by Mazzy King
“I’ll meet you there,” I reply. “I’ll see if I can catch up with Nancy before I head over.”
Major nods. “We’ll save you a seat at our table.”
I text Nancy to see if she wants to ride with me or if I should go on ahead. I’m expecting the latter, since usually wedding parties travel together, but she surprises me with her prompt reply.
Nancy: Hell yes I want to ride with you. Meet you out back in the parking lot in five minutes.
A short while later, I see her trotting around the side of the church, a little clutch purse in one hand and her heels in the other. She scurries toward me on the balls of her feet.
“Let’s go,” she says emphatically before I can say anything.
I help her into the passenger side. With her snug dress, she needs a boost. “Isn’t, like, riding with the wedding party a rule?”
“Maybe,” she replies, “but I just need to get away from all that energy. I like most of them just fine—Darby’s side. But I’ve been around people all day and I need a break.”
I climb in behind the wheel. “Then what does that make me?” I joke.
“You’re a person,” she clarifies. “Not people. Besides, you have a calming effect on me.”
“Do I?” I glance at her in surprise.
“Yes,” she says, keeping her gaze straight ahead. “You do.”
I smile to myself.
Nancy says she’s hungry and that it’ll be about an hour and a half before dinner is served, so we swing through a fast-food joint for a quick bite.
I glance over at her, sitting in her pretty dress, bare feet tucked under her, contentedly biting into a burger.
She catches me staring. “What?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “Well, not nothing. I was just thinking how beautiful you look.”
Nancy snorts. “I look beautiful chowing down on a bacon cheeseburger?”
“Absolutely,” I reply.
“Well…thanks.” She gives me a shy but sincere smile. “You look really great too. I like the suit. I like that you’re not wearing a tie.”
“Really?” I thumb over my shoulder toward the backseat of my double cab. “I brought one, just in case. Don’t want to make a fashion faux pas.”
“No. No tie,” she says firmly. “And I’m glad you didn’t shave.”
“See, that makes me wish I had now.” I rub my face ruefully and laugh.
Nancy grabs my hand, pulling it away from my face as if I could shave with my fingers alone. “No, don’t. I’m glad. I like the scruff.”
“Do you?”
Her cheeks pinken. “It’s…like, rugged. Sexy.”
“Not too rough around the corners?”
She glances at me from under thick, dark lashes as she takes a long sip of her lemonade. “I like a little rough around the corners. Not too rough. Rough…in a gentle way.”
I squeeze her fingers. “I’ll only ever be gentle with you, Nancy.”
Her lashes flutter. For once, she doesn’t seem to know what to say.
“I know I’m here for a reason tonight,” I add, “but I’m glad you invited me. I’m glad to be with you. At your side.”
“Damien…” she says quietly, lowering her gaze to her lap.
“Hey.” I reach over and guide her chin toward me. “No pressure. None at all. I just want you to know that I think you’re beautiful and special. Okay?”
Her light-green eyes hold mine, and they’re full of the same unreadable expression I saw the night she got locked out of her car, after I told her my grandma’s favorite words of wisdom.
But I don’t have to wait long to find out what’s on her mind, because she leans toward me and kisses me.
5
Nancy
I don’t know what the hell made me do it.
One minute, we were sitting in his truck, I was thinking about my sore feet and the night to come, and the next, my mouth is on his.
Chalk it up to the three glasses of champagne I had in the small room converted to a dressing room for the bridal party. Chalk it up to the all the feelings of romance swirling inside me from watching Harlowe and Darby pledge their love for each other, forever.
Chalk it up to this freaking sexy man sitting beside me just to fool my family for a night…saying sweet, wonderful things to me I never thought I’d be able to hear from a guy who really meant it.
But that’s just it. Damien isn’t some guy.
He’s a man.
I try to pull away one second after my lips land on his. His fingers land on my cheek, his thumb tucked gently under my jaw, and he keeps me in place.
