by Tina Martin
“Talk to me.”
She looked at him as he made the turn on her street. “I’m not opposed to it, I guess.”
His lips curved into a smile as he pulled up in her driveway. “I was seriously hoping you’d say that.”
“Why?”
He took a gold name badge from his pocket and said, “Because I would’ve had this made for nothing if you’d said no.”
She took the badge from his hand and read the nametag:
Joelle Lennox, General Manager
Smoky Mountain Lodge
She smiled and frowned a little. Confused.
“What do you think?”
“About the general manager title, or the fact that you have my last name as Lennox when we’re not even married yet?”
“Not yet, but today’s the day.”
“What?”
“My sisters are inside, waiting for you. And your friend Kierra is there, too.”
“What are you talking about, Giovanni?”
“Did you, or did you not try on wedding gowns with them last week?” he asked.
“I did, but—”
“Jess told me you picked out one,” he said.
“I did, but we were just goofing around. I know we’re not getting married right now. I was just trying some on with the girls. Plus, the dress I liked was like fifteen thousand dollars.”
“I know. I bought it.”
Jojo laughed and nudged his shoulder. “Stop playing with me.”
“I’m not playing, Jojo,” he said in a businesslike tone.
“Vanni, what are you saying to me right now?”
“I’m saying, I love you. I’m saying today is the day. Our day.”
“Our day for what?” she asked as chills ran under her skin.
“Okay, let me break this down for you. Remington has a huge backyard that’s decorated with flowers and rose pedals. There are a bunch of chairs set up in the back, a DJ and bars. Caterers. Only thing they’re missing is us.”
Jojo’s eyes watered. Lips trembled. “We’re…we’re getting married today?”
“We are,” he said. “That’s only if you would have me.”
Jojo wiped tears away from her eyes, then looked down at the name badge he’d given her.
Joelle Lennox.
She looked over at him with her trembling lips parted but no sound emerged from them. No words.
Giovanni took the opportunity to take a pre-wedding kiss from them. Then he looked at her and said, “I love you. Will you marry me? Today?”
She nodded. “Yes. I will.”
“Then you better get going, girl. They’re waiting on you. I’ll see you shortly.”
“Okay,” she said getting out of the car and on the walk to the front door, she felt dizzy trying to comprehend this. When she looked up, she saw Kierra standing there, in tears. Then she saw Davina, Jessalyn and Emory. “I take it you all knew about this when you took me to that wedding dress boutique last week.”
“We did,” Kierra said. “You can’t imagine how difficult it was for me to keep this a secret.”
“It’s also the reason we all went to get manicures and pedicures yesterday,” Davina said.
Jojo smiled.
“Now get on in here so we can get you dressed and ready,” Jessalyn said, taking Jojo by the arm.
Chapter 23
Remington was elated when he found out he’d have the task of walking Jojo down the aisle. He considered it a privilege. And as he listened to Jojo and Giovanni say vows to each other, he felt an inner joy because the brother he remembered being rude, in and out of trouble as a teen and angry for what their mother had done had transformed right before his eyes.
“You may kiss the bride,” the minister said.
Giovanni showed his signature dimple as he smiled at his beautiful bride. He lifted the veil from over her face and kissed her, parting her lips with his tongue and diving right in, savoring her mouth in front of family and friends, and when his hand gripped her backside, Remington cleared his throat to remind his brother that they weren’t alone, just yet. They were in front of close to one hundred guests. Even still, Giovanni kept on kissing Jojo like no one else was there.
“Dang. Is he gon’ let her breathe or what?” Drake asked.
Only Kenton could hear him so he responded, “Let the man express his love for his lady. Maybe one day you’ll know what it’s like to love only one woman.”
“Me?” Drake said gesturing towards himself. “What about you? Everybody thought you would be next anyway since you’re the second oldest to Rem.”
“Well, everybody was wrong, weren’t they? And I have no intentions on getting married and you can take that to the bank.”
“Yeah, Giovanni said the same thing,” Remington chimed in. “And so did I.”
Kenton shook his head. He couldn’t imagine it. Why would a man intentionally have his freedom taken away? At any rate, he was happy for his brother.
Giovanni finally ended the kiss, then leaned over in Jojo’s ear and said, “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Vanni.”
“I hope you know what this means,” he teased.
She giggled. “What’s that?”
