The crowd went wild as Bethany pushed the ring onto his finger. Damon let the tears spill onto his cheeks as he pulled his bride in for a long kiss.
"Well, let's just go ahead and pronounce them husband and wife. You may kiss your... wait; you're already doing it."
More laughter filled the sanctuary, but Damon was lost to the woman in his arms. It was nothing new. He had been hers since their first encounter.
"I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Damon Bryant." Damon turned and clasped Bethany's hand as she beamed. The place filled with clapping, and Damon walked down the aisle beside his best friend, his girl, his wife.
Chapter 35
Bethany
"You okay?" Damon asked her for the tenth time as they walked into one of the Sunday school rooms.
Bethany laughed. "Yes, baby. Are you okay? You keep asking."
He was a little wide-eyed. "I think so. You were just shaking in there. I was worried."
"I was nervous." She slid her arms around his waist and pulled him in tight. "Your vows were beautiful."
"Shit..." He scoffed. "I should have known better than to give my beautiful wife a challenge. You blew me out of the water. I worked on mine for a fucking week, and you had twenty minutes and took me down fast."
She lifted to her toes, and he moved down, pressing his lips to her as his strong hands gripped her lower back. She relaxed against him, enjoying the feeling of him holding her up.
"I feel so damn sentimental." She moved back and wiped at her eyes. "It's driving me crazy."
"It's just gratitude." Kent walked in behind them. "When you get something in life that makes your life better, you're overwhelmed with gratitude." He shrugged. "It's a beautiful place to be, but it's emotionally exhausting. Hang in there, kiddo. You'll feel better tomorrow."
"I kinda like the feeling, but I keep wanting to cry. That's annoying." Bethany moved into a side hug with her father? Father-in-law? It was too confusing to figure out, and it didn't matter. Kent was family, a father figure in some way or another.
"It's a good thing." Bethany's mom walked up and wrapped her arms around Bethany and Kent, smiling up at them.
Matt bounced through the door, his voice loud, his smile huge. "Yeah! I'm so excited for you two. Congratulations. The ceremony was beyond beautiful."
Erica joined them. "I couldn't agree more. It was simple and small in the way of the wedding party, but so many people came to help celebrate."
"Yeah. Who were all those people?" Bethany moved out of the group hug and took her place beside Damon. "Did you invite all of them?" She glanced up at her husband.
"Me? No. I know twenty people, tops." Damon chuckled. "Most likely your mom and my dad."
Bethany glanced over toward her mom and lifted an eyebrow. "Is it true?"
"Maybe." She shrugged and turned toward Kent. "Let's go get a few pictures on the stage before the kids come in there for their pictures."
"Race you there." Kent released her and jogged to the door as Bethany's mom took off after him.
"I hope I can still run like that when I'm older." Kendal walked into the room, barely missing getting run over. Dana moved up beside him and smiled, but remained silent. The poor thing still wasn't comfortable around everyone yet.
"They're not that old," Bethany pointed out. "All right... so pictures and then over to the reception hall at the hotel on the corner? We have it until midnight."
"Free liquor on Damon's tab?" Matt wagged his eyebrows.
"Yep. It's all set up for your pleasure, buddy boy." Damon released Bethany and moved over to rest his hand on Matt's shoulder. "And then Beth and I fly out in the morning at ten for Jamaica. Can you take us to the airport?"
"Sure can." Matt glanced over at Erica and offered her a hand. "We're staying with Mom and Dad tonight, but I'll come by your place in the morning?"
"Sounds good." Damon glanced over at Beth. "Ready for pictures, baby?"
"Yeah, but why are we making plans like we're not all going to see each other at the reception? We have the next four hours dancing and eating together. Weirdos." She smirked.
"Have you ever been to a big reception?" Erica asked, her smile welcoming. "We won't get another word in after the pictures. If you and Damon aren't dancing, then you'll be hugging necks, eating cake and kissing random babies. It gets crazy, and if I heard right, you have about six hundred people at yours."
"Damn!" Bethany yelled with a smile on her face.
"Six hundred?" Damon released Matt and put his hands on his hips. "I don't even think Dad knows that many people."
"You'd be surprised. They start coming out of the woodworks for weddings." Kendal patted Damon on the chest and walked out. "We'll meet you guys over there after pictures. Dana and I will get you a plate just in case seeing that you’re going to be bombarded when you first get in the door. It's hard to find time to eat from what I heard."
"I pay for the food and don't get any?" Damon shook his head. "This is the worst business deal ever."
"It's not a deal at all, and it has nothing to do with business. Get ready to mingle, Mr. Unsocial." Erica walked toward the door, directing her teasing toward Damon. "Matt, come on, handsome. I want a few pictures with just you and me too."
Bethany let out a soft sigh as everyone left the room but Damon. "That was beautiful. Thank you for a perfect wedding."
"Thank you, Mrs. Bryant." He moved toward her, reaching out and running his hands down her back to squeeze the top of her rear. "I know we have to mingle and choke babies and shit-"
"Kiss babies." Bethany laughed.
