Seduce Me

by Kelly Elliott

  After paying the taxi driver, I climbed out of the taxi and walked through the lobby of my building.

  “Good afternoon, Ms. Monroe.”

  My gaze swung over to the new doorman, Jake. “Hey, Jake.”

  “Rough morning?”

  Scoffing, I replied, “You could say that.”

  The ride up the elevator to my penthouse apartment seemed to take forever. When the doors opened, a wave of the most heavenly smell hit me. Glancing down to the floor, I smiled when I saw the rose petals.

  Walking up to my doors, I unlocked them and gasped at the sight before me.

  Tucker stood in front of me, dressed in a tux. My mouth went dry, and my knees almost buckled at the sight of him. He looked so beyond handsome and hot as hell.

  “Oh my,” I whispered.

  He lifted his arms and that was when I saw Mr. Pootie, dressed in a tux as well. I covered my mouth and attempted to hold back my laughter and tears at the same time. Mr. Pootie was not happy about the current events.

  “What is going on?” I asked, dropping my hand to my side.

  Tucker flashed me a crooked grin that showcased his dimple; my heart melted.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Of course I do.”

  He motioned with his finger to follow him.

  “I thought you would have been sprawled out naked and ready for se … ahh—”

  My words cut off at the sight of our friends standing in the living room.

  “I’m pretty sure you were about to say sex,” Nash said, his brow lifted. When I caught Lily on the other end of the group, I smiled. I was glad to see her and Nash in the same room, even if they were as far away from one another as possible.

  Picking up a pillow from my sofa, I threw it at Nash. I scanned the group of friends standing in front of me. Nash, Blake, Jim, Terri, and Lily were all dressed in suits and dresses. “What are y’all doing here?”

  Tucker handed Mr. Pootie to Terri then walked over to me. The way he moved in that tux had my insides quivering, and I was silently wishing we were alone.

  “Charleston Ava Monroe. You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, and today was another example of your kind and thoughtful heart. You continue to amaze me day in and day out, and I don’t want to wait another minute longer.”

  Terri walked up to me and handed me a white garment bag.

  Joy bubbled up in my heart as I took the bag and looked back at Tucker.

  “I don’t need a big production, and I know you don’t either. All I need is you, our friends, and …” Tucker turned to point to Mr. Pootie, who Nash was now holding up and waving a paw at us. “And even Mr. Pootie.”

  “What … what are you saying?” I asked, a sob slipping from my lips. I knew what Tucker was saying, but I needed to hear him say the words that would melt my heart.

  “I’m saying let’s get married. Right now.”

  “Here?” I asked, peering around the room.

  “Sort of. All I need you to do is get changed, and Terri and Lily will do the rest.”

  MY HEART RACED. Excitement like I’d never felt flowed through my veins, and I couldn’t control my happiness. I jumped up and down like a little girl and rushed toward a waiting Lily and Terri. They both practically pushed me into my bedroom.

  When the door closed, they demanded I get undressed.

  “Okay, so hold on. Tucker planned all of this in the three hours since he left my office?”

  Terri nodded. “Yep. When that man sets his mind to something, he gets everyone on the same page.”

  “But weren’t you all at work?” I asked as Terri started to pull my shirt out of my skirt.

  “Yes, but when your friend calls and says his girl had a bad day and he wants to marry her to make it all better, you drop everything to make it happen.”

  Laughing, I placed my palm on my forehead. “Oh my gosh, is this really happening? And was Mr. Pootie really wearing a tux? Where does one get a cat tux on short notice?”

  Both of my best friends laughed.

  “That was all Nash,” Terri said. I couldn’t help but notice the sadness that appeared on Lily’s face. It was gone so quick that if I hadn’t been looking at her, I’d have missed it.

  “Of course he did,” Lily said with a strained chuckle. She was trying; I had to give her that.

  I was ushered in the shower after I was stripped of my clothes.

  “Put this hairnet on,” Lily demanded.

