Mary came back in looking confused. “He was there. I don’t know where he is, but he knew I was coming.”
Courtney started laughing hard.
“Do you mind sharing what’s so funny?” I asked.
“You guys do know he had a security system put in this house, don’t you? He installed cameras everywhere in case someone broke in.”
“You mean he’s been watching us this whole time? That is really unnerving,” Zara said.
“So the joke’s on us.” Beth howled.
“See if I act concerned about him anytime soon,” Mary snorted. “The bugger’s been having a laugh on us. Wait until I get my hands on him.”
The following day was like a blur starting the moment I woke up. Everyone was going in different directions. The girls to the motor home, Angus and Ethan here, and Beth and me to a hotel. A hotel of whose identity was still a mystery.
Rehearsals were going to take place at the building where Consortium Music would eventually be housed. No one knew about it, making a perfect location over the club we’d play tomorrow. The rehearsal was more for me and the musicians backing me than anything else. They all knew who the guests would be and when they would come on. At least I hoped the surprise guests would remember as well.
Though Beth and I had bought our wedding bands, she fought me on an engagement ring. So, instead of a traditional one, I had secretly bought her a ring and had the center diamond replaced with a ruby. I figured that way she could wear it on her other hand or over her band. I wanted to give her something special on our special day. After finding her again after all these years, well, it came from my heart.
My brother-in-law, Daniel Kennedy, had been right when he described meeting Mary after so many years. “How could this one woman consume my heart, my soul, and my life the way she has? The moment I opened the door to her studio that day, I immediately knew who she was. I knew this time she would never leave my life.”
It was the same feeling for me. The moment I saw Beth that day on Bainbridge Island and realized who she was, I knew this time my Bethie would never leave my life.
And she has consumed my heart, soul, and life. Forever my soul mate.
Though she’s turned me into a sentimental geek right now, I’ll endure anything she dishes out in private. Just as long as she helps me through this evening’s spur of the moment pre-wedding dinner.
My nerves were so jacked up. I would much rather spend a quiet evening alone in front of the TV with Beth. But that wasn’t to be when the Tudor clan all converged in one place. I might complain, but I secretly loved spending time with all of them. The only ones missing were our father William of course, and our sister Anne. We’d lost him a few years back. Anne? Last anyone knew, she was in Australia with her ass-wipe husband. Never been sure if Mother and Peter have ever tried to locate her. Nothing said, won’t ask.
Sitting in my SUV, I sent Beth a text asking for the hotel name and room number. It was time to get changed and head off to this family dinner.
Four Seasons. Suite 1045, got us one with stunning views of the sound and Elliott Bay.
Perfect, as was everything Beth did, or so I was finding out. I shot back a text.
Perfect. On my way.
I headed down Queen Anne Hill toward the city center.
“Busy day?” She giggled as she kissed me, leading me further into the suite.
“Yeah, but it was all good. Everyone is ready.”
“Good. Want a beer before you take a shower?”
“Can I just sit down for a few minutes? Please?”
“Five minutes. No more. We’re trying to make an early evening of this dinner and family get-together.”
“By we, I take it to mean you, Zara, and Mary?”
“Yes.” She grinned.
I groaned. “I can see the three of you are thick as thieves already.”
“Zara said if we didn’t, your mother would turn it into something far more involved.”
I took a long swallow off my beer. “You do realize we aren’t going to be able to get away for any sort of honeymoon anytime soon.”
“Yes, we’ve discussed it several times. I’ll take this trip to London as a pre-honeymoon.”
“Thank you. I wouldn’t have done it so quickly behind the U.S. release, but Peter’s people have it all set up for me.”
“Not to mention interviews by the European press.”
“That too. It’s still hard to believe how this thing has taken off already.”
“It’s because it’s brilliant, Dame. Your best work ever.”
“My only work ever.” I snorted as she frowned at me. “You know what I mean. It’s my first solo project.”
“Come on, say it. You’re proud of it.”
“I am proud of it. Extremely. Anyway, London will be fun.”
“It will. I’m looking forward to it.”
“We’ll make time to go visit my aunt Lucy while we’re there.”
“Your aunt Lucy?”
“Yeah, my dad’s sister. I always try to see her when I’m there. Very wise woman. You’ll love her.”
“I’m sure I will. Not being a spoil sport, but you need to go get ready.”
I finished off my beer and headed to the bedroom.
Soon, we pulled up in front of Angus’s house. Everyone was already here, judging by the number of cars. There were also catering vans. I glanced at Beth.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I have no idea. When I was over here this afternoon, we were having pizza.”
“Mother,” I mumbled.
Mary greeted us at the door. “Slight change in plans.”
“Mother?” I snorted.
“Of course. Come on before she comes in wondering what’s taking us so long.”
As we walked into the family room, it was obvious everyone had been waiting.
“Good, now that the guests of honor are here, can we eat?” Angus crowed.
“You’re always hungry, Uncle Angus,” Courtney quipped.
With that, we all dug into a buffet provided by Mother and Peter, and quite vegetarian. Not our usual feast. Peter had never had qualms with the rest of us having meat as long as it didn’t contaminate, or was cooked in, anything his food had been in.
