by Jodi Redford
Did that mean he could see himself with Kait? Maybe even longer than a month or so affair? The possibility was even stranger than him enjoying their cuddling session. But who the hell knew. Weirder things have happened than him falling for his smart-mouthed PA. Still, it might qualify for the Guinness Book.
Shaking his head, he snuggled Kait closer and muffled his chuckle against her shoulder.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It’d be a damn miracle if she didn’t walk around all day bowlegged. Jeezo peezo! The rumors were true about Ford’s stamina, and he hadn’t been exaggerating about needing all those condoms, as her sore pussy could easily testify.
That’s why it made zero sense why the obnoxious butterflies in her belly decided to break out into an uncoordinated Cha-Cha as soon as he stepped into the living room. She wanted to blame it on how devastatingly gorgeous he looked in his tux. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t feel compelled to tackle him on the spot, sore pussy or no? Thank God she’d already done her makeup and hair, otherwise she’d be tempted to rip into that second box of condoms in the drawer and put them to good use.
She stepped to him and smoothed down a stubborn crease in his satin lapel before noticing his bowtie was askew. Sighing, she fixed the accessory. He flashed a grin. “What would I do without you, darlin’?”
“Lord only knows.”
He stooped to kiss her. When he straightened, revealing he now wore the faint pink of her lip gloss, she chuckled and quickly swiped his mouth with her thumb. He pouted. “Not my color?”
“No, you’re definitely more of an autumn.”
“Well, you’re beautiful. That’s all I know.”
A ridiculous warm glow filled her at his words. “Thank you.” She fidgeted with the skirt of her ice blue cocktail dress. “I don’t usually wear a dress that isn’t black. Or red. I wasn’t sure how this one would look.”
“Stunning. But it’s not the dress. It’s you. Absolutely.”
God, if he kept showering her with flattery like this, neither of their heads would fit through the door. It wasn’t that he hadn’t complimented her before, but there was a subtle shift in the dynamics between them today. More than likely because of the sex last night. And several times this morning. Recalling all the raunchiness they’d been up to, she squeezed her legs together, lessening the throb deep in her pussy. She wished she could say it was from the lingering soreness, but that’d be a damn lie.
He crossed to Hairy and held out his hand. The dog immediately dropped his paw in it and Ford looked him square in the eye. “Do you solemnly swear to not chew up any couches or poop anywhere in this house while we’re gone?”
Hairy responded with a woof, and Ford glanced at her. “Let’s hope that’s a yes.” He dropped Hairy’s paw, and after striding back to her side, crooked his elbow in invitation. “Ready, hot mama?”
Completely charmed by this crazy man, she slipped her hand on his arm. “You bet.”
~*~
They arrived at the church a good half an hour before the ceremony was set to begin. Leaving Ford to do his best man duties, she hunted down the bridal party. Her eyes got all misty again as soon as she spotted Mary in her beaded dress and accompanying veil. “Oh my God. Look how beautiful you are.”
Sniffling like she also might be seconds away from crying, Mary leaned forward and squeezed her in a hug. “You too.” She pulled back and offered a watery smile. “Did Ford find the other guys okay?”
“Yep. I just dropped him off. And you’ll be happy to know there’s no black eye after his fight with the biker.” Jesus. How insane was it that it sounded perfectly normal saying that? Then again, when referencing Ford, there was no such thing as too insane.
“Oh good. I was worried he might be feeling the effects today.”
“Uh, no. He’s absolutely fine.”
Mary frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. The way you said it left me wondering.”
“The way I said it?” she repeated stupidly. Her cheeks heated as Mary stared at her long and hard.
“Did something happen last night?”
“Well, yeah. He got in that bar fight and nearly got disowned for life by his brother. You know, all in a typical day for Ford. After that, absolutely nothing interesting happened, whatsoever.” She stifled a groan. Yeah, that hadn’t sounded suspicious at all.
