by M. S. Parker
He put his hand on my hip and I could feel the desire radiating off of him. “Damn right .”
A smile made my lips twitch. “If anything, I should protest the fact that just as many men and women will be checking out the sexy man in half of the photos .”
He grinned and echoed my words. “They can look but they can't touch .”
“No,” I said. “They can't.” I leaned forward, my heels making it so that I barely had to stretch to brush my lips across hers. “Now, why don't you go catch Daniel and tell him you made a call and your models are more than willing to let you decide what to do with the series.” I glanced around. “I'm going to find Adelle and Mindy. You should mingle .”
He took a reluctant step back. “All right,” he agreed. “But I'm going to be thinking about how I want to ravish you later .”
I chuckled as a bolt of arousal went through me. I may not have had panties to get wet, but that didn't stop anything. I had a feeling I was going to be walking around the rest of the night with the insides of my thighs slick. I needed to find a restroom .
The mischievous light in Cade's eyes told me that he'd known exactly what his statement would do to me. I glared at him as he walked away and then turned back around to find either my friends or a bathroom, whichever I happened to see first .
The rest of the night was a whirlwind of meeting new people and hearing everyone gush over how talented my boyfriend was. I could tell from the looks I received from some of the women that they'd been with Cade, but I wasn't jealous. The past was the past and I didn't care what they thought about me. I knew who I was and who he was. I knew who we were to each other and nothing else mattered .
Adelle and Mindy were great at fielding questions on how Cade and I met, sticking with the true, albeit sanitized, version where Cade had saved me from a bad date, then fate had brought us together again. Adelle and I had really made an effort over the last few months and it seemed that our friendship was back on track. It wasn't like nothing had happened, but rather that we'd both grown enough to move past it. For Mindy, it had been a bit harder for her to accept that I was in love with a former prostitute. I'd finally reminded her how well I'd reacted when she'd told me she was bisexual and that had been it. Things weren't the way they'd once been, but I was okay with that. I wasn't the same either .
As the hours slipped away, people began to leave until, finally, my friends said good-night as well and Alejandro told us to go ahead and lock up when we were done. The cleaning staff would come in first thing in the morning. We, he said, should take some time to appreciate the art without anyone else around. When Cade took my hand and we walked through the gallery, I thought that was exactly what we were going to do .
When we reached the back of the gallery where my photos were, he broke the silence .
“Alejandro said he had inquiries about two other photographs and four paintings. I referred them to Daniel .”
“That's wonderful!” I exclaimed. I stopped and threw my arms around Cade. “I knew you could do it !”
“I know,” he said as he put his hands on my waist. “I never would have had the guts to show anyone my work if it hadn't been for you.” His expression was far more serious than I'd have thought possible for such a good night .
“Is something wrong?” I asked, immediately concerned .
“No.” He shook his head as he cupped the side of my face. I leaned into the touch. “That's just it .”
“I don't understand .”
His thumb brushed against the corner of my mouth. “I love you so much, Aubree .”
“And I love you.” I was still confused .
He reached into his jacket pocket and went down on one knee .
My heart stopped. This couldn't be happened, could it ?
“My Aubree.” He took a deep breath. “From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were something special. I wasted so much time pretending I wasn't falling hopelessly in love with you. I don't want to waste anymore. I don't need years or even months more to know that you're the only one I want. The only one I'll ever want. Will you be mine? Forever ?”
I didn't even look at the box as he opened it. I didn't care what the ring looked like. It could've been a prize from a cereal box. All I cared about was the question and the sincerity in Cade's eyes when he asked it .
“I already am.” I pushed his hair back from his face. “I've been yours from the first moment I saw you. I love you, my Cade. And, yes, a million times yes. I'll marry you .”
His face lit up as he slid the ring onto my finger. When he stood, he crushed me against him, his mouth covering mine. The kiss was fierce, possessive and filled with more joy than I'd ever felt coming from Cade. I pushed his jacket from his shoulders and yanked his shirt out of his pants. I needed to feel his skin. Now .
He sucked my bottom lip into his mouth as I slid my hands beneath his shirt, feeling the solid muscle there. When my nails raked over his nipples, he growled and picked me up. I wrapped my arms around his waist as he walked me back towards a wall. My arms went around his neck, helping hold my weight as he balanced me with one arm. The other hand moved between us and I heard one of my favorite sounds in the world. Cade's zipper going down .
I had a moment to be grateful that we'd gotten rid of the condoms months ago and then he was shoving inside me. I cried out, the sound echoing off of the walls. He buried his face in my neck as he thrust into me and I now realized how on edge he'd been all night. The knowledge that I'd wound him so tight was a heady aphrodisiac and I moaned .
He rotated his hips, the base of his cock hitting my clit just right, and I jerked. He repeated the motion and I cried out again. He found a new rhythm, adding that little rotation on every other stroke and, soon, I was writhing against the wall, desperate for release .
