Fighter (Outsider Series)

by Micalea Smeltzer

  He chuckled. “I’m really happy for you, Sophie. I don’t mean to get all gooey and sappy on you, but I see you and Caeden…” He shook his head. “I just hope I can have a love like yours one day.”

  “I’m sure you will, Evan. There’s a girl out there waiting for you, I know it. You just have to get out there and find her.”

  “My turn,” Brody cut in. “It’s time to share the she-wolf.”

  “You look nice,” I told Brody and flicked his emerald green tie that brought out his eyes.

  “Thanks,” he said. “I’m not used to dressing like this. I think my mom just about had a heart attack when she saw me.”

  I laughed and laid my head on his shoulder. “I’m going to miss you and Evan. Promise, that you guys will call or text me. I don’t want to fall out of touch.”

  “Are you kidding? We could never fall out of touch. And don’t forget, you have to invite us all over to try out the soccer nets.”

  “I won’t forget,” I said.

  “Good,” he swallowed. “You know… I think you’ve really changed all of us.”

  “What?” I lifted my head from his shoulder to look in his eyes.

  He shrugged and swayed us to the music. “I think you’ve mellowed us out. You didn’t know us before. You made us realize that there’s so much more to life than being popular or being the best at something. I don’t think you realize the affect you have on people.”

  “But I didn’t do anything.” I was puzzled.

  “I know,” he said, “and maybe that’s the point. You’re so… as cliché as it sounds, good. You’re a good person, Sophie.”

  “Awww, Brody.”

  “It’s true,” he shrugged.

  The song ended and I hugged him tightly. He looked like he needed one. “Thank you for saying that, but Brody, you’re just as good of as person as me.”

  “Thanks,” he grinned crookedly. “That means a lot coming from you.”

  Before I could say anything else, Riley was in front of me. “Dance with me milady?”

  “Of course, kind sir,” I let him twirl me around.

  With each song, I was transferred to another one of the seven. They all were sweet and continually brought tears to my eyes. Stupid boys.

  After the song that Shane and I were dancing to ended, my dad intercepted me.

  “I think my daughter owes me a dance.”

  My dad was a pretty skilled dancer, which surprised me. I’d never seen him dance, ever. He’d brushed his dark hair back and his hazel eyes appeared golden in the twinkling light.

  “I can’t believe you’re married,” he breathed. “This isn’t a dream is it?”

  “Not a dream, daddy. I’m married,” I looked over my shoulder to see Caeden dancing with his mom.

  “I can’t believe you’re all grown up. It seems like just yesterday you were in diapers.”

  “Daaaaaad.”

  “It’s true. Time goes by so quickly, Soph. One day, when you have kids, you’ll understand. One minute, they’re a baby and before you can blink, they’re graduating high school and living their life.”

  “Daddy,” tears pooled in my eyes and I squeezed myself close to him.

  “It’s so hard to let you go, Sophie. I swear, if it was anyone but Caeden, I wouldn’t have let you go through with it,” tears skated down his cheeks. I reached up to wipe them away and noticed little lines around his eyes. Those were new.

  “I love you daddy,” I hugged him close and for just a moment, I could pretend I was five again.

  “I love you, baby girl.”

  I danced with my dad for another song and then I was back in my husband’s arms.

  He nuzzled my neck. “I thought I’d lost you for the rest of the night.”

  “The night’s only begun,” I breathed.

  He smiled. “True.”

  Before Caeden and I could get a second dance in, Bryce was interrupting.

  “I want a turn with my sister-in-law,” he winked at me.

  I gave Caeden a sad look and went off to dance with Bryce.

  Bentley pulled me away from Bryce for a dance and even Logan wanted a turn. If I was a normal human, I’d be exhausted.

  Caeden and I ended up having time for one more dance before it was time to leave.

  We made our rounds, hugging and saying goodbye to our friends and family.

  Amy hugged us both close and then my parents enveloped us in their arms.

