CHAPTER 22
Charlie
* * *
IT’S TOO warm to be wearing this suit. I pull at my collar a bit, loosening my tie just enough so I can breathe. Michael’s to my left, and he looks even worse off than I feel. He clenches and unclenches his hands, shaking them out and shifting his feet.
Ma’s in the front row, and she’s already teary-eyed. She keeps looking at each of us and then back down the aisle. It’s a few minutes past six thirty. It’s time for this thing to get started.
Everyone out here is looking at Michael.
But he doesn’t even seem to notice. His eyes are on the double doors to the venue, waiting for my sister to walk out in her dress.
I lean in and speak to him out of the side of my mouth, hands still clasped in front of me while we wait. “She’s always late; it’s not you.”
He finally looks at me as Chris, one of his good friends and another groomsman, laughs behind me.
“No it’s definitely you,” Chris says, not even trying to stay quiet. A smile kicks my lips up as Michael wipes his hands off on his pants.
He’s already back to looking at the doors.
“She loves you.” I don’t know why the words slip out. He knows it. Everyone does. He and Ali were meant to be together.
He relaxes a little and looks at me, the worry and nerves still there as he nods his head. The crowd stirs at the sound of an acoustic guitar playing a soft song as the doors finally open.
I straighten my back and watch as the first bridesmaid walks out.
My sweetheart. She looks fucking beautiful. The thin dress swishes as she walks down the aisle of pale blue and white petals.
Her steps are measured and her hands are wrapped around the bouquet of white roses, blue hydrangea and baby’s breath. I stare at her, my heart beating slower and everything else blurring around her. She’s not walking to me, and she’s not the bride, but just the sight of her makes my heart slow.
She tucks a bit of hair behind her ear as she takes a quick peek at the guests. She’s nervous, and it looks so damn good on her.
She’s sweet like that. Real sweet.
I can’t stop staring at her, willing her to look at me.
“You’re drooling,” Chris says, nudging me in the shoulder and I turn to look at him, my hand instinctively going to my mouth.
I hear the guys laugh, including Michael. Fucker. I turn back to her just as she walks up to us and finally catch her eyes.
She gives me a sweet, soft smile and quickly looks away. My chest fills with warmth, but then she’s gone, standing on the other side of Michael and out of my view.
The other bridesmaids file in and then the music changes as my sister appears in the double doors, cueing the crowd to stand.
I take the moment while everyone’s looking at the bride to peek behind Michael at Grace.
The mask she was wearing is down, and in its place is a look I didn’t expect to see. Worry, anxiety. Her eyes though, those beautiful doe eyes are wide with something else.
She must feel my eyes on her, because she turns her head to me and the mask goes right up. Her eyes are still glassy. She can’t hide that.
“You okay?” I mouth the question to her.
She nods back and gives me a tight smile. I don’t have time to ask her anything else. I can hear my father’s steps over the delicate version of the wedding march from the acoustic guitar.
I stand straight and look forward, watching as my father gives Ali away and Michael steps forward. With both hands still clasped in front of me, I get another view of Grace and the sweet facade is back, but I can’t forget what I saw.
A tear slips down her cheek and she wipes it quickly, playing it off as if it’s the wedding and emotional tears of joy.
But I know better. She may say she’s okay. She may play it off.
But I know Grace.
And she’s not okay.
CHAPTER 23
Grace
* * *
THE BAR IS the best place to be at wedding receptions, and I have no intention of leaving it if I can help it. It’s in the back of the ballroom, and the lights have been turned down. The music has gone from upbeat party music to sexy slow jams.
I look down at my glass only to find it empty. Again.
All right, maybe I’m a little tipsy. Whoever made the punch wasn’t screwing around, though.
I look up and see Charlie heading my way. Not just my way; he’s making a beeline for me. With all his family around, I haven’t seen much of him yet. Maybe I’ve been avoiding him a little, too. Just creating a bit of distance.
I take a moment to soak in his large frame, the way his muscles bunch under his white dress shirt as he moves. When he draws closer, I appreciate the clean line of his jaw, the intense green of his eyes.
When he comes up to me, he doesn’t mince words.
“Dance with me,” he demands.
I give him half a smile. “Is that an order?”
“Just come with me.” My heart clenches as he puts his hand out, and I can’t help but to slip my hand into his.
He squeezes my hand, dragging me out to the dance floor. I hate myself for it, but a feeling of intense pleasure runs through me when his hand wraps around mine. A chill runs down my spine as he turns me, and takes me in his arms; my breath hitching as my boot heels click on the dance floor. My heart is beats faster now.
We start to move to the slow, sultry rhythm. He surprises me, because he’s light on his feet. My arms around his neck feel hot, and I wonder if he notices. Or if it’s just me.
“I didn’t know you could dance,” I say.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
He looks down at me, and I struggle not to drown in the moss green of his eyes.
“Yeah?” I say, to distract myself.
“Mmmhm,” he murmurs.
I lean into him a little. I hate that I’m doing it, but it’s a memory I get to keep. The heat of his body, his hard chest and masculine smell. I take it all in, closing my eyes and letting out a small sigh.
