Carrie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, don’t we all. Talk about a pain in the butt to grow up with.” She looked at Candy. “But then again, you weren’t much better.”
“Nonsense!” Darla scolded her girls’ teasing words. “All of you kids were a joy. I can only hope that your own children turn out to be as wonderful. “ She turned a meaningful look on Kelsey. “And the sooner the better.”
“Hey, don’t look at me,” Kelsey tossed back. “I love kids and Nate and I definitely want them but we’re not even married yet. Besides, you already have one grandbaby on the way.”
“Yes, I do.” Darla smiled the short distance to where Joe’s wife, Gracie, sat. Her hair had already been finished and, since she was foregoing nail polish, she’d taken up residence in a nearby chair. Apparently, seven months of pregnancy had started to weigh on her, as her eyes were closed and she appeared to be asleep. Darla looked back to the rest of the women and added, “But there’s nothing wrong with a couple dozen more.”
“A couple dozen?” Kelsey squeaked out.
“They don’t all have to come from you and Nate, dear,” Darla assured, “or even you two and Joe and Gracie. I have two other perfectly lovely daughters.”
At her mother’s pointed look, the tension that had subsided from Candace’s belly during the casual banter returned full force. “Don’t even think about it, Mom.”
“Of course, I’ll think about it. I’m your mother, it’s my job. Besides, you’re not getting any younger, honey, and from what I hear you’re also not going to find any better catch than what you already have.” Candy was barely aware of her mouth falling open and a gasp slipping out, when her mother continued, “Don’t act so surprised; I’m not blind. We don’t need to talk about it now—it’s Kelsey’s day—but whenever you’re ready, I’m here.”
“Uh, thanks,” Candy managed.
“You’re welcome and that goes for you too, Carrie.” This time it was Carrie’s gasp that filled the room. Their mother seemed oblivious to both it and her horrified look, as she turned back to Kelsey and smiled. “Now about this boy of mine. He’s a keeper and I think you already know that.”
“He has his moments, I’ll give him that.” Kelsey’s smile slipped into a full-fledged grin that revealed a dimple in her left cheek. “Okay, so he has more than a few of them.” Her grin faded and she said solemnly to Darla, “Thanks for raising for him for me; I can’t imagine my life without him. Without any of you. Andy was all I had for so long.” Her voice cracked on the last words and her eyes filled with tears.
Darla let loose her own tears and stood to take Kelsey’s free hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Oh, honey, we’re the ones that are thankful. You’ve made our family even bigger and better. And pretty soon—” she swiveled back and her gaze once more landed on Candace, “—it will be even bigger and better yet.”
Candy fought off the urge to shed her own unexpected and highly unwanted tears. As much as her mother might want to see her and Duane together, as much she might want it herself in some very deep and dark recess of her heart, it could never happen.
* * * * *
The dress had shrunk.
Kelsey had picked hunter green A-line dresses for her bridesmaids to wear. The last time Candace had tried hers on, a few short weeks ago, the dress had hung to the floor, hugging her body gently. Today it fit like a second skin and made her breasts stick out like beach balls.
“You look gorgeous.”
Candace shifted her attention to Jan, who stood next to her in the side room of the church. If anyone here looked gorgeous it was Jan, with her deep red hair done up in a French twist and spirals framing her flawless face. Her dress didn’t hug her body like it was painted on either. Candace moved her attention lower, to where the woman’s breasts all but plunged over the neckline of the gown, and groaned. Okay, so maybe her dress fit that way too but she swore that hadn’t been the case a few weeks ago.
“I feel like I’ve gained twenty pounds this month.” All in the chest.
She couldn’t walk down the aisle dressed like this. No, she couldn’t walk down the aisle next to Duane dressed like this. His attention was going to be on one place and it wasn’t her Cinderella pumps.
