by BJ Harvey
“Well, thanks,” I mutter sarcastically.
“My turn,” I hear Noah announce and I look up to find him looking at me with his cocky grin firmly in place.
“I have a bone to pick with you, Taylor.”
“Too late for that one, Mac. But Sean’s right, you do look gorgeous.” He steps in front of me and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me in close for a hug. “Thank you for letting her come tomorrow,” he whispers against my hair as I nod gently, biting my lip to hold back the new flood of tears threatening to break.
“Damn you guys. You’re making my eyes leak.”
Zander grabs a full shot glass and holds it out to me as I watch the other guys do the same. I make a note right then to thank Daniel in multiple, orgasmic ways later on for giving me this.
When we all have a shot in our hands, we stand in a circle, Noah on one side of me, Sean on the other. I sneak a glance to the restaurant doorway to my left and spot Superman leaning leisurely against the wall, his caramel eyes full of love and adoration as he watches me intently. Tilting my head toward the bar, I silently invite him over but he just shakes his head and offers me a wide smile.
“Go,” he mouths.
“I love you,” I mouth back.
“I know,” I see him say just as Zander starts his toast.
“Raise your glasses, gentlemen. To Mac and Daniel. May the love stay strong, the arguments rare, and the sex always hot. And Mac, may you never ever change from the independent, strong-minded, awesome woman that we adore.”
“Here, here!” Sean and Noah cheer as we all lift our glasses to our mouths and throw back the shot.
It’s like the end of an era.
I loved it at the time, but deep down I knew I needed more.
And thankfully, so did my superhero.
Tomorrow can’t come quick enough.
Chapter 8: “My Girl”
Daniel
Many men would feel threatened by letting their wife-to-be’s ex-lovers not only come to the rehearsal dinner, but also attend the wedding.
But I’m not like most men.
I know Mac loves me.
I know she thought sex without commitment was enough for her before.
But then she met me.
And it may have taken a while, but I finally proved to her that I could be everything she needed.
Now we’ve built a life together, made a home, created a family, and tomorrow afternoon I will finally be able to proudly call Makenna Lewis my wife.
Fucking finally!
Chapter 9 – “Marry You”
Mac
Two and a half years ago I thought I was happy. I had a successful career, I was living with my best friend and we were living the life of two modern single girls in Chicago. Kate was the ‘forever after’ girl looking for her prince, and I had wanted everything from men except commitment.
Then a fateful trip home on the train turned my life upside down. At the time, I didn’t know the effect that Daniel Winters would have on me. That initial meeting was flirtatious and sexy, a hot ass man in a suit handing me my phone and returning my banter with ease. He didn’t miss a beat.
In that moment, he had me. Hook, line, and sinker. We just didn’t know it, and I took my sweet ass time admitting it.
Fast forward to today. Daniel is my sun, my sky, one of three reasons I get out of bed every day with a huge smile on my face. The other two reasons are the biggest gift Daniel has and will ever give me.
Fuck, listen to me. I sound like one of those sappy, loved up women. You know, the kind I swore I would never end up like.
The thing is, hindsight is a freaking fantastic thing.
But even if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would not change a thing.
Not one. single. thing.
I’d drop my phone, I’d flirt with the smoking hot volcano of fine businessman who got my gears turning and my thighs clenching with his double-dimpled grin. I’d torture myself with the same three-date bet. I’d confess my superman fantasy at 42nd Street bar, then kiss him on the first date by the lake. I’d let him take my tailgating cherry and even put up with the awkwardness of discovering that one of my fuck buddies and my date were actually best friends. I’d have food sex in a restaurant and let him feed me Tiramisu before dragging him back to my place and rocking his freaking world.
I’d run away to sort my shit out all over again just to find my way back to him.
If my life is a compass, he is my due north. And now, as I stand at the altar in my dream wedding dress (and yes, I know I’m taking a chance wearing white AND getting married in a church of God!), staring into those piercing caramel eyes belonging to Delicious Daniel Winters, my Superman, I know I’ve come full circle. Every level ten freakout brought me here. It brought me to him.
