First and Always: The Forever Duet

by Brooke, Rebecca

  Laughter rippled throughout the room. I covered my eyes with my hand and let the chuckle slip free. “Thanks,” I mouthed at the shit, who just smirked at me. And I knew I was in for it.

  “To spend her entire life dealing with Aiden, I knew something had to be wrong, or maybe something had been very, very right.”

  The smirk on his face slowly morphed into a full smile.

  “You see, from the first moment I met Aiden in middle school, I knew that all he wanted was for the people around him to be happy. He almost got into a fight defending a girl who was being picked on because of her braces. As the tear slid down her face, Aiden stepped in and let the kid have it.”

  The memory filled my mind clear as day. Lexi Watson. It killed me to see her cry and I wanted to do whatever I could to fix it.

  “You see, it wouldn’t have mattered who was being teased. Aiden would’ve found a way to help them. When high school came and we formed our first band, he let me sing half the songs even though I knew he liked singing better than playing the guitar. He was willing to give up the thing he loved because I loved it as well. Then fate sent us in two different directions for college. I wanted to find a way to keep the band together, but Aiden promised that everything would work out the way it was supposed to. It did. I ended up with Jaded Ivory and he was lucky enough to be a part of Violet Obsession. And at the same time he found Christine.”

  Jackson moved his gaze from the crowded room to Christine.

  “A woman he talked about every time we spoke. He knew you were afraid to trust, but he was determined to get you to see that you could trust him. I’ve been with him through every heartbreak or mistake and I can tell you right now, he loves you more than life itself. You’re his forever. Always have been, always will be. And Aiden will do everything in his power to make you the happiest woman in the word, just like I know you’ll do the same for him.”

  Christine lifted her hand to brush away a tear that had slipped free from her shimmering eyes. Jackson lifted his glass in the air. “To my best friend and to the woman who loves him, I wish you both happiness and a lifetime of loving memories.”

  Glass clicked together all around us. I touched my glass to Christine’s, then turned to face Jackson doing the same to his.

  “Congratulations.” He lifted his glass to his lips.

  Christine placed her glass back on the table after taking a sip. I knew champagne wasn’t her favorite, but she was determined to have a least one toast with it.

  “That speech was absolutely beautiful.”

  I set my own glass down and reached out a hand to Jackson, pulling him into a hug. “Thank you, brother.”

  “Always. No matter what.”

  I let go and turned back just as the music started back up again. “What do you say, Mrs. Cormack, up for another dance?”

  “Yes.”

  I led her to the dance floor where we spent the rest of the night celebrating with our family and friends.

  17

  The night passed in a whirlwind of drinking and dancing. Our friends and family more than happy to celebrate with us. Even after the formal reception ended, we found ourselves in one of the local bars, celebrating with anyone who came by. Which seemed to be everyone in Westlake.

  Our pictures all over social media didn’t help, but as they say, the more the merrier. Everyone who came in congratulated us, more than happy to continue with the celebration.

  It was almost two in the morning by the time I convinced Christine to head back to the hotel for the night. We had a flight at six in the morning.

  We made our way into the suite. The exhaustion that had settled over me at the bar disappeared as the creamy skin of Christine’s back came into view.

  I shut the door and followed her into the bedroom, where she tried to reach behind herself and undo the dress.

  “Can you give a girl a little help here, please?”

  I sauntered forward, my dick now paying close attention to the way the fabric hugged every curve of her body. With one hand on her hip, I undid the buttons at her neck and moved to the zipper at the base of her back.

  Each click of the zipper frayed along my nerves. When it finally reached the bottom, I moved my hands up to her shoulder and slid the fabric down her arms, caressing her skin the entire way down. It pooled around her feet on the floor. In a long white gown she was gorgeous, but standing before me in a strapless bra and lace panties, she was sexy and mine.

  My cock grew impossibly harder. I leaned forward, kissing the back of her neck, a soft moan leaving her lips. She turned around and wound her arms around my neck.

  “Why, Mr. Cormack, I thought you were tired?”

  “Was. I was tired.” I let my eyes roam all over her body. “Not anymore.”

  “We have a plane to catch in a few hours. What do you think we should do until then?” Molten heat filled her gaze. “Sleep?”

  I placed my hands behind her back and lowered her to the bed. “Definitely not sleep.”

  * * *

  The engine whirred to life. It wasn’t long before the plane started to back away from the terminal.

  I leaned across the seat. “A few more hours before it’s just you, me, and a tropical beach all to ourselves.”

  “Mmm…I love the sound of that.”

  “Me too.”

  A yawn left her lips. “What an amazing but exhausting day.”

  “Tired?”

  “Like you wouldn’t believe. That’s what happens when my husband keeps me up all night and we have an early flight.”

  “Get some sleep. We have hours before we’ll be there.”

  “We haven’t even taken off yet. How am I supposed to sleep?”

  I patted the top of my shoulder. “Lean on me until we can lean the seats back.”

  “That sounds wonderful.”

