Flirty Ever Afters: A Flirt Club Collection

by Tracy Lorraine

  “You’re up,” Vaughan shouts in my ear, handing me another drink.

  “I don’t fucking think so, V.” I put my hands up in defense when she nods towards an empty chair where the other girls have been getting the full male stripper experience.

  She won’t take no for an answer, and she eventually manages to drag me to my feet. Bryony soon notices the commotion and comes over to assist.

  “Just embrace it, Cherry. It’s not every day you get a guy that hot up close and personal.” My mind flashes to the man standing outside and the warning he gave me. If I want a hot guy moving against me, then it should be him, not some random guy covered in an obscene amount of baby oil.

  My protests go unheard. Within minutes, I’m in the chair, the music starts, and I try to look anywhere but at the man stalking towards me.

  The girls chant and scream around me, egging the guy on, totally ignoring the death glares I’m giving each of them.

  I keep my head back as I try to keep away from the guy thrusting his hips over my waist, when I feel him. The stripper places his hands on my shoulders, and when he really starts moving, my face heats up.

  But it’s not because of his suggestive movements. It’s because of the pure rage that fills Warren’s face the second he gets a good look at me.

  With his eyes boring into mine, I watch as he storms across the room, forcefully removes the man from on top of me, letting him tumble to the ground with a panicked look on his face. Then, he hauls me from the chair.

  “We’re leaving,” he growls, lifting me and throwing me over his shoulder like I’m nothing more than a rag doll. Catcalls and excited laughter erupt from the girls. When I lift my head up, I find a sea of jealous faces staring back at me.

  He carries me through the club and out the back doors. I feel eyes on me the entire way, but I don’t look up.

  By the time my feet are lowered to the floor, all the blood has rushed to my head and I wobble about.

  “Whoa, I’ve got you.”

  I stare at Warren as if he’s a figment of my imagination. I haven’t heard anything from him since I walked away that night. And although I’ve missed him like crazy, which is weird for someone I’d only just met, I knew I made the right choice. I wasn’t, and shouldn’t have been, his priority at that time. His family needed him and I’ll forever stand by the choice I made to walk away in that moment.

  “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he says, echoing my thoughts before slamming his lips down on mine. There’s no finesse to his kiss, just desperation. A desperation that mimics my own.

  My back bumps up against his car and he squashes his giant body against mine as his kiss continues. His hips grind into me and his length presses into my stomach.

  “Let’s get out of here,” I manage to get out when he sucks on my bottom lip.

  I’m left panting when he pulls away from me, stepping back. He quickly rearranges himself before helping me up into his truck.

  The second he joins me, the engine’s on and he’s backing out of his parking space.

  The journey to my house is a blur as he takes the corners a little too fast and runs at least two red lights.

  Once we’re safely in my driveway, I feel like I can take a breath once again. But it only lasts so long because the moment he pulls my door open he slides his arms behind my back and thighs and lifts me from the car.

  “Get your keys ready,” he demands, marching towards the front door.

  Before I know it, he’s running up the stairs with me still in his arms. He doesn’t even break a sweat carrying my weight, but when he kicks my bedroom door closed behind us and lowers me to the floor, his chest is heaving.

  He pushes me back against the solid wood, lifting me and pinning me in place with his hips.

  His eyes are still dark and possessive like when he found me in the club, and it only makes the throbbing of my clit stronger.

  “You remember how it felt when Vaughan checked me out?”

  I nod, wondering where he’s going with this when he should be kissing the hell out of me.

  “What I saw tonight was just like how you felt then, only about a million times worse.”

  “Oh.” My chin drops as he lowers his forehead to mine.

  “You’re mine, Cherry. No one touches you but me.”

  Then, his lips find mine and I get the kiss I’ve been craving. His hands are everywhere, but it’s not enough.

  I need all of him.

  Finally, his fingers find the tie at my waist holding my dress together. He pulls it open and quickly finds my heavy breasts. Kneading them in his giant palms, I moan my need for more as his kiss continues.

  Knowing exactly what I need, his fingers tickle around my ribs. In a flash, my bra is undone and pulled from my body. His lips leave mine in favor of kissing down my neck and onto my chest. Lifting me higher, he sucks one of my nipples into his mouth. I moan as the sensation has heat exploding between my legs.

  “Warren, please…please,” I beg.

  With his hips still pressing me into the door, he manages to shrug off his jacket. I pull at his tie, but I give up when it’s loosely hanging around his neck in favor of watching him undo his pants.

  Somehow, he manages to free his cock while still having me against the door.

  “I need you so fucking badly,” he growls. His fingers wrap around the sides of my panties and he tugs at the fabric harshly. They fall apart with his force, allowing him the access he needs. “Right now.”

  He thrusts, and in that one movement he’s as deep as he can be. I cry out at the sudden invasion, but it’s not long before I’m rocking my hips against him for more. I need him to own me, right fucking now.

  “Ah, fuck,” he grunts in my ear, lifting me up just before dropping me down harder onto his cock. My back scratches against the door, but it only adds to the overload of sensations ricocheting through my body.

