Protecting Her Heart: Indianapolis Eagles Series Book 4

by Samantha Lind

  “Only every hour since we left the house,” I reply, laughing at him.

  “I can’t wait to strip this dress off of you tonight. Will you be mad at me of I rip it off?”

  “Yes, and a little problem with that plan of yours, mister. I won’t be going home with you tonight, remember? All of us girls are heading to the hotel with Madison when this dinner ends and spending the night with her, and then getting ready together tomorrow.”

  “Fuck,” Mark groans.

  “Did you forget that little bit of information?” I ask, laughing at his expense again.

  “Maybe,” he grumbles.

  “What are you guys doing tonight?”

  “I think just hanging around, smoking cigars, and probably missing our women.”

  “Well, behave and I’ll make tomorrow night worth your while,” I tell him, dropping a kiss on his lips.

  “You’re sure we can’t sneak out of here for an hour and then come back for you to leave with the girls?” he asks, nipping at my neck.

  “I’m positive.” I moan as he assaults my neck with his lips, purposely targeting the spot just behind my ear that he knows drives me crazy.

  The DJ starts playing music again and a few of the other couples make their way to the dance floor.

  “May I have this dance, Ms. Erickson?” Mark asks, standing and offering me his hand.

  “Why, absolutely, Mr. Lee,” I say, playing right along with his antics.

  He leads me out on the dance floor just as “All of Me” by John Legend comes on and he pulls me close, wrapping me in his arms as we sway to the music.

  “I love you, Princess,” he whispers in my ear as the song ends.

  “I love you, too,” I reply as he captures my lips with his in a chaste kiss.

  “Get a room,” Richard says, slapping Mark on the back as he stops next to the two of us.

  “Gladly.” Mark squeezes me closer to him. “But I’ve been reminded that the girls will be disappearing on us tonight, and I’ll only have you guys to keep me warm,” Mark says, smacking Richard on the chest as he laughs at his own joke.

  “Ha, good luck with that. The only person keeping my bed warm is that one.” He looks across the room and points to his soon-to-be wife. The look of love on his face is priceless. I love seeing the two of them together and from what I understand, it took them long enough to come to their senses and make something of their relationship.

  “So, I take it you forgot the women would be disappearing on us tonight, too?” Mark states.

  “Didn’t really forget, just hoped they’d change their minds. But, Mads wants to keep this as traditional as we can, and that means we’re not allowed to see each other until the wedding tomorrow once we part ways tonight.”

  “You’ll survive,” I tell him. “It’s only for a few hours. And just think of how pretty she’ll be when you see her again.”

  “I know,” he says on a sigh. “I’m just ready to marry her already.”

  “Ready to head out on your honeymoon?” I ask.

  “Absolutely. I was ready to leave a week ago.”

  “She was telling me all about the things you guys have booked. It all sounds amazing.”

  “She’s in charge. I go where she tells me to go,” he replies, tracking Madison’s movements around the room. “We could have stayed here, locked in the house for a week, and I would have been happy with it.”

  Madison makes her way over to us. As soon as she’s within arm’s reach of Richard, he’s got his hands on her and is pulling her into his side.

  “Hey, guys. How are you doing tonight? Get enough to eat?”

  “We’re great! Don’t worry about us. How are you doing?” I ask.

  “I’m great. I think the rehearsal went off without a hitch, dinner tonight was delicious, and now we just have to get married tomorrow. I can’t believe the date is already here.”

  “So excited for the two of you,” I tell her. “Anything you need me to take care of before the ceremony?”

  “Not that I can think of. The hair and makeup people will be at the hotel around ten tomorrow, so we just need to make sure everyone is up, showered, and ready to go by then. We’ll have two people, so we’ll rotate through. Formal pictures are supposed to start at one, but the photographer will be there taking some shots while we get ready in the morning.”

  “Did you already have a plan for breakfast?”

  “I figured we’d just order room service. That way, we have some things to eat on while we’re getting ready, if needed.”

  “And mimosas. We can’t forget the mimosas.”

  “Definitely. I’ll see you in a bit. I need to go talk to my dad,” Madison says before kissing Richard and then walking away.

  “Sorry, guys, I’ll catch up with you guys later,” Richard tells us as he trails off after Madison.

  “Now, where were we?” Mark asks, nipping at my ear.

  “We,” I say, stopping as he kisses my lips, “were behaving ourselves.”

  Mark: Are you asleep?

  * * *

  Laura: Almost, just crawled into bed.

  * * *

  Mark: This bed is too big without you in it.

  * * *

  Laura: Don’t be a baby, I’ll be back in your arms tomorrow night.

  * * *

  Mark: :(

  * * *

  Laura: LOL

  * * *

  Mark: Don’t laugh at me woman. I might spank you for that tomorrow night.

  * * *

  Laura: Promise? ;)

  * * *

  Mark: Are you trying to kill me?

