“Dance with me!” Demi hung around my neck, her skimpy white dress silky against my fingertips.
She looked like sex on legs, very long legs with impossibly high heels at the bottom. The dress sank low in the front and back, so much so that I could feel her skin every time I brushed against her on the dance floor. And enough to drive me crazy with jealousy anytime another set of eyes fell across her.
“Anything for you, my bride,” I shouted, the music thumping in the air.
We had gone to Ocean City, Maryland, the world’s capital for bachelor and bachelorette weekends. We’d already day drank in the ocean, gone to a long dinner with lots of laughs and drinking, and now we were just basically drinking and dancing. Again. It was exactly how this weekend should go.
“Ew, that sounds morbid! I don’t like ‘my bride.’” Drunk Demi was bubbly and talkative, a little bit less reserved than her normal self.
It reminded me of college … the good times at least. The flirty anticipation we’d had each night, how attracted to her I was. Now it was a thousand times better, because I’d put my asshole stupidity behind me and recognized how amazing it was that I got to go home and stay home with her each night.
“Okay, what do you like?” My head swam with drink, but my limbs sung with happiness and horniness.
She sloshed her cranberry and vodka, the purple and blue lights of the club dancing across her face. “I like baby, babe, sweetie, bunny, gorgeous, sexy, and Mrs. Shaw.”
My cock jumped when she said her future last name. “Mrs. Shaw, huh? I’ll call you that all night, baby.”
“Stop flirting with your fiancé! This is supposed to be your last romp of freedom! Let your boobies out!” Chelsea ran up, breaking us apart and squeezing Demi’s boobs.
“You’re the one who made this a joint party!” Demi giggled.
Anthony came over, swaying, and I knew he hadn’t drank this much in years. “I love my wife, I love being a dad. Did you guys know we are having a baby boy?”
He’d only told anyone in the club who would listen, and then he told them again. But he was excited, and I was happy for the guy.
“Get this man a shot!” Connor came over, a blinking necklace of beads around his neck.
“Hey, where did you get those?” Farrah grabbed at them.
Connor swung away, but I could see his eyes lingering on her cleavage. “Show me your bra and maybe I’ll give them up.”
We were a merry band of idiots, and I couldn’t think of a better bunch to get rip roaring drunk and sloppy with.
“We’re in Maryland, not New Orleans. Nice try, buddy.” Farrah grinned madly at him, like she’d just made the point of the century.
“Oh my God, let’s go to New Orleans! I want a beignet!” Demi suddenly screams. “Quick, you can get a private plane or something, right baby?”
She’s looking at me like I can pull one out of thin air. “Slow down, Speed Racer. We’re staying right here. And what do you think I am, a millionaire?”
“Aren’t you?” Chelsea points at me, slurring.
“Point taken. Are you just marrying me for my money, Demi Rosen?”
This makes my woman giggle. “I think you’re marrying me for mine. Gold digger!”
Connor runs over to the stage, yelling up at the DJ. All of a sudden, Kanye West’s famous hit comes on, and all of the girls throw their hands in the air, letting out whooping shouts. I take Demi’s hips, smashing her back to my front, rubbing my growing cock on the backside that I love and admire.
“You got a boyfriend?” I tease her.
“Actually, I’m getting married.” She wiggles her ring finger at me. “But I’m single for the weekend. Bachelorette trip.”
I raise my eyebrows, molding us together as the beat invades our veins. “How funny! I’m here for my bachelor party.”
“Hmm, well, I envy the girl who gets to marry you.” She grins.
“Hey, how about we spend our last trip of freedom together? I saw a quiet place we can … talk.” I’m playing along.
Demi exaggerates a frown. “I won’t cheat on my fiancé.”
I coax her, brushing her hair to the side and kissing her neck. “What happens in Ocean City stays in Ocean City.”
She melts, goose bumps moving across all of that exposed skin, as I explore her collarbone with my lips. We don’t agree on it, but the next minute I’m pulling her along, heading for the small alcove I’d seen on the way in. It was tucked in the corridor where the bathrooms were located, a dark hallway with purple velvet walls that was muted from the sounds of the club, nothing but the thump of the beat invading here.
Demi followed me, her breathing quick and excited, as I led us down the hall, and into the cutout in the wall. Who knew what this space was supposed to be used for … possibly phone calls or a smoke break if it was too cold? I didn’t care, because right now, I was going to fuck my sexy ass fiancée in here.
“Take off your underwear,” I growled, unbuckling my belt.
My cock was screaming at me at this point, so hard and pounding with blood that I needed release.
“I’m not wearing any,” Demi pants.
That has me grabbing her, pushing her up against the wall so that her hands rest at her shoulders, and her cheek touches the velvety surface. Hiking up her dress, I thrust my fingers into her pussy, finding it wet and waiting for me.
“Fucking hell, babe.” I have to steady myself, because the aroma of her and the liquor in my system has me stumbling.
“Oh, Pax …” she moans, loudly, and I have to slap my other hand over her mouth.
“Shh, quiet, baby. Someone will catch us.” I can barely breathe I’m so turned on.