“Oh, please,” Gracie put in from several feet away. “If anyone here gets to complain about feeling fat, it’s me.” She glanced meaningfully at her rounded belly, then back at Candace. “You look amazing, so stop worrying.” She looked to each of the other women and smiled. “All of you do. And considering all of you, but Kelsey obviously, are single, I’d say there’s going to be a reception full of men, begging for dances tonight.”
“I dance alone,” Carrie said, scowling at her mirrored reflection. She patted the French twist of blonde curls atop her head. “And I still don’t see what was wrong with wearing my hair in a ponytail. I look—”
“Beautiful.” Kelsey’s smile turned sympathetic. “You know, I don’t like getting dressed up this much either. As soon as the cake is cut and the first few dances over, I promise we can all change into jeans and T-shirts and put our hair back in ponytails.”
Carrie groaned but then nodded. “Okay. I guess I can handle it that long.” She looked at Candace and opened her mouth as if she were about to say something but then stopped short and walked over to her. Her gaze fell to her chest and she frowned. “Not that I make a habit of checking out your chest but I don’t remember ever seeing marks on it before. When did you get scars on your breasts or are they wolf scratches?”
Disbelief shot through Candace and she slapped her hands to her chest and squeaked out, “What?”
Carrie’s eyes danced with humor and she laughed. “I thought maybe your stuffed friend from last night was to blame.”
Oh. That wolf. Not that the inference was made any better because it was meant as a joke. Carrie had still noted her scars, which meant at least part of them was visible above the dress’s low-cut bodice. Which meant not only would others be noticing them as well but that Duane was going to spend the night with his attention focused on her breasts for certain.
But maybe his seeing them was a good thing. Those first few seconds trapped in the storage closet yesterday, he’d seemed genuinely concerned about her fear of him. He’d sounded almost apologetic about the way he’d handled her that first time they’d been together. In truth, he had made numerous comments over the last year to that same effect.
If he truly was sorry about his behavior that night, then putting her scars out there, right in front of his face, might just be the thing to finally convince him to keep his distance. It was about the only thing she had in the way of hope right now, and so, as the music started up, playing a trumpet voluntary, and the women filed toward the door, she clung to it.
* * * * *
With his first look at Candace in a dark green, body-hugging gown, her plentiful breasts rising tauntingly above its scooped neckline and her citrusy scent wrapping around his senses, Duane felt like a real wolf. And while that might not be saying much, it still said something. Namely that, if he wasn’t careful and watch himself tonight, he was liable to lose control and become a real wolf right before everyone’s eyes.
Candace reached him and, smiling at her, he took her arm, slid it through his crooked one and started down the aisle. He could feel the tension radiating off her as they walked and was tempted to lean over and say something to ease it. Only doing that wasn’t liable to go unnoticed. Leaking a few thoughts into her head, however, wouldn’t leave anyone but Candace the wiser.
You look too amazing to be so tense.
She tensed even further and her next step faltered slightly. She didn’t look at him but he could sense her scowl in the sharpness of her thoughts. Stop it, you idiot! Get the hell out of my head!
Quit frowning and relax before people start to think something’s wrong.
Something is wrong. At least, something is going to be if you don’t knock it off, because I’m going to kill you.
You
don’t really want to do that, Candy. You want something far different from me and we both know it. Before this night is over, you’re going to admit it, too. You will because it’s meant to be, sweetie. We’re meant to be.
“We are not!”
Candace jerked to a halt and breathed out a gasp with the loudly spoken words. Duane bit back a chuckle and pulled her into motion, tugging her along beside him until they reached the end of the aisle where the minister and part of the wedding party, including her brother Nate, already stood.
Nate glanced from Duane to Candy with an irritated look but then let it go and turned an expectant smile back down the aisle. With a squeeze of her arm, Duane released Candy to the women’s side of the aisle. She was barely in place when her thoughts reached him.
I swear to God if you don’t stay out of my head, I will personally see to your death.
