by Mina Carter
Laurel grinned. She had never seen Sebastian this way before. He was so angry and possessive…and hot. "I didn't touch him back." She hesitated before saying, "Because he handcuffed me."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "I think you are trying to make me jealous."
She swallowed hard. With everything that had been happening in the past few weeks, they really hadn't made any time for themselves. It felt like ages since they had made love. She began to feel an unbridled primal urge developing deep within her that she had never experienced before.
Laurel pushed Sebastian up against the foyer wall. With her hands wrapped around the back of his neck, she pulled his mouth down to hers. The kiss soon became heated with teeth clashing and tongues fighting for control of the other's mouth. She drew his bottom lip into her mouth and sucked hard. He let out a low growl.
Her hands moved to tear open his shirt, ripping buttons off in the process. He broke their connection long enough to pull her dress up over her head. Then his mouth was on hers again as he stripped off her bra and panties.
Feeling bold, she pushed him over towards the couch. Once he was seated, she straddled his lap. His rock hard erection pushed up against her, and she reached down to release him from his jeans. He was poised at her entrance as he reached down and slid his fingers between her slick folds. She threw her head back and moaned loudly.
He kissed her neck as his fingers worked their magic. Her breathing grew ragged as his mouth moved to her breasts, tugging on her nipples with his teeth.
Just when she reached the edge, his fingers stopped. "I want you. Now," he breathed against her lips.
Laurel gripped the back of the couch as she slowly lowered herself down onto him, and a delicious burn ran through her body. She watched as he clenched his jaw and let out a long hiss between his teeth. Her descent was agonizingly slow. She rocked forward, causing him to slide out of her almost completely. Then she slowly rocked back, taking some of him into her once more. After he couldn't stand the torturous rhythm any longer, he roughly grabbed her hips and pulled her down the entire way on him. She let out a gasp as he filled her.
His fingers dug into her thighs as she started a steady rhythm, taking every inch of his girth and length. She stared down at him and watched him watching her. He licked his lower lip. "You are so beautiful," he said.
She continued the up and down motion as her body began to quiver. Her hands knotted into his thick hair, and she brought his mouth to hers for a passionate kiss. She was reaching the brink and fast.
In one quick motion, she was laying under Sebastian on the couch. He looked down at her with a smirk on his face. The leather felt cool on her back as he began to move in and out of her. His rhythm picked up in pace, and she felt herself climbing to the edge once again. She was trembling as he kissed her lips, her neck. And as she reached the breaking point, she cried out his name.
He held her tightly as he released shuddering breaths against her ear. He continued the quick rhythm until he too joined in her bliss.
When she finally came down from the intense high, she looked up to see Sebastian gazing at her with intense eyes. "I love you, Laurel," he said.
"I love you too."
He kissed her sweetly. "Now and forever," he said, his words filling the room and her heart.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
THE DAY OF the wedding had arrived. Laurel finished getting ready in Sebastian's bedroom. She slipped into her lavender maid of honor dress. It hit just above her knee and was form fitting through the top and flowing through the bottom. She slid on a pair of silver high heels.
"You look ravishing," Sebastian said as he entered the room.
"Could you help with my sash?" Laurel asked.
He nodded and walked over to her. He carefully pulled the silver sash through the delicate loops on the dress and tied it in a perfect bow off to her side. His fingers lingered on her waist and began to slide down her thighs.
"I'll never make it to the wedding on time if you keep doing that," Laurel warned.
"Later then," he promised.
Laurel smiled. She liked his promises. She reached up and straightened his tie. He looked handsome in a dark gray casual suit. He pulled her close, leaned down and kissed her. The kiss quickly intensified. He pulled back and shook his head with a smile playing on his lips. "We better leave now, or we're definitely not going to make it to the wedding on time."
* * *
Laurel and Sebastian walked into the reception hall. Everything looked perfect just as she had envisioned it. It was tough to pull off the wedding in such short notice, but they had done it, and she was pleased with how everything had turned out in the end.
"It looks great. I'm sure Ashley will love it," Sebastian said, pulling Laurel into his arms. "You're a great friend. She's lucky to have you."
She smiled at his kind words. "I'm going to go check on her and see what she needs."
"I'll catch up with you later." He kissed her forehead before walking out of the hall.
Laurel headed to the bride's changing room. She knocked quick and entered when someone said, "Come in."
Ashley stood in a flowing white gown in the middle of the room. Her hair was in an intricate updo complete with curls, crystal pins, a tiara and a long veil pinned to the back. "Oh, Ash," Laurel said, feeling overcome with emotion. "You look gorgeous!"
Ashley smiled and put her index finger out as a warning. "Don't make me cry. They just finished my makeup!"
Laurel laughed. "Okay. I promise. No tears." She glanced out the window. The ceremony was going to take place in a large gazebo overlooking the lake. The chairs for the guests were all set up in the grass on either side of the path that led to the gazebo. "Everything is in place, and the weather is perfect outside." Laurel had been keeping an eye on the forecast for days.
Ashley wrapped her arms around her. "Thank you," she said. "You don't know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me." She pulled away and sighed. "I know how busy I've made you, and I'm sure you're stressed out even more than I am."
