by Dori Lavelle
Table of Contents
Book Description
Prologue
Epilogue
Grace
Bryant
About the Author
Also by Dori Lavelle
LaClaire Nights
An After Hours Novel
Dori Lavelle
Contents
Book Description
Prologue
1. Grace
2. Bryant
3. Grace
4. Grace
5. Bryant
6. Grace
7. Bryant
8. Bryant
9. Grace
10. Grace
11. Bryant
12. Grace
13. Bryant
14. Grace
15. Bryant
16. Grace
17. Bryant
18. Grace
19. Bryant
20. Grace
21. Bryant
22. Grace
23. Grace
24. Grace
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Dori Lavelle
Copyright © 2017 by Dori Lavelle
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Book Description
Some marriages last a week, a month, or a year. Others last a lifetime. Mine ends on my wedding night, ten hours after the exchange of rings.
Our marriage vows shatter when Dustin Cardwell, the man I saved myself for, looks me in the eye and tells me I failed between the sheets.
Our marriage ends before the ink dries, before the scent of my bouquet fades, before the candles in our honeymoon suite burn out.
Three months later, I'm divorced and working as a massage therapist on the LaClaire Cruise Ship, headed for the Caribbean. I'm desperate to get away, to lick my wounds in private. I'm not looking to be another man's disappointment.
Until Bryant LaClaire invades my space and makes my panties melt. The moment our eyes meet, he makes it clear I'm his girl of the moment.
Drawing me in with his charm and good looks, he promises to repair my sexual self-esteem while satisfying his own needs. A few LaClaire nights is all he can give. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s an offer my body can’t resist.
But when my heart lures me into the heart and world of a man who carries a devastating secret, I know I’m in danger of returning home with more pain than I'd left with.
LaClaire Nights is a sexy full-length, standalone novel with a happy ending.
**WARNING: Due to sexual situations and adult content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. **
Prologue
Twenty-six years.
That’s how long I’ve waited for tonight.
Sinking into the cushion of the stool next to the whirlpool tub, I embrace the warm vanilla scent of the candle burning proudly at the sink area, the yellow light of its dancing flame bouncing off the mirror and throwing shadows around the marble bathroom. A small bouquet of hydrangeas and Queen Anne's lace stands next to the candle, a centerpiece from our bridal table, a memory I’d like to hold on to a while longer.
I smile at my reflection in the mirror. I’m a bride now, someone’s wife.
With a wedding band on my finger I can enjoy the perks of married life without my mother’s voice inside my head, warning me to keep my legs clamped together if I don’t want to burn in the flames of Hell.
As much as Mom would like to believe I stayed a virgin because of her endless warnings about sex, she was only partially right. If I wanted to have sex before marriage, nothing would have stopped me. What turned me off many times was the fear of giving away too much and getting back too little. Giving both my heart and my virginity to some horny guy was a risk I wasn’t ready to take. And now I’m married to Dustin Cardwell.
Ours was a simple but special wedding. Having been planned in a hurry and on a shoestring budget didn’t make it any less memorable. It was as memorable as I plan for tonight to be. A night of firsts for me. First time sleeping in a hotel room and first time having sex. No. First time making love.
“Grace?” Dustin calls from the other side of the frosted bathroom door. “I’m waiting.”
“Coming.” My heart starts to beat faster as I exit one moment to enter another.
I’ve changed from my modest wedding dress into a black lace negligée that teases my skin as I move and leaves little to the imagination.
As my eyes meet those of Dustin, who’s sprawled on the double bed, I don’t care that only twenty guests attended our wedding, that I carried a bouquet of three white roses instead of a dozen, that the guests drank wine and beer instead of champagne. Now is all that matters. This moment. Us.
Butterflies in the stomach and sweaty hands didn’t kick start our love story, but Dustin and I have known each other since childhood.
I smile at my husband.
My husband. It feels unreal to even think the word.
My smile falters when he gives me a look I don’t recognize.
“You okay?” It’s hard to control the stammer in my voice. “You seem a little . . . weird.”
He buries his fingers into his wavy auburn hair and narrows his charcoal eyes but not before I catch the flicker of desire.
“I’m good.” His deep, throaty voice is thick with lust as his gaze sweeps the length of my body in a way that makes my skin prickle. “I just want you to get that damn piece of clothing off your body.”
I take a step back as though I want to run back into the bathroom, to hide.
No. This can’t be happening. I was so ready for tonight. The entire day, butterflies had fluttered in the pit of my stomach when I thought of taking our relationship to the next level. But now, seeing the lust-filled look in his eyes, an empty feeling replaces the butterflies. I’m still not ready. I need more time. A few more minutes. Maybe an hour?
“I — what’s the rush?” I force a smile, ignoring the trickle of sweat down my spine. “How about we order room service first or something? I didn’t get to eat much at the reception.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” A dark shadow flits across his features. “Are you telling me you want to wait longer than we’ve already waited? Grace, I’m done waiting. You wanted me to wait until we’re married. Now we are. What kind of game are you playing here?”