"That too, but when we get back to my place... I'm gonna need to see what's under this big fluffy white dress."
"You've seen it a million times already." She smiled up at him and pressed herself against his strong chest.
"That doesn't mean I don't want to see it again." He brushed his nose by hers. "How much would I have to offer you not to have to take too many pictures?"
"Nothing. You're stuck." She lifted up and kissed him. "I talked to my mom about my dad being at the graduation the other day."
"And?" Damon's eyebrow lifted.
"And she thinks I should forgive him. Kinda like you did with your mother." She glanced down, not quite sure she felt the need to bring up the situation with her dad again. It was their day and had nothing to do with him.
"I think that's a great idea. It frees you to heal." He pressed his fingers softly under her chin. "But, that's something only you can decide for yourself, baby. I'm here to support you, but it's going to be up to you how you deal with your father and your past."
"I know. Give me a minute, and I'll be in there for pictures." She leaned in as he moved down to kiss her a few more times.
"Anything you want. It's yours."
She watched him go and waited until he left to move toward the large stained-glass windows in the small Sunday school room.
"I don't want to forgive you, but some part of me knows I already have." She reached up and brushed her fingers by her lips. "Forgiving you doesn't mean I have to let you back into my life, it just means that I don't have to hurt because of you anymore."
"Baby?" Bethany's mom's voice caused her to turn. "You talking to God?"
Bethany chuckled. "No, Mom. I think he's probably busy with people that have real problems."
"Baby, the only people that don't have problems are in cemeteries." Her mother smiled. "You want me to leave you alone?"
"No. I'm good. I just needed a minute to forgive Daddy." She shrugged and walked toward her mom, not at all surprised by the expression on her mom's pretty face.
"Oh. Wow. You want his number or address?"
"Maybe his address when I get back from our honeymoon. I don't want to see him or talk to him, but maybe I can write a letter and get everything out. I'm not sure he'd want to get an ass-chewing from me, but who knows." She snuggled against her mom as they walked down the hallway toward the sound of laughter.
"I think you'd
be surprised. A tense relationship, at times, is better than no relationship at all. At least with the open line of communication, there's some hope still alive."
"Hope for what?" They stopped outside the large sanctuary doors.
"Hope for reconciliation, Bethany." Her mom touched the side of her face. "You're always living in the future, sweetheart. Deal with your dad when you get back from Jamaica, but right now, stop thinking about anything but the here and now. This moment right here is precious, and you're never going to get it back. Cling to it."
Bethany nodded. "You're right. You're always right."
"Yeah, can you tell Kent that?" Bethany's mom laughed as they walked into the sanctuary.
Kent, Damon, Matt and Kendal were up front trying to look like gangsters for the next pictures. Bethany ran her fingers down her face and snort-laughed.
"You have got to be kidding me," she called out.
"What?" Matt responded. "We're tough. We could be in a gang."
"Yeah, maybe the chain-gang." Erica laughed as she walked toward Bethany. "You need anything?"
"Nothing other than a fun night with my friends and family before I head off to a week of sun, fun and fruity drinks."
"Make us some grandbabies while you're there." Bethany's mom wagged her eyebrows and walked toward the stage.
"Ugh. Really? Gross." Beth rolled her eyes as Erica slipped her arm into Beth's.
"That was gross, but you should have responded with, 'We'll try’!"
Beth nodded. "The practicing part is Damon's favorite. Mine too if I'm being honest."
"It's all of our favorites." She shook her head. "What are we going to do with these crazy Bryant men?"
Beth sighed softly, letting her eyes roam all over Damon. "The only thing we can do. Love them."
Epilogue
Bethany
"Well? That was a hit." Bethany reclined in the back of the limo beside Damon as they pulled away from the reception. There had been far too many people to keep track of anyone. After hugging the hundredth person, the faces and conversations started to blend together.
"It was incredible. I'm fucking beat though." He reached over and touched the side of her face. "How about a quick shower and bed?"
"How about a long shower and bed?" She moved closer, pressing her shoulder to his as they slumped against the soft leather behind them.
"I like the sound of that too." His fingertips skimmed down her cheek. "Our flight leaves at ten in the morning, so we need to get up at six or so-"
He paused as Bethany sat up and moved into his lap, her huge wedding dress billowing down the sides of his legs.
"Stop talking about all the to-dos on our list tomorrow. Tonight is our first night as a married couple." She ran her hands down his firm chest and purred. "I don't want to focus on anything but each other."
His eyes darkened as he ran his hands up her skirt, dipping under it to brush the back of his fingers by her center. "You're not tired?"
"I'm beyond tired, but I'm not going to sleep without feeling you on top of me, buried deep inside of me, moaning all around me."
"Fuck, woman." He slipped his fingers into her panties and licked his lips. "I'm not sure we can do too much without you making a mess of this pretty dress that my daughter's going to wear one day."
She whimpered as he pushed her panties to the side, adding his other hand under her skirt.
"I love how you touch me," she whispered and leaned back, reaching behind her to grasp his knees for stability.