Laurel grinned. "I told you a million times that I don't mind and that I want to help you. And you have already thanked me a million times."
"Yeah. But a million doesn't seem like enough."
The photographer entered the room. "Time for pictures, ladies."
* * *
After an hour of getting her photograph taken with the rest of the bridal party, Laurel felt as if her face would crack if she smiled one more time. So when the photographer announced that he was done, she couldn't have been happier.
Everyone walked towards the gazebo where the wedding guests were all seated on either side of the pathway. Laurel knew she would be walking with the best man, Adam, who was Gavin's younger brother. As the bridal party lined up, she wrapped her hand around Adam's arm. He smiled down at her. "Are you as nervous as I am?" he asked.
She nodded. Adam was tall and thin with kind eyes and a red beard that matched his hair. "It's okay," he said, reassuringly. "Just hold onto me. If you trip, I'll catch you."
Laurel looked up at him and grinned.
"She's engaged, Adam," Ashley said from behind them.
"Oh," Adam said with clear disappointment.
Laurel chuckled.
The music started to play, and couple after couple walked down the path towards the gazebo where Gavin stood in front of the minister. Laurel held onto Adam's arm tightly as they began to walk. She smiled nervously and prayed silently in her mind that she wouldn't trip. Once they made it safely to the end of the path, they parted and went to either sides to join the other bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The music changed to a lovely instrumental song as Ashley made her way towards the gazebo. Laurel's eyes scanned the crowd. She found Sebastian within a few seconds. Everyone had his or her attention toward the bride, but Sebastian was staring right at Laurel. A smile formed on his lips. They kept the unspoken connection until the ceremony began.
The couple
exchanged vows. They looked so much in love and seemed to radiate an inner peace. Laurel's thoughts kept straying to what her picture perfect wedding with Sebastian would be like. There was nothing she wanted more than to spend the rest of her life with him. And if she decided to, she could even spend an eternity with him. And an eternity with Sebastian Alexander didn't sound like a bad idea.
"You may now kiss the bride," the minister said.
Gavin pulled Ashley into his arms and planted a big kiss on her lips as everyone applauded. Then he took Ashley's hand and led her up the pathway towards the reception hall.
Laurel stepped forward and met up with Adam in the middle, putting her hand around his arm as they followed the bride and groom. "I'm so happy for my brother," Adam said.
"I think they make a great couple," Laurel commented.
He grinned. "Yeah, they do."
They made their way into the large building. Laurel sat beside Ashley at the head table and hugged her. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Ashley said, beaming.
As people began to enter the hall, Laurel's eyes kept straying towards the doors. Sebastian was nowhere to be found. She knew his table was near the back of the room. When everyone was seated and dinner was served, she noticed his seat stayed empty.
After dinner, glasses were clinking, and people were yelling, "Toast!"
Laurel nervously stood in front of the hundred or so people. She gripped the microphone from the disc jockey in her hand so tightly her knuckles started turning white. Ashley whispered, "Relax."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a door open. Sebastian entered the hall and stood in the back of the room. He gave her a reassuring smile, and Laurel found herself being able to muster up the courage to start her speech. "I just would like to first thank everyone for coming to share this beautiful day." She glanced down at her friend. "I met Ashley a few years ago. I was new to town and had just opened a bookstore. She was my first customer, my first employee, and she soon became my best friend. I'm just so happy that I can share in her day today. I've never seen her so happy, and I can see how much she loves Gavin. I just hope that everyone here in this room can experience even just a fraction of their happiness at some point in life." She turned to the newlyweds and raised her glass. "Congratulations to both of you."
The crowd clapped, and everyone drank their champagne. She passed the microphone to Adam, who gave a long speech with a lot of childhood memories of him and his brother. He was funny and quick-witted. Several times Laurel found him glancing at her and winking.
Laurel knew that her and Adam would have at least one dance together, and she found herself dreading it. She knew how jealous Sebastian had gotten of the stripper at the bachelorette party. She hoped a dance with Adam wouldn't set him off again, although this time she knew there wouldn’t be any handcuffs and spanking.
The newlyweds danced to their first song. It was a country song that Laurel didn't recognize, but she was too mesmerized by the beautiful couple to even care what the song was.
When Ashley and Gavin finished their first dance, the DJ announced that it was time for the bridal party dance. Adam was at Laurel's side in an instant. She stood, and he held out his arm with a big smile on his face. When she wrapped her hand around his arm, he led her out onto the parquet dance floor. Rascal Flatts' song "My Wish" began to play, and all the couples started to dance.
Adam pulled Laurel in close. She looked up at him. "I only get one shot at this, so let's make it count," he joked.
She chuckled. Adam was a great guy, and she had no doubt he would find a girl someday and sweep her off her feet. However, Laurel knew she wasn't that girl.
As they danced, she was surprised at how well Adam could dance. Most of the couples stayed in one spot, turning slowly, but Adam was leading her all over the dance floor, turning, twirling and dipping her. Laurel felt like all eyes were on them, and she was right. At one point, she caught Sebastian standing near the back of the room. His eyes were definitely on her. She couldn't tell from his expression whether he was mad or simply amused, but knew she would find out soon enough.