“That’s insensitive of you.” A current of fear rushes through me at the coldness in his words. What the hell is happening? It’s our wedding night. Is it so wrong of me to want more romance, to connect a little more on an emotional level before he rips my clothes off? “I know you’ve been patient all this time and I don’t want to wait anymore either.” I bite my bottom lip and lift my chin. “I wanted us to take things slow tonight, to enjoy each other longer.”
He gets up from the bed and crosses the room to get to me, places his hands on both sides of my face and leans his forehead against mine. “You’re right, babe. I’m being a jerk. We waited this long, what’s a few more minutes?”
I place my hands over his and lean back so I can gaze into his eyes, searching for the man that used to be my friend, the man I chose to be my husband. The way he had talked to me just now, looked at me, left a bitter taste in my mouth. If he can act like that on our wedding night, how will he behave during a lifetime together? “That wasn’t fair, you know.”
He kisses me softly on the lips. “I know. I said I’m sorry. It’s just that, I’ve wanted you for so long.
I was impatient. Will you forgive me?”
He didn’t apologize, not really. But I decide to refrain from pouring more fuel onto the flames. It’s our wedding night and I intend for it to still be special. My head dips in a nod. “I forgive you.”
Dustin and I met in Sunday school, back when I was an awkward kid with acne and my long, blonde hair in pigtails. I had not been cool enough for the girls, so I hung out with him and his friends.
Like me, he was brought up in a strict Christian family. In fact, his father, before his death three years ago, had been the pastor of our church. Unlike me, Dustin had not waited for marriage to have sex. He had dated several girls before me and had gone all the way. Having already tasted the forbidden fruit, I knew the wait would be tough on him. He had tried to convince me several times to give in, arguing that sex before marriage is not a sin if we love each other, but I had stood my ground even though I feared he might give up on a future with me and move on to someone who wouldn’t object to him getting into her pants.
If I have to be completely honest, I don’t love Dustin the way a woman should love the man she chooses to marry. I chose him because I believe my heart is safe in his hands. I’ve always been terrified of getting my heart broken, the way my father broke my mother’s. But Dustin can never know that. Who knows, maybe one day my feelings for him will intensify. Tonight is the first step toward a deeper intimacy.
This morning, Mom had told me that marrying a God-fearing man like Dustin is a blessing, that with God’s help, he’ll take care of me. She says marrying my father, a man who doesn’t believe there’s even a God, a man who left her a year after she gave birth to me, was the worst mistake of her life. Before walking out the door he’d admitted to her that marriage is not for him after all.
Now here I am, doing the right thing. Or is it?
“Dustin, you’re right.” I draw in a shaky breath. “You’ve been patient long enough. Let’s make love.” A fake smile creeps up on my face. “Everything else can wait.”
“Come on, then.” Dustin leans in closer. His breath tickles my ear. “We’ve declared our love to the rest of the world and we have Cottonwood’s newest and finest hotel at our disposal. Let me show you what it means to have fun.” He brushes my lips with his and pulls back. “I’m sorry we can’t have a proper honeymoon yet.”
Since Dustin proposed only a month ago, he was unable to get sufficient time off at such short notice. But thanks to his position as assistant general manager of the brand new Onyx Hotel & Spa, our wedding gift from his boss is one night in the honeymoon suite.
I lift a shoulder and let it drop. “That’s fine. We have the rest of our lives to make up for it.”
“We sure do.” He runs his hands down my arms, leaving goose pimples on my skin. “Sure you’re ready?”
“Yeah,” I pant breathlessly, trying to ignore the snake of terror wrapping itself around my heart. “I think . . . Yes, I am.”
“Allow me to do this.” He wraps his hands around the flimsy material of my negligée. “You’ll love it, I’ll make you feel good, I promise.”
That look of burning desire is back in his eyes again, making me feel too hot.
I gulp down a huge breath.
Relax, I tell myself. You’re safe with Dustin.
He tears my little night dress down the middle. My breasts spill out. I take another breath of air. He wants me desperately. That’s good, right?
“You’re stunning.” He surveys me for a while, and leans forward to sprinkle warm, moist kisses on my collarbone. Something shifts inside me, bringing on an unfamiliar but not unpleasant sensation.
“Oh—oh God.” I close my eyes and allow my head to roll to one side. “You were so right. This is nice.”
He brings his lips to mine and slides his tongue between them. He tastes of beer and cigarettes. Why cigarettes? He doesn’t smoke. Pushing the question to the back of my mind before it kills the romance, I follow his lead as he explores my mouth.
Blood rushes to my head as I fall into the flames of passion. My fall is broken when he gathers me in his arms and lowers me onto the bed.
I gaze up at him, expecting him to lay beside me, to guide me into this new experience. Instead he stretches out his hands toward me. I take them and he pulls me to a sitting position, unzips his pants and pulls out his penis.
