I laughed. “I think tonight was more than enough pre-wedding and pre-baby fun. This should hold me over until the baby’s first birthday, at least.”
We each took one final leap around the pole on our way out of the strip club. “We’ll have to do this again soon,” Liana joked.
“Yeah, right,” I laughed.
My phone buzzed as I stepped into the limo, and I did my best to glance down subtly. I love you sooooo much and I can’t wait to marry you. You looked sexy in that dress tonight. I blushed as I read Alexander’s words, and breathed a sigh of relief that his drunk words were just as kind and wonderful as his sober ones.
Chapter 30
Alexander
It was finally here… the day I’d been dreaming of since the moment I’d first spoken to Casey in the clinic. Our wedding had approached quickly, but it had also been one of the slowest months of my life since Casey had asked if we could have the wedding before the baby came. I was excited to officially make her my wife.
As I adjusted my bowtie in the mirror, I looked at my reflection and thought back onto the past eight and a half months. It had been a complete whirlwind. On one hand, it felt like it was just yesterday that Casey and I were in the break room of the clinic making love. On the other hand, it felt like I’d known her my whole life. It was crazy to look back on those first few weeks. I remembered thinking, “Hey, I donate sperm anyway. Why not add some passion into the process?” That felt like a lifetime ago. What had started out as a business arrangement of sorts had developed into something more. I thanked my lucky stars that Casey had been willing to give our relationship a shot after the rocky beginning.
Who would’ve thought that Alexander Preston, thirty-year-old bachelor and notorious workaholic, chronic gym rat and living in his own world, would be saying “I do” to a woman who was about to have his child? Twenty-nine-year-old me would’ve shook his head and laughed. My future plans had been foggy, at best, but Casey had made them clear. I pulled my tux jacket over my shoulders with a confidence that I—confident as I generally was—had never felt before. It was all Casey.
I admired Casey’s enthusiasm about the wedding, but I was still trying to understand her request that we sleep in separate houses the night before the wedding. She had said that it was bad luck to sleep together the night before the wedding, but I didn’t see how spending a night apart from the person I intended to spend the rest of my life with made any difference. Of course, Casey had gotten her way. I wasn’t about to rain on her parade. Nonetheless, I’d missed Casey greatly. I longed for her lips on mine, to see her one more time before we met at the end of the aisle.
Without giving it much thought, I pressed Casey’s speed dial button on my phone and listened impatiently as it rang and rang. “Hello?”
“Hi, I’m looking for my bride,” I said with a laugh.
Casey giggled. “I think you have the wrong number.” She let her joke settle before adding, “What’s up?”
“Come to my dressing room,” I said. “I want to see you.”
“Alexander,” she gushed. “I have to get ready! I need to get into my dress soon!”
I tried to put on my most seductive voice. “What’s another few minutes going to hurt?” With a deal struck that Casey could be back in her bridal suite within ten minutes, she agreed to come see me.
I heard footsteps coming down the hallway and opened the door to greet my soon-to-be bride. There she was, her makeup already done to perfection. Her eyeshadow shimmered in the sunlight that made its way through the hall window, and she was absolutely glowing. Casey’s bump looked adorable peeking through the floral robe. “Hey, hot stuff,” she said. I still couldn’t believe she was talking about me. “Now you saw me, just like you wanted.”
She playfully turned around to leave, and I pulled her in with a twirl and kissed her hard. “Not so fast,” I laughed. Casey followed me into my dressing room, which was really nothing more than a converted office with carpeting, a few couches, and a mirror. Even the metal beams that had clearly been intended to hold up the foundation were prominent and nondescript. Noticing Casey eyeing the room, I said, “How does this compare to your bridal suite?”.
“You want the honest answer?” she asked, smiling. I nodded. “It kicks your dressing room’s ass! It has more mirrors than I can count, and a mini fridge stocked with champagne, and a bunch of snacks, and sofas that are so comfortable I could fall asleep right on them.”
