stood and walked to what I assumed was his bathroom. Within three minutes, he was back in bed beside me, kissing me expectantly. Rolling onto his back, he took me with him, so I was now straddling him. I feel myself getting aroused again. How was that even possible after three orgasms? I wasn’t sure it was normal, but damn, this man had taken over my body.

  Leaning down over Sam, I kissed his jaw lightly. He moaned.

  Taking my time, I kissed him from his ear, back down his jaw, and to his neck. Feeling his pulse quicken beneath me, I continued my decent. My lips kissed tenderly down his chest, blowing on each of his nipples. They stood erect with pleasure and I allowed myself a selfish moment to admire his chiseled body. I licked him just above his hairline. His hands were in my hair, prompting me to continue my descent.

  I took his iron-hard cock in my hand as I licked around his mound of hair. My hand, slowly and steadily, slid up his engorged shaft. Licking the tip of it, I tasted the drop of moisture beading on top. He growled, making my nipples harden at the sound. Giving his balls a slow squeeze, I took the length of him in my mouth. He moaned, and I felt empowered. Every muscle in his body tensed as I continued the slow and steady motion with my mouth. Enjoying my control of him, I began to use my hand at the bottom of his shaft, twisting slightly to intensify the sensation. I felt the pulsating at the bottom of his shaft, knowing he was close to release.

  “Sydney,” his sexy, masculine voice whispered.

  His groans of delight encouraged me to persist in my pursuit of domination.

  “Sydney, I’m close.”

  I paused for a brief moment, “I want to taste you, Mr. Andrews,” I said wickedly.

  Another low growl escaped him as he released himself in my mouth. His hot liquid hit the back of my throat, and I swallowed gluttonously. He sat up, bending over to grasp me by my arms, bringing me up to his mouth. His mouth slammed onto mine, claiming me. Again, our flavors mixed together, a heady, intoxicating combination. I still straddled him, and he wrapped his arms around me. I felt him harden beneath me.