  “Come, Cherry. Come on my fucking cock.” No sooner have the words left his mouth, my orgasm crashes into me. Thank fuck we’re home alone because the noise that rips from my throat would tell everyone what we’re doing. He follows me moments later as seemingly endless spurts of hot cum fill me.

  “Jesus. Fuck. I needed that.”

  I can’t help but laugh, but when he pulls back and his serious face fills my vision, my laughter immediately halts.

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “You were right before. I needed a little time. But I’m all in for this now…if you are?”

  A smile splits my face and I throw my arms around his shoulders. “I’m all in.” Our lips connect and he kisses me senseless as he pulls me from the door and lowers me to the bed.

  Epilogue

  One Year Later…

  “Is everything as you wanted it?” Bryony asks from behind me.

  “It’s everything and more. Thank you so much for making it happen.” Tears sting my eyes as I look out over our garden. The sun is casting everything in a stunning orange glow and the fairy lights that are strung up in the trees are starting to illuminate the area that Bryony couldn’t have made more perfect.

  There are two very small rows of chairs with a pink carpet running up the center, facing a small stage area that’s covered in soft pastel-colored blankets. The new cherry blossom trees we planted last year are in full bloom, surrounding everything. The top of the giant tepee Bryony managed to rent pokes through the trees beyond. I couldn’t picture anything more perfect, and I can’t wait to start this next part of my life together with Warren.

  As I stand there, I hear soft voices before Warren, his parents, and his brother walk out towards the ceremony area and take it all in. His mom looks like she’s already in tears with his dad’s arm around her shoulders. I know today’s going to be hard for them, having only just dealt with the one-year anniversary of Leanne’s death, but I hope they can enjoy the day.

  As if he can sense me looking at him, Warren turns and looks up to the window. I panic and almost jump away. It
’s bad luck for him to see me. But the second his eyes find mine, I’m powerless to look anywhere else. They capture me just like they did that first day I opened the front door and found him on my doorstep. He knocked me on my ass in that moment, and he continues to do the same every day since.

  “Are you ready?”

  Turning, I look at my bridal party. My mom, Lacey, Vaughan, and Bryony—although she’s only the planner and refuses to have any other part in the day. “So ready.”

  Mom hands me my bouquet that’s overflowing with cherry blossoms and holds her arm out for me. “You look beautiful, baby. Your dad would have been so proud,” she whispers, and I fight back the tears threatening to ruin my make-up.

  Together, we walk out to my fiancé. The man I’m about to commit the rest of my life to.

  I never would have expected to meet someone because of some funeral flowers, let alone marry him a year later. And I can’t wait to tell our grandkids the story in years to come.

  Acknowledgments

  The idea for Warren and Cherry’s story hit me in the middle of the night a while ago. I know it’s a little different, but I just loved the idea of her being his little bit of light on his darkest day.

  I can’t believe this is our sixth Flirt Club collaboration of the year. The time’s really flying. But I love every single one. And let me tell you, we’ve got incredible stuff still to come. Make sure you’re in our Facebook group and signed up to our newsletter so you don’t miss anything.

  I obviously need to thank my incredible Flirt Club authors. None of this would have happened without them and I’ll forever be grateful for the crazy bunch of authors I’ve found myself a part of.

  Once again, I need to thank my alpha reader, Michelle, and my betas, Deanna, Tracy, and Lindsay, for not only always giving me their honest feedback, but also for falling for my characters as much as I do.

  Michelle, at Luxe Literary Co., for once again editing and making my words as pretty as possible. I couldn’t do this without you.

  I really hope you enjoyed Cherry and Warren’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. It won’t be long until you get another story from this group of friends. Can you guess who it is?

  Until next time,

  Tracy xo

  Something Borrowed

  Prologue

  Bryony

  “You could sound a little more excited about this weekend. Your big brother’s getting married,” Vaughan says, sipping her cocktail.

  “I am excited.” I try to put as much joy into my voice as possible, but I know I’ve failed.

  “You know, for a self-professed wedding lover, you have a really weird issue with being involved in them.”

  “I’m not involved. I’m their planner,” I argue.

  “Believe what you like. Refusing to be a bridesmaid doesn’t mean you’re not a part of this one. I just don’t get it.” Her eyes search my face as if she’ll find the answers. Sucking in a breath, she slams her glass down on the table and leans towards me. “I’ve got it!” she exclaims a little too loudly, causing the group at the next table in the bar to look our way. “You’re jealous.”

  “What? Don’t be silly. I’ve told you before, I’m not interested in all that.”

  “That’s just it, though.” Her eyes continue to drill into mine. “You love weddings. You plan them, for fuck’s sake. It doesn’t make sense that you wouldn’t want one of your own.”

  “I’m not jealous,” I argue, but it falls on deaf ears. “I just don’t—”

  “Who was he?”

  I shake my head from the whiplash of her topic change. “Who was who?” My brows draw together as I try to figure her out. It’s Thursday night and Vaughan is celebrating having a few rare days off from the hospital. She’s already drunk her way through one cocktail too many, so she could be talking about anything right now. Although, the way she’s looking at me with a knowing glint in her eyes has my stomach twisting with dread.