Promises, promises, Candy. Now be quiet and watch your soon-to-be sister-in-law walk down the aisle. I don’t want to have deal with Nate later if you have another outburst and I am sure he’ll find some way to blame it on me.
That was your fault and don’t tell me what to do!
Shh…
Grr…
Candy, sweetie, growling is not the best way to turn me off. Neither is flaring your nostrils at me. In fact, both are really good ways to get me to make a scene like you don’t even want to think about. Shall I explain?
No, you shall not. Now be quiet and watch Kelsey walk down the aisle.
Candace’s thoughts died away and she turned her attention solely on the entrance of the church as Here Comes The Bride started up and an overjoyed-looking Kelsey appeared. Duane laughed to himself. That was his Candy, turning his order around on him, so that it looked like she was the one who’d voiced it to begin with. She wasn’t, of course, but it did give him some ideas on how he might use that particular trait of hers to his advantage.
Half-listening to the ceremony, Duane grinned as thoughts of Candy naked beneath him, crying out his name, smiling up into his face and begging for more, filled his mind, and his anticipation for the night ahead grew with each one. He had promised her before this night was over she would see things his way. And she would do just that; even if getting her to that point meant coercing the truth out of her by way of his hands, mouth and a number of highly salacious thoughts.
* * * * *
“And now for the bridal party dance.”
Candace’s belly did a slow roll and anxiety skittered along her spine. She had been dreading this moment since walking into the reception hall over an hour ago. And Duane, judging by the taunting smile that curved his too damned scrumptious mouth as he approached her, had been waiting for it with baited breath.
He reached the table where she sat chatting with cousins she hadn’t seen in over a year and extended his hand. “I believe that would be us.”
And she believed now would be the opportune time for a trip to the ladies room.
Duane’s smile kicked higher and he took her hand and tugged her to her feet. “You can do that in a few minutes; first, you’re mine.”
Candy blew out a hard breath, not sure if it bothered her more that he had read her mind yet again or called her his among mixed company, then proceeded to tug her onto the dance floor like a rag doll. Deciding on the latter, she stopped short, jerked her hand free of his grip and started back off the dance floor. She’d taken two steps when she spotted Nate glaring at her from where he slow-danced with Kelsey.
Damn it. She owed Nate for sticking her in this situation to begin with but she couldn’t retaliate by ruining even a few minutes of his wedding. She had to dance with Duane. Resigned, she swiveled back and collided with the hard wall of Duane’s chest. His hands came around her waist, pulling her flush against him and trapping her hands between their bodies in the process. Then, before she could say a word or attempt to remove them, he picked her up and swung her around in a circle that left her mind spinning and her breath wheezing out as pants.
He set on her feet and brought his arms back around her waist, swaying with her the way the slow song dictated. With laughing eyes that seemed to almost glow in the darkened reception center, he smiled down at her. “Are you having a good time?”
“I was,” she said, purposefully adding bite to her tone.
He chuckled and pulled her closer still, far too close for propriety’s sake. She’d felt his hard body beneath her hands moments ago when she’d run into him but that had been only for an instant, not nearly long enough to cause her mind to wander. This time his long, lean frame was molded against hers and her breasts were all but squished between them and he was showing no sign that he planned to release his hold on her any time soon.
His odd scent—slightly tangy, slightly woodsy, totally entrancing—seeped into her senses and curled warmth in her belly. She tipped back her head and eyed his mouth. Thanks to the added height of her pumps, his full, succulent lips were entirely too close to her own. If she rose on tiptoe even the tiniest bit, she could brush up against them, bury her tongue between and caress his, remembering just how hot he made her when he stroked hers in return.
Duane’s lips lifted in a knowing grin and Candace jerked her attention away and swore under her breath. She wasn’t rising on tiptoe and she also wasn’t going to consider how incredible he looked in the black and green tuxedo. She was going to focus on the same thing too damned many others had been focusing on tonight. Her breasts. She’d come up with an excuse to explain the scars to everyone else. With Duane there would be no excuses, only the cold, hard truth.
