by Katie Dowe
“So you are officially drunk?”
“Maybe or a little tipsy.” She lifted her head and looked into his blue grey eyes. “You are not bad looking for a white guy,” she added as she wrapped her hands around his neck.
“Thank you.” He smiled slightly. “Are you going to confess your secrets to me?”
“I have no secrets,” she said, her lips curving into a smile. “What about you?”
“It is no secret that I want to sink my dick deep inside you right now,” he murmured, his tone intense. He saw when her expression change and her eyes became slumberous.
“I want you to.”
He could feel her nipples through the thin silk of the dress. They were hard and begging for his lips.
“I think it is time for us to leave,” he rasped as he cupped her bottom and pulled her closer to him. She moaned as she felt the heaviness of his erection.
“Yes,” she whispered, her mouth dry.
Without a word, he released her and then taking her hand he guided her to where their jackets were!
*****
They did not make it out of the parking lot. He had driven them to the function so as soon as the valet brought their car around and they got in, he pulled her into his lap and started ravishing her mouth. With a groan, he reached between them and fought to unzip his pants before pulling up her dress he entered her swiftly, shuddering as she wrapped herself around him tightly. Ebboni clung to him as she rode him relentlessly, her fingers gripping his black jacket. He released her lips and pulling down the bodice of her dress he sought and found her nipple. The minute his teeth touched the hardened bud, she grunted as the intense passion shot through her body! With a moan of surrender, she let go and gave in to the powerful orgasm!
*****
Elsewhere in the hotel, Jeffry and Eleanor were having it out in one of the empty conference rooms. “Who is she?” The girl’s blue eyes glittered with unshed tears as she confronted him.
“A friend. You are overreacting,” he told her impatiently. “I am getting tired of your paranoia, Eleanor, and you need to stop. Greta is just a friend and we have known each other for a long time.”
“You were practically making love to her on the dance floor.” Eleanor stamped one small foot. “I have never been so humiliated in my entire life.”
“You are imagining things.”
“Your hands were all over her body!” she cried.
“Keep your voice down.”
“Why?” she sneered. “Because you don’t want anyone to hear that you are cheating on me with her?”
“I am not cheating on you!” he bit out. “You keep accusing me and one day you are going to cause me to-” He broke off but she picked up on it.
“What? One day you are going to actually cheat on me?” she asked him softly. “My saying it cannot make you do it, Jeffry. Tell me something? Do you actually want to marry me?”
She quaked at the hesitation and felt her world shattering!
“Of course I do! Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You bastard,” she whispered and without another word she ran from the room!
*****
“I swear you are starting to act like the rich and famous each time I see you,” Andrea teased as she handed her friend the glass of wine. “Do you even drink merlot anymore?”
“Not really,” Ebboni said with a lofty grin. “You don’t have any cabernet or even Costa Light?”
“Next time when you come over, Your Majesty,” Andrea told her with a laugh. “I am serious, honey. You look absolutely stunning!”
“Thank you.” Ebboni stretched her legs out and peered at the ankle length boots she had worn with her faded denims. “It’s strange, but I am beginning to like rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous,” she said with a grin. “Seriously though, Andrea, those women are larger than life and they do a lot of very good work.”
“And you have joined them I see,” Andrea said a little enviously. She missed coming over to her friend’s apartment and having them talk about everything. Now it seems that she had to make an appointment just to see her. “Next week this time you will be Mrs. Theodore Amberville.”
“And it scares me,” she said soberly. “I keep hoping that I would get pregnant. I am going to have to tell him.”
“Isn’t it too late?”
“I figured I would wait until we are married.” She looked at her friend and shook her head. “I waited too long and I check every day to find out if by some chance I am.”
“Why not go back to the doctor?”
“I can’t. I am not just plain old Ebboni anymore. I am engaged to Theodore Amberville and I am very visible.”
“You are famous by association.” Andrea raised her glass in a toast. “I never stop boasting about my friend who will soon become Mrs. Amberville. Speaking of which: I invited someone to the wedding. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not! One of the other nurses?”
Andrea looked down into her glass before looking up at her friend. “Remember Wycliffe Bailey?”
“The lab tech?”
Andrea nodded.
“You are seeing him?”
“Well, sort of,” Andrea said with a slight shrug. “You have been so busy with your new life that I never got a chance to say it to you. He is sweet and he seems to be the real thing.”
“I am happy for you! Of course you must invite him.”
“He is not Mr. Wonderful, but he makes me feel special.”
“No one is.”
“Your Theodore is not only incredibly rich but he makes most women mouths water.”
“And I am scared of what he makes me feel.”
“Why on earth would you be scared of that?”
“Because my father excluded me from their little circle. I was their only child and I felt like I was intruding each time I was with them. I never want a child that I have to feel that way.”
“You won’t,” Andrea assured her gently.
*****
“I am calling off the wedding,” Eleanor announced as soon as she walked into her mother’s sitting room. She had been out all day and had been calling Jeffry but he was not picking up. Ever since their fight at the function a week ago, things had been stilted between them and he had been avoiding her.