  “I just took a shower this morning,” I exclaimed as the plastic cap was placed over my head and I was shoved under the water.

  “Clean your va-jay-jay. It’s going to be your wedding night.”

  “When was the last time you got waxed?” Terri asked through the bathroom door.

  Sighing, I responded. “You know, this is all very weird. Y’all are telling me to clean my lady bits and asking about my grooming habits!”

  I heard muffled voices from the other side of the door and decided they had both abandoned me for other things.

  It was then everything really hit me.

  “I’m getting married. Holy hell. I’m getting married.”

  Note to self: Get Tucker his wedding gift!

  Standing under hot water, careful not to let it touch above my neck, I daydreamed about what Tucker did. How everything would look, where it would be. I was sure I was going to be whisked off in a limo and taken somewhere romantic.

  But where? It was a weeknight. How in the world had Tucker arranged this in three hours?

  The knock on the bathroom door startled me.

  The door opened and Terri called out, “What are you doing? Let’s go!”

  “I’m coming, hold on.”

  When I walked out of the bathroom, I nearly dropped to my knees.

  “Oh. My. God.”

  Tears pricked at my eyes, and two tissues appeared in front of my face at the same time.

  “It’s the dress,” I whispered. “How? Where?”

  “When we went dress shopping a few weeks back and you tried this one on, it fit you like a glove. You mentioned if you and Tucker ever ran off and eloped, this was the dress you’d do it in. I told Jim how beautiful you looked in it, he told Tucker the story, and the next day Tucker asked me to go buy it. So I did.”

  Spinning to face Terri, I gaped at her. “You’ve had this dress since then?”

  She nodded.

  My stunned gaze looked between the two of them. “How long has Tucker been planning this?”

  “It was something he wanted to do to surprise you. He knew y’alls wedding was going to be more of a show, and he wanted to do something more for the two of you. He had it all planned out in his head, so putting it together wasn’t that hard. Plus, he had a tux left over from a charity ball our parents put on last summer.”

  I grinned. “I remember that ball. I was there and nearly choked on my own spit when your brother walked into the room in that tux.”

  We all giggled.

  Taking my hand, Lily headed to my vanity. “Come on. Let’s fix your hair, makeup, get your dress on, and then we need to get to the chapel.”

  “Chapel?” I asked.

  Both of my friends ignored me as they fussed over everything. When Lily got the dress, I couldn’t help where my mind took me.

  Tucker slipping it off, his hands on my body, touching and kissing me everywhere.

  I stood and slipped on the sleeveless lace and tulle gown. The satin on my warm and overly sensitive skin made me flush. Lily winked as if she knew exactly where my thoughts had just been.

  “The halter and the sweetheart neckline together is beautiful,” Terri said as she started the task of buttoning all the buttons on the back.

  “Tucker is going to be pissed when he has to unbutton all of these.”

  The three of us laughed.

  “I forgot it had a train,” I said softly, looking at myself in the full-length mirror I had in the corner of my bedroom.

  “I can’t believe it f
its you like a glove. It’s like it was meant to be.”

  “It’s a far cry from the dress I’d be wearing for a public wedding.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, I’m sure your PR people will be forcing you to put on some huge fairy-tale display of a wedding.”

  My eyes pooled with tears. “This is a fairy tale.”

  They each wrapped an arm around me and hugged me, sandwiching me in between the two of them.

  “Shoes? What shoes should I wear?”

  Lily rushed to a bag sitting on the bed

  “This is your something new.” She pulled out a Jimmy Choo shoebox and opened it. Terri and I gasped at the nude high heels covered in crystals.

  “Lily! These shoes are like two-thousand dollars!”

  Terri smacked Lily on the arm. “Thanks a lot for showing me up. All I got her was sexy blue lingerie for tonight.”

  With a roll of her eyes, Lily shrugged. “You only have a surprise wedding once. Besides, I bought them for me when I found out I was pregnant! We just happen to be the same shoe size.”