“That, for the rest of our lives, I’m always going to be all up in your business, girl.”
Jojo chuckled. “I’m good with that.”
* * *
Epilogue
Giovanni whisked Jojo off of her feet and carried her over the threshold. “It’s official now, woman. You belong to me.”
Jojo laughed. “I like that feeling. Belonging to someone. Just don’t drop me.”
“I am going to drop you. Right in the center of my bed. Honeymoon night is in full effect. I need me some Jojo.”
Jojo smiled but felt an overwhelming feeling that she wasn’t ready for this – at least not as ready as he was. And when she felt her back against the mattress, her anxiety increased.
“Do you need some Giovanni, baby?”
“I do.”
“Good, because I got plenty to give you, sweetheart.”
When she saw the hunger in Giovanni’s eyes, she went into full panic mode. “Vanni,” she said, breathing heavily, grabbing for particles of air.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“I—I can’t.”
“You can’t what?” he asked. “I know you’re scared for me to see you naked but I thought I’d done a good job of putting those fears to rest.”
“You have, and I do feel better about it, but—”
“Then why are you panting, baby? I haven’t done anything to you yet?” His cheek dimpled.
Jojo smiled through her breaths. “This is all a bit overwhelming.”
“I know, but relax, okay. I promise I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
“Okay.”
“Can you relax for me?”
“I’ll try,” she said, though her chest pumped in and out with a quickness, especially when she felt his lips, his warm mouth, his teeth graze her neck.
“Ah, Giovanni,” she gasped, then closed her eyes. The thought that her husband was kissing her was doing a number on her.
Her husband…
She never thought she’d get married. Never thought she’d find the one. Never thought she could be someone else’s one. But she was, and his love for her was truly genuine.
The more he kissed her, the more she relaxed. This was Giovanni. He was her friend first before they were anything else. That friendship had evolved to love. Love then prompted him to have the potent desire to spend the rest of his life with her and now, they were solidifying that journey.
Giovanni stopped kissing her neck to look at her and smile. He combed his fingers through her curly hair. “Are you okay with this? With me touching you?”
“Yes,” she said, looking up into his eyes as they swam with desire. “I have to get used to this, don’t I?”
“You do,” he said, gazing into her eyes while he smoothed his hand acros
s her hair in even strokes, “But I don’t know if you ever will. I’m a versatile man, Jojo.”
“I know.”
“Then you know I need to feel my body on top of yours. Skin-to-skin, which means, you’ll have to come out of this dress and anything you have on underneath it.”
“Yes. I know,” she said.
“You’re not going to freak out if I take it off are you?” he asked.
A small chuckle sprang from her mouth. “No. I won’t. I promise.” She braced herself.
Giovanni found the side zipper to the delicate gown and slid it down until it reached its end. Then he lowered the straps down her shoulders.
Jojo helped him by wiggling out of the dress until it was loose enough to slide down her legs. She watched Giovanni bite his bottom lip while he undressed. She nearly lost her breath and sense when she watched him do so. She quickly removed her undergarments and he was back, on top of her, skin-to-skin like he wanted.
Shivers coursed through her entire body, causing her to tremble. With his thumb, he traced her lips before replacing his thumb with his mouth, kissing her gently, taking things slow. It was only when he felt her hands on his back, pulling him closer, that he deepened the kiss, giving in to what she craved.
What he craved was being inside of her, becoming one with the woman he loved, but first…
Her body needed to be explored, and he began that expedition by exploring sensitive mounds that left her whimpering, had her body vibrating while he relentlessly feasted on her.
“Giovanni,” she murmured because she had to say something to smolder the flames burning at the very core of her. Unfortunately, whispering his name only left her reeling, on the verge of something explosive. Something she’d never felt before.
“I hear you, baby,” he said, kissing his way down her quavering stomach, leaving wet kisses all over her. “I love your body, Jojo. I love the way it reacts to me.” He dipped his head lower and continued exploring, certain to kiss, lick and feast on her scars. Every one of them. He needed her to know that he loved her the same way she loved him and accepted him with his flaws.
He crawled up her body to her mouth again, interlacing their hands together and whispered, “I need to be inside of you, Jojo.” He took another kiss. “You ready for me?”
If she wasn’t ready, she’d better get ready. She could already feel the size of him prodding, wanting, needing to connect their bodies.
