Serena's smirk disappeared. Cherrelle looked between her and their father.
"If either of you are seen on the premises during the ceremony or at the reception, Sarah's security will remove you and call the police."
Logan's eyes widened. He looked like he was about to explode.
"You can't do that!" he bellowed.
"Too late. I already did. I'm the bride, remember?" Cherrelle glanced at Emily and softened her voice. "You're still invited, Ma, if you wish, but it won't be any sweat off my brow if you choose not to come as well."
She turned away from three stunned faces and went over to Sarah, who had been watching the scene with a grim expression. She needed to find the one man who could make things better.
"Which way did Brad go?"
Chapter 7
Cherrelle found Brad pacing up and down on the terrace. The corner of his eye had a cut and he had a bruise on his cheek and his jaw. His hair was mussed up and his eyes were furious. He swung around as Cherrelle approached him.
"Cherrelle." He held up his hands as Cherrelle approached. "It wasn't what it looked like. I was..."
Cherrelle didn't let him get any further. She grabbed his head and pulled it down, pressing her lips against his. Brad immediately reacted, wrapping his arms around her as he took control of the kiss and devoured her mouth before pushing his tongue inside and tangling with hers. Cherrelle felt her whole body melting. Damn, the man could certainly kiss.
She managed to find the strength to pull away, resting her forehead against his. "I believe you."
"Really?"
Cherrelle nodded. She ran her hands down his chest and felt the muscles flex under her palms. God, even that was turning her on.
"I want you," she whispered.
Brad's breathing quickened. "Isn't that breaking the no-sex rule?"
"Right now I don't care." Cherrelle pressed her hips against his, feeling the hard ridge of his erection against her stomach. "Take me to my place. I need you now."
*****
Brad drove as fast as he could, toeing the line before he actually broke the speed limit. Cherrelle didn't care. She didn't care they had just left their guests alone while they drove away.
All she cared about was getting Brad back to her apartment and into her bed. She was tired of dodging around the question if they had feelings for each other. Even if it was this one night, she wanted to know what it felt like having sex with Brad Jarrett.
Brad double-parked in her space and they hurried to the elevator. He backed her into a corner of the elevator and devoured her mouth again, cupping her hips and buttocks as his other hand squeezed her breast over her dress. Cherrelle squirmed, desperate to get even closer. He tasted really good, and she had to keep tasting him.
They stumbled onto the landing and Cherrelle had to break away to fish out her key and let them into her apartment. Brad pushed her inside and slammed the door, spinning her around and picking her up. Cherrelle's skirt was too tight to let her open her legs wide so she hitched it up to above her waist, revealing the lacy white knickers and matching garter belt. She had put these on thinking of Brad and wondering if he would ever see the sexy underwear.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, and Brad ran his hands up her thighs. His groan told her he had encountered the garter and his enthusiastic kisses said he approved. He sat on the couch, pulling Cherrelle close so she was straddling him. She pressed herself onto his cock and relished in Brad's groan. He thrust up against her pussy as he pulled her closer and sucked on her tongue.
His hands went to the zipper on the back of her dress and undid it quickly. Then they undid her bra clasp. Then his hands darted round and cupped her breasts through the dress. Cherrelle gasped and arched into his hands, loving the way he massaged and pinched her breasts, circling her hardening nipples with his fingers.
Sitting up, Cherrelle tugged the dress off so it fell to her waist and tossed her bra onto the floor. Now she was naked from the waist up. Brad sat back and stared at her. The look on his face had Cherrelle's pulse jumping. With a growl Brad drew her towards him and took a nipple into his mouth. Cherrelle gasped and squirmed in his lap and he nipped at her skin, running her hands up his back and smoothing across her shoulders as she ground down on his cock, which seemed to be getting even harder.
Brad groaned and tightened his hold around her waist, pulling his mouth away from her breast.
"Stop squirming, Cherrelle. I may not last long if you keep doing that."
Cherrelle grinned. "Maybe that's what I want."