  Next was Gram. “I know what’s going to happen tonight,” she said in a hushed voice. I blushed, knowing where this was going. “Just be sure and use protection. Don’t go making me a great-grandma before I’m ready. I need at least five years to prepare,” she let us go.

  Oh Gram.

  Caeden took my hand and led me around the front of the house and into a waiting limo.

  “Where are we going?” I asked as the limo made a circle and pulled out of the long driveway and onto the main road.

  Caeden laced our hands together. “Home… I thought you’d prefer that and with… Well, with everything going on, I didn’t think now was the time to go away on a honeymoon, but I promise that one day we’ll have one.”

  “Caeden,” I laid my head on his shoulder. “Home is perfect.”

  thirteen.

  The limo pulled into the driveway of our home. The driver opened the door and Caeden helped me out.

  He opened the front door and I went to step inside, but he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back and swept my legs out from under me.

  “Caeden!” I squealed. “What are you doing?”

  “Carrying my bride over the threshold,” he grinned.

  “This is completely unnecessary.”

  “I know,” he said, his dimple winking at me. “But it’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”

  He started up the steps and nervous butterflies attacked my tummy. I was afraid I was going to break out into a nervous sweat. Wouldn’t that be attractive?

  I buried my face into his delicious smelling neck so that he couldn’t see my face.

  I felt silly for my nerves. I mean, this was Caeden. He was my mate. My husband. I shouldn’t be such a scaredy-cat but I was.

  He pushed open the doors to master bedroom and all the air left my body.

  The room glowed with the golden hue of many candles and flower petals covered the floor.

  Caeden set me down and I wobbled a bit. He wrapped an arm around my waist to hold me steady.

  “When did you do this?” I gasped.

  “I had someone come over and do it. I texted them on our way here. I felt bad that we’re not going on a traditional honeymoon, so I brought it to us.”

  “Caeden…” I breathed and put my hand to my lips. “This is incredible. Thank you,” I wrapped my arms around him.

  “I want this to be special,” he cupped my cheek.

  I smiled. “No matter what, with you, it’ll be special.”

  He pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you.”

  “I love you,” I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck before pressing my lips to his.

  He picked me up and carried me to the bed, never breaking our kiss, and laid me gently on top of the soft comforter.

  Goosebumps broke out across my skin and I shivered when he caressed my neck with his fingertips. My heart rate accelerated to a dangerous speed and my breath came out in gasps.

  “We’ll take this slow,” he whispered before pressing his lips to the spot on my neck that his fingers had just touched.

  I arched off the bed. Every touch seemed intensified knowing where it was leading.

  I reached up and helped him out of his tux jacket and then his shirt. I put my hand against the bare skin of his chest, right over his heart, and smiled when I felt that it was beating just as fast as mine. At least I wasn’t the only one affected by this.

  He lowered himself over top of me, supporting his weight with his hands.

  “Mrs. Williams,” his nose skimmed
the side of my face, “I believe you’re wearing too many clothes.” His voice was husky and way too sexy for his own good.

  “I believe you’re right,” my voice came out all hoarse and breathy.

  He helped me stand and then unzipped the back. The white dress pooled at my feet. I closed my eyes, I don’t really know why. I mean, Caeden had seen me in a bikini, but somehow this was much scarier.

  “Beautiful,” his finger trailed the side of my body, from my ribs down to my hip, before it dipped around the edge of my underwear. An embarrassing gasp escaped my lips. “You’re so beautiful,” his finger trailed back up my body.

  He guided me back to the bed and I let him. My legs had turned to jelly.

  He hovered over top of me, staring into my eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” I breathed and cupped his face in my hands, “so much.”

  He growled low in his throat and pressed his lips to mine.

  My lips felt numb when he pulled away and trailed kisses from my neck, over my chest, and down to my stomach. My fingers tangled in his hair and then explored the planes of his chest before settling on the scars on his side. I moved lower and unhooked his belt. He shucked his pants.