I shook my head. “I guess the bride’s more important than the groom, huh?”
“I guess so,” Casey said in a sensual voice. She moved her lips toward mine and just barely grazed them. “What the bride wants, the bride gets.”
Before I knew what was happening, Casey was unbuttoning my shirt and sliding it off of my body. Our lips and tongues gravitated toward one another with an unstoppable force. “We have to make this quick,” she whispered. As I pulled off my pants, Casey went over and turned the lock into place. Lucky for me, her bridal robe made it easy to undress her. In one swift motion, I pulled the tie to the robe open and slid it onto the floor.
Casey’s curves made her a million times sexier than I ever thought possible. Her wide hips were soft to the touch, and I ran my fingers softly up and down them as I began kissing her neck. “You know we’re getting married in, like, half an hour, right?” I said.
“That makes it all the more fun,” Casey said softly into my ear. I loved the frisky side of Casey, and who was I to deny the bride of her wishes on her wedding day? Besides, the wedding couldn’t start without us. We could take as long as we wanted—but I liked a challenge.
Instead of following me over to the sofa, Casey walked over to one of the metal beams. “What’re you doing, babe?” I asked.
“Just sit down and enjoy the show,” she said, as if she were a dominatrix bossing around a client.
I planted my naked ass on the sofa and waited to find out what “show” Casey was talking about. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Casey quickly wiped down the pole with her robe, but I didn’t mind the interruption. I had the perfect view of her sexy body. Casey slid up and down the pole, twirling about it so that her bottom, covered in nothing but a lacey, white thong, was in full view. I watched as Casey did a little shimmy, making sure that her breasts poured out of her bra for me to enjoy. She then used the pole as a dancing prop, touching herself in ways that turned me on beyond measure. This was the only show I needed for the rest of my life.
I fanned myself with my hand as Casey moved her body in ways I hadn’t even known was possible. Damn, I wished I was that pole. On the other hand, I was quite enjoying watching, and I know that my visible squirming and drooling only gave Casey more fuel. She was enjoying the game.
Casey did a sexy strut over to where I was sitting, carefully removing her thong and bra as she walked. I could feel my lower half stiffen as my jaw dropped in amazement. Every time I thought she couldn’t possibly get any sexier, she managed to prove me wrong. Casey sat herself atop my lap and whispered in my ear, “I’m going to make you moan, Mr. Preston.”
I shuddered, my soldier dancing for joy. It had been years since I’d been to a strip club—probably since Brett’s bachelor party—but Casey reminded me of all that had been missing. What she didn’t know, however, is that she was better-looking and more seductive than all of those erotic dancers combined. Casey moved about my lap, gyrating in ways that caused me to wonder how much longer I could last without any release. It was a more sensual side of her than I’d ever seen before, even in our friskiest of encounters.
The guests in the rows of seats were the last thing on my mind as I looked at Casey. She was a naughty girl, and I couldn’t help but enjoy it. It was our day, and I had to admit that I was completely satisfied, albeit a bit surprise, spending our final moments before our vows like this.
Casey stood up and let her breasts spill into my face. I pinched her hard, pink tips and tugged on them gently with my lips. With just a few weeks to go unti
l the baby was due to arrive, Casey’s mounds were plumper than ever, and I had to restrain myself from all the things I wanted to do to them. As if she hadn’t already pleased me more than enough, Casey got down on her knees and sucked my throbbing arousal. She caressed my hot skin with her tongue until I decided she needed some pleasure of her own. I gave Casey a firm spank, and another for good measure, and pulled her on top of me on the couch. I slipped myself inside her and she rode me as she moved hard against me. Our tongues fought to find one another between desperate gasps. Casey’s glistening skin was warm to the touch as I moved my hands up and down her back. It was cumming—the grand finale. I exploded inside of her and rode the waves of ecstasy. Casey’s long, loud moan told me she was just as pleased.