I whispered to Beth. “This isn’t the norm when Peter’s here. I wonder if Mother made changes. I certainly hope she hasn’t tampered with our wedding brunch.”
“No, I double checked when Zara called and told me she’d changed this evening from pizza to a catered meal.”
“I don’t mind it too much, but tomorrow is our day. I want eggs and anything else you have come up with.”
“And you shall have them.”
The evening was a nice, quiet way for Ethan and Beth to get a good dose of my family all together under one roof. For times like this were few and far between any more. At least the quiet part.
Chapter Nineteen
We tried to keep our wedding as simple as possible considering all that was going on around us. Wasn’t too hard to do since we were getting married in our suite. To be honest, I was in a daze.
Suddenly, she appeared and my life stood still. She entered the main salon from a second bedroom. Followed by my daughters, Brittany and Courtney. The girls looked beautiful of course...but Beth. My Bethie.
Beth looked breathtakingly gorgeous as she stood there next to me. Wearing an ivory colored dress with matching heels, she looked as though she’d stepped off the pages of some fashion magazine. We had a view of the sound from living room, behind the minister, as we said our vows. Brittany, Courtney, and Ethan stood up with us, each of them smiling as if they shared some secret.
I leaned down and kissed my wife for the first time. My life was now complete. I heard Angus somewhere in the background making a rude noise as usual, but reminding me I was kissing my bride perhaps a bit too long and too passionately.
Both the girls had their arms around me, and Beth with Ethan following, before we joined the rest of
my family who were patiently waiting.
Mother and Peter were the first. I kept a close eye on my two brothers, they hugged my new bride and welcomed her to the clan. Angus in particular. What the heck, it became a sea of family inducting Beth into the fold.
During a lull at breakfast, everyone toasted, starting with Peter. As the unofficial patriarch of this family, he was eloquent. I’m sure my father was smiling down from wherever he was, pleased with the man who’d, sort of, become his stand in. Never a replacement. That had never been Peter’s style.
Ethan got out of his chair and walked toward us. He took a sealed envelope from his inside jacket pocket. He handed it to me smiling. I glanced at Beth, who shrugged her shoulders.
Ripping it open, I pulled out the folded white paper. I read it closely, then again, as Beth looked on. I could see tears forming in her eyes, and I knew I had a few in mine.
Ethan Asher was now Ethan Tudor. Quietly, he’d applied to the court system to legally change his name to mine. I was out of my chair, hugging him hard. This one simple gesture was one I would never take lightly.
“Well are you going to share or not?” Angus drawled. I could see Mary slap his hand playfully, urging our wayward brother to behave.
I held up the paper before handing it to Beth. “Ethan’s now officially a Tudor. My son.”
He and Beth had also had his birth certificate changed, adding me as his father. I’d known about that, since I had had to sign papers. This, however, was completely unexpected.
“That’s wonderful,” my mother said.
Everyone was chattering about that bit of news. Court and Britt did me proud by going over and hugging Ethan. It appeared as though the three of them were becoming fast friends and thick as thieves.
Amadeus stood up, tapping on his glass of ice water. “Congratulations, Beth and Dame. But especially to Beth. We’ve waited quite a while to see our oldest brother as happy as you have made him.” He looked down at Zara, who’d passed him a piece of paper. “Oh and it looks like you’ve got a solid hit on your hands, Dame. The album is through the roof already, and the single has had an obscene amount of downloads. Both of them.”
Whistling and applauding ensued. I was stunned. “Both of them?” I asked, looking between him and Peter.
“Amadeus thought since the single and album were officially being released today, that putting out “Lost No More to Me” today would be most appropriate. Seeing that it’s your and Beth’s wedding day.”
The song was one I’d written about Beth after our first encounter on Bainbridge. I’d written it on my sailboat. Amadeus knew that fact, but I’d kept Beth in the dark. I planned to sing it to her tonight at my concert.
“They love you!” Angus crowed. “Man, you came out of the park with hits. I guess you could say you have a homerun.”
“‘Lost No More To Me’? That’s about us?” Beth whispered. I could see the tears again.
I just nodded.
“I hate to break this up, but Dame needs to go change,” Zara announced. “That is unless of course, he wants to go to his first interview dressed in his wedding clothes.”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t want to ruin this image I seem to have made. First, I want to thank you all for today. It made it all the more special. I look forward to seeing you all tonight.”
****
The interviews were fairly cut and dried. The focal point, of course, was on the new album, the singles, with a bit of my history thrown in for those who might be new to my music.
Beth, not wanting to take the focus off my music, had elected not to accompany Zara and me. Zara had decided at the last minute, with the momentum this CD had gained so quickly, it would help keep the interviews on track.
With Julia in town, Red had assigned himself as my security detail. I probably wouldn’t have bothered with one, but we all knew my ex-wife was good at commando tactics. When she wanted her way, she let nothing and no one stand in her way.
The first interviews had been the local morning talk shows. Because of my wedding, the interviews were being recorded for release tomorrow. With the exception of one. They did it live, even though it was near the end of their broadcast.
