by Joanna Blake
I couldn’t stop my shoulders from shaking but I managed to nod.
“Yes, sweetheart. I can do it a little bit higher.”
Tabby
“Myrtle Beach?” I frowned at the map, realizing we were backtracking. “What’s there?”
“Well, it’s close to a few teaching hospitals. And I thought it might be a good spot to open up a place. Plus, there’s a base near there.”
He smiled at me.
“You know. A good place for both of us to start over. We can take a few days and check it out. Cool?”
“Okay.”
I sighed and leaned back, happiness filling my chest. He’d really thought about this. The two of us starting over together. We had hit a rough spot but he’d said he was sorry. And more than that, he’d proved to me he wanted me for good.
Bad enough to chase me halfway down the coast.
Bad enough to go anywhere I wanted to go.
Bad enough that he couldn’t keep his hands off me. Or his lips. Or his manly parts.
I blushed a little, remembering last night. We’d checked into a fancy hotel and he’d expanded my sexual education.
By a lot.
Gabe had spent at least an hour between my thighs, bringing me to orgasm again and again with his lips and tongue and fingers. Then we’d made love twice.
And that was just before dinner. He’d kept me up half the night, waking me from short naps to make love again.
This morning he’d taken me slowly, sliding into me from behind before I was fully awake. I’d opened my eyes on the brink of a massive orgasm as he rode me gently, his fingers lightly tweaking my nipples. He’d kept us both on the edge for hours, until we had to rush to check out.
Now we were having our coffee in styrofoam cups on the road. I sighed contentedly. Even Petunia seemed happy that Gabe was here. She’d taken an instant liking to him. Now she was nibbling away on a treat in her cat carrier at my feet.
I wondered what he’d come up with for us to try next.
“Penny for your thoughts.” He reached out and squeezed my hand. “What has you smiling like that?”
I blushed and shook my head.
“Nothing. I’m just… happy.”
He squeezed my hand again.
“Me too.” We were quiet for a while. Then he asked if I wanted to stretch my legs. “Want to stop for lunch soon? We could go for a walk. There’s zero rush to get where we’re going.”
I nodded happily.
“Holler when you see something good.”
We pulled off the highway to check out some of the smaller towns along the coast. North Carolina was so pretty, though it was still pretty cold.
Not nearly as cold as Massachusettes though!
I sat up and stared out the window at a cute little town. All the buildings were old, with cheerful Christmas decorations up. It looked like a postcard.
“Oooh, look! A pancake house!”
There was something so cute about the red and white stripped awning and old neon sign. I just knew those pancakes were going to be good. I could use another cup of coffee too, I thought with a yawn.
Gabe found parking and we walked around the town, window shopping. We checked on Petunia again, turning the heat on for a few minutes before we went into the pancake house and sat down.
We both had hot coffee and looked over the menus. Gabe asked me what I was having and I told him I was thinking about waffles.
“Waffles in a pancake house? That’s sacrilegious!”
I shook my head, laughing. He was so funny. He seemed lighter now. Maybe its because we were together again. Maybe it was using the cane. Or maybe it was just us each getting a chance to start fresh.
I think it was probably all three. I knew because I felt it too.
Gabe’s phone beeped. He ignored it until I told him he could answer it. I knew he was just being polite. He smiled sheepishly after he checked his text.
“My mom. Can I send her a picture?”
I nodded and he scooted over to my side of the table. He held up the phone and took some shots, scrolling through them.
“Damn, you’re beautiful. Have I told you that lately?”
“Only about a hundred times today.”
He kissed my cheek and slid back to his side of the table.
To think that a few days ago I was crying my eyes out and now I was sending selfies to my future mother-in-law… well, it was kind of amazing.
It was a miracle.
“I might send this to the guys too. I owe them one.”
“For what?”
He smiled at me.
“For helping me find you.”
Gabe
“Did you find a dress?”
“Yes, I- whoops!”
Jackie stopped mid-sentence and jumped behind a column. We were on the veranda of the place we were all staying at.
Of course, Tabby didn’t know any of this. Which is why Jackie was hiding. I grinned at the spritely little woman. She had a sharp black bob, multiple ear piercings and was wearing head to toe black. She was sort of a grown up goth.
We hadn’t talked once in high school but boy was I glad to be talking to her now. Plus, she clearly loved Tabby to pieces, so we already had that in common.
Yeah, Jackie was saving my ass.
The hotel she’d found was amazing. Small and charming with a restaurant on the water.
And they were happy to accommodate a last minute wedding.
Thank God it was the off season.
“Sorry, thought I saw her.”
I smiled to myself. I knew Tabby was passed out. I’d given her another orgasm in the shower as soon as we’d checked in. I would wake her up for dinner, but considering how much sex time we’d been getting in, she needed her sleep.
I wanted her rested. She had to be with what I had in mind.
“She’s sleeping. I tucked her in myself.”
“You are so domesticated. I never would have guessed.”
Jackie was smiling at me like I was a cute little puppy dog. I shrugged. It was true. Tabby had domesticated me, without even trying.