“Whoa,” I said. It felt lame to say it after the performance Casey had just put on for me, but it was the only thing I could get out between labored breaths. Besides, I thought it summed up the past ten minutes pretty well. “That was… whoa.”
“You weren’t so bad yourself,” Casey said with a grin.
I picked myself up off the couch and helped Casey to her feet. “I’m going to need an encore performance of that once the baby’s born,” I said. I imagined all the ways she could twist and turn—and all the things I could do to her—without the pregnant belly in the way. I shivered just thinking about it.
“Sounds like a plan.” Casey slipped her robe and slippers back on and headed toward the door. She looked back at me with a satisfied smile. “See you at the altar.”
Chapter 31
Casey
I stared at myself in the full-length mirror and wished more than anything that my mother could see me on my wedding day. I had the same pit in my stomach that I’d had the night of my first date, and the day of my high school graduation, and that I was sure I’d have the day I gave birth to my baby girl. There were some things a girl just needed her mom for, and her wedding day was surely one of them. I told myself that my mom would be happy for me, and that she wouldn’t want me fretting over her on my big day.
Instead, I redirected my focus to the beautiful dress that was draped over my body. My dress was everything I’d ever dreamed of, and just as perfect as it had been when I had picked it out with Liana. My bump was slightly larger than it had been a month earlier, but, considering I was about to burst, I was thrilled with how it looked. The dress reminded me of my relationship with Alexander—fun and unexpected, but also classic and timeless.
“Well, don’t you look breathtaking?” I heard a voice behind me say. I turned to see Alexander’s mother standing in the doorway.
“Thanks,” I said quietly, trying to hold back my tears.
Lynn walked over to me and wrapped me in a hug. “Oh, sweetie, don’t cry. You’re going to ruin your makeup. It looks perfect!” She handed me a handkerchief.
I dabbed under my eyes and looked back over to the mirror to make sure that none of my eyeliner or mascara had budged. “Thanks,” I replied. “One of the interns at Alexander’s company does makeup on the side.”
“Well it doesn’t hurt that she had a gorgeous face to work with.” Lynn took my hand in hers. “I’m so thrilled Alexander found you.”
“Me too,” I whispered.
“Well, I’ll let you finish getting ready.” I thanked Lynn and turned back to the mirror as soon as she left. I was grateful that she’d come to visit, and that she was so clearly trying to make up for the fact that something was missing for me on this important day. Unfortunately, it was something that couldn’t be replaced or mended. Alexander had his parents and siblings and aunts and uncles and cousins. I had no parents, no siblings, and only three distant cousins I’d invited out of obligation. Casey, it’s your wedding day, I told myself. Stop focusing on the negatives. You’re about to marry the love of your life and have the wedding of your dreams. I reminded myself that Alexander’s family, his wonderful, incredible family, would soon be my family, and that we were just a few weeks away from starting a family of our own.
Liana came into the bridal suite and complimented every part of me, from my makeup to my shoes. She sure knew how to make a girl feel better. After carefully placing my veil atop my head, she told me that it was almost time for the processional to start. It was time to become a wife.
I listened from the side doors to try to figure out what was happening inside the hall. Alexander and I had decided to keep things simple, with a small wedding party. Liana was my matron of honor, Emily was my maid of honor, and Connor and Patrick were Alexander’s best men. We’d figured it was best to keep the wedding party intimate to avoid offending anyone, and also because a ten-person wedding party at a fifty-person wedding just seemed to be too much.
Through a crack in the door, I watched as Liana walked down in her violet dress, accompanied by Patrick. When they were three-quarters of the way down the aisle, Emily and Connor followed. I had told Liana and Emily that they could wear whatever they wanted within the realm of purple, but, as usual, they’d gone above and beyond. They wore matching tea-length dresses, with a sweetheart neckline and ruffles on the bottom. I was proud to have those two standing beside me.
