by F. L. Jacob
I bury my head in his neck and hold on as the ripples of my orgasms continue to detonate. I’m so completely relaxed, tears start to slip from my eyes.
Slowly letting my legs fall to the ground, he lifts my chin with his finger.
“Hey, why the tears? I didn’t think it was that bad,” He says, trying to bring light heartedness back to the moment.
I laugh through my tears. “I’m just so happy. All the emotions are just coming out.”
A light kiss is placed on my lips, and I smile. “I love you so much it hurts, Caston. Sorry for the tears. It’s just a very emotional time for a girl.”
“I understand.”
He holds me close until I calm down.
A while later, when we are both presentable again, Caston grabs my bags before reaching for my hand. “Ready.”
I nod, and we head out the door to the stairs. The music and the chatter from the party downstairs celebrating our wedding rehearsal carries on as if the guests of honor weren’t even missing.
“Glad to know we were missed.”
Caston just laughs and places a kiss on the top of my head. “That’s why I put on such fantastic parties.”
I look at him confused. We reach the bottom of the steps and he sets my bag down and rest his hands on my hips. “Because then, my dear, we can sneak off anytime we want, and no one is the wiser.”
Rising up on my toes, I lean into his ear. “I like when you sneak me off.”
We’re about to get lost in a kiss when Beth interrupts us.
Her perky voice travels over the chatter. “Ready to go?”
“No, I don’t want to stay at the hotel.”
She puts her hands on her hips, just as she is about to start arguing with me, Jake slides in next to her, placing his arm around her waist. I smile when I see her sink into his embrace. I know that feeling all too well. Caston squeezes me, so I know he saw the same thing I did.
“Maybe just give her a few more minutes, Elizabeth.” He kisses her cheek and reaches for the bags by Caston’s feet.
Beth’s cheeks turn red at their interaction.
Knowing I’m just extending the inevitable, I kiss Caston’s chest. “I should get going. Don’t want to get to the hotel too late. I have this big thing happening tomorrow.”
“I’ll miss you.” He scratches his chin. “I don’t think I have anything tomorrow, might just spend the day in bed.”
Beth’s mouth hangs open, and I smack him lightly on the chest. “You better be there, mister.”
“Oh I’ll be there. I was thinking of going to sit on the steps of the church right now.” Pulling me in for a tighter hug. He nuzzles my neck, making me giggle.
Jon walks up and shoves his way between us, swinging his arms around our shoulders.
“So, the ladies are going to the hotel, and I’m going to get Caston fucked up one last time in the name of bachelorhood.”
I lean forward and glare at Caston. This was not the plan. He was smiling like a fool until he sees me looking at him.
“That’s what you’re doing? Maybe I should leave Jake to keep an eye on you.”
Caston shakes his head. “No, baby, I’m not doing anything. I’m going to get all these people to leave, then I’m going to bed. A lonely, cold bed.”
Beth reaches for me, pulling me out of Jon’s embrace. “See, he’s going to behave. Let’s get going.”
“Walk me to the car?” I produce my best puppy dog eyes.
He’s reaching for my hand and pulling it up to his lips. “Of course, I wouldn’t let you leave without getting a few more kisses in.”
Beth just rolls her eyes. She grabs my purse and follows us out of the door to the waiting limo.
Walking my love to the limo, I’m nervous because I haven’t told her about all the new security threats we’ve been informed of. I have a security meeting with everyone as soon as Beth takes Bre to the hotel. I need to make sure our day goes off without a hitch. She’s been so nervous, I don’t want anything to go wrong. I hate having to lie to her.
One last kiss, then I shut the door, place my hands in my pockets, and watch the taillights of the limo until I can’t see them anymore. Jon is once again at my side.
“Ready to get this show on the road?”
I just shake my head. “Why can’t we just get rid of her for good?”
Jon smacks my back as we turn to head back into the house. “Oh we could, but then we’d be in jail for life. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I could handle only having conjugal visits. I would hang myself.”
Stopping in my tracks, I look at him. “Really, you’re just thinking of your dick in this situation?”
He shrugs and walks off in front of me. I’m not sure how, but the house is mostly cleared of people and the cleaning crew is already fast at work to make sure I’ll never know there was a party here. I loosen my tie and undo my cufflinks shoving them into my pocket. Walking toward the den, I roll up my sleeves and run my hands through my hair, ruffling it a bit.
Walking into the room the conversations stop and everyone focuses on me. “Evening, gentlemen and lady.”
A round of pleasantries go around the room. “Let’s get this show on the road. I’d like to make it to bed and get a few hours in before tomorrow.”
“Very well, sir,” Terrance begins. “As you all know we’ve had an in with Mark for the last few weeks. As much as I don’t like to admit he is helping us, he has given us some valuable information pertaining to Beverly. I’m not sure he has given us all of his cooperation, unfortunately. I still believe there is something he is hiding which—”
“Is why we decided to make sure the guests were clean before they entered tomorrow.” The redhead in the back speaks up.
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name.” I shift some papers around on my desk.