“Have a seat, darling.” Emma waved her to a chair. She had suspected that something was wrong but had not said anything to her daughter. She was afraid that her daughter had been unreasonably spoiled by her father and made to think that her every needs were to be met. “Now tell me what’s going on.”
“Jeffry is cheating one me,” she said as she sank gracefully down onto the sofa. Her crisp white blouse still looked as fresh as when she had put it on this morning to go out to her luncheon and her dark blue dress pants had sharp creases running down the middle. Eleanor had her own personal maid and the woman made sure that everything was prepared beforehand for her.
“You know this for a fact?”
“We had a fight at that awful function last week and he has been avoiding me and not returning my calls. I know it will be a scandal but I don’t care!” she said petulantly. “I will not tolerate being made a fool of.”
“All the invitations have already gone out and the RSVPs are pouring in. We have a room filled with gifts from our friends all over the world. You insisted on a lavish wedding and that is exactly what is happening. It is going to take a lot of work to send back those gifts along with our apologies for the inconveniences so you had better be sure.”
“Do you care that I am happy at all, Mother?” she cried.
“I care very much about your happiness,” Emma told her daughter patiently. “You are impulsive and spoiled, darling, and if you don’t get your own way you have tantrums. What I would like you to do is to make sure that you and Jeffry are really over and that is what you want.”
“You put up with Dad’s cheating over the years. I am not going to live like that,” Eleanor said mutinousl
y.
Emma felt the shame washing over her but never allowed it to show on her face. “I put up with it because I had you and your brother and I felt it was my duty to be a good wife to him. I don’t expect you to do the same, darling. You are beautiful and I am sure one day you will find the man of your dreams.”
“I am sorry, Mother,” she said duly chastened.
“Now, darling, I am going to do something for you. I am going to find out what the hell is going on with Jeffry!”
Chapter 9
Ebboni smoothed her hands down over her dress as she turned sideways to look at her figure in the full length mirror. The dress was very light and flowed freely over her body. She was wearing a wisp of material that shift and shaped her curves like a second skin. Everything including the accessories and shoes were from Romano’s. She stared at herself in the mirror hardly believing that it was really her. The material looked great against her skin. Her hair had been teased and was caught back from her face by jeweled clips. Long diamond earrings dangled from her lobes along with a delicate diamond pendant that settled inside her cleavage. The neckline was plunging but not very obvious, just showing hints of flesh whenever she moved. She had been expertly made up and her face glowed with a natural beauty that hinted at just a touch of makeup. She turned around as Andrea came into the room. She had spent the night at the manor as well as Andrea. They were getting married in the gazebo at the far end of the grounds.
“This is a freaking palace!” the girl said in a stage whisper as she came into the room where Ebboni had spent the night.
“I felt the same way when I first got here,” Ebboni told her with a smile. “What do you think?” she asked as she twirled around.
“I think that I am looking at a mirage. You cannot be real, honey!” Andrea stared at the girl and felt the tug of envy again. The dress she was wearing was probably more expensive than everything in her entire closet and she was going to hang it up as soon as she was finished with it and put a plastic bag over it.
“I wished Mama was alive,” she said with a glint in her eyes.
“She would have been proud. They both would have been.”
“Maybe.” She turned back to the mirror. “Or he would have been so wrapped up in what my mother was wearing that he would not notice that his only child was getting married.” There was a trace of bitterness in her voice.
Before Andrea could respond, both Emma and Eleanor walked into the room. Both women were wearing green. Emma had on a lovely mint green gown with a matching jacket caught in the middle with a jeweled clasp. Her long blonde hair was caught in an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck. Eleanor looked coolly beautiful in emerald green with her hair caught up in a severe ponytail at the back of her head. Ebboni searched the girl’s face. She had heard that she was planning to call off her wedding.
”You make a beautiful bride,” she said in a grudging voice.
“Thank you,” Ebboni told her.
“Darling, you are stunning!” the woman who was going to be her mother-in-law exclaimed. “Ready?”
“I am,” she said, taking a deep breath. Andrea handed her the tulips that made up her bouquet. Bradley Wellington was going to give her away.
“Let’s go, darling,” Emma said with a twinkle in her eyes.
*****
Theodore Anthony Amberville the Third fidgeted as he waited for his bride to make her appearance. He straightened his pearl grey jacket and adjusted the boutonniere that he was wearing. “Each time I attend one of these affairs, it brings me back to the day I married Latoya,” Mark whispered. Mark Seville was his best man and was going to be serenading them in song a little later on in the night. The November afternoon was a little balmy and not very cold. The guests were seated beneath tents to ward off the slight chill. It was supposed to be a small affair, but it had not turned out that way.
“Would you do it again?” Theodore asked him quietly.
“In a heartbeat,” Mark admitted as he looked at his wife seated with the other wives. She was wearing a stunning lilac dress that suited her so well. He had almost lost her because he had been pursuing his writing career but now he never went anywhere without her. “Having second thoughts?”