Mary’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. You slept with him.”
Thank goodness the bridesmaids were too busy primping each other’s hair to overhear them. “What? No.” She waved her hand weakly.
“You are full of crap.” Her grin taking over her entire face, Mary squeezed her in another fierce hug. “I’m so happy. I told you it was meant to be.”
“Let’s not start up on that again.” Sex was one thing. Banging her boss didn’t make them soul mates. As it was, she probably had a whole heap of a mess on her hands. But she’d made an executive decision to not think about it for the rest of her stay. She’d have plenty of time to dread over her actions once she and Ford were back home. In the meantime, she’d revel in this hedonistic escape with him.
Mary stroked her chin, her expression shrewd. “Don’t write off the possibility of a future between you two.”
“We already have one. It’s called boss and employee.”
“I don’t mean that, and you know it,” Mary countered. “In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you two invite me and Jason to your wedding by this time next year.”
She choked on a cough. “Clearly Ford isn’t the only one in dire need of medication for some serious delusions.”
“Har har.” Mary lightly slugged her in the arm. “Just do me one itsy bitsy favor though, okay?”
“Anything.”
“Let Ford pop the question.”
“Err...I’m not lying about that medication.”
Giggling, Mary returned to her bridesmaids. Shaking her head at her friend’s imminent trip to the loony bin, Kait journeyed toward the hallway leading to the front of the church. Male voices carried from the room where Jason and his groomsmen were getting ready, and she paused to peek inside. Jason was helping Ford with pinning the rose correctly on his lapel. Good God, Ford really was a hot mess. In every sense of the word.
The crazy part? She didn’t want him to be any other way.
Hell, apparently she was the one who could benefit from some medication. Only she had a bad feeling there wasn’t anything on the market to help with her particular affliction.
She was falling for Ford.
Strike that. She’d already fallen for him. Probably months—maybe even years ago—but she’d been desperately hiding from that truth. She’d focused on all of his negative traits, hoping it’d kill her infatuation with him. She’d put up walls and relied on her sarcasm to safeguard getting emotionally attached to him.
Only she’d failed. Big time. She couldn’t even blame it on the incredible sex. Sure, it’d opened the door wide open to these uncomfortable feels, but they’d been lingering in the shadows all along. She couldn’t deny it.
So what the hell did she do now?
Mary’s words drifted through her conscious. “Don’t write off the possibility of a future between you two.”
It was her natural inclination to do just that. To protect her heart from the ultimate hurt. She stepped back from the door. As she did, Ford’s gaze lifted to her. He smiled. An honest to God, steal-her-breath smile. Not one of his usual smirks. The butterflies in her tummy drunkenly dive-bombed each other.
Feeling like a dopey teenager with a huge crush on the handsome quarterback, she waggled her fingers in greeting before ducking out of sight. She paused in the hall and sucked in a deep breath, stilling her chaotic pulse. Once she had her shit properly together, she entered the church and grabbed a spot a few pews back from the front of the assemblage. The older woman sitting next to her turned out to be the chatty sort—a welcome relief from the constant quicks
and of Kait’s thoughts where Ford was concerned. More than happy to let her seat mate ramble on about her grandchildren and their 4-H activities, she nodded and joined in the conversation at the appropriate and sporadic lulls.
The last of the guests trickled in and the pastor took his place. A moment later, Jason and Ford joined him. The mood in the room instantly shifted to one of heightened excitement and anticipation. Kait was way ahead of them there. She’d been swept right up into it the second her eyes landed on Ford.
One by one, the rest of the wedding processional made their way to the front of the church. She barely registered any of it until the organist hit the familiar opening chords of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. Tugging her attention from Ford, she automatically lifted to her feet and turned her gaze in time to catch the fairytale vision of Mary walking down the aisle. As predicted, Kait’s tears started flowing. She quickly reached for her clutch purse, but her pew companion beat her to the task and passed over a fresh tissue. Whispering her thanks, Kait blotted her eyes.