The song came to an end, and Adam pulled her in close one last time. "Are you really engaged?" he asked with eagerness in his voice.
Laurel raised her hand and flashed her ring to him. He frowned. "Well, at least I got one dance," he said with a wink. Then he walked away.
The DJ began to play "At Last" by Etta James. Laurel glanced to where she had seen Sebastian moments before, but he was gone.
"May I have this dance?" a voice asked from behind her.
Laurel whirled around and saw Sebastian standing there with a smirk on his face. He looked so handsome and absolutely adorable. "Yes," she said, walking into his open arms.
She stared into his eyes as they danced. "I thought you would be mad at me for dancing with Adam."
"Well, he certainly wasn't getting paid to like you." He paused. "But at least he minded his manners." He grinned and pulled her in close, a lot closer than Adam had. "I believe this was the first song we ever danced to," he commented.
A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "If I had only known that night why you didn't like my cooking."
His lips grazed across her lips, and his teeth gently scraped down her neck as a shudder ran through her body. "Your speech was very touching," he whispered in her ear. "You have a way with words." His gaze met hers again.
"You have a way with…everything," she breathed.
They danced without saying another word for a while. Then he said, "I want this some day."
She looked around the room. "A big wedding?"
He shrugged. "Big, small. I don't care as long as I get to marry you."
She placed her head against his chest and closed her eyes. "I love you," she whispered.
He kissed the top of her head. "Ditto."
They danced until the song was coming to an end. Sebastian twirled her out and brought her back in close to him and held her for a few seconds. Their eyes locked, and the connection they shared was palpable.
The DJ announced, "We're going to speed things up a bit."
A loud and fast Black Eyed Peas song came on, and Sebastian grinned. "Not my style," he said.
Laurel laughed and said, "I didn't think so." She glanced at the doors leading out to a large patio overlooking the lake. "Would you like to get some air?"
He nodded and took her hand in his as they made their way to the doors.
* * *
The sun was setting behind the mountains, and the sky was lit up with shades of purple, orange and red. Sebastian held Laurel's hand as they stood at the railing on the edge of the large stone patio. A few other people were scattered outside, but it was one person in particular that caught Sebastian's attention. It wasn't so much his appearance, but the thoughts in his head. He was thinking of one name in particular --- Laurel Parker.
Sebastian tensed and gripped Laurel's hand tight, pulling her behind him quickly. "What's wrong?" she asked, concerned.
"Nothing…yet," he said. He felt more comfortable being a shield between her and the stranger.
The boy couldn't have been more than eighteen years old. He held a piece of folded paper in his hand, and he looked around at each of the women outside as he walked. Unsatisfied with who he was looking for, he continued on until he finally reached them.
He peered around Sebastian and studied Laurel for a few seconds. "Laurel Parker?" the kid asked.
She peeked out from behind Sebastian to look at the stranger standing in front of her. "Yes," she said, sounding unsure.
The boy was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and clearly did not come from the wedding reception. "I have something for you," he said.
Sebastian snatched the note before Laurel could even touch it. "Where did you get this?" he demanded, stepping forward.
The boy cowered under him. "S-some guy paid me fifty bucks to give it to a woman named Laurel Parker," he said, his voice wavering from fear. "He
said she has brown hair, green eyes and would be wearing a purple dress."
Sebastian stared into the boy's eyes. "Did he tell you his name?"
"No."
"Have you ever seen him before today?"
"No."
Satisfied that he was telling the truth, Sebastian said, "Go. Now." He watched the boy practically run from the patio. His eyes darted to the piece of paper in his hand. He carefully unfolded it and read the handwritten words. "I'm watching you." He crumpled the paper as his hand formed into a fist. "It's from Matt," he whispered through gritted teeth. His eyes darted around at the people on the patio.
Laurel gasped. "Matt told that kid my real name and that I would be wearing a purple dress. How would he know all of that unless ---?" Her voice trailed off. "He never left. He's been stalking me this whole time." She looked out over the woods. "He could be watching us right now," she said quietly.
Sebastian closed his eyes and listened intently. "No one is in the woods. I don't think he's close, but he has definitely been close enough to see what you're wearing and know where you were going to be today." He tucked the piece of paper in his pocket. He was mad at himself for letting his guard down. He took for granted that Laurel would be safe, but he couldn't protect her 24/7. "Maybe we should call the police. They could do a quick search of the area."
"No," Laurel said quickly. "It's Ashley's day, and I don't want to ruin it." She turned to him and grasped his hands in hers. "You're here with me. I'm safe with you."
"We have to be even more careful now, Laurel," he said, sternly. "I will not lose you." He pulled her into his arms and held her. He promised himself to stay by her side. But in the back of his mind, he wondered if that was going to be enough to keep her alive.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
LAUREL'S EYES DRIFTED to the clock. It was three minutes until closing time. Sebastian would be picking her up any minute for their date. She liked the idea of having a nice relaxing evening out on the town. Ashley was still on her honeymoon, and Laurel had been super busy running the store by herself for the week after the wedding. She made up her mind that she was going to call Susie in the morning to see if she could help.
