Always A Bridesmaid (Wedding Season Series)

by Dee Ellis

  “Mmm, as I said, your fault. I came here for a ring for someone else, yes. As I believe you know, I am an heir to my family winery. As is Helena, my would-be bride. We made an agreement years ago to marry as a way to merge the two wineries.” Unable to deny myself now that I started touching her, I skim my fingers over her thighs, biting back my cocky smile when she shudders.

  “An arranged marriage? People really do those?” Rian turns her cute nose up and I laugh before kissing her neck.

  “Seems so, baby. Fuck, I love how you smell. It’s what I noticed first about you. Fresh, clean, pretty, and sweet. Mmm, love how you taste too.” I lick at her neck, hand tangling in her thick blond curls to tug her head back to allow me better access.

  “Mmm, you smell good too. Spicy. Also, rich and rude.” Chuckling with her when she giggles, I bite at her neck.

  “Love your sassy mouth. Back to my details. We promised our fathers—Helena is a bit of a wild child and her father was worried for her. Known one another most our lives, it seemed like an agreeable arrangement. No gold-diggers after us for our money, I could merge the companies, and maybe keep Helena from self-destructing.” Stepping back, I search her face, hoping she believes me—I do have Helena here for backup, if I need an ace in the hole.

  “Sounds very noble of you.” Rian’s tone is icy, and I grab her chin to force her eyes to mine.

  “I made a promise to our fathers. I never, ever break my word, Rian. Our families were close, and so I gave my word with every intention on keeping it. It wasn’t ideal, but I wanted to do right by her, let her have a proper wedding with an engagement like any other woman.” Tears fill her eyes and I stop, hating that I might be hurting her.

  “You were right, then. You are a good man.” Touching my forehead to hers, I kiss at her mouth, desperate to set her straight.

  “Coming here was not part of the plan. Our arrangement was a business transaction to us both. One we forgot about until our lawyers reminded us of the due date coming soon. It was all contracted like any other business deal we enter into. My focus has always been the business. Do what is best for the business, at all costs.” Taking a deep breath, I back away more.

  “I understand. Truly, I do. It’s almost romantic, in a way. Your sacrifice, you trying to give her what any girl wants. I want that, Roman. I want the proposal and the wedding and the happily ever after. And I understand no matter what I feel for you or maybe even what you feel for me, you can’t give me that. I get it.” Sliding off the table, she sighs and moves away from me.

  “I don’t believe you get it yet, mi bella. Come with me. I want to show you something. Please.” With my heart thudding in my chest, I hold my hand out to her, hoping she will make the leap and take it.

  Long moments pass with neither of us moving. I feel like I can’t breathe. I need her to take my hand. Need her to trust me enough to follow me no matter what details she thinks she knows.

  Slowly she slides her hand into mine and I can breathe again.

  Leading her out to the car, I wait for her to lock up her shop. Ducking my head into the car to ask Helena to call another car, I find it empty. Frowning, I check my phone and smile when I see the text message she must have sent while she waited. Her lover forgave her and she went to him happily. Good. Good for her.

  “Come now, mio amata.” Again, I hold my hand out to her and sigh when she takes it and lets me help her into the car.

  “What does it mean?” Rian wonders softly as I nod at Benny and then bury my face in her neck.

  “Mia amata? You want me to tell you what it means?” Sliding my hand up her thigh beneath her dress, I laugh when she moans before her hand flies to cover mine.

  “Yes. Please.” Needy currents fill her words and my dick jerks.

  “Have so much to teach you. My love.” I whisper the words at her ear and cup her pussy in my hand when she gasps.

  I tug her panties aside and stroke her as we head through the busy streets. It’s not yet dark out and I hope the twilight lasts for what I have planned. Face pressed into her neck, I fuck my fingers into her tightness, grunting at how soaked she gets for me. Just as we roll to a stop, her thighs close tight as she shakes and comes for me.

  “Dammi il tuo piacere. Give me your pleasure, baby. It’s mine.” Rubbing slow hard circles at her clit, I cover her mouth with mine to eat her sexy sounds.

