He laid the lighter down and sat on the edge of the bed. “Are you going to join me?”
“This is not what I had envisioned inside this tent,” I said in awe.
He smiled at me. “Now that we’re going to be husband and wife, I thought it was time to blend our styles. I like to camp. You like the luxury of the indoors.” He motioned to the tent’s interior. “Glamping seemed like a good compromise.”
“Glamping?”
“A shortened version of glamorous camping,” he explained.
“Glamping,” I repeated, nodding in approval. I held up my index finger. “Can you give me one minute to change?”
“We have all night.”
I snatched my suitcase and hurried to the smaller tent. I changed as quickly as I could into one of the sexy black lingerie outfits I had bought at Francesca’s Frillies before our trip to Ireland. When I packed it, I wasn’t sure whether we would be having forever sex, farewell sex, or no sex at all, and now that I knew the outcome, I was that much more eager to wear it.
As I approached the bed, I noticed two picture frames on the nightstand. One was the photo of Cade and me standing at the Cliffs of Moher, and the other was the day that I caught my first fish. Touched by the sentiment, I turned to him. He sat on the edge of the mattress, his eyes locked on me. His white shirt reflected the light from the candles, and as I neared him, he pulled me toward him, tucking me in closely as I stood between his thighs. His hands roved over my body, pausing as he cupped my ass and squeezed. “It’s you and me, Flanagan. Forever.”
I nodded in agreement. “I’m yours.”
“I know you said that the longer you waited, there was a possibility that your chances of having a baby could decrease. I just want you to know that this engagement can be as long or as short as you want. I’m ready to marry you. It can be tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll make it happen. As far as children, I’m ready when you’re ready. We can start trying right away or we can wait however long you want to. I know you’re looking for a job, so you may want to get your career started first. But again, you tell me when you’re ready, and I’ll do my damnedest to get you pregnant.”
His words touched me, and I took his face in my hands, tears filling my eyes. “You’ll do your damnedest?”
“For you, I will.”
“It might prove to be harder than you think.”
“I’m up for the task,” he assured me.
“You’ve done so much for me,” I whispered, “and I haven’t even gotten you a birthday present yet.”
“I’ve got you, don’t I?”
“You do.”
“That’s all the present I need.”
A quiet seriousness fell over us as we stilled, looking into each other’s eyes. “Can we get married on Saturday?” I asked, wishing I could marry him at this very moment but knowing that we’d have to get a marriage license and more importantly, that we needed to give our family members and close friends a chance to attend.
“Absolutely,” he promised me.
I began unbuttoning his shirt, my eyes falling to the gorgeous ring on my finger. When the last button had separated from its hole, his shirt fell away, shadows darkening the definition of his muscles. I pushed the shirt over his shoulders, and he pulled his arms free. My fingers explored his body, lightly outlining his shoulders. My palms slid downward across his chest to the ridges of his abs. His skin was smooth, his muscles hard just beneath the surface. My fingers fell to the waist of his jeans, quickly unbuttoning them.
Grasping my shoulders, he scooted me back while he bent down and removed his boots and socks. He stood, towering above me while he pushed his jeans over his hips, stepping out of them. I slid my hands around to his back, dipping them into his boxers and enjoying the feel of his firm buttocks beneath my palms. Suddenly feeling the need to see him in his entirety, I pushed the thin fabric over his hips, freeing him. My heart hammered as I closed my fist over him, gliding it along his hard length from the velvety tip down to the nest of dark curls. As the candlelight flickered over his body, he was glorious in his nakedness, powerful and beautifully sculpted.
And he was mine.
He grabbed my wrists to still my hands. “Now it’s my turn,” he said, his voice low and hoarse.
Stepping out of his boxers, he pulled the covers back, scooted to the center of the bed, and propped himself up on the pillows as he motioned to me with his hand. “Come on,” he urged. “I want you front and center.”
Crawling onto the bed, I straddled him, his shaft nudging against my silken panties.
He cupped my breasts, his thumbs caressing my nipples through the sheer fabric. “You’re perfect.” His eyes locked with mine as he said it, as if he wanted to make sure I heard him. He tugged my bodice down until my breasts were exposed, my nipples tightening in the cool night air. His fingers slid between my legs, skimming the outside of my panties. “Take those off,” he instructed. “Take everything off. I want to see you.”
I obeyed, repositioning myself, and his finger slid between my legs, separating my flesh as he felt my heat. He stroked and teased, a delicious tingling sensation building inside me. One hand grasped my buttock, holding me in place while he slipped a finger inside me. My head tilted back and a soft moan of pleasure escaped my lips.
“That’s it,” he whispered, continuing a slow pumping rhythm, the movement causing me to undulate against his hand. “Let me get a condom.”
I shook my head. “There’s no need.” I was on the pill, but if he truly meant what he had told me, then I planned to stop taking it soon. I did want to get married first, but the truth was I hoped to have his baby growing inside me sooner rather than later.
