The men pulled the garment bags off all the dresses. There must have been over three dozen. Which seemed like a lot but at the same time not enough to choose a wedding gown from.
“This rail is Vera Wang, these ones Christos and these Theia.”
I ran my hand along the dresses, my fingers tingling at the contact with silk, satin and lace. Most of them were white though a few were ivory and one had a pink tint.
This whole situation was crazy. Yesterday morning, I had no clue I'd be picking out my wedding dress today. Let alone to get married this evening. Giddy, I could barely contain my girlish excitement. I only wished Jenny and Sam were here with me.
“What are you thinking? A big skirt? Strapless? Backless? Lace?” Portia walked passed the dresses, touching an example of each as she walked past.
“I don’t think I want a big skirt.” I would feel silly in it since it’s only going to be the two of us.
“Good.” She waggled her hand at the men and they moved all the poofy dresses to one rail.
“I think I need something low key.”
“Long? Short?”
“Long.”
“Let me show you this Vera Wang.” She pulled out a dress made of sheer fabric, with some lace detailing on the chest. Decorative lines that went from the top to the hem glittered in the sunlight. I could see straight through the dress.
“That’s pretty,” I said, unconvinced.
“This is Mr McAllister’s favorite. He’d like you to wear it.”
“But,” I said looking at all the other dresses. Maybe there’s one I like better. I’ve never heard of a groom picking the bridal gown before.
“He said you can pick any you want, it’s just he likes this one best.”
My brow furrowed and I stood motionless, waiting for something to happen.
“Do you want to try it on?”
I looked to Virginia, my minder, hoping for some support.
“There’s no harm in trying it on,” Virginia said.
I took the dress into the bedroom and closed the door behind me. How was I supposed to put on a sheer dress? I went into the adjacent dressing room and through my underwear drawer until I found some plain white panties and a white bra.
I pulled the dress on, the fabric light and airy against my skin. Nervous, I took a deep breath and stood in front of the full length mirror. My eyes darted all over me. I turned to see myself from all angles.
I can’t deny it was a beautiful dress, but it seemed like something that would be confined to wearing in the bedroom and not out in public. The plunging back meant I had to take my bra off. The plunging neckline meant major cleavage was going on. At least the lace detailing hid my nipples.
“Come out and let us see,” Portia called.
Right. I was essentially nude and about to walk into a room full of people waiting to check out my dress.
“I think it’s too revealing,” I said through the door.
“Let us see, and we’ll tell you.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Don’t be shy Abbie,” Virginia said.
I took a deep breath and walked into the living room. The dress moved with me, its skirt swishing about my legs.
“Oh. My. God. You look stunning. That dress was made for you,” Portia said clapping. She rushed over to me and fussed with the dress, assessing it for alterations.
“She’s right Abbie, you look amazing,” Virginia said.
“I think I want to try a few others on.”
We went through a few dresses, most of them revealing to some degree though none as much as the first. But none had the reaction of the first one. Either by me or the people in the living room. It would help if I knew where the wedding was taking place. If it was in private I’d consider it.
“Do you know where the wedding is?”
“It’s next door,” Virginia replied.
“Next door like the Bellagio?” I glanced out the window to the large hotel outside.
“Yes.”
At least she’d answered my question, but I wasn’t any closer to knowing if the ceremony was in public or not.
“I’m sorry honey we really have to decide on a dress now, so there’s enough time to do the alterations,” Portia said.
“I can’t decide,” I said, exasperation in my voice.
“The sheer Vera Wang suits you best,” Virginia said.
I kept taking out my phone to text Jenny and Sam for their opinions on dresses, but decided I needed to tell them in person. It would be far too weird for them to get a text out of the blue asking them to tell me which wedding gown I should choose. For my wedding today. Today. It seemed so crazy, but Jay made everything seem so natural.
“Okay. I’ll go with the sheer Vera Wang.” I tried not to think too hard about it, it might be the kind of decision I’ll regret later.
I spent the rest of the day being a princess. Six hours in a spa has that effect. Virginia kept me company for a spa lunch of a quinoa and super food salad and green tea.
The spa workers treated me like a VIP, doting on my every need. By the time I left, I think I’d have every treatment they offer. My skin felt amazing, my muscles were nice and loose and my hair and make up perfect.
Virginia and I made our way back to my hotel suite.
“Jay gave me these to give to you, to wear this evening.” She passed me a small box gift wrapped in black paper.
I ripped open the paper, no longer concerned about saving the paper for later. Inside was a pair of ivory lace panties. Obviously they were intended to be worn under my sheer wedding dress. At least it wasn’t a thong.
Virginia nodded at me and I blushed. What must she think of me?
“There’s more.” She passed me another box. This one square and squat.
I ripped open the matching black paper. A jewelry box. My fingers trembled as I held in on my palms. I cleared my throat and opened the hinged lid.
My heart stopped at the sight of the necklace. Small diamonds lined the chain, which ended in a beautiful pendant. The pendent was rectangular, and would sit just above my cleavage. It was about as long as my finger and slightly wider. Scallops of small diamonds formed a pattern over it, with a larger diamond in the arc of each scallop. I ran my finger over it, tracing the pattern.