“Mm-mmm,” he purrs in a low, sexy voice. “You started this. We’re finishing it.”
Then, he kisses me. Really kisses me.
His lips are soft, full, and expert as they move over mine with a leisurely slowness that suggests we have nowhere to be. I’m a motionless blob in my seat, forgetting to kiss him back for a moment because what he’s doing feels so excellent. He strokes his lips against mine before nudging them apart so he can dip his tongue into my mouth with little shallow, teasing plunges that immediately set my body on fire.
What else can he do with that tongue?
Then his mouth closes firmly on mine, and the pressure of his lips becomes a reassurance, a promise that I’m safe. Safe with him.
I’m beautiful. And special. And worthy of gentleness.
I need to pull away before I make an ass out of myself, but it’s too late. Tears rush to fill my eyes like I asked for them and leak out the corners.
Damien pulls back slightly. For a moment, he says nothing, just brushes his thumbs under my eyes. Then he asks softly, “Why?”
I want to laugh it off, blame the champagne, blame the wedding, blame anything else. But his eyes are so sincere, so full of a genuine concern that no man has ever looked at me with, that I can’t minimize what I’m feeling.
“I never thought anyone would be so nice to me,” I say tremulously. It’s not exactly what I wanted to say, so I try again. “I never thought…someone could be this gentle with me. With words. Touches. It’s been so long since I’ve had that, I’m not sure I ever have.”
Damien’s jaw tenses slightly as he continues to lightly swipe his fingers over my cheeks. “You will always have that with me.”
“I’m a wreck,” I whisper to him. “You should run. Fast.”
His full lips curve up on one side. “I’m a construction worker, Nancy. I deal in wrecks. And I help rebuild them into something stronger and better than before.” He lifts my hands to his lips. “Let me help rebuild you.”
“It’s just supposed to be for one night.” I’m not sure if I’m saying this to myself or to him.
“Let’s get through this reception,” he says quietly. “And if you want us to go our separate ways when it’s over, we can. This is your show. Your call. I’m here for you for anything.”
I want to cry again but manage to resist. “Thank you.”
He nods, then strokes my chin. “Can I have a smile?”
I oblige.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs. Then he squeezes my hand. “Ready?”
I pull the sun visor mirror down and do my best to repair my streaky makeup. Then I look over at him and nod.
“Ready.”
We arrive at the reception hall in time for me to meet up with the party bus, and the wedding party takes a few more photos outside. Damien winks at me and heads inside.
I sit at the bridal table beside my sister during dinner, glancing toward where Damien is sitting beside Major, a good friend of Blair’s brother Maddox.
Harlowe leans over. “Come to the bathroom with me? I need some help.”
When I agreed to be her maid of honor, I didn’t know being on train duty so she doesn’t pee on it was part of the job. “Sure.”
Arm in arm, we head for the bathroom. But she doesn’t go into the stall. Instead, Harlowe leans against the sink and folds her arms. “So, is Damien doin
g okay?”
I nod slowly, wondering if this was the real reason she dragged me to the bathroom. “He and Major know each other, I guess.”
She studies me through narrowed eyes. “What’s the deal with him, really?”
“He’s my date,” I say slowly, like I’m talking to a child.
“Don’t bullshit me, Nancy. We talk basically every day and I never heard a word about any guy until this morning.”
“We work together at the museum,” I say defensively.
“What does he do there?”
“Why does that matter?” I shoot back. “Now you sound like Mom.”
Harlowe gives me a full-on death glare. “Don’t even go there with me.”
I immediately feel guilty. “I’m sorry, Harlowe. He’s—he’s on a construction crew there.”
She nods. “Okay, so, he’s a blue-collar guy. Doesn’t seem like you’d have a lot in common.”
“We have about as much in common as you and Darby did.”