She grabbed at his shirt and tie and yanked the tie off, ripping the shirt open. Buttons flew everywhere. Then she saw his bare chest for the first time. It was carved as if he had been made out of stone. There was a scar across one pectoral, barely missing the areola and at least three inches long. The result of one of his stepfather's attacks on him; he had gone after Brad as a child with a knife.
Cherrelle leaned over and licked the scar. Brad groaned and buried his fingers into her hair. His other hand went lower and slid under her knickers, gripping her buttock tightly. Then he moved so fast Cherrelle's head spun. He lifted her off of him and turned her so she was facing the sofa still but he was behind her. Wrapping an arm round her waist, he kissed and gently gnawed at her neck.
"How do you want it?" he rasped, his breath tickling her ear.
Cherrelle shivered. She knew how she wanted it.
"Hard." She breathed, rolling her hips against his cock. "Hard and fast."
"My pleasure."
Brad's fingers deftly pulled down her knickers, bypassing the garter belt. Throwing the knickers onto the floor, he drew them onto their knees and bent Cherrelle over. She rested her elbows on the couch and glanced over her shoulder. Brad was stripping off the rest of his clothes, showing himself to be more than big all over when his thick cock came into view.
Her mouth went dry and her whole body shuddered in anticipation. Her pussy wept, begging to be filled. Brad saw the shiver and frowned in concern.
"You okay?"
"More than okay. Just hurry up."
"One moment."
Brad retrieved a foil wrapper from his wallet, dropping his wallet on top of his trousers. He ripped the wrapper open and slid the condom on over his cock. A second later, he was kneeling behind her, caressing her hips. Cherrelle's breath hitched when he slid two fingers into her pussy and she rolled her hips to take him deeper.
Brad groaned. Then his fingers disappeared suddenly and were replaced by his cock. Cherrelle cried out when he rammed into her. She felt stretched to the point of painful but she didn't care. It felt too damn good.
Brad drew out and rammed back in. She could hardly breathe with each thrust. Cries came to her ears, moans of pleasure, and she realized it was her.
Brad withdrew out of her so quickly Cherrelle's legs nearly gave out. He pulled her onto the floor, flipping her onto her back. Pulling off her dress, he crawled on top of her and thrust into her again. Sweat beaded his forehead and the thrusts were harder, more forceful. Cherrelle could feel them all the way through her body. She screamed when Brad moved her legs onto his shoulders and the angle changed as he went deeper.
It wasn't long before her orgasm hit her in a massive wave.
She couldn't remember much of what happened when Brad came a moment later, ramming hard into her as he filled the condom. She couldn't remember what happened afterwards. The cloud she was on was so high Cherrelle wasn't sure if she would ever come back down.
*****
Brad was on a high. He had just had the best sex in his life and he wasn't coming down from the euphoria yet. Cherrelle had felt amazing and was so responsive. Why they hadn't broken the no-sex rule earlier he had no idea - she was fiery in bed.
And on the couch. And on the floor.
After he had come, Brad had noticed that Cherrelle was also experiencing the high. She was also nearly unconscious. So, he had picked her up and taken her to bed, laying her under
the duvet and tucking her in. Scribbling a note saying he had a meeting in the morning, so he wasn't able to stay, he dressed quietly and let himself out.
He would make arrangements to come back the next day and they could carry on what they had started if Cherrelle was agreeable. Now he had experienced how it was having sex with Cherrelle he couldn't get enough.
Brad was still on a high when he got back to his apartment. Locking up his car, he nearly skipped up to the front doors.
"Hey, Jarrett."
Brad stopped, his mood dissipating. Jason stepped out from the shadows beside the door. His mouth was set in a thin line as he glared at Brad. Brad met him with a glare of his own.
"What are you doing here, Colney?"
"I came to see you."
"I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."
Jason sighed and folded his arms. "Your marriage is a sham. I know it. You know it. Cherrelle knows it. Hell, even her parents know it." He shook his head. "You won't get away with this."