He raised his head, his eyes wild. He shoved down the strap of my dress, freeing one of my breasts. His hand went to it, squeezing and pinching at my nipple until I was gasping his name, begging to come. Finally, when I knew he was just as desperate as I was, he buried his cock deep inside me and nipped at my bottom lip. His fingers twisted my nipple with the right amount of pressure and I came. I raked my nails down his back and he shuddered, spilling himself inside me .
Even as we were still coming, he pulled away from the wall and wrapped me in his arms, lowering us both to the floor, me straddling his lap as he went to his knees .
“Forever, my Aubree.” His lips moved against my neck as he spoke. “Forever .”
I nodded in agreement, still too far gone to speak. I didn't have to though. He knew what I meant .
Ten
E verything was perfect.
I'd chosen a simple dress this time, something that complimented my body rather than traditional lace and beadwork. My friends told me it was even more beautiful than my previous dress. The one that had never made it up the aisle. I had only two bridesmaids, the two that mattered. This wasn't about what everyone else expected. It was about me finally getting to marry the man I loved .
I'd chosen something other than the wedding march, not wanting to jinx things, but when I heard the delicate strains of my song begin, it didn't stop the butterflies from taking flight in my stomach. As my dad and I stepped through the doors and began down the aisle, I looked towards the front of the church. Adelle was there, and Mindy. My brother stood on the groom's side. My sister-in-law had been too pregnant to fit into a bridesmaid's dress this time .
But none of that was on my mind. No, I was trying to figure out where the groom was. The space where he was supposed to be standing was empty. He wasn't there. He was gone. He'd left me too ...
I woke with a start, my heart racing. I let out a breath and looked over at the stack of presents that were stacked in the corner of the room, the smaller ones covering my dresser. I ran my hand over my face, desperate to rid myself of the images still dancing in my brain. Automatically, I turned to the other side of the bed .
Empty.
Of
course it was .
“Good morning, my Aubree .”
I smiled as I sat up and watched my husband carry in a tray with enough food on it for both of us. The whole apartment smelled like pancakes and bacon. The nightmare had been just that. A nightmare. My wedding had been yesterday, and I had chosen a new wedding dress. My sister-in-law was pregnant with a baby due in two months so she hadn't been in the wedding. The rest of it, however, the part where Cade hadn't been there, that had been my mind merging the dim memories from almost two years ago .
He set the tray down on the bed and winked at me. He'd put on a pair of sweatpants, but his chest was bare and I enjoyed ogling it as he settled back in the space he'd been before. The cross tattoo was still there, but it had been joined by another tattoo. This one was up on his collarbone. A pair of linked wedding rings with our initials inside matched the tattoo I had on my hip .
“Like the view?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me and I laughed .
The movement made the blanket covering me fall to my waist, baring my breasts. The lingerie I'd worn on our wedding night was somewhere on the floor. Cade had loved it, but it hadn't lasted long before he'd stripped me naked and made me scream so loud I'd worried our neighbors would call the cops. If we'd been at my old place, they definitely would've, but our new apartment had slightly thicker walls .
“Damn, Aubree.” Cade's eyes darkened as he stared at my breasts. “If you don't cover yourself up, we're never going to get to breakfast .”
“I'm okay with that.” I ran my fingers up over my breast and grazed my nipple. I sucked in a breath. It was swollen and sore from how hard Cade had sucked, twisted, pulled and bitten it, but I still felt a jolt of pleasure go straight through me .
His expression was regretful. “But then we'll miss our flight .”
“What?” Because it was June, I wasn't in school and since Cade was self-employed, time off wasn't a problem, but finances were. We weren't doing badly, but we'd had to choose between a honeymoon and a deposit on an apartment in a better section of the city. Since we wanted to start a family in the next year or so, we'd decided the new apartment was more important. Our honeymoon was just going to be time to ourselves, in the apartment, maybe dinner or a movie .
He smiled at me .
“What are you grinning about ?”
He held up something I hadn't seen when he'd first come in. They looked like airline tickets .
“Adelle and Mindy went in on a honeymoon present for us. We leave for Hawaii at one .”
Eleven
Cade
I looked down at Aubree as the plane began to descend. She'd fallen asleep after we changed planes and I was reluctant to wake her. Neither one of us had gotten much sleep last night, but I knew she hadn't slept well the night before the wedding either. I hated that what had happened to her before we'd met had made her so nervous, but I had to admit that when I saw her walking down the aisle towards me, I was actually grateful that her ex had been such an ass. I wasn't sure where I'd be if I hadn't met her .
Actually, I amended, I knew where I'd be. I'd be in some rich woman's bed, enjoying the physical act of fucking while still thinking that the idea of love was nothing but shit. I'd be alive, but not really living .
The pilot's voice cut through my thoughts, telling us that we would be landing soon and I knew I had to wake Aubree up. As much as I hated to disturb her, a flash of warmth went through me when I saw those gorgeous violet eyes looking up at me through her long lashes. When she smiled, my heart skipped a beat .
Damn, I loved this woman .
I barely registered the sunshine and warmth as we stepped out of the airport. All of my attention was on her face. Her eyes were wide, her expression one of pure joy. I made a mental note to buy something nice for Mindy and Adelle. Over the last year and a half, I'd gotten used to not being able to spend money like I used to, but I hated that I couldn't lavish Aubree with gifts. Worst had been when we'd realized we had to choose between a honeymoon and a new apartment. I'd wanted to give Aubree the wedding and honeymoon of her dreams. Thanks to her friends, she was getting what she deserved .
