Pleasured By You

by Steph Nuss

  Tessa came rushing down the staircase. “Okay, we’re ready. The girls will be down in a minute, and then we’re going to line up. Just like we practiced last night.” She looked at the four of us and snapped her fingers. “Look alive, gentlemen! It’s wedding time!”

  We laughed and lined up accordingly. The aisle was long and white. It went from the guesthouse to the backyard, where the ceremony would take place. There were about two hundred chairs filled with guests ready to watch Carter and Elly become husband and wife.

  I heard the girls’ voices coming from upstairs and turned to find Bayler and Paige helping Elly down the stairs. She glowed with happiness, just like she was supposed to on her wedding day. Harper handed Elly her bouquet and then took Maverick’s arm. Paige hooked her arm in Cash’s, Tessa did the same with Justin, and then Bayler walked over to me.

  She looked stunning in her dark gray dress that showed off her long, lean legs and a hint of her beautiful back through its cutout detailing. Her blond hair was braided with a couple of strands loose for a messy, sexy look. Her green eyes popped against the dark shade of her makeup, and when she hooked her right arm into my left, I was greeted by her delicious, sweet vanilla smell. Good God, vanilla shouldn’t make me this hard.

  “You ready?” she asked, smiling up at me.

  The music started, pulling my thoughts away from my dick, and I nodded. “Let’s do this.”

  We let the soft melody lead us down the aisle just as we had practiced last night, except this time we had an audience and a photographer snapping our picture. Once we got to the altar, we broke away from each other and took our spots on our designated sides furthest from the center. Harper and Maverick followed close behind us and did the same, as did Tessa and Justin and then Paige and Cash. Stag, Elly’s black lab, trotted down the aisle as the ring bearer, wearing a peach bow on his collar and a little pouch that held their rings.

  Finally, Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” came over the speakers and the guests stood and watched Keith Evans lead Elly down the aisle. The smile on Carter’s face grew the closer she got, and I swear I saw tears in that poor bastard’s eyes. Looking past Carter, I caught Bayler gazing at me and smiled back at her. She looked away quickly and took a deep breath. I seemed to fluster her, but little did she know, she bothered me just the same. I was permanently semi-hard around her. Last night, when I offered my friendship, she had no idea I wanted to offer her so much more. I wanted a friendship with her, but I wanted benefits with it. I wanted the benefits of breaking all of our rules again and again, because the pleasure that would come from breaking them would totally be worth it. I was sure of it.

  I turned my attention back to Elly and watched her dad give her a kiss and then shake Carter’s hand. He took a seat in the front row, next to Maverick’s mom Charlotte, who had tears in her eyes. When she was young, Elly’s mom passed away from breast cancer. Since her mom couldn’t be there to help plan the wedding, Elly had asked Charlotte to help.

  The guests sat down as the minister started the ceremony. He talked about love and marriage, Cash and Paige each recited a reading, and then he finally got to the good stuff.

  “Ellyson and Carter have prepared their vows together,” he said, closing his bible.

  Carter took Elly’s hands and started. “I, Carter, take you, Ellyson.”

  “I, Ellyson, take you, Carter,” she stated proudly, smiling and blinking back tears.

  “To be my friend.”

  “To be my lover.”

  “To be the mother of my children and my wife.”

  “To be the father of my children and my husband.”

  Carter wiped a tear from Elly’s cheek. “I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want.”

  “In times of sickness and in times of health,” she continued.

  “In times of joy and in times of sorrow.”

  “In times of failure and in times of triumph.”

  He brushed another tear off her face. “I promise to cherish you and respect you.”

  “I promise to cherish you and respect you.”

  “To care and protect you.”

  “To care and protect you.”

  “To comfort and encourage you.”

  “To comfort and encourage you.”

  “And to stay with you,” they said together, “for as long as we both shall live.”