  Laughing, I pulled her in for a hug.

  “Thank you, but these are my something borrowed, not new.”

  “How about both?” Lily said with a wink. “Perfect.”

  Terri handed me a box wrapped in beautiful paper. It was so stunning I didn’t even want to unwrap it.

  “It’s for tonight. Unwrap it then.”

  I kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, Terri.”

  “It’s going to be Tucker who thanks me, that’s for sure.”

  “We need to get going. Tucker just texted and said everything is ready.”

  My hands started to shake.

  “Holy shit, I’m getting married.”

  “You’re getting married …” Lily and Terri said at once as they gathered up the train and we headed to the front door.

  “Wait! Don’t I need flowers?”

  Terri ushered me through the door. “Taken care of.”

  “Oh.” My hands began to shake more, and I soon found myself being pulled not toward the elevator, but to the door that led up to the private rooftop patio that was mine.

  “The roof ?” I gasped.

  Neither of my friends said a word as they opened the door and Nash and Jim greeted us. Both Lily and Terri took one of Jim’s arms and slowly climbed the steps, but not before they each gave Nash instructions on how to carry and drop my train when we reached the roof.

  Extending his arm for me, Nash asked, “Are you ready to marry him?”

  A bubble of sadness settled in my chest. This was my father’s job. To give me away to the man I loved. My mother should have been here, adjusting my hair and telling me how I looked just like her on her wedding day.

  Tears filled my eyes, and Nash pulled me to him.

  “I miss them, Nash.”

  He gently gave me a squeeze. “They’re here with you, Charlie.”

  Nash was right. I felt my parents’ presence. They were with me. For a brief moment I thought about the letters I still hadn’t read. They were tucked safely in my nightstand. I made a mental note to pull them out and read them.

  When I pulled back, I took in a deep breath and let it out.

  “Is he ready to marry me?” I questioned, my teeth digging into my lip as nerves took center stage.

  “He’s more than ready to marry you. I’ve never in all the years I’ve known him seen him this happy.”

  My mouth trembled and I fought hard to keep my tears at bay.

  “Then take me to him,” I managed to get out.

  As we climbed the steps, my heart raced faster and faster. Excitement mixed with nerves and made the most amazing feeling that fluttered both in my chest and stomach. When we reached the top, Lily, Terri, and Jim had already stepped outside.

  I nearly lost my composure when I saw Patty standing at the top of the stairs. She was the only parent left between Tucker and me, and I was so happy to see she was here.

  She handed me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers I’d ever seen.

  “These are … stunning,” I said, pressing them into my face and taking a deep breath.

  “Well, they are pretty amazing for a last-ditch effort.”

  My eyes snapped up to look at her. “You made these?”

  Nodding, she gave a small shrug. “In college I worked at a flower shop. I loved working there and was pretty good at it.”

  “I’ll say. They’re perfect for Charlie,” Nash said.

  Patty gave him a sweet smile, but her eyes were filled with sadness. She must have known the truth about Lily and Nash.

  “Ready?” she asked when she broke her gaze from Nash.

  “So very ready.”

  Putting my hand through Patty’s arm, I was walked outside with Tucker’s mother on one side of me and his best friend on the other. This was a clear message to me that Tucker intended on making sure that no matter what, I would be surrounded by people who loved both of us. People who would drop everything and rush around to make a wedding happen in three hours.

  When we stepped out and I looked at the rooftop, I lost my fight to keep my tears back. White lights were strung up everywhere and had started to cast light over the rooftop.

  There were no chairs, just a beautiful arbor decorated in whites and silver that faced the west where the sun had begun to set. Tucker’s family preacher stood under it, with Tucker standing right next to him.

  My eyes landed on Tucker. He looked so handsome. When he wiped a tear away, I started crying again. I fought the urge to break free from Nash and Patty and run to Tucker to tell him how much I loved him and how happy he had made me not only tonight, but always.