He positioned himself at my entrance, slowly working his way in as he gave my body time to accommodate him. “Damn, you’re so tight,” he whispered, his teeth gritted.
I shivered, a delicious mixture of the cool temperatures and the pleasure he created between my thighs.
He gripped my hips, his strokes coming faster as he pounded inside me. My release was close, and when he reached up and rubbed my sensitive spot with his thumb, pleasure exploded in my body. He continued pumping in and out at a frantic pace as my body clenched around him until he, too, let out a soft breath, his muscles rigid as he filled me to the hilt, holding me in place as he rode out the wave of ecstasy.
Afterwards, he gathered me in his arms, spooning me against him as he breathed deeply against my hair. “You smell good,” he whispered as he cupped my bare breast. “You feel good, too.”
I smiled as I looked out at the lake, a gentle breeze rippling the surface. He tightened his hold as if he wanted to pull me closer, make me one with him, and my heart filled with so much emotion that it overflowed in the form of tears. I could hear him breathing softly, and I couldn’t think of a more comforting sound in the entire world. Now that there were no secrets between us, now that I knew he truly did love me unconditionally, I marveled at how quickly he had become my entire life. Overwhelmed with the beauty of this moment, the tears fell faster, a soft sob escaping me despite my effort to keep it trapped within.
He shifted behind me. “Are you crying?”
I couldn’t speak, the joy of the moment stealing my words, my breath.
I sniffled, and he sat up, propping himself up with one arm while the other cupped my shoulder and rolled me toward him. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
Pursing my lips, I quickly shook my head, swallowing as I tried to gain enough composure to speak. “No,” I whispered, rolling onto my back.
He smoothed my hair from my face with great tenderness, his thumb sweeping my skin to wipe away my tears. “Then what?”
“Everything about this moment is perfect,” I whispered.
His mouth tilted into a grin. “I knew you’d like glamping.”
I laughed at him, sniffling. Slowly, my grin fell away. “I’m serious, Cade. I love you so much, and you�
��ve made me incredibly happy.”
He caressed my face, my shoulder, my breast, his gentleness belying the powerfulness of his body. “I love you, too, Flanagan. And I promise that you and I are going to have a lot of moments like this during our lifetime.”
Lifetime. I liked the sound of that.
My tears started flowing again as he lowered his mouth to mine and pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
Today had been the most brilliant day of my life.
Chapter 27
Handfasting
Cade
“I want you to be my best man.”
Seated behind his desk, Pax stared at me like I’d grown a third head. “Me?”
“You don’t want to be?” I asked, trying to stave my disappointment.
He shook his head. “It’s not that. I’m just surprised that you aren’t asking Mason or Hawk.”
I shrugged, grinning. “What can I say? Blood is thicker than booze.” I grew more serious. “Pax, when we were growing up, you were always there for me—until girls got in the way. I want you to be there for me now.”
He stood and walked around the desk. Much to my surprise, he hugged me briefly and slapped me affectionately on the shoulder. “Okay, little brother, I’ll do it. I’ll be your best man.”
And with those words, all the years of hurt and anger and resentment melted away. Maybe it helped because I had Flanagan, and part of me knew that Pax and I would never have to worry about falling for the same girl again. Or maybe he finally believed me where Jessica was concerned. Either way, I had my brother back, and I was glad. My relationship with my parents was also showing signs of improvement. Maybe it had helped that everything was now out in the open, and we could all deal with it, heal, and move on, even if it would still take some time.
I was a lucky man. For a while, everything seemed to be going downhill. As I thought about all the bad things that had happened, it occurred to me that all those things led me to where I was now, and maybe it took a drive through the valley to appreciate the gorgeous view from the mountaintop.
***
“Are you nervous?” Flanagan asked softly.
“No.”
“Here,” she said. “Let me pin on your boutonniere.”
I glanced at her hands surprised to see a vibrant yellow carnation surrounded by baby’s breath. “A carnation?”
“I know.” She held it up to her nose, breathing in its fragrance. “I went into the florist dead set on pink roses, but when I spotted these….” She shrugged. “I thought they were pretty.”
“It’s perfect,” I said, remembering what my father had told me about my birth mother, and I thought just maybe she was attending the ceremony, too.
An hour later as I stood at the pulpit watching my fiancée walk down the aisle, I was convinced that there had never been a more beautiful bride. Since we were working on a short timeline and limited finances, we opted to have a simple ceremony in a small wedding chapel.
Flanagan’s parents had offered to pay for something larger, she was their only child after all, but she had asked them to save the money, that perhaps it could be better spent to help give them grandchildren if it turned out she had trouble getting pregnant.
For me, I didn’t care whether we were standing before the justice of the peace in jeans and tennis shoes or whether I was in a tux and she was in an expensive bridal gown. All I cared about was making her my wife.
The reality of our clothing selection had been somewhere in the middle. I wore my suit, the same one that I had worn to the symphony, and she wore a simple white strapless gown that fit snugly to the waist before flowing freely around her legs. Her hair was pulled up into loose curls, decorated with sprigs of baby’s breath and yellow carnations to match her bouquet, and as she clung to her father’s arm, she was a vision of elegance.