“Charlie?” I whisper against his chest.
“Yeah?” I feel the rumble of his answer against my cheek.
“Why are you still single?” I ask, our bodies still swaying to the gentle music. “I’ve seen the type of girls that hang on you. It doesn’t make any sense that you haven’t picked one of them to date by now.”
He’s silent for a long time, long enough to make me open my eyes. I stare up at him, hoping I don’t look as enraptured as I feel.
This right here, this foolish feeling, is why I’ve been avoiding him all night. I feel like I need to hold on to him, but I know I can’t.
“Are you going to answer?” I ask.
He smiles, but it’s forced. “Yeah. I just… it’s complicated, you know?”
“So make it simple. Simple enough for me to understand, anyway. I had a few glasses of that punch.” I try to lighten up the conversation, but his expression doesn’t change.
“Well… I have an ex. Girl named Susanne.”
“Oh?” My heart thuds in my chest. I don’t want to think about him with someone else.
“She was my high school sweetheart. When I was twenty, she was my world. I proposed to her with the biggest diamond I could get, which granted wasn’t very large. I was twenty, after all.”
“Wait, you were married?” I say, pulling back.
“No. Engaged,” he says, pulling me back into his arms. “And not even engaged for long. About a month later, I walked in on her with someone else.”
“You didn’t!” I freeze where we’re standing, my eyes large as the shock runs through me. Who the hell would cheat on him? She must’ve lost her damn mind.
“I did.” He nods his head and moves me on the dance floor, willing me to keep dancing with him and I relent. I won’t deny him.
“I had no idea,” I say, squeezing him gently and trying to settle into his arms again. I can vaguely fe
el and hear everyone around us, but my thoughts are only on him.
“Well, it worked out. The next year, I got a job at a bar. Saved up all my money, worked a ton. Bought Mac’s the second he tried to sell it.”
“And the fiancée?”
“Haven’t seen her since. She moved out of town not long after.”
I lay my head against his chest for a minute, thinking.
My voice cracks and I have to clear my throat to tell him, “You know, not all women are like that. Most of us don’t cheat.”
He shrugs, his shirt moving gently against my nose as I stay pinned to his chest. “Sure.”
“No, seriously. You know not all men walk around with cheating in their hearts. Women are the same.”
He looks down at me, perhaps sensing my earnestness. His eyes trail down to my lips, showing just what’s on his mind.
I close my eyes and offer up my mouth. Charlie kisses me, tender at first, but then with more passion, making my heart race.
I break off the kiss as I become more fully aware that we’re surrounded by other people. “Charlie…”
“We don’t need to talk about that,” he whispers, cupping my jaw with a hand.
He kisses me again. I can feel people looking at us. Charlie’s family is getting a hell of a show. Still, when he touches me, I feel alive, vibrant.
I groan quietly when Charlie breaks away to kiss my neck. Lightning bolts shoot through my body at the touch of his lips against my skin.
My chest heaves. I’m about three seconds away from wrapping a leg around Charlie and climbing him like a tree. He’s intentionally teasing me.
If it weren’t for all the people watching, I would start unbuttoning Charlie’s shirt.
Then he leans down to whisper in my ear. “Come with me…”
He takes my hand and leads me from the dance floor. I'm done trying to pretend. I'm completely under his thrall. And I want to be...
CHAPTER 24
Charlie
* * *
I’M TRYING to be subtle as I weave through the family and friends in the ballroom, dragging Grace behind me. She’s holding onto my hand with both of hers, just trying to keep up.
I smile at my aunt sitting at a table close to the dance floor, and give her a small wave. I pretend not to notice when she gestures for me to come see her.
Grace needs me right now, and I’m not stopping until she’s better.
Specifically, until I get her off.
The music and loud sounds of the ballroom dim as I lead Grace through the double doors and down the hallway. Out here, she pulls herself closer to me and I slow my steps to wrap my arm around her waist, looking for somewhere to go for a bit of privacy.
“Where are we going?” Grace asks, leaning into me and looking up with those beautiful doe eyes.
I catch sight of the coat check down the hall and to the right, and a wicked smile curves my lips up.
I lower my head to her ear and whisper, “I need to take care of you.”
I don’t wait for her to respond. She nearly stumbles as I pull her along, opening the half door and walking away from the counter and to the back where there are rows and rows of coats.
“What in the hell?” she says, but her voice is playful. I walk her in between the two rows of coats and all the way to the back. The light’s obstructed from the hanging linens, so it’s dim, but I can still see the blush on her cheeks.
“Charlie, you are crazy if you think-”
I cut her off, pressing my lips against hers and cupping the back of her head. She doesn’t protest, but instead parts her lips and lets me in.
I deepen the kiss, moving my tongue in strong strokes against her tongue as our hot breath mingles. And when I break the kiss, she’s breathless, the fight in her gone.
“Crazy if what?” I ask her, daring her to give me that lip of hers.
She sags against the wall, breathing heavy, her lips still parted. “To think I’m going to let you …” she trails off and licks her lips.
