Lorenzo (Members From Money Book 12)

by Katie Dowe

  The guests were having pre-dinner drinks and David was talking to her father and several of the men.

  She went towards Candace and Leah. “I thought you girls would be drinking,” she teased them when she noticed that they had nothing in their hands. Leah looked like she had lost weight and the dress she had on did not fit her very well.

  “Do you think they made a mistake getting back together?” Leah asked her quietly.

  “I don’t know about that honey,” Janice told her quietly, sensing the girl’s pain, her heart wrenching. “All I know is that they realized that they still love each other and they want to be together.”

  “I tried to tell myself that maybe if I had given Lance a chance that he would not have gone off like that and maybe it would have worked,” she said despondently.

  “I know you don’t believe that Leah,” Candace told her firmly before Janice could respond. “He had started getting physical and when that starts to happen then there is no turning back.”

  “My husband whom I loved at one point is in prison for attempted murder,” she said in anguish, her eyes glistening with tears. “How do I come to terms with that? How do I accept that the love we had once shared is now turned into something so horrible?”

  “Honey you have to stop torturing yourself with guilt and try to cope,” Janice told her softly. “I promise you that, Candace, and I will be there for you to get you through it.”

  They both took her arms as the others turned to go into the dining area. Janice caught David’s eyes as he made to come over and he nodded perceptively and went ahead without her.

  The dinner was lively and the conversation was ongoing. Janice stood up and made a toast.

  “I want to say to my parents that I am so happy that they realized that they belonged together after all.” She gave a big smile in their direction. “I am happy to know that I will not be getting step parents after all.” There was a general laughter all around. “A friend of mine asked me how do you know if it is a good idea for two people to get back together and I think I know the answer to that. It is when you have been out there for a little bit and you realize that whoever you go out with after, they ended up coming up short and you cannot stop thinking about the person you thought you had gotten over. I recently discovered that feeling myself.” Her eyes swung to David who was seated beside her and their eyes met and held for a while. “When you have found the one and only who makes all others pale into insignificance then that’s how you know. Mom and Dad, I want to wish you all the best the second time around. I was not there for the first time so I am happy I am around to witness this one. Cheers.” She held her glass aloft and the others joined her with shouts of goodwill.

  “Thanks, my love,” Richard Langley stood and held up his glass. “I thought it was over between Janet and I and I thought I could move on with someone else, but I was wrong and I thank goodness for second chances. To my wife, the second time around.” He pulled her up and kissed her lingeringly on the lips while the guests cheered.

  David reached for her hand and held it underneath the table, not letting go until they were ready to eat, his touch snug on hers.

  *****

  That night while he was making love to her, he made a promise to her. “Whatever is happening with me, I promise to tell you. No secrets,” he whispered. He was still inside her and was breathing hard against her face.

  “I promise the same and also if you leave me I will not be like Mom who allowed Dad to walk out of her life for five years. I will hunt you down and drag you back by your hair.” She sunk her fingers in his soft dark hair and pulled just a little bit.

  “I believe it,” he said with a laugh, bending to capture her bottom lip into his mouth, nibbling on it and sending delicious tremors through her body.

  He felt himself harden inside her and he started moving, gathering her hips as he pleasured her over and over again!

  *****

  “How about this one?”Candace asked her. They were looking at wedding dresses at the bridal boutique Julia had recommended. There were three weeks left for the wedding and the wedding planner was handling everything else, but Janice had wanted to pick out her own dress. It was a stunning off-white chiffon with a plunging neckline. The bodice was encrusted with glittering tear drop diamonds that sparkled and shimmered and the skirt fell in graceful folds all the way to the floor. “Go try it on.”

  She did and when she turned to look in the mirror, her breath caught and held! It lit up her whole body and hugged her breasts to perfection. The flouncy skirt swirled around her and looked like a cloud gathered around her. She had lost a little bit of weight and it made her breasts looked even more generous. Her friends came in just then and let out squeals of delight. “Girl, this is it! This dress was definitely made for you,” Candace exclaimed.

  Leah looked at her soberly and was brought abruptly back to her wedding day and how happy she had been then. With a determinedly bright smile she took Janice’s hands. “You look absolutely beautiful.”

  “Thanks, honey.” Janice looked at her searchingly. “Are you okay?”

  “I am getting there,” she said honestly. “I know that your marriage will turn out better than mine and that makes it very hard for me right now and I keep asking myself what I did wrong.”

  Janice pulled her outside the dressing room and they sat on the padded chairs available. “You fell in love and there is nothing wrong about that.” She told her friend firmly. When she had told Candace that she wanted to go and look at dresses, she had wondered if it would have been too painful for Leah but the two girls were going to be her attendants so she had had to include Leah as well. “You are going to have to find a way of dealing with it and I know it is going to be difficult for you. How could it not be? But just know that Candace and I will always be there for you, it does not matter that I am going to be married, we are in this thing together, right Candace?” She looked over at her other friend.

  “Friends for life,” the girl said soberly, gripping Leah’s hand closest to her.