  We’re both panting as I pull my fingers from her and suck them into my mouth. Growling at her sweet taste, I don’t leave a drop of her behind. Startling me, she tugs at my jaw and kisses me, pushing her tongue into my mouth to taste herself.

  “Mmm you do taste delicious, mi bella. Come, I have much to show you.” Stepping from the car, I help her out and smile when she lets out a sound of awe.

  Vineyard rows spread out on either side of us and as far out as the eyes can see before rising hills cut them off. Down the aisle Benny dropped us at, flickering globe-lights light a path for the walk we’re about to take. Taking her hand, I tell her to kick off her shoes so we can walk in the grass together.

  Leaving our shoes at the car, we head down the path, both of us quiet. Finally, I start to tell her about my family. And about Helena’s. About her loving but controlling father who forbade her to follow her heart and marry the man she loved. And who suggested I was a better match even if we felt nothing but friendship for one another.

  As our hands swing between us, I also explain what she thought she saw that day on the hotel veranda. Not us happily planning our future but agreeing not to go through with it. And as we pause beneath my very favorite tree, where my father’s initials join my mother’s in a heart carved here a lifetime ago, I explain last night.

  “Her lover saw what you saw, Rian. Thought our wine merger party was an engagement party. In a jealous rage, he ended things with her so Helena was a mess. Her damn lawyers suggested we go through with it, since her roadblock was out of the way. As I told you, she is self-destructive. Seems the mere idea of being forced to marry me sent her over the edge. Spent most my night keeping her off pills and booze while hunting down her lover. Found him early this morning. They might reconcile, or they might not. Either way, Helena is in a better place and our contracts have been negotiated.” Digging into my pocket, I pull out a knife and almost laugh when her eyes go wide.

  Good. She expects a ring. And, my lady will get her ring.

  “Meaning what, exactly, Roman? Like I said, you often make no sense.” Bringing her hand to my mouth, I kiss her left ring finger and wink at her.

  “And, as I said, that is entirely your fault. Wait just a moment.” Turning to the tree, I carefully carve a heart into the bark. Beneath my mother and father and grandfather and grandmother’s hearts. Inside the heart, I put my initials. And as I add hers, I can feel the emotion she floods with fill the air between us.

  “What... why are you carving away at a tree right now?” Finishing it with today’s date, I tuck my knife away again.

  “It’s an important ritual in my family; do not make light of it, my love. Come give me a kiss, yes?” Again, I give her the choice. When she doesn’t even hesitate, my heart swells.

  Twisting to pin her to the tree, I kiss her slow and deep, putting all the details that matter into it. How crazy she has made me. How she brought me to life. Made me realize the only detail that matters is love.

  “My love,” I whisper to her mouth as I tear away long enough to get the words said, “I came to you to get a proposal right. Had no idea finding you is what would make my proposal right. Never in my life did I expect to find love so simply. To look at someone and know in my soul they would be my wife, mother to my children, love of my life. Until I looked at you and saw it all. In a glance, it was there, Rian. My entire life with you was there in your beautiful eyes, your beautiful soul, and your beautiful heart. I am in love with you, Rian Dexter,” A shaky hand flies to cover her gasp and I smile through my tears.

  “I am a man of my word, Rian. Gave my word to marry someone el
se but since I love you so fucking much, I think it’s okay to break this promise. I want to marry you, Rian. I want you to have your fairytale wedding and your happily ever after. I want to give you every single fairytale you could ever dream up. I want you to love me forever like I promise to love you forever. And this is not a promise I will break.” Dropping to my knees in the dirt, I pull the ring I’ve been clutching like a rosary all day from my pocket.

  “Rian Dexter... my beautiful love. Will you marry me?”

  Right there in the dirt, Rian kneels with me as she nods her head. We’re both crying and it’s just as perfect as I planned it to be. I slip the ring on her finger and laugh when she sees it’s the design I stole that first day.