“Let them, I don’t care.” Demi is writhing between me and the wall.
Fuck. I have to be in her now. She’s about to combust and I want to feel it.
Removing myself roughly from my pants, I grab one of her hips, and line myself up with the other hand. I push on her back, and she bends to my will.
“Hold on, baby.”
I see her hand tense on the wall, and then I drive in until my balls slap against her clit.
“Oh my God!” she practically screams, and if anyone is in the bathroom, they can definitely hear this.
Hell, people in the club can probably hear this.
I don’t care at this point, nothing else but my cock buried insider her wetness registering. My hips slam against her ass, over and over as I wrench her hips back against me. She’s got her hand in her mouth, biting down on it while trying not to scream.
“I love you, Mrs. Shaw. Come for me, Mrs. Shaw,” I growl at her.
And as if she was doing it on command, I feel her walls tighten around me, a careening cry bursting from Demi’s lips.
I follow just on the heels of her orgasm, my climax ripping through me as I shoot my cum into her. I can barely breath as I lean against the wall. I stroke her hip, loving the feel of her sweat on my fingers.
The haze of lust lifts off slowly, but when clearer heads prevail, Demi starts to chuckle.
She turns her head, kissing my cheek. “I think we better get back to our bridal party before they realize we’ve gone off to have sex.”
Forty-Four
Paxton
James Taylor plays in the background, singing about going to Carolina, and I’m with him. There is no place I’d rather be.
The curtains in our, yes, our, condo are drawn to the outside world. I lie on the couch, flipping like a gerbil through the channels, trying to find a movie we’ll both like. Thrillers for Demi, inspirational sports movies for me … go figure.
My fiancée hums in the kitchen, the dog futzing around at her feet. I admire her, watching her sway her hips in those sweatpants that somehow make her ass look more enticing than when she is naked. It’s a mystery how she does that … keeps me coming back for more just when I think I know every part of her intimately.
She brings over the tray, complete with Twizzlers, coffee ice cream, and a chocola
te porter beer.
“Marry me, my dream girl.” I smirk, catching her by the waist and pulling her down on top of me.
She giggles, a dark curtain of hair cocooning us both. “Can’t. My father would put you through the bris you never had if you didn’t get his permission.”
Demi is joking, the ring on her finger gleaming in the TV light. “Hell, I’d walk through fire for you. But I don’t think I’d cut my dick off, sorry, babe. That’s where I draw the line.”
“I guess we’ll just have to run away. Again.” My mind wanders back to our incredible vacation that we returned from just days ago, to celebrate my retirement.
Not that I was actually retired. Two days after getting back from the much-needed vacation to Aruba that Demi and I took to unwind, Anthony came to me and offered me a job. I was going to be working part time at his training facility, helping to strengthen and rehabilitate the same athletes I just won a championship with.
Obviously, I didn’t need the money, but I loved the game of football, and I could never fully walk away. I also needed to get out of the house, as Demi said. After I’d sent her my thousand pictures of Maya and me cuddling on the couch, she told me I needed to get a hobby. And I’d agreed.
“I can’t wait to marry you.” I hold her on top of me, doing a crunch of sorts to connect our lips.
Demi submits to me, our tongues tangling, dancing and slowly stoking the flames of arousal.
Suddenly, she sits up, a look that I can’t place gracing her beautiful face.
“Do you think that Jamison, or any of your friends, will say anything after they see we’re getting married?” Worry lines crease her face.
I tried to wipe them away, using the back of my hand to caress her skin. “They wouldn’t dare. And if they do, who cares? That is in our past. I can admit that I was a smug, cocky asshole. I’m not afraid of apologizing and owning up. It doesn’t matter anyway, that’s between us.”
Demi nodded, feeding Maya the end of her Twizzler. “You’re right. In fact, this is the last we’re talking about it.”
“Except for me to say one last time, that I’m truly sorry for it all. And that if I could do it all over again … well, I guess I wouldn’t. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time, but we were meant to come together in this way. What is that thing you’re always saying?”
“If it’s written in the stars, then it is fated to happen.” She smiled, repeating her phrase.
“And my marrying you is fated to happen. I’ll be the one down in front, waiting for you under the stars.” I smooth a lock of hair behind her ear.
It had been my idea to get married after dark, on the rooftop of one of the most well-known hotels in Charlotte. It would overlook the city, and I had worked tirelessly with the venue to transform it into a magical garden. Demi didn’t know the extent of the work I’d put in. But hey, when you were a retired old fart, you had nothing else to do.
“Tomorrow, babe.” Demi smiled, a radiant expression that stretched from ear to ear.
“Isn’t it bad luck to sleep with the bride the night before the wedding?”
She eyed me. “Are you complaining about having your soon-to-be wife on top of you?”
“Not in the slightest, Mrs. Shaw.” Saying that sent a wave of pleasure through me.
“Gosh, do I love hearing that.” Demi’s eyes fluttered shut, as if she was savoring the sound of her married name.
A devilish smile played at my lips. “And I love you. Now, let’s go practice consummating our marriage.”