“Look, Nancy, I’m not trying to give you a hard time.” She rests her hand on my arm. “You can date whoever you want to, but as your big sister, I have to know who’s in your life. I won’t stand by and let another Curtis come in and destroy you.”
“Do you really think I’d let that happen?” I blink rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.
“This is coming out all wrong.” Harlowe pulls me into her arms. “I think you’ve been through a lot of shit that you’re still working through. I think you really want and deserve love. And I think you’re really emotionally vulnerable right now. And it’s important to me that whoever comes around you is who he says he is. I need to know that you’re going to be taken care of—in the ways that really matter, not per Mom’s definition.”
I draw a deep breath. “I invited him here because Mom’s so worried about how we—I—will look to the family after everything that’s happened. So I brought a hot guy to shut everyone up.”
“Well, that backfired,” my sister says with a smirk. “He’s so hot, people can’t stop talking about him. Especially the way he looks at you. That’s not an act.”
“We…kissed on the way here,” I admit. “I don’t know how it happened. But now I’m all confused.”
“Is he nice to you?”
“Of course, he’s nice.”
“Respectful?”
“Yes.”
“You’re attracted to him?”
“Who wouldn’t be?”
“Then…maybe you should have some fun, little sister.” Harlowe smiles and pats my intricate updo. “God knows you need it.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I demand, but I’m only pretending to be offended.
“He’s obviously an older guy… How old is he, by the way?”
“Thirty-three.”
“You’ve only been with one guy…” Harlowe smiles. “So this could be fun.”
“You’re encouraging me to sleep with Damien?”
Harlowe cups my face. “I’m encouraging you to do what makes you happy, Nancy.”
We head back to the reception. My heart feels light in a way it hasn’t in a very long time. The best man, Rocco, and I give the new couple toasts that bring the crowd to tears, including my mother, who weeps loudly in my dad’s arms. There’s the cake cutting, followed by a ridiculous group bridal party dance to officially open the dance floor. Then, Harlowe, Blair, Rocco’s fiancée Seline, Maddox’s fiancée Roxie, and Cecily all drag me back onto the dance floor. And instead of tossing her bouquet into the big crowd of women behind us, Harlowe hands me the bouquet directly, grinning, as everyone roars and cheers.
Thoroughly embarrassed, I take my prize and make my way over to where Damien sits at the table by himself. After my public humiliation, Cecily and Major split with their little boy. Everyone else is cutting a rug on the dance floor. Damien looks totally relaxed, watching the antics with a little smile on his face. His smile grows as I approach.
“Nice work,” he comments, nodding at the flowers.
I snort. “Considering my sister shoved these into my hand, I’d say there was no work involved.”
“She wants you to find love and be happy. That’s pretty sweet.”
I study him, thinking of what Harlowe said to me in the bathroom. Thinking of the way his lips tasted in his truck.
He nudges a little plate of cake toward me. “Saved you a piece.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “I didn’t get any earlier.”
He forks off a bite and holds it by my lips, leaning toward me. “This is boyfriendly, right?”
I swallow. His eyes have that smoldering quality to them. A burst of tingles deep between my thighs lets me know my body is totally on board with this…and anything that happens next.
I lean forward and slowly part my lips, taking the bite of cake and licking off the tines. His eyes are pinned to my mouth, my tongue.
“Delicious,” I whisper.
“Yes, it is,” he says without removing his gaze from my mouth.
“Want to get out of here?” I ask.
“Yes.”
I don’t say goodbye to anyone. I don’t care.
I toss a look over my shoulder, catching sight of Harlowe watching us. Smiling at me.
I lift my bouquet at her, and she winks and blows me a kiss.
6
Damien
Nancy’s apartment is closer to the reception hall than my place, so she directs me there. The interior of the truck is practically vibrating with anticipation.
I reach over and grasp her hand. “Doing okay?”
I meant to check to see if this is what she really wants. I won’t do anything if she has any second thoughts.