  The minister patted his leg and Stag walked over to him. I glanced over at the bridesmaids and they were all wiping their eyes except Bayler. Harper was bawling, and I thanked God for making me a man. Pregnancy looked like a bitch. Removing the rings from the pouch, the minister blessed them and then gave them each their rings.

  Carter slipped Elly’s ring on her finger and said, “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you.”

  Elly swallowed hard and repeated the same words as she placed Carter’s ring on his finger.

  The minister smiled at both of them. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Carter, you may kiss your bride!”

  Carter grabbed Elly and gave her a deep kiss, causing the crowd to erupt into cheers and clapping. After they broke away smiling, the minister presented them as Mr. and Mrs. Carter Jennings, and then they linked arms and walked back up the aisle to the guesthouse with the rest of us following close behind.

  Once we were back in the guesthouse, we watched as the guests moved from the ceremony area to the main house where the reception, dinner and dance would take place.

  “Ohmigawd,” Elly said softly. “I’m so glad that’s over.”

  “Me too, babe,” Carter said, placing another kiss on her lips.

  After the backyard cleared, we went back outside to take pictures. I just wanted all of my groomsman duties to be over with already. I wanted more alcohol, some food, and to take this goddamn jacket off.

  After posing for twenty-some different pictures, the wedding party was relieved of our duties. We went back into the guesthouse and found beer. Bayler handed me a bottle and clinked hers with mine.

  “That went pretty well,” she said, taking a long pull from her bottle. “You ready for our entrance into the reception?”

  Elly had us all walking into the reception to AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.” I smiled at her and nodded. “Of course.”

  “I’m going to need more alcohol,” Paige confessed, pouring herself a shot. She shot us both a stare. “Hey, you don’t have to walk in with Cash. He’ll probably do something stupid.”

  “I think it will be fun!” Tessa said, taking a shot.

  Bayler lined up glasses for the entire wedding party, besides Harper, and we ended up doing shots until it was time to make our entrance. By that time, I was lit but still functional. I was feeling warm and loose, and with the beauty hooked on my left arm, I was ready to get this party started.

  “You should lip-sync the words to me when we walk in,” Bayler suggested, looking up at me with glossy eyes. She was drunk, too.

  “Okay,” I laughed.

  We heard the DJ grab everyone’s attention inside and then the room quieted. “Without further ado, I give you the bridal party!”

  The classic rock song started and Bayler did a little happy dance beside me before the doors in front of us opened and the crowd inside stood to welcome us. “Fletcher and Bayler!”

  Bayler let go of my arm and sauntered in front of me into the ballroom, seductively swaying that ass of hers to the music, and I followed her, checking her out as I lip-synced the song that just so happened to be true about her. When our entrance was almost over, I ended my performance by pointing at her American thighs.

  The rest of the wedding party was announced and copied our moves, with the guys lip-syncing the words and the women strutting in front of them. Maverick pointed to Harper’s pregnant belly when he lip-synced the part about coming. Justin slid up beside Tessa and threw his arm around her shoulders as he lip-synced about working the seduction line. Cash threw punches in
the air like Rocky as his lip-synced about being back in the ring and Paige pantomimed knocking him out. The guitar solo came, and the DJ made a bigger show of announcing Carter and Elly. Once they were announced, Elly walked in front of Carter, dragging him in behind her by his tie as he lip-synced the rest of the song.

  It was fucking awesome.

  The guests clapped for our performances and we took our seats at the head table. The DJ handed Paige and Cash a mic so they could give their toasts.

  “How’s everyone doing tonight?!” Cash asked, getting everyone riled up again. “We just want to start off by thanking you all for being here and helping us celebrate the love between two of our best friends. Carter and Elly have always been perfect for one another, even if they didn’t know it right away.”

  “Yes,” Paige continued, “While we spent our college days listening to them talk about each other, we couldn’t be happier that they’re finally where they’ve always wanted to be. We knew they loved each other way before they did, and now we want to wish them a lifetime of health and happiness. If you’ll please, join us in raising a glass to our best friends, Carter and Elly!”