She glanced down at her chest. “I never realized how low cut these dresses were when we were being fitted.” She flitted her gaze back to his and looked at him meaningfully. “People keep commenting on my scars.”
The sexy grin left his mouth in an instant. He cursed just loud enough for her to hear while his eyes filled with what looked to be remorse. “I’m sorry about that, Candy. I’ve told you so a hundred times. I also told you it will never happen again and I meant it. I can control myself now. I will control myself.”
Right, like he had last night in the closet? She wasn’t going to voice that thought and she also wasn’t going to give him the chance to pick into her mind and respond to it. She forced a smile. “Good. I’m sure whoever you sleep with next will be relieved to know that.”
The remorse in Duane’s eyes was overtaken with frustration. He tightened his grip on her and bent his head, growled low near her ear, “The only woman I’ll be sleeping with, tonight or ever, is you. You’re mine, Candy. You know it.”
Candace shivered against the heat of his breath, the commanding way he tried to get her to give in to him. She’d always hated men who tried to take control, despised the ones who thought they should have the upper hand over a woman. That was exactly how Duane had been acting around her lately and she should hate him for it. And maybe the sensible portions of her did but the not-so-sensible portions were feeling something entirely different. They were becoming more and more stimulated with each slow grind of his groin against hers.
As if he knew her thoughts and, knowing him he probably did, he shifted his pelvis slightly, enough for her to feel the long, hard press of his aroused cock against her belly and yet not make a glaring public display. Her eyes widened with that first subtle brush and her heart sped while her sex responded with an insistent heating. Wetness gathered in her panties and her pussy throbbed with a stab of desperate need. She bit back the urge to press her thighs together and squirm, to lean closer to his ear and beg for him to rub harder, to move his hand from her neck and use it to stroke her burning flesh through her gown.
The slow song was replaced by another and the DJ announced the dance floor was open to everyone. Couples filed onto the floor, surrounding Candy and Duane, taking away the security that came from knowing their actions could be seen by all. In the throng of swaying bodies and darkness broken only by twinkling white lights and sporadically placed candles, no one
would be able to detect their movements. That left way too much room for temptation.
Candace attempted to break free of Duane’s arms. He held tight. “One more song.”
“One.” She could last through just one more. If she could get her thoughts off his pants and how badly she ached to get in them, that is. In dire need of a topic change, she asked the first question that came to her. “Did you ask Carrie to give me a wolf?”
Duane stopped moving and frowned at her. “What?”
She shrugged, hoping to somehow make light of the situation. “I woke up last night and thought I smelled you in my bedroom. Then I thought I saw you. It wasn’t you but it was a wolf. A big stuffed one that wasn’t in my room when I fell asleep. Carrie tried to deny putting it there but I know she’s lying.”
He looked thoughtful for a few seconds, then gave a shrug of his own and resumed his slow, sinuous moves. “Sounds like you have a secret admirer.”
Candace gritted her teeth and locked her body in place. Maybe they weren’t in plain view anymore but she still wasn’t about to stand here and let him rub up against her. “The only admirer I have is you and you’re not a secret or wanted, so I suggest you quit with both the moves and the presents before I take my earlier threats seriously.”
“You plan to kill me?” he asked, looking more amused than worried.
“The thought has some real appeal.”
Duane laughed, the sound deep and throaty and somehow directly connected to her pussy, as it let loose with a flood of juices that had her clit tingling and her fingers itching to grab hold of his clothes and rip them off one piece at a time.
She cursed herself for the thought. It was his damned magic. It had to be. She honestly could not want him this badly. It wasn’t even in her physical makeup to do so. She wasn’t asexual exactly but men just didn’t leave her weak-kneed and wet. They certainly didn’t rub against her and have her burning with the need to tear off their clothes and toss them back on the dance floor to ravage in front of her entire family.
Wild Hearts 2: Wild by Night Page 5