“Not a chance.” Theodore straightened up as the music started. Andrea came forward first on the arm of one of his friends. He cast a cursory glance over the girl and cast his gaze to the back where he knew she was coming from. The guests got to their feet as the Wedding March started and turned to look at the woman walking forward on the arms of Bradley Wellington. There were gasps and murmurs as they took in her beauty. A lot of speculations had been going on about why a man like Theodore would be marrying a woman like Ebboni Lancaster, a woman without any prospects, but now they saw why! He met them halfway and took her hand from Bradley’s arm. “Thanks,” Theodore murmured.
“Anytime,” Bradley told him.
They walked the rest of the way up the aisle and the music came to an end.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated,” the minister called out. “We are gathered here this afternoon to witness the union between this man and woman. Marriage is a commitment and a dedication of two people who have decided to spend their lives together. If there is anyone here who think that this union should not happen, please speak now or forever hold their peace.” He waited a beat and looked around before continuing. “Mr. Amberville requested that the ceremony be brief so I will go straight into it.” He smiled at the couple. “Theodore Anthony Amberville the Third, would you take Ebboni Amber Lee Lancaster to be your wife, do you promise to love her and honor her from this day forward to have and to hold in sickness and in health until death parts you?”
“I do,” Theodore said clearly.
“Emma Amber Lee Lancaster, do you take Theodore Anthony Amberville the Third to be your husband, do you promise to love him and honor him, to obey him in sickness and in health until death parts you?”
“I do,” she said, her eyes meeting his.
“The rings, please.” The minister took the rings from Mark and handed them to Theodore. “Repeat after me, please. With this ring I thee wed.”
“With this ring I thee wed.” Theodore’s deep voice rang out clearly as he placed the rings on her finger.
“Ebboni, please repeat after me: With this ring I thee wed.”
“With this ring I thee wed.” Her hands trembled slightly as she placed the ring on his finger.
“You may kiss your bride,” he told Theodore.
Theodore pulled her into his arms slowly, his eyes on hers, his body shuddering slightly as her hands crept up his chest. He tilted her chin up and bent his head towards her slowly as if savoring the moment. Ebboni’s lips parted as the breath escaped. His tongue darted inside her mouth slowly. He had been without her last and even though he had been with his friends at the club he had not been able to stop thinking about her. Last night in bed had been impossibly lonely and it had been a long time before he had been able to go to sleep. His tongue explored her mouth thoroughly, his hands tight around her waist. The minister cleared his throat and he released her reluctantly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you: Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Anthony Amberville the Third!”
*****
The reception was held indoors inside the large ballroom which had been expertly decorated in white, cranberry, and grey. Ebboni lifted the hem of her dress and gripped her husband’s arm as they walked into the room. People got to their feet as soon as they came inside and the applause sounded. He guided her to the head table and pulled her chair out, making sure she was seated before he pushed the chair in. Uniformed maids wandered around the room, handing the guests glasses of bubbling champagne. Ebboni waved to the wives sitting at one table with their husbands. She felt flushed and happy and wondered why! She was also nervous. The food was placed in front of them and she managed to pick at it but her appetite was nonexistent.
“What’s the matter?” he whispered.
“Nothing,” she whispered back.
“Nervous?”
“A little bit.” She laughed a little bit. “Which is silly because I have been living with you for a month.”
“You are not alone.”
She turned her head to look at him. “You are not nervous?”
“Maybe not.” He grinned at her and flicked at her small nose. “I am actually looking forward to getting you in bed.”
“Is that all you can think of?”
“When I am with you, yes.” He trailed his finger down her bare arm. “I missed you last night.”
“It was only one night.”
“I don’t want to have to spend not even one night without you.” He took her hand in his and twined his fingers with hers. He brought their joined hands and placed them onto the table in front of them. She did not get the chance to answer as the reception started just then.
*****
Eleanor watched her brother and his new wife throughout the evening. Her mother had called an intervention with her and Jeffry and discussions had been made. He had sworn that he was not cheating on her and that he loved her and wanted to marry her, but she was not convinced. She had seen her brother and her together and she had also noticed how the clique of wives was treated by their husbands. She was sure that Jeffry did not love her and if he did it was certainly not enough!
She lifted the glass to her lips and sipped the champagne. This was her third glass and she was feeling slightly tipsy. She lifted the glass in a toast to the newlyweds and pretended to be happy for them. Maybe her mother was right; maybe she was spoiled and expected too much. She giggled suddenly and got to her feet. Jeffry was across the room talking to some of his friends. She made her way over to him, careful to put one foot in front of the other.
“Darling “she gushed as she touched his arm.
He turned to her and his eyes narrowed as he looked into her too bright eyes. “Excuse me, will you?” he murmured as he took her arm and led her away. “How much did you drink?”
“You think I am drunk?” she asked with a breathless laugh.
“I am taking you up to your room,” he told her coolly. “What the hell is the matter with you?”