“Sorry, sir. It’s Kaitlyn. Terrance hired me to be with Sabrina during more personal moments. I’ve also been the one that’s gotten close to Mark, but he’s very good at covering his tracks.” A light blush appears on her cheeks.
“Ah, yes, I remember now. Go on.”
“We sent everyone who RSVP’d a computerized card to bring with them in order to get access. When scanned at the check-in location it will bring up a picture of the guests to make sure no one had their card stolen and no one will be able to get in without that card.”
Terrance takes over. “Sir, Kaitlyn has been undercover getting close with Mark for a few months now. He keeps telling Kaitlyn that as soon as he’s done with his next job he’ll be free. I really think we need to bring in metal detectors. Mark hasn’t indicated in any way that he will be anywhere near the wedding, but we can’t be sure. He only talks about his job, but we are unsure what that is exactly.”
Concerned about my employee’s well-being I ask, “Kaitlyn, Mark hasn’t hurt you when you interacted with him right?”
She blushes again. I wonder what that reaction is about. “No, sir, he hasn’t. Actually, besides a few outbursts, he seems like a totally different person than his file states. I’m shocked to see his record.”
I nod. “Yes, unfortunately, monsters like Mark and Beverly are usually really good at hiding their past and have a tendency to snap. Terrance, I don’t want metal detectors. I don’t want to treat my guests like that.”
Terrance just shakes his head and types something into his phone. I know we’ve had this conversation before, but I don’t want to look back on my wedding day and remember metal detectors and gobs of security.
“So, the cops will be on standby, around the corner,” Terrance continues. “We’ll have men posted at each entrance, and no one can come in or leave through any door except the main entrance. Once Sabrina arrives, the side door will be locked.”
I lean forward and rest my elbows on the desk. “Am I stupid for going through with this?”
No one answers me, not that I expected them too.
“Is there anything else?” I’m at my wits end.
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“Bruce and a few other men are at the church sweeping it now. I will head over as soon as we finish up here,” Terrance answers.
Nodding, I stand up and grab my phone from the desk. “Okay, thank you everyone for working overtime on this. No more mess ups. We’ll get them once and for all. Beverly and Mark will not hurt anyone again.”
I walk out of the den and head toward my room. The house is quiet and dark now. Too quiet. I have too many thoughts and worries going through my head. The clock in the foyer chimes midnight. Smiling, I open my phone and send a text to Bre.
Today you will become Mrs. Black. I can’t wait.
I throw the phone on the bed and strip down to my boxers. Crawling into bed, I think back to my life before Sabrina and how lonely it was. My phone chimes a return text.
Love you. I can’t wait either. Now go to bed.
Smiling I quickly type back.
You aren’t sleeping. Plus, I can’t sleep when you aren’t with me.
I can see she’s typing back, so I wait for her response.
Me either. Beth snores. Will you still marry me with bags under my eyes?
Nothing would stop me from marrying you. Try to get some rest.
You too. XOXO
XOXOX
I set my phone down and send a silent prayer to her parents and all that is holy to watch over us tomorrow. Terrified isn’t even the word to describe how I’m feeling. I know something is going to happen, I just don’t know what or when.
I shove Beth a little to try to quiet her. I forgot what it was like to sleep in the same room with her. She fell asleep watching a movie, and I was just too exhausted to try to move her. I remember why I couldn’t wait for her to move out of our dorm to her apartment. She rolls over, but immediately pops out of bed, scaring the hell out of me.
“What the fuck?” I yell.
Her eyes are wide, and she runs to the bathroom. I shake my head and slide down under the covers trying to get comfy.
YES! I hear from inside the bathroom. Then the water runs and Beth appears in the doorway doing a little happy dance.
Propping my head up on my hand, I laugh. “Take it everything came out okay?”
She skips back to the bed and jumps in. “Bre, I’ve been so scared. I thought I was pregnant.”
I sit straight up. “What?”
She slides back under the covers, pulling them up to her chest. “Ya, well, Jake and I had an ‘oops’ a few weeks ago. Then I was late. I had a test in my bag. I was going to take it in the morning, but looks like I won’t need it now. Must have just been stress.”
How is she trying to go back to bed right now? “Beth, why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugs. “You’ve been so stressed with this wedding, I didn’t want to add anymore. Plus, even if I was I would still fit in my dress and all that, so it wouldn’t interfere with anything.”
My mouth hangs open. “No, but you can talk to me about anything.”
“I know, but I don’t need to now. Oh, I better text Jake. I think he was more worried than I was.”
She sends off her text and rolls over to go back to bed. How is she so calm about this?
I slide back down and pull the covers up thinking about how I’ll never have to worry about that. Tears form in my eyes. It’s been a few months since my last period, but that isn’t new. I think about the doctors telling me it was nearly impossible for me to conceive after all that happened to me with my last pregnancy. I fall asleep crying.
My alarm goes off, and I feel as though I just shut my eyes. I reach out and smack my phone to snooze. I roll onto my back and stretch. Just then a jolt goes through my body. I’m getting married in a few hours. My stomach turns, but I ignore it and I shake Beth. “Time to get up.”
She rolls over, placing the pillow over her head. “No, too early.”
“I know, but we have hair and makeup coming in about forty-five minutes.”