Slowly, she tugs my hand toward her lap. Just as slowly, she hikes her dress up. And then she guides my hand to her warm, silky thigh. Then up.
Then my fingers brush against her skin. Against her hot, wet slit.
“Does that answer your question?” Nancy asks in a husky voice.
Without taking my eyes off the road, I slowly slide a finger inside her. Then two.
Her head falls back against the headrest and she moans.
“Fuck,” I murmur, working my fingers in and out of her. She’s extra snug around my fingers. Imagining how tight she’ll feel around my thick cock almost makes me run off the road.
“I’ve only ever been with one person,” she confesses in a whisper.
I keep fucking her with my fingers, sparing her a quick glance. One knee is drawn up, and she clutches the sides of the seat, working her hips back and forth on my fingers. “Your ex?”
“Yes.”
We stop at a red light.
“Then you’ve never been with anyone.” I lightly brush her clit with my thumb, and she moans again. “Did he ever make you come?”
“No.” She angles her hips, and I feel her pussy clamp down tight on my fingers.
“I’m going to change that.” I continue massaging her, inside and out, watching as her body tenses, her chest heaves, her eyes close. I ignore the blast of horns behind me. I’m not moving until I get what I want.
Luckily, I get it a second later.
With a shaking cry, Nancy comes for me, comes on my fingers, her body quaking and her inner muscles pulsing. My fingers are super slick, and before I take my foot off the brake, I pull my fingers out slowly.
“Open your eyes.”
She obeys, panting.
I slide my fingers into my mouth and suck off all her pussy cream. “When we get home, you’re going to ride my mouth. Do you understand?”
She gasps and nods.
“Then I’m going to take you, and you’re going to come for me again. I want you to know that I’ve been tested, and I haven’t been with anyone in over a year. I’m healthy, and I would never put you at risk. Do you have condoms?”
She bites her lip and shakes her head. “No. But I’m on the Pill. I got tested right away after Curtis and I broke up. I didn’t know what he might’ve…anyway, I
’m good. And, Damien…I want to feel. I want to feel everything. I want to feel you.”
I suck in my breath. The thought of sliding into her with nothing between us makes my blood surge. “Anything you want, Nancy.”
Finally, I drive through the intersection, just in time for the light to turn red again. We reach her place a few minutes later. I’m so hard, my cock aches and I feel it weeping with need. It’s been a long time for me too. A very long time, but in a way, I was saving myself for the perfect woman. Someone who needs and deserves everything I can give her.
And that woman is Nancy.
She says hello to the security guard, who eyes me with surprise and caution. As soon as we enter the elevator, I pull her into my arms and claim her mouth. Her body is so light, so boneless as she melts into me.
When we reach her floor, she tugs me down the hall. Her hands shake as she unlocks the door.
Inside I keep my gaze on her as I slowly pull off my suit jacket, then reach for the buttons on my shirt. “Bedroom.”
She backs toward it and I follow with measured steps. She leads me into a spacious room. The windows are open, letting the moonlight stream in across the bed. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect setting.
“Stay right there,” I say softly, pulling my shirt off, followed by my undershirt. I unbuckle my belt and tug my pants off. Then I pull my snug boxer briefs off, and my long, heavy dick springs out, reaching toward her.
“Holy shit,” she whispers.
I gently turn her so her back is to me. While I kiss her neck and suckle her earlobe, I rub her shoulders, working the pads of my thumbs into those little tense knots of muscles between her shoulder blades until she relaxes in my arms. I unzip her dress. She’s not wearing a bra beneath it, but she is wearing a white lace thong. I continue massaging down her back, working out any areas of tension, and massage her ass. The globes of her cheeks fit perfectly into my palms. My cock demands attention, but I tell him to shush.
I slip my hands around to her front and slide them over the flat, soft plane of her belly. Her skin is satin, and I can’t get enough of touching it. Then I reach up to cup her bare, generously sized breasts. Her nipples are already prominent as I stroke them between my fingers.