She pulled him to her, and he groaned in pain. “Oh, shit, I’m so sorry,” she said, immediately letting go.
“The infractions just pile up, don’t they,” he chuckled, claiming her lips once again.
Chapter 53
Jessi went over the list in her hands. “Now, as soon as the ceremony is over, head out with trays of wine and appetizers.” She scanned the faces of the servers congregated in the kitchen. “We’ll save the champagne for the toast.” Everyone nodded.
Sarah put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve got this, Jessi, seriously.”
“Yeah, Mom,” Cara chimed in. “You don’t have to work at your own wedding.”
Jessi took a deep, calming breath. “I know, I just...”
Sarah smiled. “You just want everything to go right. Well, it is going right. And your groom is out there on the beach, waiting for you. Come on now, it’s time. I’m going to go shoo everyone into position.”
Jessi turned to look out the floor to ceiling glass doors that comprised the back of the house she and Judd had purchased together. Beyond the doors was the covered lanai, which became a larger part of the den when the doors were opened and pushed to the side.
On the pool deck beyond the lanai, wedding guests mingled, wine glasses in hand, and beyond them, Jessi could see the chiffon-draped canopy that had been erected on the beach, rows of white chairs set before it, just waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Peering closer, down on the beach near the canopy, she could see Judd in his wheat-colored linen suit, a pale aqua tie complimenting his crisp white shirt. Judd was shaking hands with the minister who’d come to officiate their ceremony.
This is really happening. I’m about to become Jessi Farris.
“Mom, are you okay?” Cara’s voice was concerned.
Jessi snapped her focus to her daughter. “I’m great. Just a little nervous, but...” She paused to swipe at a lone tear. “I’m so happy today. And I’m so happy that you’re here to share it with me.”
“Judd’s a good man. And he treats you like a queen. I’m happy for you, Mom. I really am.”
Jessi paused to check her reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall. Her green eyes were bright with excitement. Cara had worked her thick auburn hair into a complicated style, weaving a thick, loose braid over the top of her head like a headband, and pulling the rest of her hair into a large messy bun in back. Copper tendrils fell about her face, and baby’s breath had been tucked here and there. Jessi felt like a princess, especially in her long, cream-colored, flowy chiffon gown with its sleeveless lace bodice and deep V neckline.
“I want to see your luscious cleavage, Angel,” Judd had said. Well that was definitely on display, but Jessi felt elegant nevertheless. I have breasts. I won’t apologize for it.
Jessi hugged her daughter lovingly before moving out to the pool deck. By this time, the crowd had moved along to the beach and were being seated. Jessi saw that the rustic lanterns placed along the center aisle had been lit against the falling dusk. The little sunlight that was left filtering from the west rendered the waters of the Atlantic a clear aqua. The evening was calm, and the light breeze had the waves lapping gently onto the sand well beyond the canopy.
“Jessi, you look stunning,” gushed Trish. “And great choice for bridesmaids’ gowns.”
Jessi surveyed Trish, who looked stunning herself in her long chiffon dress with spaghetti straps and ruched V neckline. The pale blue of the dress complimented her olive skin.
“The skirt is so flowy, you can’t tell I have a baby bump.”
“You look beautiful! Thank you for making our day so special!”
“Alex and I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. He’s so proud to be Judd’s Best Man.”
“You both mean so much to us.” Jessi hugged the other woman tightly.
“I’m happy that you make my brother happy. Welcome to the family.” Jessi turned to see Judd’s sister Angie, who’d flown in from Nashville with her daughter Olivia.
“Thank you,” Jessi sniffed. “I’m so honored.”
“Okay, okay, very touching. We have a wedding to do, people. Let’s move it.” Sarah’s voice was stern, but there was a twinkle in her eye. She handed small bouquets of pale aqua peonies and white mums to Trish, Angie, and Cara. “Positions, people.”
Trish moved to the edge of the pool deck facing the beach. Cara moved into position behind her, Cara’s dress the same as Trish’s, only pale aqua in color. Angie’s dress was pale seafoam green. It occurred to Jessi that together, the dresses matched the color of the ocean beyond them
“Are you ready, Mom?” Adam wore wheat-colored linen slacks and a vest over his white shirt. His aqua tie matched Judd’s and Alex’s.
Sarah handed Jessi a huge bouquet that matched the smaller ones. “This is it, sweetie. I’m so thrilled for you. You deserve every happiness.”
“Stop it! You’ll make me ruin my make-up,” Jessi sniffed.
“Go on, now, get out there.” Sarah used a tissue dab at the corner of her eye.
Jessi accepted Adam’s offered elbow and they took their places behind Cara. When the music started, Olivia, with a little coaxing from her Uncle Judd, made her way down the sandy aisle, dropping aqua rose petals as she went. Jessi watched as Trish, then Angie, and finally Cara followed Olivia and took their places on the left side of the canopy.