Epilogue
Demi
One Year Later
Moonlight streamed through the thin curtains, the sound of summer crickets creating a nighttime chorus as I walked through the hallway on tiptoes.
I creaked open the door, careful to step over the sleeping form of a protective dog. Maya never relented her post these days, choosing to leave our bed in the middle of the night to come in here.
Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I smiled, because no matter how tired I was, this was always worth it.
It seemed like a lifetime ago that I’d wait up, anticipating a call from Pax in the middle of the night. A midnight summoning, my heart like a slave to his.
And now, I was a slave to our son, my heart completely and utterly his.
“You’re caught.” I hear a gruff voice from behind me and feel my husband’s arms snake around my waist.
Leaning back, I press a finger to his lips. “Don’t wake him.”
Paxton nuzzles my hair, whispering, “I’m not the one standing in here in the middle of the night. Especially when I should be trying to get some rest.”
I sigh, wrapping my arms around his that are wrapped around me. “I know, I know. I just can’t stop looking at him. He’s just so beautiful.”
“Ryan Ezra Shaw, you have stolen your mommy’s heart away from me.” Pax chuckles quietly.
“Not stolen, expanded. I never thought I’d have enough room in me to love one Shaw man, let alone two. But now I can’t imagine anything else.”
We stand in silence, watching our two-week-old son sleep. It’s been a whirlwind, this past year. First the Super Bowl win, and then Pax’s retirement, our wedding, and then finding out we would be adding to our family.
Nothing like getting pregnant on your honeymoon. The first day to be exact, as was the case with us. Paxton had gotten his wish; he’d knocked me up at the first possible second that I’d allowed him to. And now here we were, standing over our sleeping baby, completely and utterly smitten. We’d named him after two of the most important little boys in our lives; the one who had brought us together, and the one that felt like a part of me even after he was gone.
“How is it that he’s only been here for two weeks, and I already forget what life was like before him?” Pax marveled.
“I know. Even Maya doesn’t mind his crying at night.” I smiled, gazing down at the fluffy dog below.
“Come on, we should get back to bed. Lord knows he’ll be up in an hour, wanting to taste some of that milk.” Pax’s hands grazed my breasts, and then moved down to lace fingers with my own.
I giggled softly as we walked out of the nursery. “How many times have I told you, you’re not getting any breast milk.”
“Come on, just a tiny drop? I think it’s so hot.” His eyes heated as we made our way back into our own bedroom.
“And get that horny look out of your gorgeous eyes. The doctor said six weeks before sex. Or do you want to have another one?” I scolded him as he helped me back into bed.
I was still a lot tender and a little sore from a human working its way out of my body.
“Is that even a question? Of course, let’s go right now!” Pax slid in between the sheets next to me, resting his hand on my thigh.
I had to laugh. “I love you.”
It was absolutely nuts how life could change in just a moment. Like a shooting star, something could grace you with its presence and light up the entire world, changing your fate forever.
I never thought I could be happy after Pax had left all of those years ago. I’d tried, I’d hated him, I’d moped and then attempted to move on. He’d changed, he’d grown, he’d gone through something so life altering that it made him question every decision.
And then we’d been brought back together, and my heart was suddenly whole. For all of the heartbreak we had gone through, it was destined that we’d end up together. I truly believed that.
I was no longer sneaking around in the dark to be with him. We were here together. With our little star lighting up our world, shining love into corners of our hearts that we didn’t even know existed.
About the Author
Author of romance novels such as Red Card and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes sexy, swoony and sarcastic characters who won't get out of her head until she puts them down on a page.
Carrie has wanted to be an author since the first time she opened a book, and still can’t fathom that she gets to live her dream each an
d every day.
When she isn't in a writing coma, Carrie spends time Netflix-binging with her husband, snuggling her infant daughter, and chasing her Black Lab through the dog parks of New Jersey.
For more information:
www.authorcarrieaarons.com
[email protected]
Also by Carrie Aarons
Privileged
In a world of wealth and power, the rules of love and war are nothing as they seem.
Nora Randolph never wanted a life of luxury. But when her mother falls in love with the heir to the British throne, their small-town lives are uprooted and every little girl’s fantasy becomes her reality. All too quickly, she learns the dangers of running in circles with the world’s elite, especially when she attracts the attention of Winston Academy’s resident golden boy.
Asher Frederick has known nothing but favor and fortune. The son of London’s most influential family, his future has been written in stone since infancy. But a tragic childhood loss redirects his course, and revenge has been boiling in his blood for years. When innocent and unaware Nora lands in his path, it’s as if the universe hands him the ammunition to finally drag his enemy through the mud.
But as his plan for vengeance gets more twisted, so do his feelings for Nora. And as her immersion into the upper crust dives deeper, she struggles to keep the secret she’s been guarding for eighteen years.
Heavy lies the crown, and when the ultimate betrayal blindsides her, will either of them survive the consequences that come crashing down on their heads?
As Long As You Hate Me
Kara
High school sweethearts. What a load of bull.
He might have been my first love, but it never meant I wanted to hear lyrics containing my name, love story, and *cringe* how I lost my virginity peddled out for the masses to digest.
When Stars Burn Out Page 17