  “The one who turned you off the idea of your own happily-ever-after.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Do you want another?”

  Snatching my clutch from the table, I walk towards the bar on trembling legs. I’ve managed to keep him a secret for ten years. The only two people who know anything happened between us are he and I. But sadly, only one of us had our heart ripped out in the process.

  1

  Bryony

  I burst into the room with my clipboard under my arm to a scene I wasn’t expecting. My sister-in-law-to-be is perched on the edge of the bed, breathing into a brown paper bag while both my mom and hers say soothing words and rub her back.

  “Tessa, it’s going to be okay. Calm down,” she soothes, but I can tell by the slightly clipped tone that she’s about as fed up with Tessa and her dramatics as I am.

  I thought offering to plan this wedding, as my gift to them, was a good idea. It meant I was able to get out of any bridesmaid duties and spend the day mostly hidden in the shadows ensuring everything runs smoothly. Unfortunately, I had no idea that my brother’s usually laid-back, happy-go-lucky fiancée was going to turn into the bridezilla from hell. I’ve worked with a few demanding brides during my career as a wedding planner, but Tessa, she really takes the cake. And now, here I am putting up with all her crazy ideas and demands for free. It was probably the second worst decision of my life.

  The first of those bad decisions…he’s currently on his way to this very hotel to spend the weekend celebrating this wedding. I haven’t seen or heard from him since the day he walked away from me, and I’m not sure I’m ready to now. But he’s my brother’s best man so I’ve got little choice in the matter.

  Putting my own issues aside, I grip my clipboard a little tighter and prepare to hear what Tessa’s latest end-of-the-world drama is.

  “Amber can’t come,” she gets out between breaths. “She’s been told by her doctor that it would be unsafe to fly.”

  Amber is Tessa’s very pregnant maid of honor. It caused enough panic a few months ago when she announced she was expecting. Tessa just about had a heart attack, but Amber swore she’d be here. Sadly, pregnancies don’t always go as planned, and Amber’s has been hard going by the sounds of it.

  “I can’t get married without a maid of honor. I just can’t.” Her breathing increases once again and Mom pushes the paper bag back towards her mouth.

  Both mothers glance at each other over Tessa’s head. Both look exasperated with the bride-to-be.

  Mom’s eyes turn to me, and a heavy ball of dread settles in my stomach. I know exactly what’s coming before her lips even part. “Bryony can stand in.”

  Fuck.

  “No, no. I’m sure if Amber can’t be here then no one would be better. Right, Tess—” My words falter when I see hope shining in Tessa’s eyes.

  “Would you?”

  “You’ve got two other bridesmaids. You don’t need a maid of honor.”

  “But everything will be wrong without one. I can’t have an even number. Maid of honor and two bridesmaids is how it has to be.”

  Blowing out a long breath, I glance at Mom. She’s begging me to do this. Anything to keep the drama at bay tomorrow. This is the only wedding she’s going to have, seeing as I’ve point blank refused to ever have one for years. She wants to enjoy it. Tessa’s mom looks like she’s about to get down on her knees and beg any second. I can only image the stress Tessa’s caused her and her husband over the last few months—and I don’t just mean financially. They’re footing the bill for this over-the-top extravaganza. They’re just your average working parents, and I can only imagine they were as blindsided by this show as I was.

  “I’ve got so much to—”

  “Please, Bry. The day’s going to be ruined otherwise.” I think that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but she is the drama queen of the century right now so I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything else.

  “I don’t—” The three sets of eyes in front of me drill into me. My
skin tingles with their attention and that ball of dread grows even bigger. Tessa’s eyes fill with tears as she prepares for me to say no. I’m about to, but sadly something else falls from my lips. “Fine.”

  “You mean it?” She’s up off the bed and engulfing me in a huge hug before I even realize what is happening. “Oh my God. Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this, Sis.”

  What the fuck did I just do?

  When she eventually releases me, a wide smile spreads across her face, but my more realistic planner side takes over.

  “I’m not going to be able to do what I need to do if I’m standing up there with you. I don’t have a dress. I don’t—”

  “It’ll be fine. The dress you have is perfect and I have every confidence in your ability to multi-task.”

  “Fantastic,” I manage to get out through gritted teeth.

  2

  Freddie

  A flat tire and a fuck load of traffic means my plan to get to the hotel in plenty of time for the wedding rehearsal is shot to shit. It’s the first time I’m going to see her in person in over ten years.

  I wanted to be prepared. But as it is, I’ve missed the wedding rehearsal and I’m about to burst into the room where the rehearsal dinner’s being held. As if it’s not bad enough that she probably hates me, I’ll also be ruining her well laid plans.

  I might not have had any contact with her since the day I left, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t kept tabs on her. It’s been made easier with her being my best friend’s sister and someone I grew up with. My oblivious best friend never sees enquiring about what she’s up to every now and then as unusual. Although, he’s usually pretty forthcoming with information about her serial dating habit.