“You aren’t going to hurt her again are you? Because I’ll have to kill you.”
I raised my hands. I had a feeling she could do it too. Sort of sneak up on me with a weapon, like a tiny ninja.
“Never. I swear.”
She gave me an assessing look and I realized why they were friends. Jackie was no dummie. Even though she looked uber fashionable and hard edged compared to my girl, they were two peas in a pod.
And Tabby was stylish in her way. She just used that style to try and hide her ridiculously slammin’ bod.
I grinned, wondering if the boxes had arrived yet. My mom had sent them ahead. She was getting in tomorrow morning.
Just in time for the rehearsal dinner.
I wanted a surprise wedding, but I’d settled for an almost-surprise wedding. I didn’t want Tabby to miss out on any of the fun wedding stuff I’d planned. Or the girly stuff brides liked to do.
After all, she was only getting married once.
My mom was bringing my dress uniform and my grandparent’s wedding rings. She’d also picked up the engagement ring I’d already settled on. I hadn’t bought it the first time I looked but the jeweler had been more than happy to accept payment over the phone.
Lyle and Topher were coming. And a few of my mom’s friends were flying down for the ceremony too.
I’d even found a judge to do the deed.
Now all I needed was to keep it a secret until the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night.
Basically, I needed to keep my woman in bed, screaming in pleasure. Plus, the suite had a nice big bathtub and a walk-in shower. And a soft rug in front of a gas fireplace.
Lots of places for me to teach her some new tricks. Tabby was a fast learner though, so I knew I was going to have to get creative to impress her.
I grinned to myself.
Yeah, pretty sure I could handle that.
Tabby
“What is all this?”
Gabe stood proudly with his cane next to a pile of boxes. He looked so pleased with himself, I didn’t have the heart to yell at him. And it was amazing to see him standing there on two legs.
“This is for you. I got it for you before- well, before you left.”
“Gabe! I sent that stuff back!”
He shrugged.
“You’re starting over in a new town. You need new stuff.”
He grinned and raised one eyebrow. He looked positively devilsh. I knew immediately he was up to no good.
“I can make you try it all on. Or you can do it willingly.”
“Make me?”
He smiled wider as there was a knock on the door. He opened it and two men in uniform brought something in. I watched in awe as they pushed in a huge rolling tray, piled high with food.
There was a fruit plate, muffins, a thermos of coffee and three jugs of juice. There was a pasta dish, for me I assumed, and a steak and potato for him. Two side salads and something else covered with a napkin in a bowl.
Oh, and a bottle of fancy champagne in a bucket of ice with two fluted glasses.
“Why did you get so much food?”
“Because I knew we wouldn’t be leaving the room until tomorrow.”
My eyes got wide.
“Oh. So we’re staying in then.”
He laughed and tugged the napkin off the deep bowl in the center. Two huge cans of whipped cream were inside. My mouth went dry.
“I was expecting bread and butter.”
He smiled and started shaking one of the cans.
“Do you want your dinner hot? Or cold?”
I knew what he was asking. If I wanted to eat. Or… be eaten. I chose the later.
“Cold. Definitely cold.”
He grinned wickedly and grabbed me.
“My thoughts exactly.”
Then he sprayed whipped cream down the front of my shirt.
“Gabe!”
“Relax sweetheart. I’m going to make sure you get clean.” He nuzzled my neck, licking some of the whipped cream right out of my cleavage.
“And after, I’ll wash you again just to make sure you’re not sticky. We are going to make use of the big shower.” I stared at him, realization dawning. “Especially the bench.”
I woke up in the early afternoon. I moaned and rolled over, every inch of my body feeling deliciously heavy. Thankfully, I wasn’t sore.
Or sticky.
That was particularly impressive considering how much whipped cream had covered my body just a few hours before.
I’d been shocked at what he did with the first bottle. But even more shocked that he’d done it again with the second. He’d gobbled all that sweet stuff off every inch of my body.
Literally every inch.
I had sensitive spots I hadn’t even known about. Lots of them. And he’d made use of every one, taunting me with his lips and tongue and fingers for hours.
Yeah… Gabe had an early morning breakfast. Me.
“Wake up sleepyhead.”
“Hmmm?”
“I got you some coffee. And here, you didn’t try this one on but I think it will work.”
He held up a dress on a hanger. It was floaty layers of silk in two shades of purple, one dark and one almost a pale lavender. The fluttery sleeves and shoulder straps were just enough to cover the straps of one of my new bras.
Oh yeah, I had a whole new wardrobe. One that didn’t hide my curves, but accentuated them. And weirdly, I didn’t feel self-conscious in any of the new clothes.
Gabe had already tricked me into accepting all the stuff he’d gotten. He’d made me a deal when I was slightly less than coherent.
I accepted one box of clothes for each orgasm he gave me.
There were eight boxes and I’d said ‘yes’ to every one of them.
“Oh. Are we going out? I thought we should start looking for apartments online.”