"With what?" Brad demanded. "Can two people who love each other not get married?"
"Stop lying to me, Jarrett. You don't love her. You just want her money."
Brad resisted the urge to laugh in his face. It was like the pot calling the kettle black. "Actually, I don't. She's offered me money several times for even little things, but I've always refused." If you didn't include the $100,000 she had paid him for playing along in her charade. "I pay my own way and I won't accept help from anyone."
Jason's eyebrow slanted. "That so?"
He clearly didn't believe him. Brad sighed and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
"Look, Colney, I love Cherrelle." It was the first time he had said it out loud and it felt good. Really good. "That's the end of it." He lowered his hand and stared defiantly at Jason. "I love her. I always have. You are not going to break us up, no matter how hard you try."
"You sure about that?"
Brad barked out a laugh. This was getting farcical. "Are you that greedy to have more money that you're prepared to break up a marriage so you can sneak in?"
"Not greedy." Jason shrugged immodestly. "Just ambitious."
"In your case, that amounts to the same thing." Brad stepped up to him, noting with satisfaction Jason moving away. "Accept that a forced marriage between you and Cherrelle will never happen. Cherrelle is already my wife, and I'm going to make sure it stays that way."
Cherrelle. His wife. If only they could stop it being pretend. Jason surveyed him thoughtfully for a moment as if weighing his options. He scoffed quietly.
"Enjoy it while you can." Then he smirked. "It won't last long."
Brad was left staring after him as Jason walked away. He had no idea what Jason was going on about, but he was sure he wasn't going to like it. At all.
*****
Cherrelle checked the items in the bedroom with the items on her checklist.
"Right. Dress is in its cover, hair and makeup ladies are coming at 7 and will use the room next door, the bridesmaids’ dresses are out, and the shoes are lined up. What else? Do you think we've missed something, Ma?"
She looked around in search of Emily. Her mother was sitting at the dressing table, staring unseeing into the mirror. She looked like she was off in her own little world.
"Ma?" Cherrelle went to her and touched her shoulder. "Ma, are you okay?"
Emily jumped as Cherrelle touched her and shook herself before looking up at Cherrelle with her usual serene smile. "Sorry, dear, you were saying?"
Cherrelle was worried. It wasn't like Emily to wander off in her own thoughts at a time like this. Putting her cell phone with her checklist down, she knelt beside the stool her mother sat on.
"You've been rather distracted today. Is anything the matter?"
Emily sighed. "I'm sorry, Cherrelle. Things have got a bit too much for me lately." She gave a slight shrug. "I guess I'm a little conflicted."
"Then talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."
In the last few weeks since they had started working on the wedding plans, their relationship had got better, resulting in Cherrelle becoming closer with her mother. It was nice to be finally close to the woman with everything else going on in their family. And Emily seemed to be coming out of her shell, showing sides that Cherrelle had never seen before. But she liked it.
It proved that Emily was human.
Emily took a breath before she spoke. "I don't think you're marrying Brad for the right reasons," she said slowly. "But you're an adult and you have to find out for yourself. Your father and your sister..." She paused and looked down at her hands. "I cannot apologize enough for their behavior. It was completely abhorrent and very unfair to you." She bit her lip. "They shouldn't have done it."
"No." Cherrelle had begun tensing up once her father and sister had been mentioned. "They shouldn't."
She was still furious at them for trying to ruin her wedding and her relationship with Brad. Logan seemed to understand that she was still angry and kept out of the way while Serena showed up long enough to give her a sneer before sauntering off.
Cherrelle had no idea how she was related to either of them and was quite prepared to wash her hands of them. And if not for her mother, she would have done it that night. The night when Brad gave her the best sex of her life.
Her pussy was still throbbing from the great sex. And the great sex every night since. They couldn't get enough of each other. Cherrelle experienced sleeping in someone's arms all night for the first time after several bouts of hot, sweaty sex. It was something she wasn't prepared to give up soon.
