Wild Wedding Hookup

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  Her phone immediately started ringing.

  “Hi,” Mikelina said. “I just wanted to apologize for getting Bastien involved in the altercation last night.”

  “Please.” Kitty snorted. “If I know my brother, he instigated that whole fight.”

  “Well, to be honest, yes,” Mikelina said. “But he had reasons.”

  “Jace told me. It sounds like you guys are having so much fun. I’m obscenely jealous. I’m here in Colorado and I should be having a great time. Except I’m not. I miss Jace. My mother won’t leave me alone about crudités platters and I’m just so done with this wedding-of-the-century bullshit.”

  Mikelina wasn’t sure what to say to that. “I wish I could help.”

  “You know,” Kitty said, her voice calculating, “I’m so glad you said that. Can you keep a secret? Even from my brother?”

  Uh-oh. Considering Mikelina was already keeping a really big one from him, what was one more?

  “Sure.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  MIKELINA SAT IN the beach chair inches from the water’s edge and dug her toes in the sand. In about another twenty minutes, she’d be underwater if she didn’t move, but she hoped Bastien would be here by then.

  She had dropped the photo albums off with Jace like she was doing a drug deal. He wanted to surprise his groomsmen with them before showing the pictures to Bastien. She felt a little guilty sneaking around Bastien’s back, but if Kitty pulled off what she was planning, that was the least of her secrets.

  Jace had asked her to stay for dinner, but she wouldn’t feel comfortable crashing the bachelor party. Even though it was her home and even though she was pretty sure the groomsmen all knew she was banging Bastien by now, Mikelina didn’t want to face the awkwardness. So she had begged off and Bastien had walked her out to her car.

  “Let’s go for a walk on the beach tonight. Can you meet me there around sunset?” he had asked her.

  “Sure.” She had tangled her fingers through his and indulged in a quick kiss.

  Abbie had already closed up shop by the time Mikelina got to the beach, so she got an order of conch fritters and fries and sat on a picnic bench and watched the ocean. She tried not to think about her parents, but it seemed lately whenever she had a spare moment they crept into her thoughts. Mikelina was happy for her mother and devastated by her father’s rejection. But most of all, she wondered where did that leave her?

  After she finished her dinner, she took the beach chair out of the back of her car and after a quick stop for an ice cream cone, plunked her butt in front of the encroaching waves and hoped to find some answers.

  The ice cream was good, and the ocean didn’t provide any insight, but she did realize that South Beach was not her home. It was a great place to visit, but it was time she got back to New York. A little part of her wondered if it was because Bastien was from there as well.

  “I found a mermaid,” a voice said behind her. Bastien. She turned with a smile and he helped her out of the chair.

  “And I found a shark. Are you coming to eat me?”

  “I’ve been thinking about nothing else since dinner. I plan to have you as dessert.”

  “Where do the guys think you are?”

  “I didn’t tell them. They’re hanging out in the hot tub smoking cigars and doing vodka shots.”

  “As one does.” She put the chair farther up on the beach and laced her fingers through Bastien’s. They strolled hand in hand down the waterline, barefoot.

  “Watch out for the wave,” she said and then splashed him with her foot.

  “Keep it up and I’ll toss you in,” he warned.

  “Your sister’s right. You are a prick.”

  “Did you talk to her today?”

  “Yup. She loved the larimar set. She wants me to pick out larimar bracelets for her bridesmaids.”

  “On my dime.” He snorted.

  “Probably. Are you not authorizing the charge?”

  “I’m smarter than that. She’ll sic my mother on me if I don’t. Yeah, get her whatever she wants. You only get married once.”

  “What if the first time wasn’t so good?” Mikelina asked, thinking about her mother.

  “Good point,” he said. “Lord knows mine was a disaster.”

  “Have you ever thought about marrying again?” she asked.

  “I haven’t. Too much pain. Too much baggage.”

  “Oh.”

  “But lately?” He swung their arms. “Lately, I might be convinced to change my mind.”

  “I’ve been thinking about leaving South Beach.”

  “Why would you want to leave here?” Bastien said. “Sun, surf, sex. It’s a trifecta of pleasure.”

  “Well, before you, I didn’t have any sex and I was working too hard to enjoy the sun and surf.”

  “Where would you go?” he asked.

  “Back to New York. I feel the pull of the city sometimes.”

  “Not in March you don’t.”

  “True. I should wait until after the last snowfall to ease my way into things.”

  “I didn’t know you used to live in New York.”

  “I went to NYU and then after college I didn’t feel like going back home to Miami. I worked my way up a corporate hotel chain and then decided I didn’t like the corporate bullshit.”

  “Preach,” he said, crouching down to pick up a few shells. “Kitty wanted me to bring some home.”

  She pointed a small conch shell out with her toe. “Just make sure it’s empty of critters before you take it home or it will stink to high heaven. Why didn’t she ask Jace?”

  “Because Jace will forget. What happened after you got sick of the corporate bullshit?”

  “I worked at a few boutique hotels in midtown for a while.”

  “What made you come back here?”