“I cherish every kiss, every double-dimpled grin, every time you press your forehead against mine and just breathe me in. I value your opinions, your hopes and your dreams. Everything we’ve been through has led us to this point. Today I stand before you a changed woman. You’ve made me whole. I’ve realized that the only direction I ever want to run in is into your arms. You, Riley and Jared are my world and I’ll spend the rest of my life and beyond loving you because that is what I was born to do.” I feel his warm hands cup my cheeks as he takes a step toward me, his own eyes wet with emotion as he lets my words sink in. He rubs his thumbs across my face, wiping my tears away. “You’re my happy forever after and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“No more tears, gorgeous. I had you the moment I locked eyes with you. We were meant to be. I can’t wait to live my forever and beyond with you,” he whispers against my lips, an intimate moment just for us. I tip my chin up and brush my lips against his.
“Always and forever, Superman.”
“Never doubted it, gorgeous.”
The End of Mac & Daniel’s Happy Forever After
But later, at the wedding reception …
Epilogue – “Sky Full of Stars”
Noah
So the impossible has happened and Mac is finally hitched.
Wonders will never cease!
The ceremony was awesome, total Mac and Daniel epicness, and even Riley and Jared decided to mix things up and cause a ruckus when they had a fight over Riley’s basket of rose petals. It was a toddler battle of the sexes with Jared coming out on top and rose petals spread from asshole to breakfast.
But even with that little interlude, the ceremony was perfect.
Now we’re at the reception. We’ve had the speeches and shit, and I even stood up and gave a heartfelt speech to Daniel and Mac about the virtues of marriage and how friendship and love are the cornerstones to any successful relationship. If only I really believed that in my own life.
If it were true, I wouldn’t have been pining after the same woman for fifteen years. I wouldn’t still be holding out hope that she holds even a flicker of a flame for me. But the way she’s acted today, both during the ceremony and now at the reception, I’m seriously wondering why I even bothered inviting her. Hence why I’ve had a few too many drinks and am bordering on no longer giving a shit.
Oh yes, that’s right, because she said she wanted to be my date. In public. In front of people we know. In front of both of our parents (who were also invited as friends of Dan’s family). But considering I’ve been pretty much dateless most of the night, I’m suddenly very dubious of Nikki’s intentions for today.
Sitting at the head table next to Daniel and Mac, who are deliriously happy and huddled closely together talking quietly, I scan the room, taking in the whole scene. I can see Mac’s mom and dad dancing happily, laughing and smiling together. Why is it that the closer I get to thirty (three months to go), I’m starting to think about this kind of shit? The woman to love, the house to come home to, the children to be proud of. A happy life. A fulfilled life. Having something other than my career to show for myself.
I catch a flash of platinum blond hair in my
peripheral vision and turn to see Nikki sauntering her way toward me, her hips jutting out with an extra seductive swing and her eyes hooded and dark with heat as she reaches my side. Quirking one eyebrow at her, I bring my glass of whisky sour to my mouth, loving the gentle burn as I swirl the liquor around my mouth before swallowing it carefully.
Nic bends down, giving me an awesome view of her tits, and nuzzles my neck before sucking my earlobe into her mouth. “I want you, baby.”
“Mmm hmm,” I murmur, trying to appear unaffected but who am I kidding, I’m two drinks past thinking logically and about five drinks past being able to say no to my now rock hard dick.
“Meet me on the green. I’ll let you claim me as the nineteenth hole.” I feel her hand run up my thigh before grabbing hold of my cock and squeezing hard. I suddenly start coughing, trying to contain the sudden surge of lust (and shock). Actually, spluttering would be a more accurate description. Nic releases her stranglehold on my dick before standing up straight, and with a smirk and a wink, she spins on her sexy black heels and struts away from me.
Fuck. Me.
Well, actually, fuck her. And I will, as soon as I can discreetly get out of here.
I down the rest of my drink and lean toward Daniel. “Hey, man, I’m just gonna pop outside for a bit. Get some fresh air.”