“It has an art déco vibe, like the dress,” Viginia said proudly. I wonder if she selected it.
Matching earrings sat in the center of the necklace, drop earrings with smaller versions of the pendant. A bracelet laid alongside the necklace, a chain of small diamonds that matched the chain of the necklace.
“Here, there’s one more.” She passed me what was obviously a shoebox.
I ripped the paper off and opened the lid. A pair of Louboutins. These ones mesh, dotted with rhinestones with glittery sky high heels. At least I assume those are rhinestones.
Portia and her crew arrived with a garment bag.
“We’ve altered it to fit you perfectly, here, put it on.” Portia directed the man holding the dress to give it to me. Why were all these men here anyway? And who was the other woman who acted like Portia’s shadow?
I took the dress from them, and the panties Jay had sent and retreated to the bedroom.
Butterflies fluttered like crazy in my stomach and I sat down on the bed to calm myself. I was about to get married. I shook my head, not that I had any doubt. There was not a shred of doubt in my mind that I wanted to marry Jay. It’s just, I wanted my mom. I at least wanted Jenny.
Once I felt a little better, I pulled on the lace panties and wedding gown, careful not to mess up my hair.
Unlike the first time I’d tried on the dress, I strode with confidence into the living room. Into the view of all those people, those anonymous men.
“Oh. My. God. You look ravishing. Mr McAllister is one lucky man,” Portia said. I assume she gushes like that to everyone she sells a dress to. I stood like a mannequin while they put the jewelry on me, had me step into the shoes and did a b
it of last minute fussing over the dress and my hair.
Virginia passed me the bouquet I had selected over lunch, a few simple strands of Calla lilies.
“Ready?” Virginia said.
I took a deep breath. Filled with both nerves and excitement, I nodded my head.
“Here, hold your dress like this until you get there,” Portia said, pulling my dress up so it wouldn’t drag on the ground.
Virginia offered her arm for support, and I hooked my arm around her in, my bouquet in that hand and my dress in the other.
While we waited for the elevator Virginia said, “Oh, by the way, I just got a message from Jay to tell you he’s written his own vows. He says you don’t have to, but he wanted me to let you know.”
My head whipped away from her, as if she had slapped me. Our own vows? She tells me this as we’re walking to the altar? What do I say?
I didn’t have time to think, she hustled me out of the elevator, across a parking garage and to the Bellagio. Every person we passed stopped to stare at us, including a crowded craps table. We didn’t go inside the hotel, instead walked toward the fountain.
“You’re on your own from here,” Virginia said and pointed toward the fountain. I peaked around the corner and saw Jay and the official standing in an alcove beside the iconic fountain.
Virginia took the bunched up dress from my hand and smoothed the fabric, pulling and tugging it until it laid perfectly on my body and around my feet. She freshened my lipstick and stepped back.
“Good luck.”
20
Even though my stomach was fluttering like crazy, I was steady on my towering heels as I took the first steps towards the altar. Towards Jay. Towards the rest of my life.
Nothing could have taken the enormous smile off my face. I forgot all about my sheer dress and lack of wedding vows and walked to Jay with nothing but confidence.
He looked amazing. Beyond gorgeous in a black tux with gray vest and bow-tie. Most of all, the massive smile across his face melted my heart.
We stood facing each other, two feet apart. The official at our side.
Jay stared into my eyes and said, “Abigail White, Beautiful. From the moment I first saw you, I knew we were meant to spent our lives together. You’ve brought laughter and fun into my life, filled a void I didn’t even know I had. You are the most amazing person I’ve ever known, and I will support and protect you through everything that might happen to us. I will never do anything to hurt you, ever. I will give you everything you could ever want and above all, I will never stop loving you. My life couldn’t exist without you in it, and I’m honored to have you as my wife, to fill the rest of my life with your amazing spirit. I could never be without you.”
A lump formed in my throat. I gripped my lilies so hard the stems crushed. Tears wet my cheeks as he took my left hand and slid a plain wedding band onto my finger.
The official who smiled and waved his hand from me to Jay. I cleared my throat, still unsure what I would say.
“Oh, golly, gee, damn.” Jay laughed, of course I’d channel Audrey Hepburn at a moment like this. I gathered myself. “James McAllister. Jay. A few months ago I never thought I was capable of loving ever again. And then you appeared in my life, and filled me with so much love that I learned I could love. I could do anything for you. Would do anything for you. I love you, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” The words flowed out of me like water from a tap. Or blood from my heart.
The official held a ring out between his index finger and thumb. With unsteady fingers, I took it and placed it on Jay’s left hand.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
I dropped my hands to my side. Jay put one arm around my back, his skin connecting with mine where my bra strap would normally be. He pulled me to him and with his other hand, cupped my cheek.
Our eyes locked as he leaned over and kissed me. At first our lips only grazing until, our eyes still attached. My eyes closed, and he became more forceful. I parted my lips to allow him into my mouth and we kissed, fully possessing each other.