  “I got fired. Too many days off. I was lucky that Kirk hired me, and I’ve been here ever since.”

  “Would you try to go back to a boutique hotel?”

  “I think so. It might be time to send out my résumé and see if anyone bites.”

  “Let me know if I can help. I might know a few people who can put a good word in for you.”

  “Thanks,” she said.

  “I’m being selfish. If you move to New York, I can see you more often than if you’re down here.” He put his shells in his pocket and turned to face her. Holding both her hands, he kissed her as the waves crashed into their ankles. “I don’t want this to end next week,” he said. “You know that, right?”

  A lump appeared in her throat. “I don’t want this to end either.”

  What would he say if she told him about her father?

  “I’m hoping you’d be my date to my sister’s wedding.”

  “You’re kidding?” She smiled so hard her face hurt.

  “No, you’ll keep me sane. I’m going to bribe the priest to start out the vows by going ‘Mawwiage. It’s what bwings us together today’ just like in The Princess Bride.”

  “You’re a nerd. Your sister will kill you and no priest in the world is going to do that.”

  “Takes one to know one. She’d have to catch me first. And I plan on making a large donation to the widows and orphans fund if he does. Plus, you get to meet all parents and the whole family all at once. They’re going to ask you a ton of questions, so be prepared for the third degree.”

  Like that didn’t sound like her own personal version of hell.

  “But don’t worry,” Bastien said. “You’ll already know half of the bridal party. Unfortunately, they’re going to make you do the chicken dance.”

  “Really?” She scrunched up her nose.

  “And the Macarena.”

  “That’s it. I’m not going.”

  “And the Electric Slide.”

 
“Wait, are you going to do the Electric Slide?”

  “You should see me. It’s electric. Boogie, woogie woogie.”

  “Don’t ever do that again,” she said, laughing.

  “I guess the Cupid Shuffle is out?”

  “I’ll do the Hustle with you,” she said.

  “Old school.” He took her in his arms and did the Hustle down the beach. They got a few weird looks, but she didn’t care. As long as no one was throwing water at her or boxers weren’t throwing punches, it was all good.

  They stopped to watch the sunset. The skyline looked like a water colorist’s paradise with soft pastels of sweeping pinks and oranges. In the distance, a cruise ship floated by. Closer, a brown dorsal fin peeked out of the water.

  “Is that a shark?” Bastien pointed.

  “Dolphin,” she said and as they watched, the dorsal fin dipped and a brown dolphin popped up.

  The surf slid closer, leaving puffs of white foam by their toes.

  Bastien let her go and crouched down. He drew a big heart in the sand. He wrote B.A. + M. “What’s your last name?”

  The words stuck in her throat. “Write the letter P,” she forced out.

  B.A. + M.P.

  “That’s the sappiest thing I’ve ever seen,” she said, but tears pricked at the corner of her eyes and she stared at it until the waves deleted it.

  “Alas, it was fleeting.” He brought the back of her hand to his lips and kissed it.

  “Did you just say alas?”

  “I’m trying to be romantic. You know what? Fuck it. Let’s go find someplace private.” He bent down and threw her over his shoulder. She kicked her legs in mock protest.

  “Don’t forget the beach chair.”

  “As you wish.” He grabbed it with the hand not on her ass.

  Her breath caught. “Were you just quoting The Princess Bride again?”

  Bastien didn’t answer, which made her wonder if like in the movie when he said, “As you wish,” he was really saying, “I love you.”

  She didn’t get a chance to ask him again because she realized that instead of walking her back to her car, he was walking her down the pier. The sand made him stumble a bit.

  “Don’t you dare toss me in the water.”

  “Relax,” he said.

  “I don’t think we’re supposed to be down here. This is for boat owners only.”

  “Or people who have rented the boat for an evening.” He set her down in front of a small yacht.

  The ship had sleek lines and was gleaming in the fading sun. She could see her reflection in the chrome and windows. She looked awestruck and her cheeks were flushed.

  “I mean, it’s no limousine but I figured it would have to do.”

  “Can you drive this thing?” she asked.

  “No, that’s what the captain is going to do as soon as we’re settled on board.” He helped her step into the boat and then followed her in.

  She saw two uniformed men untether the boat from the dock as the motor started up. Bastien took her up to the bridge and introduced her to the captain. “It’s a nice night for a boat ride,” the man said. “Enjoy yourselves.”

  Bastien put his arm around her waist and led her back to the main deck where champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries were set out.

  “My favorite,” she said. She took a sip of the champagne and sighed happily. “Why aren’t you drinking?”

  “I can’t stand the stuff. Besides, it’s much more fun to watch you.” He guided her to a couch that was set up to face the side of the boat. Bastien held her against his chest and stroked her hair as she drank champagne and fed him strawberries. The breeze from sailing into the wind lifted strands of her hair into his face as the powerful boat glided through the waves. He tucked them behind her ear.

  When the strawberries were gone, Mikelina turned to him. “Thank you for this. I love that you did this for me.”

  He pulled her back against him and kissed her forehead. “There’s no place that I’d rather be. Except maybe belowdecks.”

  “There’s a below deck?”