  * * *

  Laura: Not on purpose.

  * * *

  Mark: Sure, I don’t believe you.

  * * *

  Laura: Love you, good night.

  * * *

  Mark: If you really loved me, you’d come sleep with me in my hotel room.

  * * *

  Laura: You know I love you, but no can do tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow. Maybe if you’re good, I’ll sneak out while everyone else is getting ready and come find you for a little bit. ;)

  * * *

  Mark: I’ll be waiting and ready for you.

  * * *

  Laura: I’ll text you when I can slip away.

  * * *

  Mark: Night, Princess.

  * * *

  Laura: Night babe.

  “Good morning!” Madison calls out as we all make our way into the living room space of the suite.

  “Ready for your big day?” Kinley asks.

  “Absolutely. I didn’t think the night would ever end. I think I woke up every hour last night.”

  “Well, let’s get a move on this morning. The hours today are going to pass by quickly,” I state.

  “First things first. I need coffee and food,” Madison states. “Let’s get our room service order in, and then we can all start on showers before the beautification team gets here.”

  I take charge of getting everyone’s order and get it placed as Madison and Becca head for the two bathrooms to take showers first. Kinley and I hang out, waiting for room service to bring our breakfast.

  An hour later, we’re all showered, fed, and sipping on mimosas, as the hair and makeup team arrives. As they set up their things, Madison brings out three gift bags and hands each of us one.

  “Thank you all for being my best friends. For helping me see what I was missing, and for being by my side each step of the way. I couldn’t do this without the three of you,” she tells us. “I love all of you.”

  “Aww,” we all coo at her. “We love you, too.”

  Opening our gifts, we see she’s gotten all of us diamond necklaces and earring sets. “I figured you could all use something nice to wear for today.”

  “These are gorgeous,” I state, fingering the pendant on the end of the chain in the box in my hand.

  We quickly get wrapped up in getting pampered. The photographer arrives at some point and snaps a
few pictures as we all get ready and visit. Once I’m all done with hair and makeup, I slip out of the room and head to where the guys are getting ready. Madison gave me a small gift and card she wants delivered to Richard before the ceremony, so I take it with me.

  “Knock, knock.” I push on the door that’s propped open to the suite the guys are in. “Everyone decent?” I call out, not needing to get an eyeful of any of them, except one in particular.

  “All clear,” I hear one of the guys call out and I walk further into the suite.

  Mark meets me in the living room area and sweeps me into his arms.

  “Careful. Hair and makeup are done. I don’t need you messing either up before the ceremony.”

  “But I need to kiss you,” he growls, and then drops his lips to mine.

  I melt into his kiss, having missed his arms around me last night and waking to his lips on my body as I’ve come to look forward to.

  “You’re sure I can’t take you into that room over there and have my way with you?” he whispers into my ear.

  “I’m sure. But I promise you can tonight.”

  He groans and sets me back down on my feet.

  “Where’s Richard?” I ask. “I have something for him from Madison.”

  “He’s in the shower. Just set it on the table there and I’ll make sure he gets it. I think he has something for her. Let me go check with Scott.” He walks over to one of the rooms and returns a minute later with a gift and card to take back with me.

  “I’ll walk you back,” he offers, and leads me out of their suite and to mine.

  “See you in a few hours,” I tell him, as he backs me against the wall and kisses me.

  “Be ready for me,” he warns. “I’ll be ready to strip you out of your dress as soon as we make it back to our room tonight.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” I say, smiling at him as he walks back down the hall, and I disappear through the hotel room door.

  Hours later, we’ve successfully made it through all the pictures and the ceremony. As Madison and Richard were stating their vows, my eyes were locked on Mark’s as he kept his on me. I swear I could feel him undressing me the entire time we stood up next to our friends as they pledged their lives to each other.

  “Can I have this dance?” Mark asks, coming to stand next to me as I talk to one of the guests.

  “Sure,” I tell him, a small smile cresting my lips. He looks devilishly handsome in his tux tonight. My panties practically vanished as soon as I saw him in it today. If the look he gave me when he saw me in my dress had any indication of what he thought of it, I’m pretty sure we had matching thoughts about each other.

  “I know the bride is supposed to be the most beautiful woman at a wedding, but you take my breath away,” he tells me as he sweeps me into his arms once we’re on the dance floor.

  “You’re looking pretty dapper yourself,” I tell him, not for the first time today.

  “How long do we have to stay? I need to be inside of you,” he whispers into my ear, pressing his hard-on into me.

  “Not too much longer. They’ve already done all the standard wedding reception things. So as soon as they’re ready to leave, we can head out.”

  “I was hoping you’d say we could leave right now,” he whines, and I just laugh.

  “Patience, patience,” I remind him.

  “Yeah, yeah. When we get married, our reception will only be, like, an hour because I won’t be able to contain myself any longer than that,” he tells me.