“All good. Thank you for your speech. Didn’t know you had it in ya.”
“Yeah, well I’m more than just a pretty face,” I add jokingly. Little does he know that there is more meaning behind that retort than I’d care to admit. Or, more fittingly, I should have said there’s more to me than just a big dick and a pretty face.
I give Daniel a friendly slap on the shoulder and bend down to kiss the top of Mac’s head before walking away from them and toward the direction where Nic disappeared to. Not watching where I’m going, I crash into someone and instinctually grab hold of them when I see them falling to the ground.
“Easy now, no harm done,” I state as I gently lift the woman back onto her feet, holding firm until I feel her steady herself.
“I’m fine. Thanks for, you know, catching me.” Her voice sounds like warm honey, the type you want to have poured all over you and slowly lapped back up. I look up and get lost in the sexiest teal green eyes belonging to the gorgeous woman I’m still holding captive in my arms. Like a deer in the headlights, I continue to stare at her, unable to look away as I try hard to commit her face to memory.
Never in my life have I been lost for words. Dr Noah Taylor, known as the walking dildo to many, is cocky and confident, always ready with smart ass retorts or flirty banter. But right now, with too many drinks under my belt, too much testosterone pulsing through my veins, and the promise of a hot fuck on the eighteenth green with Nikki at the forefront of my mind, I do the first thing I think of.
I crash my mouth against the mystery woman’s lips and plunge my tongue into her mouth.
Finding Bliss (Bliss #4 – Noah’s Story) is coming Winter 2014/15 and will conclude the Bliss Series
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18492793-finding-bliss
Bonus Content – When Mac met Daniel (Chapter 2 of Temporary Bliss) in Daniel’s POV
I walk onto the crowded train and take my place next to the door. Pleased to have finished work for the day, I pull my suit jacket off, loosen my tie, then roll up my shirt sleeves and undo the first few buttons of my shirt. It has been a long day which led into an even longer night. I’m not normally traveling home at this time of night, but there were a few unhappy clients who needed dealing with. To be completely honest, it has been the day from hell, with more losses than gains.
Hell, the entire week has been like Groundhog Day. I wake up, go to work, go to the gym, eat dinner then go to sleep before starting all over again the next morning. I’m more than aware that I need a distraction in my life. Something or someone to shake things up a bit.
I’m lost in my thoughts when I feel something hit my shoe. I look down to find a silver cellphone lying next to my briefcase on the floor, so I lean down to grab it. When I stand back up, I scan the train for any sign of said phone’s owner.
Moving through the crowded train cab in the direction of where the wayward phone came from, I catch sight of a gorgeous brunette wearing blue hospital scrubs. She appears panicked as she looks around the train. BINGO! Realizing that it must be her phone that I’m carrying in my hand, and thanking the gods for crossing our paths, I move toward her seat. As I arrive she looks up at me, and I’m taken aback by the most beautiful sea blue eyes staring at me. I smile back at her as I take her in. She is simply exquisite; truly one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, and not traditionally so either, which is just the way I like it. With a cute curve in her lips, a light sprinkling of freckles across her nose, and the smoothest skin I’ve ever seen, I’m dumbstruck, though the most male part of my anatomy twitches with anticipation.
One look at her and I feel as if I’ve had my first big breath of fresh air for the day.
“Sorry, is this your phone? It slid down the floor from this direction, and you’re one of the only people on the train without a phone or an e-reader in your hand, so I’m taking a lucky guess,” I ask casually, trying hard not to wince at how awkward I sound. Why am I nervous talking to this beautiful stranger? Oh, that’s right. Because she took my breath away without uttering a single word.
“Yeah, that’ll be mine. Sorry to make you come all the way down here,” she says looking completely embarrassed and blushing like a nervous school girl. To be honest, it’s kind of hot.
“Hey, it’s no problem. I don’t mind being given an excuse to talk to a beautiful stranger, on the L, at night, alone …” I say the last few words slowly and with purpose. It’s after eight on a Thursday night and definitely not safe for a single woman to be traveling alone in the dark.