Straightening, she swung her focus toward the altar. Like yesterday, Ford’s gaze was pinned on her. Only this time the heat in his eyes spoke not of seduction, but sinful memories. Well, at least she didn’t have to worry about being the only one who’d burst into flames for impure thoughts in a holy place.
She took a seat along with the others and tuned out everything else but the ceremony. Her musings—lusty or otherwise—could damn well wait until after the I Dos. She managed to make it all the way through those and Jason’s and Mary’s first kiss as husband and wife. The newlywed couple led the recessional down the aisle and she covertly dried her eyes with the crumpled tissue again. Newsflash—she was the world’s biggest mush face. She’d probably never hear the end of it from Ford.
The kind old lady next to her squeezed her arm, gaining her attention. “What is it about weddings and babies that always make you want to have one? I’m too old, but I’m guessing at least one of those groomsmen might make the ideal candidate for you,” she hinted with a wink.
What was it with everyone wanting to marry her off today? Mystified, she followed the woman out of the pew. She spotted Ford with his head lowered toward Mary’s grandma, grinning at something she was saying. Her heart gave a little kick, just to remind her it was there. Who knew how long that would be? Because she had a strong inkling it would be fully in another’s hands before her weekend was up.
~*~
Ford pulled her into his arms the instant she stepped outside the church. “I was thinkin’ about ya the whole time I was up there.”
She offered him a wry look. “I figured as much. And was a little concerned the holy water would burst into flames being that near to you.”
He chuckled before bending to kiss her. His tongue traced her lips, teasing for entry. She submitted with a weak groan. Convinced her jellified knees would give out, she wrapped her arms around his neck. His palm automatically curved around her buttcheek. Concerned with the attention they might attract, she reached behind her and scooted his hand a modest distance above her fanny. He immediately returned to his prior position the second she let go of his wrist. Breaking their kiss, she squinted at him. “We’re in public. That means you behave. I know it’ll be hard.”
“Oh, it’s very hard, darlin’. If you sneak with me behind those bushes over yonder, I’ll show you first hand.”
Without thinking, she peeked over her shoulder. His laugh caressed her ear. “Hot damn. Didn’t think you’d go for it.”
“I’m not. Merely curious what bushes you were referring to.”
“Uh huh.” He smooched her forehead. “Have I mentioned I love how tall you are? I barely have to stoop to kiss ya. And I bet I could even fuck ya with both of us standin’.”
She flushed at his words. “You do realize you don’t have to say every dirty thing that pops into your head, right? It is perfectly acceptable to keep a few thoughts to yourself.”
“Now where’s the fun in that?” His eyes sparkling, he pulled her tighter against him, verifying that he hadn’t been bluffing about being hard. Just the feel of his rock-solid erection brushing against her hip was enough to drench her panties. He tickled the fine hairs on her nape, increasing the itchiness building inside her. “We have a few minutes to spare before we’re expected at the reception.”
She licked her lips. “What’d you have in mind? A quick round of Scrabble?”
“Nope. Was thinkin’ more along the lines of reverse cowgirl in the backseat.”
“I’m not familiar with that game.”
He traced her spine with his fingertip, making her shiver. “I’ll teach ya.”
Trying not to look desperate, obvious, or overly grateful for the Yukon’s tinted windows, she took his hand and hustled toward the parking lot. He clicked the remote, freeing the locks, and practically yanked the door off its hinge as he swung it open and boosted her up onto the backseat. He climbed in after her, the wickedness in his eyes burning her alive. His arm tucked around her shoulder, bringing her snug against him again as he cupped her breast and slicked his tongue inside her mouth.
His kisses. God. No matter how many he fed her, she couldn’t get enough.
She curled her fingers in the silky ends of his hair, meeting his tongue glide for delicious glide. His fingers massaged her through her dress, devilishly teasing her nipple. He broke the kiss to scrape his teeth along her jaw. “Wish I could strip you naked. Right here and now.”