She was going to have to tell Brad. He needed to know about her feelings. Maybe they could get this wedding to be the real thing for a real marriage. Cherrelle knew she didn't want anyone but Brad Jarrett as her husband. This time for real.
Emily leaned forward and took her hand. "Is it possible you can let them come to the wedding for a little bit?" she pleaded. "Just an hour or two..."
"No," Cherrelle cut her off sharply. She sighed and started again. "I'm sorry, Ma, but both of them have crossed the line. Pa has always wanted to be in control of something and have it his own way. Serena is the same but with men. I've had enough of it and I don't want them there."
"I understand." Emily looked downcast. She sighed. "I'll just be a little lonely, that's all."
"Your brother and sister are coming. And Brad's dad and stepmom are lovely people. You'd get on really well with them."
"I'm sure I will." Emily bit her lip. "I'm just not used to going anywhere without your father."
Cherrelle had never seen her mother so insecure before. Logan had made her so dependent on him that when left to go out on her own, Emily didn't have a clue. She squeezed her mother's hand and gave her a comforting smile.
"Don't worry. It'll be fine." She was stopped from saying more by her cell phone ringing. Glancing at the caller ID, Cherrelle smiled as she answered. "Hey, honey."
"Can I see you now?"
Brad sounded brusque, gruff. Cherrelle blinked. What was wrong with him? He never spoke like this on the phone. Something had to be wrong.
"Erm, sure. I've just finished at Ma's. Where do you want to meet?"
"Your apartment." Brad took a breath. "I want to talk."
That didn't sound good. Whenever someone said that, it didn't bode well. Cherrelle swallowed down her worries and tried to sound upbeat.
"Okay. See you in forty-five minutes."
"See you."
Brad hung up, leaving Cherrelle confused. Brad didn't sound right. Something was really wrong.
Was he going to end it now? When they were so close? She couldn't bear it if he did.
"You okay, honey?"
Cherrelle bit her lip. "Brad wants to talk." She gave Emily a wry smile. "That sounds rather ominous, doesn't it?"
"It's probably nothing." Emily smiled. "Go on, go see your husband."
Chapter 8
Brad pulled up in Cherrelle's parking garage
and sat for a moment to calm his pounding heart. It was beating so hard it felt like it was thumping in his ears.
He was going to tell her. Tonight. Before the big day. He didn't care if she decided she couldn't marry him after all or was scared off by his declaration - he had to tell her. If he didn't, it was going to eat him up inside and he wouldn't be able to cope.
The past week had been incredible since they had given in to having sex. Brad loved exploring Cherrelle's body and experimenting in bed. Cherrelle was an eager participant and Brad was always itching to try something new.
Making love to Cherrelle felt amazing. And Brad wasn't prepared to let that go. Maybe he could persuade Cherrelle that they could have a real relationship, a real wedding, and really become husband and wife instead of doing it as part of a facade. Nothing would please him more than saying Cherrelle was his wife and he was proud of her.
Unable to sit still and remembering that he had a key, Brad climbed out and locked up. He was whistling as he walked across the garage towards the elevator.
"Brad."
Brad stopped and turned. He groaned. "What are you doing here?"
Serena approached him slowly. She looked uncomfortable, biting her lip and wringing her hands together.
"I'm sorry, Brad. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. Ma just called me." She took a deep breath. "It's about Cherrelle."
"Cherrelle?" Fear gripped Brad's chest. "Is she okay? Is she hurt?"
"She's fine." Serena eyed him nervously. "She...she's run off with Jason."
Brad felt like he had been punched in the chest. For a moment he couldn't breathe. He swallowed. "What?"
"She told Ma that she was tired of playing about with you and wanted a real man." Serena looked down at the ground. "Jason picked her up from home and they're jetting off for the Caribbean. She said she'll send the divorce papers to you as soon as possible."
Brad felt like the bottom had dropped out of his world. Suddenly, he felt hollow. All thoughts of love went out the window. Now he just felt nothing.
Being Harrison Bloom's Girl (That Forbidden Love Book 2) Page 21