Then the music changed, and everyone stood, turning to face the house. Jessi found Judd’s eyes and became unaware of anyone else in attendance. Those warm brown eyes that had calmed her those months ago, that made her know that everything would always be alright.
At the end of the aisle, they stopped and Adam turned to kiss her cheek, hugging her tenderly. “I love you, Mom. Be happy.”
Jessi cupped his cheek tenderly. “I love you, too, son. I’m so proud of you.”
Adam took his place as one of Judd’s groomsmen, and Jessi stepped up to Judd.
His smile took her breath away. “You’re so beautiful.”
“I love you so much, Judd.”
“I love you more, Jessi.”
“Alright, you two. Let’s get this little ceremony done so you can go on about your business,” quipped the minister, and everyone chuckled.
As Jessi stood looking up at Judd, the minister’s words faded into the background. She thought about the moment when she realized that she was in love with Judd. She thought about the moment she’d brought both of their worlds crashing down. She thought about the moment she thought she’d lost him forever to the violence of a madman, and the moment she’d known she’s always be his.
Glancing to her right, she looked up at the home they’d made together. As homes in Jupiter Inlet Colony went, it was modest. But they’d pooled their money together, her money from the sale of her house, along with his settlement, and they’d bought their dream home, furnishing it here and there with bits they purchased at antique shops, estate sales, road trips to the Keys...all things that they loved and had meaning to the pair.
Her eyes drifted back to Judd’s and he smiled knowingly. He always said that her eyes gave away her thoughts.
“Damndest thing I ever saw,” he murmured, and she smiled back.
Jessi had no idea where they’d be spending their wedding night. Judd had planned a surprise for her. But she did know that in a couple of days, they’d be boarding a plane for Dublin, where they’d pick up a rental car and do their own driving tour of the Irish countryside, staying in inns and castles along the way. It was a fairy tale come true.
Her eyes widened as she realized the minister had paused. Judd suppressed an amused grin.
“I’m sorry, what?”
There was a titter of laughter from the crowd.
“I said, Do you take Judd to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Jessi gazed back to those soft brown eyes. This was Judd. Her friend. Her lover. Her Dominant. Her Sir. And she loved him more than she ever thought possible.
“Oh,
yes, I definitely do.”
—August 11, 2017
Shadow Pines
P.S.
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Did you love For Sparrow? Then you should read Lost & Bound by Pandora Spocks!
Blake Walker is no stranger to tragedy. Immediately following a horrific event years earlier, he was lost for a while until he embraced his Dominant nature and found his true calling. But things change and now he’s back where he started, helping to run his family’s secluded lake lodge.
When pampered Hollywood starlet Shasta Pyke gets into trouble with the law, she’s sent to the wilderness of northern Ontario to cool her heels for a few weeks. There she meets sexy bush pilot Blake, who is tasked with seeing to her needs as the sole guest at the lodge.
Initially, Blake isn’t impressed with the spoiled actress, but he’s happy that her visit allows for his sister Jackie and her kids to go on a much-needed vacation. Try as he might, he can’t figure out what the hell Shasta Pyke is doing so far out of her element.
Shasta’s attracted to Blake’s obvious good looks, but there’s more to him than that. He sees through her armor to the vulnerable little girl she hides from the world. The Daddy Dominant in him craves to shelter her, to make her his own.
Is there any way Shasta will agree to submit to Blake’s Dominance?
Lost & Bound is part of Pandora Spocks’ Dream Dominant Collection, a series of stand-alone novels featuring sexy, Dominant men and the strong, red-haired submissives who find them irresistible. It is a contemporary erotic romance novel with a light BDSM theme, and features a DD/lg relationship. It is intended for mature audiences.
Read more at Pandora Spocks’s site.
Also by Pandora Spocks
Rannigan's Redemption
Rannigan's Redemption Part 1: Resisting Risk
Rannigan's Redemption Part 2: Running Rogue
Rannigan's Redemption Part 3: Ransoming Redemption
Rannigan's Redemption
The Dream Dominant Collection
For Sparrow
Luke & Bella
Lost & Bound
Standalone
Just One Night
Watch for more at Pandora Spocks’s site.
About the Author
Pandora Spocks is a bratty ginger and hopeless romantic who lives her happily ever after in South Florida.
Pandora has entertained herself with the stories pinballing around in her head for years. Recently she decided to try her hand at sharing those stories with others.
The author of Luke & Bella: Two Streets Over and the Rannigan's Redemption series, she enjoys reading and writing literary erotic fiction.
Pandora is currently busy writing her next spicy romance.
Read more at Pandora Spocks’s site.
About the Publisher
For Sparrow (The Dream Dominant Collection Book 3) Page 31