My brother, Pax, flanked my side. My parents and Evan stood in the front row, as did Flanagan’s mother. Lexi, the maid of honor, stood on the other side of the minister, while the rest of our friends completed the small group in attendance.
As her father handed her off to me and she placed her hands in mine, I felt as if I had been given the greatest gift a man could receive, and I made him a silent promise that I would cherish his daughter for all eternity.
When it came time for our vows, I gently squeezed her hands, hoping I could convey in words how much she meant to me. I drank in her exquisite beauty as she waited patiently, tears shining in her eyes.
I had debated on whether to use her given name, but I’d meant it when I told her that I called her Flanagan because I didn’t want to call her what everyone else did. It had become so natural now that it would seem odd to call her by her given name, but to be respectful of her parents, I thought maybe it would be better if I used her entire name. “Seren Flanagan,” I said, hesitating as I studied her face. I loved the way she looked at me as if I were the key to all of her hopes and dreams coming true. “You are the most beautiful person I have ever known, not just because you’re gorgeous on the outside, but because you have a gentle and understanding soul. Even now as I stand in front of you, I still can’t fathom my good fortune the day that you agreed to be my wife. I know I’m getting the better end of this deal, but I will promise you this: I will love you and cherish you until I draw my last breath. I will be there to support you in all things in both sickness and in health. For you, I will do anything. I’ll let you catch the biggest fish. I’ll venture into parking lots wearing nothing but a towel.” Her smile widened. “I’ll even attend the symphony. I’ll also soothe you when you’re hurting, laugh with you when you’re happy, and stand by your side no matter what life chooses to send our way. You will never be alone again because from this day forward, you’re my star forever.”
She sniffled as she tried to gain her composure, releasing my hand briefly as she swiped at her tears.
“Cade, you’re my best friend. I love everything about you: the way you call me Flanagan, how you make the most mundane conversations fun, how you do things to please me even though you dislike them, like going to the symphony. But I think maybe the thing that I love the most is the way you make me feel, that despite my faults, you still make me feel special, loved.” I squeezed her hands, hoping she knew that she was special to me. “I promise that I will support you in all your endeavors, that I will share in your laughter and your sorrow, that I will be beside you, holding your hand for all the days that we have on this earth together.”
In honor of Flanagan’s ancestry, we opted to include a handfasting ceremony to celebrate ancient Celtic tradition. The minister began to speak as he tied our hands together with a wide white silk ribbon.
“With this cord, I bind Cade Mayfield and Seren Flanagan to the vows that they have made to each other. This symbolic binding inspired the term, ‘Tie the knot.’
“On your wedding day, you bind your hand with your best friend’s. They are hands that are young, their touch filled with love and commitment. The hand you now hold is the hand that you’ll hold forever. Joined together, you will build your life, support each other when you are weak, comfort each other during times of sorrow, and cling to each other during times of joy.
“The hands that are clasped now are the same hands that will hold your children, the hands that will tend to their needs as you guide them, the hands that will hold your family together in unity.
“Even when the hand you now hold is weak with old age, it will still be a source of comfort, each of you touching the other with endless love.
“The knots of this binding are formed by your vows. May you honor them and each other, and may your marriage be blessed with devotion and love.”
Preparing for the ring exchange, he untied the ribbon.
As I slid the wedding band on her finger, I thought about all it represented. She truly was mine now, and I would never release her. Pride filled my chest as I gazed upon her sweet face, her eyes filled with love for me.
She shook as she put the
band on my finger, her hands small and delicate next to mine. Today would be the first day of many as husband and wife.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
A lot can go through a man’s mind as he prepares to kiss his wife for the first time. A myriad of emotions welled within me as I gathered her in my arms and tenderly pressed my lips to hers. I wanted to protect her from all the heartbreak that our lifetime would present. I wanted to make her happy, to share laughter with her every day of our lives. I wanted to love her unconditionally, ensuring that she never once doubted her decision to marry me. I wanted to give her children, something I knew she desperately wanted.
As I deepened the kiss, the world around us melted into oblivion. It was just me and Flanagan, my beautiful wife.
When I finally ended the kiss, I pulled back just enough to whisper, “Do you love me, Mrs. Mayfield?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her hands clasped behind my neck.
“How much?”
She took my face in her palms, her eyes brimming with emotion. “I love you enough that I want nothing more in this life than to shine for you, just like the stars on the night of our first kiss.”
Damn, she made me so happy, I thought my heart might burst. I picked her up, her feet dangling above the floor, and pressed another kiss to her lips. “No one will ever shine for me as brightly as you do, Flanagan.” I rested my forehead against hers. “You’re my star.”
“Forever,” she promised.
If you enjoyed Cade and Seren’s story, would you please take a moment to rate this book? You’ll have the opportunity to do so at the end of this file, and I would greatly appreciate it!
Love,
Deceived Page 26