Finally, it was my turn to make my entrance. The wedding coordinator straightened my veil and motioned to me to start making my way down the aisle. The walk down was much more emotional than I had expected. On both sides of me, standing in admiration, were members of my new family, a few members of my remaining family, and friends who cared enough to spend our special day with us. I smiled at my cousin Sandra as she dabbed her under-eye area with a tissue, and made eye contact with Dr. Leonard and Dr. Rodriguez, who we’d decided should be part of our special day. They were unknowingly the ones who had brought us together.
The fifty feet from the door to the altar were overwhelming, to say the least. Factor in the traditional wedding song being played by the pianist, and I was fighting back tears by the time I had a clear view of Alexander. He was perfect, standing there in his tuxedo even more handsome-looking than he’d been when I’d last seen him an hour earlier. In the front row, Alexander’s mother was already in tears by the time I reached her and her husband. They both looked at me with such sincere smiles that I looked up at the ceiling and thanked God once again for bringing me to their family.
I handed my bouquet to Liana and joined hands with Alexander. I hadn’t known him to be the emotional type, but even he had tears forming in the corner of his eyes. “You look beautiful,” he whispered.
“Friends and family,” the officiant began, motioning to everyone to take their seat. Since neither of us were religious, we’d opted for a nondenominational wedding, and I’d worked with the officiant to take pieces from different ceremonies to create the perfect ceremony for Alexander and me.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Alexander Preston and Casey Donohue. The bride and groom would like to thank you all for coming to join in their special day. In addition to being a time of celebration, weddings are also a time to remember those who are no longer with us. Today, and every day, we remember Joanna Donohue, Casey’s beloved mother, who we all wish could be here today.” Alexander squeezed my hand for support as I fought back tears. “We also remember Gerald and Irene Preston, grandparents of the groom, who passed away several years ago.” I squeezed his hand right back. “At this time, the groom would like to share the vows that he has written for his bride.”
Oh boy. I knew the waterworks were about to start. If the letter Alexander had given to me earlier in the day was any indication of what his vows were going to be like, I could kiss my perfect eye makeup goodbye.
“Casey, it’s hard to put into words what you mean to me,” Alexander said. “You came into my life at the most unexpected time and brought me a new sense of purpose. You give me something to look forward to each day, and you give me a reason to always want to be a better version of myself.” Alexander choked on the words and paused momentarily. “You mean more to me than anything in this world. That adorabl
e giggle of yours is music to my ears, and your smile brightens up my whole day. I believe with all of my heart that fate brought us together because we were meant to be. I promise to be the best husband I can to you, and the best father I can to our baby girl. You are my best friend, my soulmate, and my forever. I love you.”
Alexander placed a gentle kiss on my cheek as I tried to compose myself long enough to make it through my own vows. Looking out into the crowd, I knew I wasn’t the only one moved by Alexander’s words. Even the friends and family members who had doubted our relationship had tears rolling down their cheeks.
“Now, the bride would like to share her vows she has written for her groom,” the officiant said.
I drew in a deep breath. “Alexander, life with you is always an adventure,” I began, trying to mask the shakiness in my voice. “From the day I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were something special. From the day I first spoke to you, I knew you were meant for me. You’ve become my best friend, the person I love spending my days with, the one I could never grow tired of. I grew up without a family of my own, without Christmases, and birthday celebrations, and kisses good night. With you, and with your family, I have found a family. I love everything about you. I love the way you crinkle your nose when you’re uncertain about something. I love the way you put others first, even when it means you have to make a sacrifice. I love how you’re not afraid to work hard and play harder. You’ve opened my eyes to a whole new world, and I can’t wait for many more years of adventures to come.”
I exhaled, relieved that my vows were finally spoken. I’d gotten pretty good at holding back tears over the years, but holding back tears while speaking was a completely different story. Alexander flashed a perfect smile at me and mouthed “I love you.”
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