“Yes, Vanni,” she panted, body still quivering. “I’m ready.”
Still holding her gaze, he eased his body into hers, groaning at the long-anticipated connection while listening to a sharp intake of breath escape the lips of his wife.
Never had lovemaking been this good.
Giovanni released a satisfying breath as he moved slow, sinking farther and farther into the warmth of her. He lowered his mouth to hers when he’d finished his descent, kissing her while they lay intimately, tightly bound for the first time. He didn’t care about scars on her skin or any other blemishes. He wanted her – the woman she was – the beautiful face beaming beneath his mouth.
For what seemed like an act that stopped time, they made love while their pulses synced along with their hearts. Their movements. Their hunger. Digging her fingernails into his smooth back, she held on while he drove, steered and rocked into her with the precision of a man who was skilled at this. Looking at her, he noticed that she was just as intoxicated as he was. Just as needful.
Sweet mercy.
She’d never felt like this before. She knew she could only feel this much love for one man and one man only – the one who was buried deep inside of her soul. The one who irked her to no end when they’d first met. The one who had proposed to her. The one who didn’t care about her imperfections. The one who gave her the surprise wedding of a lifetime. The one who was making her body tremble and convulse in ways it never had before.
“Giovanni!”
She held on tight and toppled over, broke apart beneath him and kept on coming to pieces when he didn’t let up.
“Oh, Jojo,” he called out. “Oh, baby.” He was right there with her, falling, sinking, riding the wave of potent, hot desire burning through him before he gave it to her. All of it. Two times over, and then some.
Another sensation slammed into her and her body shook, causing her hips to buck up off of the bed and thrust into him.
“Vanni!”
“I’m here, baby. I’m right here,” he said, watching her react to him, enjoying every bit of it. “I love you, Jojo.”
“I love you, too,” she panted.
And he went for her mouth, kissing her all over again, taking passion to a new level.
~ * ~
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading, Making You My Business. Please take a moment to leave a review.
Subscribe to my newsletter and be the first to know when my next book hits the bookstores! Enjoy Tina Martin books? Check out other books by the author below:
The Blackstone Family Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels.
Evenings With Bryson
Leaving Barringer
A Lennox in Love Series
*All books in this series are standalone novellas.
Claiming You
Mine By Default Mini-Series:
Been In Love With You, Book 1
When Hearts Cry, Book 2
You Belong To Me, Book 3
When I Call You Mine, Book 4
Who Do You Love?, Book 5
Forever Mine, Book 6
The Champion Brothers Series:
*All books in this series are standalone novels.
His Paradise Wife
When A Champion Wants You
The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed
Wives And Champions
The Accidental Series:
Accidental Deception, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, Book 4
Dying To Love Her Series:
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
The Alexander Series:
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage, Book 1
Watch Me Take Your Girl, Book 2
Her Premarital Ex, Book 3
The Object of His Obsession, Book 4
Dilvan’s Redemption, Book 5
His Charity Challenge, Book 6
Non-Series Titles:
*Individual standalone books that are not part of a series.
Secrets On Lake Drive
Can’t Just Be His Friend
All Falls Down
Just Like New to the Next Man
Falling Again
Vacation Interrupted
The Crush
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For more information about the author and upcoming releases, visit her website at www.tinamartin.net.
Top 100 Bestselling Author
TINA MARTIN
invites you to discover Claiming You!
Claiming You (A Lennox in Love Novella)
At 39, Remington (Remy) Lennox married, but never expected to fall in love. He wed Emory McNeil soley to gain ownership of Lennox Enterprises, his father’s company.
Emory doesn’t mind being married to Remington. She agreed to it. It was just something she did for him. A favor. A piece of paper. A far as she’s concerned, they’re friends. She appreciates him welcoming her into his family, especially because a family is something she never had. Besides, Remington would never be interested in an ordinary woman like her.
The problem…
Remington’s plans of a loveless marriage fails terribly when he feels something his heart has never felt before – jealousy. It bothers him that Emory
has become close with Giovanni, his younger brother, and for the first time in his life, Remington feels like he needs to claim a woman. None of his family knows he’s actually married to Emory, but he’s having second thoughts about keeping their arrangement a secret.
On sale now wherever books are sold.
Get Claiming You today!
www.tinamartin.net