  “Thank you,” she said tearfully. “Now let’s get accessories.”

  *****

  “She looked so woebegone, David,” Janice murmured sadly. They were curled up on the sofa half watching a romantic comedy on the television at her house. She had insisted they spend time at her place because very soon she would have to give it up and settle at his place and he had agreed. “I felt sorry for her.”

  “Has she gone to see him?” Hs hands were loose around her waist and he planted a kiss on the top of her head.

  “She does not want to. You think she should?” She turned her head to look up at him. He looked more relaxed these days and was smiling more.

  “Maybe that is the only way she will get some closure,” he suggested.

  “I will mention it to her.”

  *****

  The day dawned bleak with a tiny appearance of the sun peeking out of the heavy clouds. It had gotten decidedly cold. It was December 11th and the Sunday morning although cold and bleak showed the promise of a beautiful day filled with the blossoming of hope. The wedding was at one o’clock and her friends had spent the night at her place to help her get ready. She was served breakfast in bed by Candace and Leah made her bath.

  “Are you nervous?” Leah asked her quietly as she handed her the large white fluffy towel to wrap around her as she climbed out of the steaming bath.

  “To be joined with the man I love?”She shook her head. “Absolutely not. Are you sure you are okay?”

  “I am,” Leah said with a brief smile. She had finally been to see Lance and she had spoken to him. He had told her he was very sorry for what he had done and he should have gone and got help. She had left feeling a lot lighter. ”I want you to enjoy this the most important day of your life and as much as we are friends, I don’t want you thinking about me or anyone else other than that delicious man you are getting married to.”

  “Thanks honey.” She gave the girl a
hug.

  *****

  He saw her coming up the aisle on her father’s arm and he thought he was dreaming. She was beautiful! A vision that surpassed any other he had ever seen. The church was packed to capacity with family friends and employees of the huge operation that David was in charge of. He met her halfway and with a brief clasp of hands with her father he took her hand and placed it on his arm continuing up the aisle.

  “Friends and family,” the minister began as soon as the guests took their seats. “We are gathered here to witness the love between David Hattori and Janice Langley. If there is anyone here who objects to this union, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.” He waited a spell before continuing. “A love between a man and a woman is something beautiful and pure and was ordained by God. The couple has requested to say their own vows so we will let them do so at this time. Please face each other.”

  “Janice,” David said taking her hands in his. She had passed her bouquet to Candace. “I was drowning in guilt and defeat before I met you. I went through life with a mantle of grief on my shoulders, just existing and never living. You came into my life and I saw a ray of hope, sunshine bursting through the clouds and a brighter tomorrow and I never thought it possible. You are so petite and yet you pack such a wallop! I love you, my darling, and will always love you no matter what happens or where we go, it will always be you. I promise to love, honor and provide for you and I also promise that I will always be there for you, in everything.”

  “David,” she smiled through her tears. “I love you and I always will. You have shown me that in a world where love is sometimes superficial that it can be more than that and I promise to obey you, respect you and be your best friend from this day forward. I will be your wife and your lover and the person you turn to when you need a shoulder to cry on because I love you so much. With you I am not afraid to show you who I really am because I am not afraid to be open to you my love. I love you now and forever until the sting of death kisses our brows.”

  The silence was poignant in the small chapel and the two people who promised to love each other until death stood there staring at each other unaware of anyone else.

  The minister cleared his throat and brought their attention back to him. “The rings please,” he asked the best man.

  David slid the double princess cut diamonds on her finger and she in turn put his on.

  “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride, David,” he said with a smile.

  He pulled her gently into his arms and his lips met hers slowly. She opened up for him and wrapped her arms around his neck, their tongues meeting each other in an explosion of emotions that had them clinging to each other.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. David Hattori,” the minister told them as they stood and cheered.

  *****

  The reception was held at the manor in the Great Hall. There was a fire blazing in the huge hearth. There were flowers everywhere and balloons suspended in midair with the colors they were wearing. Candace had worn a figure-hugging chiffon dress of rose pink and Leah had worn mint green. The dinner went off very well with various toasts to the newlyweds beginning with her father. “My wife insisted that I behave myself and do not say anything untoward,” Richard Langley said with a smile looking down at the very attractive woman dressed in soft peach on the chair beside him. “Janice is my only child and a more beautiful and loving and kind woman I have ever seen. She used to bring home every stray animal in the neighborhood because she could not bear to see them hungry or hurt and our house was always filled with one animal or another. When she was not tending to the animals, she was digging in the dirt and planting something or the other.” He laughed along with the rest of the guests.

  “Dad!” she called out to him.

  “Don’t worry honey, I will not let the guests or your new husband know how you cried over the plants when they died. Oops.” He laughed again as the guests burst into laughter. “Our daughter has been a source of joy in our lives and we are happy she has met a man who makes her so happy. Suffice it to say that if I hear one complaint from her I will forget how much I regard you David, and all bets will be off. Cheers to David and his lovely bride, my daughter.” He lifted his wine glass and the others with him.

