“She cries all the time. She is a typical, emotional woman.” Ben laughs.
Grace gently whacks Ben on the arm and laughs with him.
“Everything is all taken care of? Do you need help with anything, need money?” Ben asks, as his hand softly runs over her head.
“Your mom pretty much took care of everything. Flowers, caterer, band, DJ, and umm, well everything. It’s all done. I can’t believe how fast she planned this huge wedding.”
“My mom is the ultimate event planner. If she ever had to work, that would be the job for her.”
“I just wish I had more say in things,” Grace says, under her breath.
“We did not have much time to organize things, Grace. Mom has done the best that she can do.”
“I’m not saying that I don’t appreciate her help. I just never pictured my wedding to be like this.”
“Like what?” he says, she can hear that he is becoming defensive.
“Nothing,” she says, bowing her head so that he cannot see the disappointment in her eyes.
“No, Grace. What is the problem? What could possibly be wrong? We have spent over one hundred thousand dollars to give you the best wedding we could in such a short amount of time.”
Grace lays her hand on Ben’s chest to calm him. “It’s perfect. I’m just having pre-wedding day nerves. Don’t worry, please. It’s going to be a beautiful, seamless day.”
“Darling, I just want you to be happy. I want you to have the most glorious wedding. I mean, it will be your only wedding so it needs to be perfect.”
“It will be,” she says, leaning up to rub her hand over his concerned face.
“What else do you need to make it what you want?”
“Nothing. I promise. I’m just nervous.”
She snuggles against him pushing all of her true feelings aside. She really does not care how much money they spent on the wedding. In fact, she feels that the amount spent is outrageous and unnecessary. Grace would have been content having a small wedding at the vineyard, rather than the enormous one that Lydia has planned.
Unwanted thoughts of Ian creep into Grace’s mind as she lies in Ben’s arms. From time to time, she unwillingly wonders about how Ian is doing as a father and if he is happy. As soon as the thoughts come into her mind, she forces them out. She knows it is wrong even to think of Ian’s name when she is marrying Ben in a few days.
Before she started to plan her wedding thoughts of him were rare, but all the planning reminded her of when she was planning her wedding to Ian, a wedding that never happened.
“I love you, Grace,” Ben says.
“I love you, too,” she says before kissing his forearm.
“I really do. I cannot wait till you are Mrs. Benjamin McKay.”
“I can’t wait either. Thank you, Ben.”
“For what?”
“All of it. I know it’s costing a lot for us to get married.”
“The money really isn’t the issue. It’s a drop in the hat for me. The issue is your happiness.”
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
They sit in silence, the crackling of the fire echoing off the ceilings of the cabin.
“Are you ready for bed?” Ben asks.
Grace yawns and sits up. “I’m exhausted.”
Ben stands and goes over to the fireplace to put out the fire.
“Are you going to tell me when we’re going on our honeymoon and where?”
“Nope.”
Grace smiles. “Is it tropical?”
“Not saying a word.” Ben turns and reaches for her. “You’re worse than a child the night before Christmas.” He pats her butt as they walk up the stairs. “No more naughtiness or I’ll have to spank you.”
“Oh, Mr. McKay, don’t tempt me.”
They make their way up the stairs and Ben lifts Grace into his arms.
“Can we redecorate?”
“We’re not even married yet and you’re already trying to change things.” He laughs.
“Your style screams bachelor.”
“You can redecorate. We’ll hire someone after the wedding.”
“I can do it myself.”
“I won’t have it.”
Grace shakes her head.
Ben pushes open the bedroom door with this foot, carries Grace to the bed, and lays her down. “I think it’s time for your punishment.”
“This isn’t a punishment, sir. I think you need to come up with better ways to discipline me.”
“I can think of a few.”
“I’m a bad girl.” Grace laughs.
Ben unbuckles his belt and slides it from his waist. He lays his belt on the bed and then grabs Grace under each of her arms, pulling her close to the headboard. Taking both of her hands into one of his strong ones, he presses them up against the metal headboard. With the other hand, he grabs the belt and then ties it around her wrists.
“I’m a very, very bad girl.” Grace laughs again.
“You think this is funny?”
Grace pinches her lips together and shakes her head. Ben unbuttons her nightshirt and exposes her breasts. Eagerness rushes through her, heating her body. He rises and removes his shirt, then undoes the button and unzips the zipper on his jeans. He takes them off and throws them onto the floor. His briefs tent from his erection and Grace wants nothing more than for him to fill her with it. With a hand on each side of her, he slides her lace panties down, and then throws them on the floor next to his jeans. Crawling over her again, he licks from her bellybutton to the cave on her neck. He takes her earlobe into his teeth and bites down. Grace moans as he sucks on her neck. She can feel Ben stroking himself and it turns her on to the point that she thinks she will lose her mind if he does not enter her soon.
“Fuck me, Ben.”
“Oh, Ms. Hathaway, I’m going to fuck you until it hurts.”