“Let me what?” I lean closer to her, resting my forehead on hers and staring into her eyes, “Let me get you off?”
Her eyes spark, and she doesn’t answer.
I crouch down, grabbing the hem of her dress, and then slowly stand, pulling it up. She holds my gaze as I hitch it around her hips.
“You wet right now?” I murmur. She bites her lip, and her eyes dart behind me. If my hand wasn’t inches away from her, I bet she’d lie to me.
My fingertips gently touch the seams to her panties. I don’t feel enough of her heat, so I push them aside, holding those blue eyes to mine and gently pushing my fingers to her hot entrance.
She’s soaking wet.
She visibly swallows as I brush my fingers up to her clit, moving the moisture there.
“You think it’d be crazy?” I ask her.
She licks her lips, her breathing picking up and then shakes her head no.
I narrow my eyes and lean forward, “Tell me what you want, sweetheart.”
She blushes and looks away. I wait for her. I just want her to open up to me. To talk to me, tell me her desires.
My fingers trail back down to her entrance and back up to her clit, a shudder running through her body.
“Please,” she moans into the air, her back bowing as she tries to grind her pussy into my hand.
I smile down at her. “Please what?”
“Please…” she hesitates to answer as her eyes dart behind me again. I look over my shoulder, but no one’s there.
“I’m not going to let anyone see,” I tell her firmly. If that’s what she’s scared about, we’ll be alright. We’re far enough away that no one’s going to catch us and if they come back here, I’ll be blocking their view.
Her blue eyes flick to mine. “Please get me off.”
My dick turns to stone at her asking me that. I can feel my zipper against my dick and I’m desperate to readjust it, but I can’t move my hand away from her pussy.
“Anything for you,” I tell her in an even voice. How it’s not strained, I don’t know.
“Mmm,” she moans softly, closing her eyes as I push my fingers deep inside of her. I push them in and out, loving her warmth and the way she greedily rocks her hips, wanting more. I turn to look over my shoulder once more, just to make sure we’re alone.
When I look back at her, her eyes are on me, her head lazily resting against the wall. Her body sways as I pump faster, brushing against her sensitive bundle of nerves each time, making her breathing come faster as she loses her composure.
“I think it would be unbelievable for us to break up right after the wedding,” I whisper into her ear, taking her off guard. I need to convince her to stay… just a little longer. I don’t know if I’ll ever get my fill of her, but I’m not ready to let go.
She moans, her eyes going half-lidded. I know she can hear me.
I grind the palm of my hand against her clit. “You should stay with me a little longer.” Her breathing comes in frantically as I pick up the pace. She’s close, so close. I’m not letting her get off until she agrees though.
Her neck lolls to the side, her cheek pressed against the cold wall as I slip my fingers into her hot pussy and stroke that bundle of nerves. Her eyes pop open, and she covers her mouth with her hand.
“Tell me you’ll come by the bar and keep up appearances.” I don’t know how I get the words out as I work her pussy, her arousal leaking down my hand.
Her head whips back and slams against the wall. “Yes!” she calls out and I almost think it’s from cumming, but she’s not there yet. I pause my movements and she turns her head to look at me, her hands moving to my wrist with a desperate look on her face.
“Yes, what?” I ask her.
She swallows thickly and answers in a whisper, “I’ll stay with you-”
I cut her off before she says anything else and pump my fingers into her pussy. My palm goes flat against her clit, still over her panties that are pushed
to the side. I’m ruthless and rough as she clings to me. She looks paralyzed as her mouth opens and closes and she desperately tries not to cry out.
The moment she cums, her body goes still, tensing as her pussy tightens and her breath hitches. I kiss her neck, still stroking my fingers against her front wall to make her pleasure last. It’s only when her body finally sags against the wall that I pull my fingers out of her.
I let her dress fall around her trembling thighs, but I’m not done with her. I didn’t intend to fuck her just yet, but the sight of her coming undone from my touch is making me go crazy.
I need her just as much as she needs me.
“I’m gonna fuck you, and you’re going to be quiet.” I stare into her eyes, willing her to agree. Her eyes dart to the entrance behind us as she licks her lips and her legs scissor. I know this turns her on just as much as it does me. She holds my gaze and then nods, her lips turning up into a devilish smile.
“A quickie?” she asks and it makes me laugh, low and rough.
“If that’s what you want to call it,” I tell her, reaching for my back pocket out of instinct.
It’s only then that I realize I don’t have a condom.
For a second, a split second, the idea of knocking her up comes to mind. Pretending it’s an accident. She says she can’t get pregnant, but fuck that.
The thought of her swollen with my baby and tied to me only makes my dick harder. I don’t break eye contact as I unzip my pants and shove them down to fall around my ankles.
“Turn around,” I give her the command and she doesn’t object, still lost in the pleasure I gave her. I hike her dress up, letting my fingers trail along her soft skin and then pull her panties down. I don’t miss how damp they are from her getting off.
I take a moment to look at her tight ass and cup her pussy. She’s so hot and wet. So ready for me. She’s always ready for me.
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