Two more for print media early in the afternoon, at a hotel not far from the Four Seasons. I looked forward to one in particular. It was with Beth’s former employer, Rolling Stone. She would join me in that one. It was an exclusive, and one Beth had negotiated for me herself.
Red led us through the hotel lobby like the sleuth he was. We stepped out and into an unusually warm fall afternoon. We walked in the direction of our hotel, Red bringing up the rear. I was looking forward to hopefully spending a few quiet hours with my bride. Just the two of us. Alone.
Out of nowhere that voice I have come to loath. I wasn’t going to let it ruin this perfect day. Ignoring her was the far best course of action.
A couple of brick looking security guys were on her faster than even she expected.
“Enjoy the taste of fame you have today, Dame. It’s not yours to have.”
I squeezed Beth’s hand as we kept walking. Julia was baiting me, and I was not going to fall prey to her. Or stoop to her level. Red had us change our course slightly, giving the appearance we were heading to my condo. Once we got around the corner and out of her sight, she would have no idea where we went.
“I want to see my daughters. Make it happen.”
I sucked in a breath before turning to face her, walking backward as I did. “You should have thought of the consequences when you abandoned us. My daughters are adults now. They make their own decisions, and I stand behind whatever they choose.”
“Oh, I think they’ll be very interested to talk to me. I’m sure they’d love to hear how their father isn’t the saint he appears to be.”
“Unlike you, I’ve never had to pretend with them.”
“Sure. I’m sure you’ve schooled Beth as well, as far as what to say around them.”
I was about to say something cocky, but Beth beat me to it. “Stop living in the past, Julia. It’s made you a very bitter woman. You made your bed, now lie in it.”
Turning back around so neither of us had to look at her any longer, we turned the corner.
“If she somehow got a ticket for tonight, make sure security knows to bar her from backstage. I will personally rip a new one for the person or persons who let her slip through. Do I make myself clear?”
“Don’t worry about her. It’s taken care of, Damien. It’s just harder out here on a public street. She knows the laws and what she can do,” Red said.
“Yeah, a lot of good that restraining order has done.”
“It’s not like L.A. You have friends here, so don’t worry.”
“I don’t intend to, as long as she’s nowhere near me or my family.”
We entered the hotel through a side door and quickly made our way to the elevators. Red rode with us to our floor before disappearing.
“This has been one remarkable day so far, hasn’t it?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around my wife for the first time since our wedding breakfast.
“It has and there’s a whole lot more to come,” she replied saucily.
“Mmmmm, that is so true.”
“Dame! I’m not talking about where your brain seems to be stuck.”
“What? I’m merely agreeing with you.” I chuckled.
“Good, because seriously, do you really think that today of all days anyone is going to leave us alone for more than thirty minutes, if that?”
“Probably not. All I want is time with my bride before this evening’s madness begins.” I loosened my grip on her, but not before I gave her a kiss that would make a snowman’s toes curl. “Come, let’s be naughty and see how far we can get.” Taking her by the hand and surprisingly without protest, I led her into the bedroom.
We stood in the middle of the floor, her arms wrapped around my neck. She pulled me to her. Our mouths met, and I felt her tongue outlining my lips. I
opened, and our tongues began to dance. Grabbing her ass, I pulled her hard against my now massive hard on.
Lowering my head, I kissed the area between her breasts then brushed kisses against her shoulder blades, her jaw, and oh yeah, the back of her ears. As I sucked one nipple, I felt her fingers in my hair as she gasped at the sensation. Teasing her, I twirled the nipple playfully.
I led her to the bed and watched as she crawled onto the mattress. Then, I was over her, pinning her on her back.
“Spread your legs.”
She did, but I wanted more. I made my way to the bottom of the mattress. I squatted, opening her legs even wider. She was wet for me. Her hips thrust toward me as I slid my tongue inside her pussy. She gasped when I nipped at her clit. I knew she was hanging on by a thread. It wouldn’t take much to make her come. I heard her cry out as I sucked. Finally, she lost control as I stabbed my tongue into her pussy in furious strokes. She arched against my face as she rode out her orgasm.
I sat back up and watched her. I began to move my hand up and down my cock, squeezing my fingers over the long, thick shaft. I felt a drop of cum at the tip. I ran a finger over it then inserted it into her mouth as I continued to stroke myself.
Covering her with my body, I ground my cock against her pussy. As we shared a deep kiss, I shoved into her hard and deep. She, in turn, arched her back, wrapping her legs around me.
“Damien...”
“What is it, Bethie?”
“Fuck me. Hard.”
I thrust into her as deeply as I could. Our bodies found a familiar rhythm as we clung to each other. I cursed to myself as I felt my balls tighten up, my release not far off. As it enveloped me, I vaguely recall calling out to her. I lay on top of her, breathing hard, still inside her.
“I love you, wife,” I croaked in her ear.
“I love you as well, husband.”
Finally, I rolled off her, and putting my arm around her, tucked her in next to me.
“We can’t fall asleep, Dame.”
“I know. Just give me a minute to enjoy this.”
Remembering my gift, the ruby ring, I climbed out of the bed. I couldn’t help but look at her lying there.
Tudor Redemption (Tudor Dynasty Book 4) Page 22