  I swallowed. “I’m scared,” I admitted.

  He rested his forehead against mine. “I’m scared too. I’m scared I’m going to hurt you.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not scared of that. I’m scared of… what if I don’t do it right?” I blushed.

  “Well,” he pressed his lips against my neck again, “we’re in the same boat in that regard. I guess we’ll have to learn together.”

  And so we did.

  * * *

  Bliss.

  That was my first thought when I woke up pressed against Caeden’s naked body.

  Last night had been… magical.

  I knew it wasn’t like that for most people, but with Caeden it had been. I’d thought it impossible, but after what we did last night, I was even more in love with him.

  He began to stir and wrapped his arm tighter around me, pulling me close, until every inch of my skin was pressed against his. He buried his face in my neck.

  “How do you feel?” he asked, his voice thick with sleep. “Are you sore?”

  I shook my head and then realized he couldn’t see me. “No, I’m not sore. I feel… amazing,” I blushed. I reached up and traced the curves of his shoulder with my index finger.

  “Mmhmm,” he hummed at my touch. “Wanna do it again?”

  * * *

  The afternoon sunlight streamed in the windows. We’d yet to untangle ourselves from each other’s arms. In all honesty, I never wanted to leave this bed. But… I was hungry.

  My stomach rumbled and Caeden chuckled. “I guess I better feed you.”

  We ended up taking a shower together, and something that should have taken no more than ten minutes, ended up taking thirty. We were both insatiable.

  Caeden led me down the steps but stopped every other one to kiss me.

  When we finally made it to the kitchen, I figured it would take another two hours for us to actually make something to eat. Caeden seemed to realize this and pulled me to him, kissing my cheek tenderly. “Why don’t you go to the family room, while I make lunch? If you’re in here I’ll never get anything done.”

  “You’re going to make me lunch?”

  He put his hand to his chest. “I’m your husband. It’s my job to make you lunch.”

  “Husband,” I breathed. “I never knew how much I loved that word.”

  He grinned and kissed me, his scruffy cheek brushing against mine. A piece of hair fell into his eye and he flicked the dark lock away. “Get your cute tush out of this kitchen and stop distracting me.”

  I laughed and pressed a kiss to his lips once more before leaving.

  I headed into the family room like he had suggested. I tried to turn on the TV but there were too many remotes.

  Shaking my head, I sat down on the couch and sank into the cushions. I pulled a pale blue blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over me. Thoughts of last night filtered into my mind and a blush stained my cheeks.

  All my fears had disappeared under Caeden’s touch and gaze. As promised, we took it slow, absorbing every touch and every kiss. If I thought really hard, I could still feel his fingertips on my skin. A shiver ran up my spine.

  “Sophie!” I heard from the kitchen. “If you don’t stop thinking about it, I’m going to lose my mind in here and burn the eggs.”

  “Oops,” I giggled. I guess I had been thinking a little too hard on last night’s events and projected them to him.

  A few minutes later he came into the family room with a tray of food and two glasses of orange juice.

  “I know it’s kind of late for breakfast,” he motioned to the plates of bacon and eggs, “but they do say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

  I snagged a piece of crispy bacon and bit into it. “This is perfect.”

  “You’re perfect,” he winked.

  I ducked my head and laughed. “You’re cheesy.”

  “Babe, I’m honest, there’s a difference.”

  He grabbed a fork and his wedding band reflected in the light. A little thrill went through me. That ring marked him as mine for the world to see. I think it would take months for it to sink in that I was married. Right now, it seemed like some kind of dream.

  “What are you thinking so deeply about?” Caeden reached over and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

  I shrugged. “This all just feels like some kind of dream.”

  He grinned. “If it’s a dream then I sure as hell never want to wake up.”

  * * *

  “Oh babe! I forgot to show you what the toilet seat does!” Caeden exclaimed.