  I moved closer, giving her better access. She rested her head on my shoulder. Her lashes lay softly against her cheek. The wedding planning had taken a toll on her. I told her we could take out anything she wanted. I noticed her growing more and more tired each day, but I had a feeling a lot of it had to do with all the work she’d put into making the day perfect.

  And it absolutely was.

  I couldn’t have imagined anything more spectacular than the moment she said I do. Almost like the angels were singing from the rafters. I never imagined two words sounding better in my life.

  As the plane started down the runway, I linked our fingers together, running my thumb over the wedding band that now rested there. All I could hope was that she’d get a break now and have the chance to sleep off the last few months.

  We both needed to recuperate and reset. Between touring and a wedding, I don’t know how either of us did it. We hadn’t even completed the whole tour. Now that Jackson was ready to get back on the road, Jaded Ivory and Violet Obsession would be heading back out once we got home in two weeks. Until then, I planned to soak up every minute of relaxation we got.

  I let my eyes fall closed as the plane hurdled into the sky. A quick nap before we arrived in paradise.

  * * *

  There were people everywhere in the baggage terminal. More than normal it seemed. We’d flown plenty of places over the years on commercial airlines, and the cameras could be a nuisance, but it was still easier than trying to arrange a private air service.

  This time the cameras were more than a nuisance; they were everywhere. News of our wedding had reached the masses. I’d hoped having it in my hometown would’ve kept the vultures guessing. Seemed they figured it out sooner than I was ready for them to.

  “Seems like there’s a lot more people here with cameras than normal.” Christine’s voice was low enough that only I could hear.

  “I was just thinking the same thing.” I lifted our joined hands to our lips and kissed the ring that now adorned her finger. “Apparently word of our wedding has reached the press.”

  Christine rolled her eyes. “They really need to find something better
with their time.”

  “If people wouldn’t pay for the pictures, the paparazzi wouldn’t have any reason to take pictures.”

  We stopped in front of the elevators. Christine brushed her hair from her face and even more flashes went off. “Yes, but they’re the ones who choose to be intrusive. If they took pictures from a distance, it would be completely different.”

  “It would be. At least the resort is collecting our luggage and we can head to the car.”

  “Mmm…that sounds perfect.” Another yawn left Christine’s lips.

  “Still tired?” The elevator doors opened and we stepped inside.

  “A little.”

  She slept the entire plane ride, but even in first class, the seats weren’t extremely comfortable for sleeping.

  “Then it’s a good thing we’ll be at the resort in no time and you can take a real nap.”

  She rested her head on my shoulder. “That’s sounds lovely.”

  Thankfully, we’d had the elevator to ourselves on the way down. I knew once we reached the first floor we’d be surrounded by plenty of people trying to get our pictures. If they’d taken the time to get into the airport, I knew there would be plenty more waiting for us outside.

  The door chimed and slid open. Flashes started before we even took on step off the elevator. I wrapped my arm around her and held her tight to me, doing everything in my power to protect her from their intrusiveness.

  “Straight ahead, love.”

  A tall man in a black suit and tie held a sign with Cormack on it. I led Christine in his direction.

  “Hi. I’m Mr. Cormack.”

  The man lowered the sign. “Good evening, Mr. Cormack. I’m Dennis, your driver for the evening. Are you and your wife ready to head to the Golden Sands resort?”

  “More than you know.”

  Dennis gestured toward the door and started forward. The heat of the evening hit us as soon as he opened it to let us pass.

  “Thank you.”

  Although anyone might have been able to mistake day for night with the way the camera flashes lit up the sky. They pressed in on us, shouting questions about our marriage that I had no intention of answering. They should know better by now than to think Christine would answer anything they asked. She avoided them at all costs.

  Dennis pushed through the hordes of people like they were nothing. It seemed as if he had experience with this before. Completely ignoring the one cameraman who tried to step into his path, he pushed him aside and glanced over his shoulder at us.

  “The car is right over here. Did you have any luggage?”

  I nodded. “We do, but the resort made arrangements to pick it up for us.”

  “Excellent, sir.” Dennis stopped by a black sedan and opened the back door. The look he sent over my shoulder made it clear to anyone who tried to get close to his car that they would regret it. He was the perfect driver.

  A smile on my face, I held my hand out. “After you, Mrs. Cormack.”

  Her eyes lit up as she passed by me to climb inside. I followed her in. Dennis closed the door, shutting out the noise and chaos surrounding us. Finally we were in our own private bubble. One that would last for the next two weeks.

  I’d made arrangements with the resort to have the private villa farthest from the main resort. The maid and food service would be the only others to be there.

  I heard the driver’s side door shut. Christine glanced up at me. “It’s quiet.”

  “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

  She smirked. “It’ll only last until we get there.”

  “Nope.”

  She leaned back, studying my face. “What do you mean, nope?”

  “My final wedding surprise.”

  The corners of her mouth pulled up. “If it’s anything like the surprise for our first dance, I’m all in.”