I hold my breath when he puts a hand behind my head and nudges me forward. “Taste it. It’s good.”
I blink at his huge, erect penis. The thought of putting him in my mouth makes my stomach turn. I’ve heard of blow jobs and how men love them. I never expected to be asked to give one so soon. That’s one part of sex I’m definitely not ready for yet. I need time to get my head around the fact he uses that same thing to urinate. This feels so wrong. But how would I be able to get out of it? I wish he would skip this part and get to the next.
I moisten my lower lip and gaze up. Our eyes meet.
“I know you’re new at this. But try it. You might like it.” He rubs his chin. “Come on, you must have seen how they do it in movies.” He holds it upright.
Biting down on my lip I bring my face close to his penis, close enough to taste it. But I don’t. Instead, I flop back onto the bed. Forcing myself not to think about what I’m doing, I draw my legs up on the bed and open them. “I want you inside me,” I lie. The idea at this point is making my intestines twist with anxiety.
“Well, I like the sound of that. We can do other things later.” He’s grinning as he removes his shirt. A button pops.
I thought I’d have a moment to prepare myself while he’s undressing, but no chance. He tosses his white shirt over his shoulder and it’s soon followed by his pants. Now he hovers over me.
I lift my hands but drop them again, unsure of which part of him to touch. With his body close to mine, my body temperature rises. What I want to do now more than anything is to escape to the bathroom, cool myself down and take a few deep breaths. But what good would it do me? I won’t be able to avoid sex, not tonight. No matter how I feel right now, I have to get through it.
I might even find I like it. I did enjoy the way he was kissing me earlier. It could happen again.
I wish I knew what to do, more than opening my legs.
Gulping down the hot tears inside my throat, I lift my hands again. After a moment’s hesitation, I place them on both sides of his athletic body. They stay there, doing nothing more.
If only he would show me what to do. I’m too shy to ask.
“Why don’t you touch it instead?” He winks. “No need to be afraid.”
“Okay.” Banishing thoughts of fear, I drop my left a hand from his side and touch his warm length, brushing it with my fingertips. It’s strange and velvety to the touch, but it’s something I’ll have no choice but to get used to.
For a while I run my hand up and down the length, hoping I’m doing the right thing, but not long after I start, he grunts.
“Stop it.” The smile fades from his face and he grabs my wrist.
What kind of wife am I? I can’t even satisfy my man sexually. Will it ever get better?
Hot tears scorching the backs of my eyes, I unravel my fingers from him. Before I can think about what will come next, Dustin places his hands on my hips, grabs the elastic of my panties and yanks them down.
Fully exposed, the desire to close my legs burns in my belly. But I can’t back out after we’ve come this far. Dustin is already holding a condom in his hands, ripping it open with his teeth. His eyes are fixed on a spot on the wall as he rolls it over himself.
Oh no. He can’t even look at me.
I can’t mess this up. I have to work harder. I still have the whole night to learn everything I need to know. It’s my first time. It’s perfectly normal to be afraid, but once we get started, once we do the actual deed, all my fears could melt away. Maybe we’ll laugh about it all in the morning.
Dustin’s gaze returns to my face but a vein throbs at the side of his jaw. “Prepare for
the best ride of your life.” While my head is still spinning, and with no other warning, he pushes himself into me. A piercing pain slices through my lower body.
“Oh—ouch.” The words leave my lips before I can stop them.
“The pain won’t last.” He pushes my legs further apart and tears into me. “It will be over soon.” I want to believe him but my body is telling me otherwise. I wish he would stop long enough for me to adjust to having him inside my body, to get used to being invaded.
The edge of the pain wears off but the uncomfortable sensation of being too full remains. Until he groans, stiffens and his body crashes on top of mine. He rolls off.
Disappointment thickens the air in my lungs. Surely, that can’t be all there is to sex. Where’s the fun everyone goes on about?
While I lie there with my thoughts reeling, Dustin swings his legs out of bed and picks up his clothes from the carpeted floor.
I prop myself up onto an elbow. “You’re getting dressed already?” After the disappointment, I need reassurance that it will get better. That he still desires me. I wish he would hold me for a while, at least.
“I’m going downstairs to the bar.” His gaze is averted. “I need a moment alone.”
“I don’t understand. We just got married and you already want to be alone?” None of this makes any damn sense to me. “What’s happening here?”
When Dustin’s eyes meet mine, I’m taken aback by the lack of passion or even affection inside them. He looks completely different somehow. There’s a look in his eyes that makes my stomach clench.
“Look, Grace, we’ve been friends for a long time, and I’ve always been honest with you.” He closes a button on his shirt. “That . . . the sex wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would be perfect, you know? Thing is, I heard it’s amazing to make love to a virgin, but frankly, it was disappointing to say the least.”
A cold fist hits the center of my gut. “I . . . I don’t know what to say. What—?”