  I made a face of disgust. “Uh- Caeden, I really don’t want to have a discussion about the toilet seat on my honeymoon.”

  “But it’s so cool,” he jumped up from the couch, laying his empty plate on the ottoman.

  “You do realize you’re talking about a toilet?” I raised a brow.

  “Please, just come on and watch,” he begged.

  I wrinkled my nose. “If it means we never have to have this discussion again, then yeah. Lead the way.”

  He led me down the hallway and into a small powder room. “I had all of the toilets in the house programmed to do this.” He walked up to the toilet, flipped the seat up, and looked at me. “Ready to be amazed?”

  “Sure,” I leaned against the doorjamb. I’d rather be preparing to be amazed in bed, but hey.

  “Watch,” he said, and took several steps back.

  After about three seconds, the toilet flushed on by itself and the seat went down.

  “Impressive, right?” he inquired.

  I giggled. “It’s a toilet, Caeden.”

  “I just didn’t want my she-wolf falling into the toilet because I’m stupid and left the seat up. Now, that will never happen.”

  “I’m sure Gram will be very pleased,” I smiled.

  “But you’re not?” his face fell a little.

  I gripped his arm and he looked up to meet my eyes. “Thank you, you’ve thought of everything. It’s really sweet.”

  He grinned. “I want this home to be perfect.”

  “I don’t care where we live, Caeden, or if we have a fancy toilet, because as long as I have you, I am home.”

  He growled low in his throat. “When you say sweet things like that, it really turns me on.”

  “Oh, does it now? Prove it,” I challenged, crossing my arms over my chest and raising a brow.

  With a wicked gleam in his eye, he picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder caveman style. He ran up the steps and dropped me on the bed.

  The air whooshed out of my lungs.

  “You,” he pointed at me, “Naked now.”

  “So demanding,” I grinned, already pulling my shirt off.

  When I was completely naked his intense gaze
perused my body. I resisted the urge to cover myself.

  “You are so beautiful, inside and out,” his eyes trailed up from my stomach, over my breasts, and finally locked with my own. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”

  “Believe it,” I sat up, and wrapped my arms around his neck. I dug my fingers into his hair. “I’m yours, and you’re mine. Nothing will ever change that.”

  He pressed his lips to mine and his hands gripped my sides.

  I pulled away, breathing heavy. “If you like your clothes, I suggest you take them off, before I rip them off.”

  “Mhmm, I think I like the sound of that,” Caeden smirked.

  “So be it,” I said, and fisted his shirt in my hands. I pulled the fabric and it ripped. I continued to tear it until it was hanging onto him by a few threads.

  “You really are my she-wolf,” he cupped my jaw and kissed me deeply. He pulled away and undid his belt, and tossed his shorts in the corner of the room.

  “No boxers?” I raised a brow.

  He shook his head and crawled onto the bed, hovering over me.

  I traced the scars on his side, the five long slashes, and he closed his eyes.

  “That feels amazing.”

  I moved my fingers up over his chest, exploring every dip and curve.

  He trembled at my touch. His eyes opened and they were the brightest blue I’d ever seen them. His hair brushed my forehead as he leaned down.

  “I love you, Sophie Noelle Williams, more than anyone has ever loved another person. I can promise you that.”

  “And I love you,” I took his face in my hands. “Now please, before I have to beg, make love to me.”

  He grabbed a condom out of the drawer and rolled it on. “Yes, ma’am,” he grinned and lowered himself over me. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

  fourteen.

  “I want to go out tonight,” Caeden said, sitting up in bed. The sheet pooled around his waist, leaving his delectable chest exposed.

  I traced my finger around his stomach muscles and he shivered. “What do you want to do?”

  “Well,” he closed his eyes and lay his head back, “if you keep doing that, I’ll have to change my plans.”

  “Oh,” I said, and removed my hand.

  He cupped my cheek in his large hand, and began to rub my cheek with his thumb.