“Makenna Lewis, but everyone calls me Mac.” I look down at her outstretched hand and make a point of raking my eyes down her scrub clad body. I can feel my jaw twitching as I look back up at her face. I pull out my best panty-melting grin as I put my hand in hers, shaking it once while deliberately running the length of my fingers down her hand, relishing in the electricity buzzing between us. My mom always warned me that my grin would get me into trouble, but right now I’m willing to get involved in any kind of trouble Mac has to offer.
“Daniel Winters,” I reply. I see her bite her lip and don’t miss the shudder that shakes her body. I can see that I’m affecting her just as much as she’s affecting me and I love it. My horrible day at work has suddenly taken a turn for the better.
“Where are you headed tonight? Have you just finished work, or just starting?” I ask, reaching up to hold on to the cabin’s overhead rail while looking down at her. Her eyes dart to my arms then slowly peruse my chest. I notice that she has zeroed in on the small section of my chest where my shirt had come away from my slacks, and I know she must have gotten a look at my abs. I’m not a showy guy, but I do workout daily, so I know that my abs are fairly tight. And by the way she’s looking at me, I could swear she's almost drooling.
“Ah work, yeah, I just finished my shift at North Western,” she mutters, shaking her head.
“Ah, a doctor then?” I ask with a smile.
“I’m a nurse in the ICU.” We just look at each other, grinning like idiots and waiting for the other to speak, but it’s not an awkward silence. No, I’m enjoying the tension pulsing between us. It’s full of possibilities that I really want to explore, possibly naked.
“And how about you? Let me guess … a lawyer? No, wait, maybe an accountant? Nope, not that either. My last answer is undertaker.” She tilts her head to the side, looking adorable as she gives me a ‘Whatcha got for me now?’ look.
I crack up laughing. This girl has spunk. She’s hilarious and has already proven that she has an awesome personality. Personality and intelligence win me over every time. I decide there and then that my goal for the night is to get this woman’s phone
number because everything about her is turning me on. And by the way she’s looking at me, I think the feeling is definitely mutual.
“I’m a stockbroker,” I reply, leaning in and putting my spare arm on the back of her seat. It’s as if there is a magnetic pull, and all I want to do is get closer to her. She smells like vanilla—a scent that comforts and attracts me. This woman has me tied in knots at every turn, and I’ve only just met her. How is that possible?
“And I guess none of my sexy nurse jokes will win me any favors with you either, right?” She laughs, and I’m a goner. It has been a long time since a woman has evoked such a strong reaction from me and not just my bod—because Lord knows she is gorgeous—but my mind as well. Probably not, but you never know your luck in the big city,” she muses.
I nod in agreement, grinning at her sass. “Duly noted.”
“So, you like to play with money then.”
Wow, she’s being rather blatant. Normally that would put me off, but now it’s simply serving to intrigue me even more. I smirk, knowing full well that the dimples my mom says are my best weapon against women are coming out to play.
“I like playing with other people’s money,” I murmur, taking another chance to scan her body head to toe. I can’t get enough. Damn, she is everything I like in a woman, and I haven’t even seen her out of her scrubs.
“Sounds like fun. What else do you like to do?”
I feel the sides of my mouth curl up. Her beautiful blue eyes dart up to mine again before she looks out the window, and I see a blush crawl up those smooth pink cheeks of hers. Even in her scrubs she looks like any man’s naughty nurse fantasy. Shit! I need to get my head on straight; otherwise she’s going to think I’m just another leering creep on the late night train.
“Lots of things.” I hesitate, taking the time to think about my answer. I need to be witty … funny enough to make her laugh. Hell, I could be blunt as fuck and say, ‘Well actually, gorgeous, I’d like to take you home, strip you naked, and devour you in front of my floor to ceiling windows for all of Chicago to see,’ but I can’t see that going down so well. Although, with that glint in her eye, maybe it would. It makes me think there is more to this sexy as hell woman than meets the eye.