  “It’s... it’s perfect. It’s so perfect. I love you too. You don’t make sense still and I know neither do I. But I love you, Roman. You are the man of my dreams and I absolutely promise to love you forever.” Rian squeals and bowls me over as she throws her arms around me.

  We fall back into the damp earth and I laugh, kissing her again. She’s right—that falling in love with someone like this does not make sense. It is not smart or safe or any of the things I have always been. But it’s so good and so right, none of those details matter.

  As a warm summer rain starts to fall, I get her naked in the vineyards. And as I slide inside her, telling her how much I love her and how I am so glad I never touched someone before her, I know we still have many details to share.

  Rian rides me with rain pouring down, chanting my name and shouting to the stormy skies that she loves me.

  It’s the only detail that matters.

  THE END

  EPILOGUE

  Rian

  “Wow everything is exactly as I wanted it.” I gush as I peer down the aisle to see the flowers, candles, and all the people that matter to me waiting.

  “Course it is, you deserve it. Ready to get married?” Erin asks as she fluffs my dress and fusses with my train.

  Surrounded by my closest friends—my bridesmaids Joy, Sloan, Maia, Emrie, Lana, and Sunni—my sisters and my mother, I feel so lucky and blessed. Erin and Emrie make sure my hair and makeup is right while Lana and Sunni fuss with my dress some more.

  Always their bridesmaid and now they’re mine.

  “Your father is ready, darling. I think your husband-to-be is growing a little impatient.” My mother comes to me, reaching for my hand.

  “Roman is not exactly known for his patience.” As I laugh nervously, my mother fastens a lovely blue bracelet around my wrist. It was her very first design, and she wore it at her own wedding.

  “Both something borrowed and something blue.” Mother smiles and dabs a tissue at her eyes.

  “Think that does it then. Time to do this thing.” And just like that, I am more than ready to get married to the man of my dreams.

  Within a few days of meeting, I was sure I was in love with him. And within weeks, he left me with no doubts. Roman is charming and sweet and dotes on me as if I’m the woman of his dreams. By the time the wedding planning came around, he seemed as excited as I was.

  Long as I took his last name and promised him forever as soon as possible, Roman was a happy man.

  Took us just a few months to plan our perfect wedding—and put those bridal bibles to good use. Roman gave me every single thing I wanted—it was as if the man didn’t have no in his vocabulary if it’s me asking.

  Seems I just might have the same ailment.

  “Yes. I do.” I whisper as tears track down my cheeks as I stand facing my beautiful husband with tears in his own eyes.

  “Si. I do. Forever, mi bella. I am yours.” Roman whispers softly before tugging me close just before the preacher actually gives him permission.

  Roman clearly waits for no man. Scooping me up right there in front of our friends and families and carries me from back down the aisle. Everyone erupts into laughter and applause as he carries me out of the church and to our waiting limo.

  “Roman! We were supposed to thank them for coming... and our procession....” I giggle though as he nods at his usual driver and we pull from the curb.

  “Let you have your perfect wedding, my beautiful wife. Now I intend to give you the most perfect honeymoon. Starting right now.” I whimper when he drops to his knees on the floor of the limo and ducks beneath the thick tulle skirts of my dress.

  By the time we reach that airport, he’s made me come twice. I should be ashamed. Or angry, even. I planned one hell of a reception party but clearly, Roman had no plans for the two of us to attend it.

  “Waited all day to taste you, wife. Could not wait a moment more. Come now, our plane is waiting. Our loved ones will have a wonderful night without us. We will reach Antigua in a few hours. Two weeks of you naked on the beach, in the ocean, in the jungles... you cannot expect me to sit through toasts and bouquet tossing waiting for that, now can you, my love?” Giggling as he leads me from the car to his small plane, I sigh.

  “I suppose not. Take me away, husband.” Roman grins at me and helps me aboard before heading to the cockpit.

  Our two weeks flies by far too quickly. At first, we barely leave our bedroom and in fact spend most days naked. Makes it easier for one of us to turn the simplest touch or kiss into marathon lovemaking.