  “Our wedding?” I ask, raising a brow at him. This isn’t the first time he’s referenced us getting married, but he’s yet to put a ring on my finger—not that I’m expecting one right now—so that’s still a ways off.

  Mark

  It took another hour before I could drag Laura out of the reception and back up to our room. I’d done as promised and had her backed up against the door as soon as it latched and her dress on the floor a second later.

  My cock had been as hard as steel from the moment I laid my eyes on her today in that dress. It hugged her curves perfectly, showing off just enough cleavage to have my mouth watering at what I know is hidden underneath.

  I kiss my way down her neck and between her breasts. I stop to suck each nipple into my mouth before I continue my descent down her body.

  With her pressed against the door, I drop to my knees and drape one leg over my shoulder as I slide the scrap of lace she has covering her mound out of my way. I’m a man on a mission and I can see my destination. It’s already glistening with her arousal and beckoning me to it.

  I slide a finger through her wetness, bringing it to her clit as I slowly start to circle it with my fingertip. Her hips begin to gyrate, seeking more contact from me. I lower my head and swipe up her sex with my tongue, savoring her taste that I’m addicted to. I flick her clit with my tongue as I slip two fingers inside her pussy.

  Scissoring my fingers, I start to fuck her with them as I suck and tease her clit with my mouth. I can feel her orgasm building in her body as her pussy starts to flutter around my fingers and her clit pulses against my tongue. I don’t let up on my ministrations and she’s soon coming apart around me. I slow my movements as she collapses against me and I carry her to the bed, where I lay her down in the center of it.

  I stand and strip out of my tux, and then return to her side. I slide her thong and bra off before I join her on the bed, and stroke my cock as I wait for her to come down from her orgasm.

  “Mhmmm…let me do that,” she says, reaching for my cock. She wraps her fingers around my shaft and gives it a few tight strokes before she closes her lips around it, sucking me in deep. The warmth and wetness of her mouth has me holding back my orgasm much faster than I’d hoped it would be tonight. I pull from her mouth, not wanting this night to end too early.

  I flip her around onto her back and drag her to the edge of the bed. I slip my cock through her folds, making sure to hit her clit with the crown of my cock a few times before I thrust inside until I’m balls deep.

  “Mark!” She screams my name as I hit her cervix and g-spot.

  I set her feet on my shoulders and grab on to her hips. I quickly start to thrust in a fast rhythm, circling my hips to hit her just right inside. The moans that fall from her lips tell me that I’m building up her orgasm, and that she’ll be exploding on my cock in no time at all.

  I continue to drive into her, dropping my head down to suck a nipple into my mouth. I flick it with my tongue and can feel as it hardens. I pop off one breast and do the same to the other, before bringing my lips back up to hers to capture them in a searing kiss that has me swallowing her moans as she explodes on my cock. I follow suit just a few seconds later, as my balls tighten and my orgasm spasms through my body.

  I collapse onto the bed, my forehead coming to rest on her shoulder as I suck in much-needed oxygen. It takes me a few minutes to recover, and once I do, I slip out of her, then pick her up in my arms and carry her to the bathroom with me. I turn on the shower and once the temperature is hot enough, we both climb in under the hot spray, allowing it to further relax our muscles.

  I take her again, right there against the tile wall of the shower, as the hot water pours down on us.

  We eventually make it back out to the bed, where we crawl under the sheets and fall asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Laura

  November

  Four months later

  “Princess, I need you in here!” Mark calls from the bedroom. He finally moved all his stuff out of the condo he shared with Austin and Johnathan over this past summer when their lease was up, and officially made my house his home. It didn’t change much, as he’d already been living here since we started dating just over a year ago. It’s crazy to think that an entire year has already passed us by.

  The guys went on to break records by winning the cup again last season. It was an incredible playoff run as they swept the f
irst three rounds, and only lost one game in the finals against Boston.

  I walk into the bedroom to find him standing in front of the bed, three suits laid out in front of him. “What do you need?”

  “What suit should I wear?” he asks, pointing to the three options on the bed.

  “The blue one,” I tell him, picking my favorite of the ones he’s got laid out. “It matches my dress the best.”

  He picks up the other two, taking them back to the closet before he heads for the bathroom to shower and get ready. We’ve got a dinner party to attend that my parents are hosting tonight for a charity fundraiser my mom is a part of. I’m excited, as my brother is back in town and his band will be providing some of the musical entertainment for the evening.

  I follow Mark into the bathroom and join him in the shower a few moments later.

  “Hey, sexy,” I say, sliding under the water and running my hands up his torso.

  “Princess,” he greets, as he drops his lips to mine.

  “Love you,” I whisper against his lips before I reach for my shampoo and get started on washing my hair.

  We finish up in the shower without molesting each other, which doesn’t happen very often. He’s been super jumpy and nervous today, and it’s completely throwing me off. Mark is usually the cool, calm, and collected guy, so when he isn’t, it’s kind of weird.