He nodded slowly.
“Yes, we are going out to eat. I want to show you off.”
I blushed and smiled at him. For some reason, I liked how possessive and proud he was.
“And don’t worry about finding a place, I’ve been looking at houses instead. Is that okay?”
“Houses? To rent?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and handed me a coffee. I sipped it while he kissed my bare shoulder, sliding his hand down my back to my hip.
“Hmmmm, if you don’t get up soon, we’re going to end up staying in.”
I giggled and scooted off the bed. I was pretty clean but I took a shower just to make sure. Whipped cream got in the darnedest of places, and I was pretty sure my eyebrows were a little sticky.
That was probably the one spot he hadn’t licked dry.
I put on the dress and was surprised to find a pretty pair of pumps in a silvery patent leather waiting by the bathroom door. There was even a taupe evening bag with enough room for my phone and a lipstick.
Who knew my boyfriend was so fashion conscious?
I got dressed and combed my hair, patting it dry with a towel. I even put on a little makeup. I nodded at my reflection. There, that was definitely an improvement.
Gabe’s face was priceless when I walked out of the bathroom.
“Tabby… you look…”
I giggled and gave him a little twirl.
“Do you like it?”
His mouth opened and shut. I guessed he did like it, judging from the look in his eyes.
“I’ve never- you never-“
I smiled at him and slid my arms around his neck.
“I’ve never what?”
“You never wore a dress before!” He blurted it out and I laughed. “You’re so beautiful!”
Then he frowned.
“I don’t like it.”
“You don’t?”
“No. You are going to start a damn riot. You are way too pretty and-“
“Only you think that.” I kissed him. “But I’m glad you do.”
And I was. For the first time in my life, I enjoyed male attention. As long as it was from him.
He grumbled and draped a soft cashmere shawl over my shoulders. I was smiling as he led me downstairs to the hotel’s small restaurant. Then I was not smiling.
I was in shock.
Maryann was here. And Dennis and- oh my goodness, Jackie was here all the way from Paris!
I looked at Gabe in wonder.
“Gabe? What did you do?”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me tenderly.
“Surprise!” He nuzzled his mouth to my ear and whispered. “They’re here for the wedding.”
“The- what?”
I stared in shock as Gabe slowly lowered himself to his knee. He pulled out a box. He opened it and I saw a beautiful ring. It was a simple gold band with a sparkling diamond in the center.
“I love you Tabitha Peterson. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I nodded slowly, realizing my hands were over my face. I lowered them and smiled at him tremulously.
“Yes. Oh my God, yes!”
He grimaced a bit as he used the cane to stand up again. Then he kissed me and the crowd went wild.
I pushed on his shoulder.
“Is your leg okay?”
He nodded and gave me a rueful smile.
“Yeah, I think so. But I won’t be doing that again for a while.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Proposing marriage? I should hope not!”
He laughed and kissed me again.
“Don’t worry about that. You’re the only girl for me, Tabby. I love you so much.”
My eyes were full of tears as I stared at his handsome face.
“I love you too.”
He grinned and squeezed my hand.
“Come on. My mom wants to congratulate us.”
“Your mom is here too?” He nodded and I li
nked my arm in his. He’d thought of everything. He’d done all of this.
For me.
I smiled so wide it almost hurt.
I was getting married.
Gabe
That dress. I moaned to myself. Why did I buy her that dress?
Or the form fitting shirts and skirt and jeans…
She was even more stunningly beautiful than I’d realized. Tabby rivaled the hollywood starlets you saw on magazine covers. But those starlets didn’t have her sinful curves.
I was going to spend the rest of my life beating off men with a stick.
A big stick.
I bounced up and down on my heels then resumed pacing, trying it with the cane and without. I was practicing, to see if I could walk down the aisle without assistance.
Though I thought I might bring it anyway. Tabby said it made me look dignified. The guys said it made me look like a bad ass.
Either one sounded pretty good to me.
Topher and Lyle watched me from the other side of the room. They’d abducted me from our hotel room this morning and dragged me to theirs. Thankfully, they’d had my uniform handy and lots of coffee.
Maybe too much coffee. I was climbing the damn walls. I hadn’t wanted to leave Tabby alone either. But they’d all ganged up on me. Jackie and Maryann too.
The girls had showed up early to get Tabby ready. They’d started squawking like birds when they saw me still in the suite.
Something about bad luck to see the bride on the wedding day. What they didn’t know was, I’d hadn’t just seen her.
I’d seen her puke.
I had a feeling that she was either nervous as hell about my semi-surprise wedding or she was pregnant.
I was praying for option two.
“Hey G-Man you are making me dizzy.”
“Shut up, man. He’s just nervous” Topher punched Lyle’s shoulder. “Gabe, we’re supposed to tell you to turn on your laptop in five minutes.”
He glanced at his watch.
“Four actually.”
I glared at them and went to get my bag. I pulled out the laptop and set it up on the desk, searching for the hotel’s wifi. I leaned against the desk, too nervous to sit down.