  “To Carter and Elly!” we cheered, raising our glasses. I tipped my glass back and downed the champagne.

  Two hours later, after we finished eating dinner, it was time for dessert. A waiter carried pieces of cake over to our table. He had a variety of flavors to choose from, but the only ones I recognized were the red velvet and your typical chocolate and vanilla. The moment took me back to when my mom would always have me taste test her new cake flavors and try to guess what they were.

  “Bayler!” Harper whined, smiling over at her sister. “How am I supposed to choose? They all look delicious!”

  Bayler shook her head and looked up at the waiter. “Could you please bring back a plate with a little bit of each flavor for Harper?”

  “Yes, Ms. Jennings,” he said, nodding promptly.

  Maverick picked a piece of chocolate and smiled at Harper. Then the waiter made his way over to Bayler and me.

  “You pick first,” Bayler said, smiling proudly.

  I eyed her suspiciously. “I’ll just take vanilla, please.”

  “What!” Bayler objected, glaring at me. “You can’t just have vanilla. It’s too blah. Pick again.”

  I laughed and turned to her. It was kind of cute watching her get all excited over her creation. She’d baked and decorated Carter and Elly’s wedding cake, and it’d looked like a work of art. But I couldn’t let her know that. “Then, Ms. Easy Bake, what do you suggest?”

  “Hey, I’m no Easy Bake,” she retorted, smacking my bicep. She glanced at the tray again and pointed to a couple of pieces. “Give us two of the white chocolate peanut butter.”

  The waiter set two pieces in front of us and then quickly brought Harper her cake sampler.

  “Hey,” Harper said, pointing at Maverick with her fork. “Don’t think you’re getting any of this.”

  Mav laughed and shook his head. “I wouldn’t even think it, baby.”

  Bayler nudged me and eyed my untouched plate. “Try it, dammit.”

  “Okay, okay,” I said, picking up my fork. I cut off a sliver and slipped it into my mouth.

  “Isn’t it good?” Bayler asked, cutting off a piece from hers. She took a bite and moaned softly. “White chocolate peanut butter cake is my favorite.”

  “It is really good,” I replied honestly. But what was even better was watching her eat it. The way her lips stroked her fork as she slipped another bite inside her mouth made my dick stiffen at the thought of having those lips do the same to me. Listening to her hum as she cherished each bite was pleasure in and of itself. I was already turned on just being around her, but throw in some mouth movements and some moans and I was damn near ready to come.

  What the fuck is she doing to me? I thought, as I finished off my cake and adjusted myself.

  Maverick tapped me on the shoulder and nodded toward the bar. “Do you need another beer?”

  “Yeah,” I said, standing from my seat. I needed to get away from her before I did something stupid like drag her into a closet somewhere and fuck her senseless. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  “What do you think she’s talking to them about?” I asked, watching Mom speak to Fletcher and Maverick. She kept touching Fletcher’s arm and for some reason it bothered me.

  “I don’t know,” Harper said, picking a crumb off her plate.

  I looked down at her empty plate and smiled at her. “Are you going to lick the plate next? I think you missed some frosting.”

  “Shut up,” she laughed, pushing her plate away. “I’m eating for two.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I teased, rolling my eyes. She’d only gained weight in her belly so far. She thought her boobs were bigger, but mine still outboobed hers and I wasn’t even pregnant.

  She sat back and placed a hand on her belly. “I think Mom’s changed.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, uneasily. Our mom was the meddling type. The mom who always thought we should live our lives according to her ideals. In her mind, Lucy Jennings was always right.

  “She actually got teary-eyed when we showed her our latest sonogram picture,” Harper said, getting a little teary-eyed herself. She blinked back her tears and smiled. “She loved Maverick the minute she met him, and now she seems to be on board with becoming a grandma. She seems genuinely happy for us. I don’t know. I like to think she’s changed.”