  It seemed like forever before I reached him. It was only then did I see someone standing there with a violin. I’d heard it, but it didn’t compute in my brain that they were there on the roof with us.

  Patty took my bouquet, and Nash placed my hands in Tucker’s.

  “I know I’m not your father, Charlie, but I’m more than honored to stand in his place.”

  My chin trembled as Nash leaned down and kissed my cheek.

  He stepped away and I stood in front of the only man I’d ever loved. Tears streaked down his cheeks, and I loved that he was so open with his emotions. Tucker reached up and used his thumbs to wipe my tears away, so I did the same to him.

  “I’m sorry Pastor Tim, I know I’m supposed to wait, but I need to do something.”

  Cupping my face in his hands, Tucker bent over and kissed me. It was soft, slow, and innocent. Brushing his nose over mine, he closed his eyes and said, “You’re so beautiful, Charleston. You take my breath away.”

  My hands clutched onto his arms as I attempted to find my voice. The only thing I managed to get out was something that sounded like “Tucker.”

  Pastor Tim cleared his throat and Tucker placed a respectable distance between us. I missed the warmth of his lips, the touch of his hands.

  When the ceremony started, I didn’t even try to pay attention. I stared into Tucker’s gray eyes, and he stared back. The only time we broke the connection was when Nash told us it was time for the rings and vows. I laughed when I looked over to see Patty holding Mr. Pootie. He had a black harness on to match his little tux, and knowing Tucker made sure he was a part of today had me getting even more emotional than I already was.

  I somehow managed to get through the vows, slip the ring on Tucker’s finger, and stay upright when the pastor told Tucker to kiss me. Because kiss me, he did. I don’t think I’d ever been kissed like that in such a public display of his affection and when he pulled back, I grabbed his jacket and pulled him back for more.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Tucker Middleton.”

  Tucker and I raised up our hands as our friends and family yelled and cheered.

  We didn’t have a reception afterward; we stood on the rooftop, the pink-and-orange glow of the setting sun fading off to close out the day, with glasses of champagne in our hands. We
ll, everyone but Lily. She had water.

  “To Tucker and Charlie,” Nash started, his glass raised. “An example of true love and the testimony that love can overcome anything.”

  “Here, here!” was called out around us.

  “To happily ever after!” Terri added as we all clinked glasses and drank.

  Tucker’s arm wrapped around my waist, keeping me close to him as everyone chatted about how amazing the ceremony was and they couldn’t believe Tucker pulled it all together in one afternoon. It was a reminder of why I left work in the first place. My body was hungry, and it didn’t want food. It was hungry for the man standing next to me. The man in the tux who looked hot as hell. The man I needed to have inside of me before I imploded.

  Sensing my desire, Tucker leaned down and whispered against my ear, “I promise I’m going to take care of you later.”

  My knees trembled and my lower stomach pulsed with desire. When Patty informed everyone that she had a catering company setting up food downstairs, I almost wanted to cry. I loved being with my friends and Patty. Loved that I just had the most romantic wedding I could have ever had dreamed up, but I was horny and needed my husband to be all over me.

  Everyone started to head toward the steps to head back to my place, but Tucker kept me behind. The glow of the white lights lit up his face, and I was struck again by how incredibly handsome my … husband … really was. He smiled and my stomach flipped. The dimple on the side of his cheek always made my stomach jump, but now that I knew this man was mine, it did something even more.

  “I love you so much, Tucker. This day started out to be a pretty messed-up day, and you turned it completely around and gave me the most breathtaking wedding I could have ever asked for or dreamed of. Everything was perfect.”

  “Not too simple?” he asked with a wink.

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I reached up and brushed my lips across his. “Not at all. It was beyond perfect. Did you time it with the sunset?”

  He laughed. “Nope. That was pure fucking luck!”

  I joined in on the laughter as he pressed his mouth to mine, kissing me like he had something to prove. He had nothing to prove. He loved me, and that was made so very clear by what he did for me today.