  *****

  “How are you, Mrs. Hattori?” David asked her tenderly as they danced to the lovely instrumental the live band was playing on the raised dais.

  “I am doing great, my husband.” She looked up at him and admired the way he looked in his ice blue jacket suit. “It sounds strange, and it is going to take some getting used to,” she murmured.

  “I am already used to it,” he told her with an amused smile, his hands tightening around her waist. “When can we get out of here?”

  “I suspect anytime soon,” she said with an impish smile. “Why the rush?”

  He brought her closer to him and she felt it. “Need I say anymore?” he asked her huskily.

  “No,” she whispered. “Let’s go make our goodbyes.”

  But it was at that moment her father came over and he had to dance with her.

  “So how is my little girl?” Richard Langley asked looking down into her exquisite face.

  “I am happy and in love,” she said with a beaming smile. “And my parents are back together so what more do I need?”

  “Probably to hurry up and give us grandchildren,” he suggested with a smile.

  “Dad.” She gave him a warning look. “We are not quite ready yet. We are in the process of getting to know each other.”

  “I know baby girl, your old man was just pulling your leg.” He kissed the top of her head. “I am glad you are happy.”

  *****

  They picked up the small bag they had packed and he took her on the private jet to the sunny state of Florida where they would be staying at a private home owned by the company there. It was very secluded and came equipped with a swimming pool and a tennis court.

  “No one lives here?” she asked wonderingly as he set her down inside the elegant living room. The furnishings were made from bamboo shoots and were a polished tan. There were rugs strewn all across the shiny wooden floor and gave the place a relaxed and homey look.

  “We allow executives to stay here when they are in the Florida branch of the company,” he told her. It had been a freezing ten degrees where they came from but it was a mild sixty degrees in Florida. “What would you like to do first?”

  “I want to feel my husband’s body on mine.” She twined her arms around his neck.

  “That can be arranged. I was planning to give you the grand tour but I guess later will do.” He lifted her up and took her to one of the large bedrooms.

  “This is beautiful,” she breathed as he put her on the bed. The wall was painted in a blush pink and the furnishing was white with pink shells all around them.

  “You are beautiful,” he murmured coming beside her on the bed. “I saw you walking up the aisle and my breath stopped and I could not breathe.” She had changed into a simple blue and white dress that tied at the neck. He pulled the string and his intense dark eyes took in her unfettered breasts, the nipples already hardened. “I can’t believe you are my wife.” He bent his head and sucked her nipple inside his mouth, pulling on it so hard that she felt the pull straight down to her pubic area. She dug her fingers through his soft dark hair, her body arched against his. He lifted his head and looked at her. The pins had fallen out of her curls and her black hair was spread over the soft white sheets making a startling contrast. He pulled down her dress and took off his clothes hurriedly, coming back on the bed with his painfully stiff penis in his hand, pulling back the foreskin, his eyes on hers. She reached out to touch the tip of him, her nail grazing the opening and causing him to shudder. She rubbed at the moisture there and then put the finger into her mouth and sucked on it. He watched her, his penis hardening even more and he knew he had to have her right now.
He lifted her legs and placed them on his shoulders, inserting his erection inside her. She moved against him, her bottom grinding against him as he thrust inside her forcefully. He removed her legs from his shoulders and opened them wider to gain more access to her, his thrusts becoming more urgent and demanding. Janice gripped the sheets tightly as she felt him deep inside her, his erection touching her core and sending shudders through her entire body. He pulled out of her suddenly and started rubbing the tip of his penis on her mound, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her flushed face. “Tell me you want me,” he said tightly, holding his erection in his hand and touching her briefly.

  “I want you,” she cried, her body consumed by the desire he had awoken inside her.

  He pulled her up to him and entered her and as she wrapped her legs around his waist he thrust inside her, whispering in her ear and causing the shiver to ignite the already open flames licking at her!

  Chapter 13

  “So how was the honeymoon?” Maggie asked her as soon as she reached into the store the Monday after she came back. She had a wedding on Wednesday and she wanted to make the arrangements herself. David had taken her shopping and had bought her so many clothes that she wondered when she was going to get the chance to wear them. “We have dinner parties all the time for out of town associates so you will get a chance to wear them. And besides I love to spoil you,” he had whispered into her ear.

  They had stayed naked for most of the time and he had taken her out to fancy restaurants and shown her the sights. They had even gone to Disneyworld.

  “It was too magnificent for me to tell you in details,” Janice said with a beatific smile as she placed her pocket book inside the office. Christmas was fast approaching and she had a pageant to make some arrangements for. It was going to be a Christmas unlike any others because she was going to be spending it with her husband at the manor and there was going to be a company dinner that was going to be hosted by them and by them it meant she and his mother would make the arrangements. She was wearing one of her new outfits, a black wool dress pants and a pink and white cashmere sweater. Her hair was caught up in a ponytail and diamonds winked at her lobes, a gift from her husband on their last day on their honeymoon.