  “Maybe,” I said, turning my attention back to the guys and Mom. Fletcher laughed at something she said and then glanced over at me. I should’ve looked away so that I wouldn’t have gotten caught watching, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t get over how nice she was acting toward him. She would’ve hated most of the men I’d slept with had she met them, but not Fletcher Haney. She was smiling and laughing at every word he said. I imagined they were talking business because that’s what she did best, and he practically oozed success. He had a sophisticated, charming appeal to him that women loved. My mom wasn’t the only woman I’d noticed talking to Fletcher tonight. Women, from young girls to elderly women, gravitated toward him. It was almost sickening.

  But I was among those women, and there was a piece of me that wished I was over there with him talking to my mom. I was always regarded as the wild child in our family; the one she could never control. She didn’t think too much of my pastry chef dreams, but she’d probably be proud of the fact that I had slept with such a successful young man.

  When the guys started walking back over to our table, I got up from my seat to make the rounds. We had a lot of family in town for the wedding, and my parents had invited all of our family friends. So, I said my hello’s and how-are-you’s, conversed about our lives, and grabbed more champagne each time I moved on to greet someone else. A distant cousin that I couldn’t stand waved me over, but luckily, I was saved by the DJ asking for Mr. and Mrs. Carter Jennings to take the dance floor.

  I turned around and went past their table to the dance floor. Carter looked so handsome in his peach vest and tie that perfectly matched Elly’s wedding dress. He looked beyond happy—a little drunk, but mostly overjoyed; the way a man was supposed to look on his wedding day. They stood in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by all of their guests. As their Mickey & Sylvia song came on, Carter pulled her close and slowly led her around the dance floor. The room stayed quiet until their first dance as a married couple finished and Carter gave Elly another big kiss on the lips, causing the room to erupt in cheers.

  The DJ continued playing music as the crowd dispersed, and I watched Maverick lead Harper onto the dance floor. Elly and her dad were out on the dance floor for their father/daughter dance, and they’d invited all the fathers and their daughters out with them. A smile stretched across my face as I watched Maverick lean over and give Harper’s belly a kiss.

  “Bayler?” I heard a familiar voice say. I looked over my shoulder and saw my dad standing there smiling. He he
ld his hand out. “Would you like to dance, sweetheart?”

  “Sure,” I said, taking his hand.

  He led us onto the dance floor and twirled me around once before pulling me into him and placing his hand on my back.

  “Do you think we’ll ever get to do this for you someday?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said, smiling up at him.

  “Well, I hope so,” he said, moving us along to the Billy Joel tune. “You’d make a beautiful bride.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” I swallowed back the knot in my throat. I couldn’t even stomach the thought of dating someone, let alone getting married. The thought of never letting him walk me down the aisle made me feel bad. “But I’m still single so marriage is a long ways away.”

  “You never know,” he said, raising his brows at me. “When you find the right person, everything just happens.”

  Doubt it. I wouldn’t find the right guy if I wasn’t looking for him.

  The song ended and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, B.”

  “Anytime, Dad.”

  Mom and Carter took the dance floor and invited all the other moms and sons to join them. I joined Maverick and Harper back at our table.

  I smiled at Maverick and patted him on the back. “So, how was your first father/daughter dance?”

  “Perfect!” he said, rubbing Harper’s belly. He leaned down again but this time he spoke to her. “The first of many, baby girl. You better never deny your dad a dance.”

  Harper got all teary-eyed again and lifted Maverick’s mouth to her lips. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” he said.

  The song changed and Maverick helped Harper up from her seat. She smiled at me. “I have to get in as many dances as I can with him before she gets here. She’s already stealing my thunder and she’s not even here yet!”

  I laughed and watched her drag him onto the dance floor again. The slow, iconic Garth Brooks tune about leaving life to chance started, and more couples started to join them.