A man in a black suit held a door open for us, and Jay led me through. I caught the sign on the way in, Picasso. Every table in the restaurant was empty. And it wasn’t a little restaurant.
Jay led me to a table at the window, the Bellagio fountains dancing on the other side. He held a chair out for me and I sat down.
“Why are we the only ones here?” I don’t know why I was whispering.
“Because our wedding reception is an exclusive affair.”
A waiter with bottle of Dom Perignon pink champagne appeared at our table, and he poured a glass for each of us.
Jay picked his up. “To the most beautiful bride the world has ever known. I love you Mrs McAllister.”
“I love you Mr Mickle.”
He laughed, his smile lighting up his face. Jay clinked his glass to mine and started to say something else.
“Stop it, don’t you make me cry again.” I knew from the crease of his eye that he was going to make an earnest comment. To tell me something far too kind.
“I’m not going to make you cry. But I need you to know how much I love you, so you’ll never forget that, no matter what happens.”
“Why, what’s going to happen?”
“Life.”
A five course dinner along with too much champagne had come and gone. Jay stood and held his arm out to me.
“Come, we need to dance.”
I took his arm, and he led me to a clearing in front of wide glass doors, the fountains on the other side. He held me close, with one hand in mine and the fingertips of the other pressed into small of my back.
Music started. I knew the song in three notes. Moon River. I pushed my face into his chest, and wept uncontrollably when Audrey Hepburn’s voice started singing.
Jay held me up as we slowly moved in a circle, my chest heaving with the sobs. He stroked my back.
“I love you Beautiful.”
I tried, but couldn’t respond. I wanted to tell him how much I love him. How amazed I am that anyone would ever do something for me like he has done today. There could never be any doubt over how much Jay loved me.
21
I squealed as Jay scooped me up and carried me over the threshold of our hotel suite. He carried me straight through the living room and down the hallway to the bedroom, depositing me beside the bed.
“Do you have any idea how difficult it has been for me not to rip that dress off you the second I saw you in it?”
I hugged myself, my eyes wide. “You’re not going to rip my wedding dress? Please don’t wreck it.”
Jay’s eyes flared. “Okay, I won’t if you don’t want me to.”
He ran his fingers over the sheer fabric, brushing over the lace on my breasts and traced them down the glittery piping. He undid the lace covered buttons that ran from the base of my back to the bottom of my ass. I stepped out of my shoes, dropping five inches.
“Leave them on.” His eyes shone down on me and I stepping back into the shoes.
Jay hooked his pinky fingers under the shoulders of the dress, his eyes glowing. He moved his hands out, taking the dress with it, until they were off my shoulders. Without breaking eye contact, he flicked his pinky fingers, letting the dress fall to the floor around my feet.
I stood in front of him, in my lace panties and Louboutins.
He cupped my breasts, his touch electric on my bare skin. His hands moved down, leaving a trail of sparks behind them. When he got to my panties, he grabbed and ripped them from my body before I could stop him.
“You didn’t say I couldn’t rip the panties.” He came closer and kissed my neck, his closeness moistening my pussy. To know I was about to sleep with Jay as my husband for the first time made me ache for him.
“I hope you’re going to undress for me,” I said with a coy smile.
He put me on the bed, still in my shoes, and stripped. Completely naked, which was a nice treat
for me. The sight of his cock, swollen and ready for me made me sit up and crawl towards it.
“Easy, stay there.” Jay put his hand on my shoulder and laid me back down. I complied, and he turned his attention to my shoes.
He ran his fingers along the edge between my skin and shoe. He got onto the bed, between my legs and rested my feet on his shoulders.
My legs elevated, he squeezed my ass. His fingers raced up my skin to my mound, fumbling with my lips and into my wet hole. They prodded me, my pussy becoming wetter and tingles radiating further out my body.
Jay withdrew them, and leaned over to kiss me, but my legs don’t bend like that. He moved back, readjusting my legs, and tried to get his tip into me, but still couldn’t.
Frustrated, he pushed my feet off his shoulders and laid himself on top of me, his hard cock against my mound. Our lips met, with a laziness intended to savor every moment.
He trailed kisses across my jaw and neck while rubbing his cock against me. I wrapped my legs around his, willing his cock to enter me. For a moment it did, and my eyes rolled back in relief. But he took it away after five thrusts.
Before I could react, could whine and moan, he said, “I want to see your feet in these shoes while I fuck you.”
“I’m not that flexible.” My hands tugged at the muscles on his back, trying to coerce him back in.
Jay hooked his arm under my thigh and pulled it up, at the same time he pushed back into me. His thrusts were forceful, but slow in pace. There was a pause between each one, while he was motionless, deep in my pussy. My body submitted itself to him, to do with as he pleased.
He released my leg and caught my eyes with his. We stared into each other while he continued to thrust into me. My insides danced and my breathing quickened. My pulse raced as he gave me more and more pleasure.
“I really want to see these shoes.” He reached back and grabbed one, pulling my leg in a way it can’t be pulled.
“Hey.” I wrestled my leg free, smacking his ass with my hand.
Billionaire's Secret: Exposing Jay: A Chicago Suits Romance (Loving Jay Book 2) Page 10
