Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I wipe at my cheeks and smile, which has his shoulders dropping a little as he relaxes.
“I was holding you, and I knew that tonight would be perfect. Weddings always get everyone up in their feels. I thought we’d both come home from the high of seeing your sister marry her best friend, and I could confess what you mean to me. I wanted to tell you that I want to stay real.”
“How?” My eyes scan the room again. It’s then that I see there are also rose petals spread all around the room, with a trail leading down the hallway.
His smile is soft. “My brothers. More than likely, from what Kennedy told me, my sisters-in-law helped too.”
“You had your family do this for me?”
“You’re my family, too, Court. That’s what this means. My love isn’t conditional, and it’s forever.”
My breath shudders as I let his words sink in. He loves me—he loves me forever. My tears well again, ready to fall. “I love you too.”
Moving in, his lips hover above mine. “Am I dreaming?” he asks, making me laugh.
“I’m wide awake.”
“Me too, baby.” With that, he presses his lips to mine. It’s slow at first but turns needy. He grips my hips, and somehow, he manages to lift me from the couch as he stands. He takes my spot, lowering me to his lap, my knees straddling him.
Tearing my lips from his, I sit back on his thighs.
He places his hands on my cheeks. “You’re beautiful.”
“You make me feel beautiful.”
“There will never be a day that goes by that I won’t tell you. Just in case you need the reminder.”
“Be careful. You might spoil me.”
“Oh, baby, I’m going to spoil you.”
“All I need is you, Merrick.”
“Done.”
“Are your brothers gone?” I ask him.
“Yeah, that’s why we did battery-operated flameless candles.”
“So, we’re all alone?”
“Just you and me.”
I nod and stand. His eyes watch me intently as I pull my dress over my head. The bodysuit I have on underneath with a mesh covering over my cleavage was bought with him in mind. I’m covered in silk and lace, and his eyes tell me he approves. I didn’t think he’d ever see it, but he was still the reason I chose this over all the others I could have picked to wear under my deep plum dress my sister picked out for me to wear today. The dress was really low cut, but we loved everything else about it, so the lady at the dress shop suggested a bodysuit underneath that had more coverage for my breasts. This one caught my eye, and it went seamlessly with the dress.
“Fuck, Court, if I had known that’s what you were hiding beneath that dress, I would have pulled you away from that wedding hours ago.”
“I bought this thinking of you. I didn’t think you’d ever see it, but here we are.” I let my hands hang at my sides, letting him look his fill.
“Here we are,” he agrees. Leaning forward, he works the buttons of his black dress shirt. Once he’s finished with the buttons, he slides each arm out, leaving him in his jeans. “Come here, baby.”
I don’t hesitate to go to him, sitting sideways on his lap. I wrap an arm around his shoulders, while he clings to me as I lean into his kiss. His lips are soft yet firm and so familiar. He lifts my leg in his other hand, opening me up to him.
“Love you, Court.”
“I love you too.”
He kisses me again. His tongue traces across my lips, begging for entrance. I don’t hesitate to open for him. His hands trail up my sides. “How do we get you out of this?” he asks, making me laugh.
“Maybe we should move to the bedroom.”
“Okay.” He winks, and my belly flips.
I hope I always have this reaction to this man. In fifty years, I want him to wink at me, and I want my belly to flip just like it does right now. I never want to lose this connection between us.
“That’s my line.”
“I’m stealing it. You gave me your heart, baby, that means what’s yours is mine.” He stands with me in his arms.
“I can walk, you know.”
“Why should you have to when I can carry you?”
“Stubborn man.”
“Your man.”
“Okay,” I say, and we both break out in laughter as he carries me into his room.
When we reach the bed, he drops me softly, and I bounce, only making me laugh harder. “How do I get you out of this?” he asks, as he works the button, then the zipper on his jeans, and pushes them down his thighs. He kicks off his shoes, then his jeans. He strips out of his boxer briefs, kicking them across the room, and fists his cock. “We need you out of that sexy-as-fuck fabric right now.”