"Good. I'm going to be touching you for the rest of your life." He pressed his palm to her clit and slipped two fingers inside of her from his free hand. "Ride me, Beth."
She closed her eyes and let her head fall back, not caring about anything other than being close to him. There was nothing she wouldn't do for him.
"I want you so bad." She moaned and rolled her hips, forcing more of him inside of her.
"You need my cock, lover? Just say the words."
"Yes." She sat up further and reached for him.
"Not enough. Say what you want, and it's yours." He pulled one hand from her body and reached up, pulling her flush against him as he continued to pump his fingers in and out of her. "You're so wet. Tell me what you need from me. No need to beg, baby, just demand it."
"You're the demanding one." She reached between them and undid his slacks. "I want my cock."
He chuckled. "Your cock?"
"You heard me right." She smiled and moved back, moaning loudly as he moved his other hand from underneath her skirt.
"I guess I did." He kept his eyes on her, but reached down and helped her pull his arousal from his pants. "Come get it."
She growled as exhaustion beat against her. It could take a back seat. There was something so thrilling about making love to Damon in a car, or a plane, or anywhere for that matter.
Moving up, she straddled his waist and pressed back on his shaft, letting the girth of it open her up fully. They groaned together as pleasure shot across Bethany's center.
Damon pulled her down and made love to her mouth as he took control of their sex, his hands gripping her ass under the dress, setting the rhythm so slow and deep. She shook with need by the time he released his hold on her and smiled.
"Do what you wanna do, baby. I can see it in your eyes, feel the tension in your body. Come for me and then I'll take back over." He looked up from beneath her, the man a god in his own right.
"Yes," she mumbled and reached up, gripping the top of the seat behind him as she pumped her hips, bouncing on his cock. Between the pressure and the delicious encouragements he continued to give, she didn't last more than a few minutes.
Her cries filled up the back of the cab, and she glanced over her shoulder, finding relief that the darkened window was raised between them and the driver.
"Focus on me. Come again." Damon gripped the side of her neck and forced her to turn back toward him.
"No. It's your turn." She cupped her hand over his and lifted up slowly, just the way he liked it.
"There are no turns, Beth. I want to feel you come again, to experience how good it is when your body contracts around mine. There's nothing better. Nothing." He lifted his hips, pumping into her body as she hovered above him, preparing for the next wave of heat and it didn't disappoint. It blasted through her, and she cried out again, so close to the edge.
"I want you in the bed, in the shower." She pressed her fingers into his chest.
"And you're going to have me in all those places. Moan for me. I love the sound of you getting off." He reached up and squeezed her breast, brushing his thumb over her nipple. "I'll come with you, just be loud. Let yourself go. No one is watching but me. I wanna see it. Feel it. Hear it. Come for me."
She glanced down at him and cried out as her orgasm hit. If the show was only for him, it needed to be from deep inside of her.
Lifting up, she locked eyes with him and let herself go, rolling her hips and working them both over the edge of orgasm. She rolled and bounced, moaning and whimpering as he panted and held on tightly to her.
"That's it, beauty. Give me your all."
She moaned and pressed back as the high faded. "I'm so tired." She slumped down against him, resting in the cradle of his arms. "I love you so much."
"Me too, baby. That was amazing. You were amazing." He held her for a few more minutes until the car stopped. "Roll over and let me put myself together. We'll get you out of that dress and into the shower in a few minutes, okay?"
"Okay," she whispered before rolling back to her seat. She couldn't remember being so weary before, but they'd been through a lot over the last few days, and even more so that day. It had been picture perfect though. Nothing was out of place or got messed up or fell apart.
Funny enough, if it had, she wasn't too sure it would have mattered. As long as she ended the night as Mrs. Damon Bryant, all would be well.
Damon put himself back together and helped her out of the car, thanking the dr
iver and walking with her to the house. He unlocked the door and paused to put the key in his pocket.
"What are you doing?" She smiled as he reached for her and picked her up. Excitement filled her, forcing the tiredness to fade away.
"Carrying you across the threshold." He smiled and kissed her before walking toward the door.
"I thought you didn't like tradition." She reached up and touched his face, her heart swelling in her chest.
"Some things are worth respecting." He walked with her into the house and put her down, wrapping his arms around her. "Like a woman who's committed to an asshole like me. Who knew you had the power to change me."
"Are you changed? I don't think so." She laughed and ran her hands down his back.
"You don't?"
"Nope, and I would hope that you never change. I love you just like you are."
"Why does that turn me on?" He gave her a cocky smile.
"Because everything turns you on?"
"Right. You can get a head start." He nodded toward the bed. "But take it now."
"What?" She turned and jogged toward the bedroom, squealing as he barreled after her.
Nothing had changed, and yet everything had.
Beth knew without a doubt that nothing would ever be the same.
She was a Bryant now. In the right way. As Damon's wife.
The End
Author’s Note: Check out the previews/sneak peeks of my books below. Hope you find something else that you can fall in love with. Thanks again for reading mine and Ali’s work. We write for our readers and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. You could have chosen any book, but you chose ours. Thank you for that.
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