  Eventually Roman insists on taking me around the island. We ride horses on the beach, fish in the crystal- clear waters, and hike through the jungles. By our final day, I am exhausted in the best possible way.

  Under blue skies in the warm waters, Roman proves I still have some energy left.

  “Oh... yes... right there, husband. It’s...0h... yes! I’m coming! Roman!” Panting, I slam my hands into the sand and scream as I do exactly as predicted.

  “Christ, I love when you call me husband.” Roman roars as he surges over me and pushes inside me as I shake from my orgasm.

  My thighs fall open as he throws his hips hard and fast, my fingers clawing at his shoulders. I watch him fuck me with the sun shining down on him. Still can’t believe it’s true—he is my husband I am his wife—but the rings on our locked hands remind me every time I doubt it.

  “La mia bellissima moglie.” Roman pants into my neck before peppering my sticky skin with kisses.

  We end up splashing into the ocean together, the clear water rushing over our bare skin. We swim and laugh and make love again. As night falls, we eat a beautiful meal beneath the stars and talk about our future. It’s like a dream that I can reach out and touch.

  I plan to wrap my hands tightly around it and never let go.

  “Where are you mi bella?” Roman wonders as his fingers trail down my bare side and back again.

  “Here. With you, my husband. Just thinking about our future. How once upon a time I thought I would always be a bridesmaid and never get to be a bride. And then you. You walk in my store ready to marry someone else...” Roman sits up to cup my jaw, his thumb stopping my words.

  “Wrong, my love. I was never ready to get married. Not until I walked into your store and found you. Dreaded the very idea of getting a ring for a woman to promise her what I didn’t believe I could give. But the moment I found you, I could not wait to put my ring on your lovely finger and give you everything.” Leaning forward, he moves his thumb to kiss me slowly, as if giving me his vows all over again.

  And just like our wedding, he scoops me up and carries me off. In the moonlight, he pushes inside me gently, whispering in broken English and Italian how much he loves me. How much he loves being my husband. And how lucky he is that I was always a bridesmaid until he got the chance to make me his bride.

  “And soon... madre ai miei bambinis. Mother to my babies.” Sliding down my body, his big hands cradle my belly and he talks softly in Italian. As I listen to him promising our children the world, his winery, and his unwavering love, I can’t help but respond.

  Spent several hours every single day for months learning his lovely language. Just for moments like this. For the moments I want to give h
im something as special as all he has given me.

  “Sì, mio marito. I tuoi bambini Molto presto. Sono incinta.” Roman’s head pops up as his beautiful dark eyes go wide.

  “Bella... you... you are pregnant? Now?” I nod as tears flood my eyes, reaching down to cradle his face.

  “I am, my love. Found out just before our wedding. Was just waiting for the perfect moment to tell you. And like everything else, you just gave me the perfect moment.” Pressing his face to my belly, he goes still. Until suddenly he’s shaking.

  “Oh, bella. You have given me everything. Everything. Your love and your vows of forever. Now a family. I want you to give me lots of babies. I want so many little babies with you, my beautiful love. I love you, Rian Thorn.” Tears are in his eyes and he’s shaking with sobs before he clutches me to him.

  Love floods me—for both this beautiful man and the child growing inside me.

  Just months ago, I had given up on love. Had been so sure I would see everyone I knew find their happily ever after. Settle into their forever. While I just made the pretty trinkets they would wear to do it.

  Now I wear the most beautiful ring on my finger after an absolutely perfect wedding and the most amazing honeymoon.

  But it’s none of those details that matter.

  All that matters is that I found the man who wanted to make me his bride. His happily ever after. His forever.

  And now I know I was always a bridesmaid because I was just waiting for the right man to make me his bride.

  The End

  The Wedding Season Series

  Always a Bridesmaid by Dee Ellis

  At Last By Tessa Blake

  Fake Plus One by Arlo Arrow

  Garters & Groomsmen by Kim Loraine