“It’s too risky.”
“I know, darlin’. Just freeing some of those thoughts from my mind, like you keep accusing me of.”
She coasted her hand over the satiny smoothness of his tux jacket before slipping inside. The warm solidness of his chest triggered her sigh. “Who am I to give you grief? I’d die to feel you naked against me right now too.”
“We can’t have you dyin’ on me. I’ll give you the next best thing.”
“Mm, this?” She stroked the thick bulge straining at his fly.
He gripped her hand and set it aside with a tsking noise. “No more of that. Or I’ll end up having an awkward conversation with my dry cleaner about come stains.”
She grimaced. “Yeah, that would be uncomfortable.”
“Speaking of uncomfortable, I need to free up some space here.” Shifting his weight, he loosened the zipper on his pants.
She stared at the massive erection tenting his briefs.
“Darlin’, focus here.”
“I am.”
He tucked his knuckle beneath her chin, lifting her gaze to his sparkling one. “Didn’t mean down there. We need to get you outta your panties. I’d do it, but I don’t want to rip anything in the process.”
“Oh, worried you’ll go caveman on me?”
“You have no idea.” The rough gravel in his voice prodded her shiver. He trailed his hand down to her thigh and gave it a lingering caress.
Desire, voluptuous and heady, swirled through her, making her infinitely dizzy. “You’re not helping with the whole focus thing.”
“Then hurry up and get your panties off.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. Breaking free of his embrace, she wiggled up the skirt of her dress slightly, just enough to give her room to drag her undies down. Ford snatched the scrap of silk from her and stuffed it in the interior pocket of his tuxedo jacket. She frowned at him. “You’re going to give those back, right?”
“What do you think?”
“Uh, that you’re an unconscionable pervert who’s going to make me wander around a wedding reception commando style beneath my dress.”
“Sounds like you’ve got me pegged.”
Snorting, she crawled onto his lap. “After all of this damn work, I hope you have a condom.”
“Yep. But you’re facing the wrong way. You’re doing reverse cowgirl, remember?”
“Well, you’re supposed to be teaching me these things, remember? How am I supposed to know how this works?”
He turned her
so she faced the driver’s seat. “Hold there a sec.” His knuckles bumping against the small of her back, he fussed with his pants. He hiked up her skirt a little higher, and a moment later the heat of his groin radiated against her butt. She wiggled a bit and his velvety cockhead teased along her crack. He caressed her hip, his breath hot against her cheek. “I’d kill to ride you bareback.” His lips tickled her ear as she shifted restlessly. “I know, sugar. Not gonna happen. Just spillin’ my thoughts again.” He reached between them, situating the Trojan, and then raised her up over his cock. She sank down on his generous girth, springing both of their groans free as her pussy enveloped him. Gripping the headrest in front of her, she circled her hips, lifting slightly on the upstroke before grinding down on him hard. He reached around her to mold her breasts in his palms and pinch her nipples.
Ripples of intense pleasure shimmered inside her, quivering along her nerve endings. She gasped, her fingers tightening on the headrest’s metal support bars. “How am I doing?”
“You’re gonna get a fucking Gold Star.”
She was seeing stars. An entire damn solar system spun in her head. His cock was the sole focus of her world. Hard as steel and curved precisely right to deliver pleasure beyond all comprehension. “God, I think I’m going to come.”
He growled, the primal sound shooting her over the cliff. She jolted at the intense wave of bliss crashing through her. He pulled her back against him, breaking her hold on the headrest, and crossed his arms over her torso. Squeezing her breasts, he pumped into her pussy, hard and deep, intensifying the orgasm. He kissed the side of her neck with enough suction to leave a damn hickey. She didn’t even care. If anything, the thought of having his mark on her only skyrocketed her climax to a whole new level. She was flying above the stratosphere now, a sea of twinkling lights spread before her.