  “Where do you think we’re going to sleep tonight?”

  “We’re spending the night on the boat?”

  “All night. Come on, let me show you.”

  He set her champagne glass down and led her down a short flight of stairs. There were three rooms. Opening up the main door revealed a bedroom that consisted mostly of a heart-shaped bed.

  “Is it a waterbed?” she asked.

  “Of course it is.”

  “Whee!” She kicked off her shoes and launched herself onto it. It didn’t roll as much as she thought it would, but it was still a lot of fun to feel the mattress move underneath her. “Are you going to come here or not?”

  Bastien locked the door behind him. “I was enjoying the view.”

  “Enjoy it naked. This is going to be so much fun.” Mikelina shed her clothes and lay back on the pillow.

  “I want to see you touch yourself,” he said. Bastien quickly peeled off his clothes and soon had his cock in his hand.

  Mikelina was mesmerized by the soft pulling action and she licked her lips.

  “Show me how you pleasure yourself,” he said. “I want to see you dip your fingers into your pussy and make yourself come.”

  Taking a shaky breath and unable to keep her eyes off him rubbing himself, Mikelina spread her legs wide and ran her finger over her clit.

  “I like how your nipples react. Touch them, too. Pull on them if you like, but please, please don’t stop rubbing yourself.”

  The only sound in the cabin was their short, harsh breaths. Mikelina squirmed under his intense gaze. “I want you,” she said.

  “Come for me and I’ll give you whatever you want.”

  His words teased her into moving her fingers faster.

  “Yes,” he breathed out, tugging himself in time with her fingers. She could see a glistening drop of come on the tip of his cock.

  “Bring that here,” she said, not recognizing her husky voice. “I want to lick that off.”

  Bastien moved around so that he stood next to her side of the bed. He cupped her breast as she leaned over to flick her tongue over the head.

  “I like that,” she said, doing it again.

  Grabbing her hand that was between her legs, he brought it to his mouth and sucked hard on her fingers. Mikelina had to clamp her legs shut to keep from coming at the feel of his mouth licking her juices off her fingers.

  “I like how you taste, too,” he said.

  She took all of him in her mouth and his fingers rubbed her clit. Arching up, Mikelina sucked hard on him as his quick touch brought her over the edge. He thrust two fingers inside her and fucked her with them as she bobbed her head up and down his cock.

  He came without warning, gasping and swearing. “Holy shit.”

  Swallowing, she laughed and scooted over on the bed. “Now, that was a nice surprise.”

  “Here’s another nice surprise.” Bastien climbed on the bed and dipped down and rolled her around. He grabbed her legs and kissed her pussy like it was her mouth. His tongue licked at her clit and he sucked on her slick folds. “I love how you react when I do this.”

  She pulled his hair and guided his head back between her legs. Eyes closed, Mikelina writhed and moaned. Bastien gripped her hips as if she would ever want to get away. She was gleefully trapped as he made love to her with his tongue. Mikelina ground against his face until she came again and then sagged in a breathless heap.

  “Holy shit,” she gasped.

  “I’ll say. Roll over and grab the headboard. I want to go real deep.”

  Biting back a moan, Mikelina did as he commanded. He dragged his short nails down her back, and she raised her ass up toward him. He slammed inside her to the hilt and she tosse
d her head to look over her shoulder. The waterbed gave them a bit more bounce, and she felt all of him, every thick, hard inch. Bastien held her hips tight and rocked into her with quick, short strokes.

  His eyes were intense, and he groaned in pleasure with each push of his body. Mikelina met him stroke for stroke, needing the rough friction in all of her sensitive places. He went deep and held her close to him as he nibbled on her neck.

  She sagged and rolled onto her side as he continued to thrust into her. A low moan escaped her as he played with her clit while still moving inside her. She was coming and didn’t want the feeling to ever stop. He continued to slide in and out of her with sloppy strokes that sounded erotic in the small cabin.

  Bastien came, growling in her ear. The motion of the mattress took them further and when that slowed, the motion of the boat kept him hard inside her until they both drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  THINGS HAD BEEN going so well. Bastien should have known it wouldn’t last. Jace had spent the last three days partying and following the schedule. Bastien had let his guard down and started to actually like the idiot.

  During breaks in the itinerary, Bastien had still managed to go out with Mikelina for breakfast while the morons were sleeping in and steal a few intimate moments back in her hotel room. But she had been busy these last few days, too.

  Then Jace and the groomsmen took off again without telling him two days ago. No one had heard from them since.

  At first, Bastien wasn’t too upset because it gave him some quality time at the house with Mikelina. They had sex in every room but the master bedroom. For some reason, Mikelina wasn’t interested in going into Jace’s room. But Bastien didn’t think twice about that, not when her favorite place seemed to be his bedroom.

  The private investigator had told him that Jace had been to Cuba the last time he disappeared and Bastien tried not to lose his mind. He hadn’t brought up the subject, but now that Jace had pulled another disappearing act, Bastien was afraid Jace had gone back for more cigars or some other stupid thing. And now Bastien was worried about them causing an international incident. Where else could he have gone for two days?