She turns her head to look at me. “Then that gives me forty-five more minutes of sleep. Leave me alone.”
Shaking my head, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and walk toward the bathroom. Just as I am about to close the door, I see Beth’s bag on the chair. Remembering what she said about the pregnancy test, I tiptoe over to her bag and move a few things to see if she really has one with her. Sure enough, there it is staring back at me.
I’m frozen. Why am I even considering taking it? I know it’ll be negative, and I’ll be crushed. I know there’s no chance of me being pregnant. Not only because I’ve been taking my pill, but… I let the thought trail off. Wringing my hands in front of me, I chomp down on my lip. Grabbing it quickly, I take off toward the bathroom, shutting the door behind me and locking it.
I set the test on the counter. Walking over to the shower, I turn it on to get nice and steamy. I run my hands through my hair. My mind is devoid of any thoughts, and I’m completely calm. I wonder if that’s strange for someone who’s getting married in a few hours. Out of the corner of my eye that box catches my attention again. Undressing for the shower, I decide to just do it.
After taking the test, I chicken out before seeing the result. I throw the test and the box in a drawer in the vanity. Out of sight out of mind. I step into the shower and wash up. Just before I am about to get out, I hear banging on the door.
“Come on, Bre, you’ve been in there forever. Stacie, Andrea, Julia, and Rachel are here for our hair and makeup.”
I step out of the shower, wrapping myself in a towel. “I’ll be right out. Did Sara show up yet?”
“Yes, waiting on you,” she says a little annoyed.
I just laugh. It’s my wedding and they have to wait for me. “Be out in a minute. Can you send Sara in for a sec?”
“Ugh, fine. Hurry, okay?”
I slip my robe on and use the towel on my hair. Fluffing it up, so the curls don’t turn to frizz. There’s a quiet knock on the door.
“Bre?”
Walking over to the door, I open it to allow Sara to come in. We haven’t talked much since Mexico, and I need to clear the air with her.
She glances down before walking into the steamy room. Shutting the door behind her, I immediately pull her in to a huge hug. She tenses at my embrace.
“Sara, I don’t want it to be like this with us. I’m sorry for how I reacted. I was confused and scared.”
She pulls back and frowns a bit. “We’ve been together before.”
I motion for her to sit on the edge of the whirlpool while I continue to work on my hair. “I know, but Caston was always with me. I let my feelings take over, but my subconscious put me in check. If he isn’t with me, it’s cheating, Sara.”
“No, it isn’t. We’ve been together before, so it isn’t.”
I walk over to her and sit. “Sara, Caston and I don’t have the same kind of relationship that you and Jon have. We only want to be together. Yes, we occasionally do multiples, but he’s always with me, and he’s the only guy that I want to be with. That’s the way I want it to be.”
Sara looks at me confused.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t be together again, but you and I can’t be intimate together, alone,” I further explain.
She nods.
“Can we be good again? I miss you.”
She lunges at me, arms open. “Bre, I’ve missed you so much. I’m so sorry I pushed you. I hope we can be together again soon, but I understand and respect your relationship with Caston. I won’t push again.”
Tears are running down both of our faces. I squeeze her. We finally part and wipe our eyes with the backs of our hands.
“Let’s get this out of our system now. I don’t want to be puffy for my wedding day.”
She laughs through the tears. My robe parts a little showing some of my breast.
“My God, Bre, what the hell did Caston do to you?” She pulls open the top further.
Looking down, I turn toward the mirror. Bastard marked me three times on my breasts last night. “Dam
n, him. I told him not too. I hope it doesn’t show with my dress on, or Rachel is going to have a fun time trying to cover them.”
She comes up behind me and snaps a picture. “I’m sending this to Caston to yell at him.”
I turn around with my mouth open. He’s not supposed to see me before the wedding. She smiles with a devilish grin. “No worries, your face isn’t in it.”
I just laugh and head for the door. Her text chime returns. Stopping, I turn around to see what he said.
“He told me to tell you he did one for the past, present, and future.”
I place my hand on the door knob. “Well, isn’t he charming?” We both start laughing.
Sara starts to walk toward me, but her shorts catch on the vanity drawer knob. Her first step pulls the drawer out, making it crash to the floor.
“Shit.”
I rush to her side and start grabbing at the box and stick.
“Whoa, is that what I think that is?” She stops and looks up at me.
Sara grabs it out of my hand before I can do anything with it. Then the words fly out of my mouth before even thinking. “It’s Beth’s.”
The girls slide my dress over my head and it falls into place. Perfect fit. I can see Beth start to tear up.
“No, don’t. Please, don’t start.”
She bites her lip and sniffles. “I can’t help it. You’re gorgeous.”
Sara finishes zipping me into the dress and smooths it out. “There, perfect.”
I look over my shoulder and catch her eye. She has tears in them too.
Beth reaches over and grabs my shoes while Sara leaves to grab my veil. Pulling her dress up, she kneels before me to help me into them. I have an overwhelming feeling of being Cinderella as I hold my foot out for her to slip my shoe on.
“Veil, then we are done,” Sara says, walking in from the other room.