We rode to the hotel in silence with Aubree snuggled up against my side. It was peaceful, a state of being that I hadn't had any experience with until I'd fallen in love with Aubree. When we reached the room, I unlocked the door, then scooped Aubree up in my arms. She laughed and my heart soared as I carried her into the hotel room .
What had I done to deserve her? Over the course of our relationship, I'd found myself asking that question many times. When I saw her sleeping next to me. When our bodies were joined, moving together as we sought to reach that release. When she'd agreed to marry me. But never more than yesterday, when she'd taken my hands in hers and vowed to love, honor and cherish me until death parted us. I hadn't been able to stop the tears from forming, and there'd been no embarrassment when I'd wiped them away .
Now, as I carried her into the honeymoon suite, I made another vow. One to myself. I promised that I would spend the rest of my life making sure Aubree was happy. And the first step to doing that was to do what I did best, especially when I was with her .
I set her on her feet and she hurried towards the double doors that lead to the balcony. I followed. Of course I followed. I'd follow her anywhere. Everywhere .
When I reached the balcony, she was standing at the edge, looking out over a beautiful white, sandy beach and bright blue water. It was magnificent, but all I saw was her .
She'd worn a pale yellow sundress, simply cut, chosen more for comfort during travel than anything else. So fucking sexy .
I walked up behind her and slid my arms around her waist. She leaned back against me, relaxing against my body. I rested my cheek on her head and marveled at the way we fit together. It wasn't just during sex either. Our bodies just seemed to naturally come together like two puzzle pieces, whether we were standing like this or making love. I'd had sex with more women than I could count and I'd never experienced anything like it until Aubree. My Aubree .
“This is perfect,” she sighed. She tilted her head up so that her lips could find mine. The kiss was gentle, almost chaste, or at least it started out that way. Then she turned in my arms and things got a bit more intense .
She wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her body against mine until I started to harden against her hip. She moaned as her breasts pushed against my chest and I knew it was because her nipples were still sensitive. The memory of what I'd done to them last night made me squeeze her even tighter. My tongue thrust between her lips and hers met it with a ferocity that made me groan. Damn, she was amazing .
I wasn't even aware we'd made it to the bedroom until the back of my knees hit the bed. It didn't take long for us to lose our clothes and then we were falling back onto the bedspread. My hands ran over her, every familiar inch. It was odd, I thought, how I knew her body almost better than I did my own, but still never tired of touching her, tasting her .
I rolled us over so that she was on top of me and she grinned down at me. I didn't need to tell her what I wanted, but I did it anyway .
“Turn around .”
She quickly situated herself so that her knees were on either side of my head, her pussy hovering just above my face. I felt her warm breath on my cock and it twitched. I reached up and took hold of her hips, using them to guide her down until I could put my mouth on her. As I ran my tongue along her slit, she dropped her head and took as much of my cock as she could. The wet heat of her mouth made me moan, but it didn't distract me from my task .
I 'd never minded going down on women, but Aubree was the first I actually enjoyed doing it to. Not just the enjoyment of seeing her come, but the act itself. I loved the feel of her smooth skin, the way her walls quivered around my tongue. I loved her clit, sucking it into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue. I even loved the way she tasted. Every woman was different, and Aubree was intoxicating .
She came as I teased her clit and I flipped us
over even as she was still climaxing. She cried out as I pushed inside her. She was stretched enough from last night that I didn't have to fight for every inch, but she was still tight. And she fit me like a glove. She called my name, nails raking down my back to join the marks she'd made before. I moved faster, pleasure coursing through me with every thrust. Pleasure and love .
When I'd first fallen in love with Aubree, I hadn't thought it'd be possible to love her more, but every day, I proved myself wrong. I leaned down and took her mouth, my lips parting hers. Her body rose to meet mine, driving me deeper even as my tongue thrust into her mouth. I heard her whimper as I thumbed her nipple and then I shifted so that I pressed against her clit with each thrust. Just two more strokes and she was coming again. Her pussy tightened around me and I tore my mouth away, swearing as I lost control, emptying myself deep inside her .
“My Aubree,” I breathed as I slumped on top of her. I'd asked her once if I was too heavy and she'd told me that she liked feeling me laying on her after I came .
“My Cade.” She ran her fingers through my hair and then kissed my forehead .
I rolled us over, staying inside her as I wrapped the blankets around us. It was still fairly early, but we were both tired. I kissed the spot beneath her ear. “I love you .”
“I love you, too,” she said. Despite having slept on the plane, she sounded sleepy .
“How did I get so lucky?” I murmured out loud. “A chance encounter? A weird coincidence ?”
“Don't be silly,” she said with a laugh. “It was fate .”
“I don't believe in fate,” I replied automatically .
She shook her head and laughed again. “Sure you do.” She lifted my hand and pressed her lips against my palm. “You just don't know it yet .”