  “Then what would you say to have an entire little villa all to ourselves?”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You mean not have to deal with creepy paparazzi trying to sneak pictures of me on the beach in my bikini?”

  I shook my head. “Not unless they’re trespassing and like getting arrested.”

  “How do we have a whole villa to ourselves?”

  “The resort has about ten small huts with a private beach, but most of them are close to the main hotel and bar, which leads to plenty of issues. We have one of the two huts off the beaten path. They are completed disconnected from the resort. And you can only reach the main hotel by car or shuttle.”

  “Now I know I love the sound of that even more.”

  “I thought you might.”

  Another yawn left her lips, the lack of sleep and time difference finally catching up with her. I patted the top of my shoulder.

  “Use me as a pillow.”

  “I can’t do that. You’re just as tired as I am.”

  “Remember, I’m used to nights with little to no sleep. You’re not.” I patted my shoulder again. “Lie down. It’s about a forty-minute drive from here.”

  She tried to cover the next yawn, but I could see right through it. I lifted a brow and waited. She sighed and placed her head on my shoulder. It didn’t take long before her breathing evened out and she was fast asleep.

  When we arrived at the resort, I didn’t want to wake her. She needed some sleep if she was going to enjoy the rest of our time here. Dennis opened the door and I lifted my finger to my lips. He nodded and gestured to the back of the car and our backpacks.

  I twisted in my seat, trying not to juggle Christine too much. Somehow, I managed to get one arm under her legs and the other behind her back without waking her up. I shimmied to the open door and stepped out, making sure I had my balance before I stood up completely.

  Dennis already stood by our open door.

  “I’ll be back,” I whispered.

  He nodded and I made my way down the hall until I found the master bedroom. I lay her down in the bed, bringing the sheet up and over her. Christine rolled to her side, curling the blanket under her chin.

  I wanted to stand there and watch her, but the poor driver waited for me. Reluctantly I left Christine and went back to the foyer. It wouldn’t be long before I could join and get some sleep myself.

  “I didn’t know where you wanted me to put the bags.”

  “Right there is perfect. The rest of our luggage should be here soon.” I reached into my shorts and pulled out cash for a tip. “Thank you for your discretion today. It was nice to have a driver who kept the paparazzi at bay.”

  He tipped his head down slightly and brought it back. “It was my pleasure. My wife and I’ve been fans for a long time and we hate to see the way the media treats you all.”

  “We really appreciate it. My wife struggles with that at times, so it was nice to be able to give her the chance to relax on our honeymoon.”

  He pulled a business card from his wallet. “Here’s my contact information. If you and Mrs. Cormack want to go anywhere else on the island, please call. I’ll be happy to take you wherever you need.”

  “Thanks.” I slipped the card into my wallet for safe-keeping.

  Dennis shut the door behind him as he left. Exhausted, I trudged to the bedroom.

  Too tired to change, I dropped my jeans and T-shirt to the floor, then climbed into bed behind Christine, letting her warm body pull me into sleep.

  18

  I rolled over, tucking my arm beneath the pillow, when I realized the sheets next to me were cool to the touch. Blinking the room into focus, I didn’t see Christine anywhere in the bedroom.

  There was also no sounds coming from the living room. Knowing Christine, she’d gone out to one of the hammocks near the water.

  I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. Like every other morning, I expected it to be freezing, except the floor was warm to the touch. The heat of the day had already started to settle in at nine in the morning. The curtain blew lightly in the breeze, and I knew it was the only thing keeping the air from being t
oo humid.

  The rich scent of fresh coffee hit my nose as soon as I stepped into the main room of the cabin. Christine had given up coffee from the moment she found out she was pregnant and never went back after the miscarriage, which meant she made the pot for me.

  I grabbed a mug from the top cabinet and filled it with the warm, steamy liquid. The smell had me open my eyes even wider, and that was before my first sip. A familiar taste hit my taste buds, bringing me completely awake.

  After a few more sips, I went in search of Christine. I’m sure she was starved. I knew I was more than ready to eat. I wandered down the back steps of the cabin. The only sound I could hear was the water lapping at the edge of the beach and it was fucking glorious. No people screaming at us. No flashes going off in every direction. Just peace.

  And I planned on soaking up every minute of it.

  Sand filtered between my toes as I made my way down the beach to where the purple hammock rocked between the trees. Christine lay beneath the sun with a book in her hands.

  “Good morning, sleeping beauty.”

  Christine turned her head and squinted in the light.

  “Well, hello there, my big fancy rock star.”

  I ran a hand through my hair, which was probably sticking up in a million different directions already. “Nope.”

  She laid the open book on her legs. “No, then who are you?”

  I smirked. “For the next two weeks, the only thing I am is your husband.”

  “Not my rock star husband?”

  “Only if you want me to be.”

  “I think I prefer my husband this week.”

  I brushed a piece of hair from her face. “What are you doing up so early?”

  “You know I can’t sleep when the sun hits my eyes.” She moved to sit on the side of the hammock, her legs hanging over the side. “Besides, who want to miss the beautiful weather here by staying inside all day?”