His fingers slip between her legs and into her wet opening. They penetrate deep inside her, caressing every place inside of her begging to be touched. He jabs them deep inside and it feels so good she cannot help the scream that comes out. She loses track of how long he plays with her, but when he pulls his fingers out, she snaps back into consciousness. Ben rubs her wetness onto his shaft and then slides himself inside her. It feels like a thousand fireworks burst in the pit of her stomach and her walls clench around him. He fucks her hard and relentlessly, lifting and spreading her legs until they feel like they will break. She erupts into ecstasy.
Ben pulls out of her, erect, and places himself on her chest. He reaches for his belt and unties her. “Put your hands here,” he says, placing each of her hands on each side of her breasts. Moving his body, he thrusts between her breasts until he comes on her chest.
After he catches his breath, he gets off the bed and leaves the room. Before Grace can grab a tissue, he is back in the room with a towel. “Did you think I would leave you like that?”
“Umm, no, I guess I didn’t really think about it.”
“Here,” he says, as he cleans her chest off.
Grace smiles. “Thank you.”
Ben leans down and kisses her. “Let’s go take a bath.”
Grace draws in a deep, soothing breath. She feels like she will not be able to walk after the pounding he just gave her, but a bath sounds too good to pass up.
They sit in the tub together, washing each other, not talking, for a long time before they head to bed.
Later that night, lost in a daze of unintelligible thoughts, Grace listens to the rain tapping the roof. Her heart beats fast as her chest rises and falls with each deep breath. Sleep has been something she has chased for the past few days and anxiety seems to be having its way with her. She looks at the clock on the nightstand. 4:53, I need to get to sleep. She closes her eyes and tries to let the rain lure her into sleep. Ian has been on her mind for the past hour and no matter what she does, she cannot get him out. She rolls onto her side, hoping that a change in position will do the trick, and the moonlight
is shining on Ben, illuminating the contours of his face and chest. For the briefest moment, she is shocked to see him lying beside her. After so much time spent thinking about Ian, she almost expected to see him by her side. Guilt takes over when she runs her finger down Ben’s bare chest. I do love you, she thinks. You’re the most amazing man I have ever met. You’re a dream come true. My savior. My knight in shining armor. Ben stirs and she takes her hand from him. Grace wonders if Ian is in bed with Emma, under the same moonlight, watching her sleep as she now watches Ben. Is Ian thinking of Grace the way she is stuck reflecting on him? Here I go again, thinking of Ian, again! She flips onto her back and fixes her eyes on the ceiling.
“Pre-wedding jitters?”
How the hell does he read my mind like that? Grace turns to face Ben. His voice is groggy and his eyes are tiny from being so tired. “I guess.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She scoots close to him and lays her head on his chest, wrapping one arm around him. He pulls her close and kisses her head. “I guess sometimes I’m just kinda left in shock that I found someone like you.”
“Someone like me? What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that you’re perfect in every way. You’re every woman’s dream come true.”
Ben laughs. “And that’s why I’m marrying you.”
“It’s true.”
“I’m not perfect.”
“You came into my life exactly when I needed you the most. You stuck with me no matter how many times I rejected you. You’re sexy. You’re intelligent. You have goals. You’re driven. Not that it matters, but you’re loaded.” Grace smiles.
“You just described yourself, Grace. You’re all those things and more. You deserve everything that I am, just as much as I deserve a woman like you.”
She goes silent and focuses on a freckle on his chest, twirling her finger around it.
“You’ve been having trouble sleeping a lot lately.”
She shrugs. “Everything is happening so fast.”
Ben leans down to look into her eyes. “What reason do we have to take it slow? I’m confident that I want to spend every waking moment of the rest of my life with you and I’m pretty sure you’re hooked on me.”
“Just a little.” Grace laughs.
“Take your shirt off.”
“What?”
“Take your shirt off. Come on,” he says, lifting it up. He pulls it over her head and tosses it onto the floor. “Lay back down.”
Grace takes her place back on his side. His hand runs over her skin, his fingers barely touching her. Chills form on her back and run down her legs.
“This might help make you sleepy.”
“Mmm…” she hums. “That feels so good.” Her mind shoots to Ian caressing her the same way, so many times, so many more times than Ben has soothed her this way. Grace shakes Ian from her mind. She knows that she will always have feelings for him, but she also knows that Ben is her future.
Chapter 25
Grace’s hands shake as Michelle fusses over her hair, her stomach in a nervous twist of knots.
“You look beautiful. More beautiful than I think I’ve ever seen you look in your entire life.”
Grace bows her head gracefully, her cheeks turning pink at her sister’s words. “Thank you for all your help. I don’t think you know how much it means to me.”
Michelle smiles, her arm still reaching up playing with the curled strands of Grace’s bangs that hang onto her cheek. Grace’s eyes well up with tears. “Now, stop that, you’ll ruin your makeup.”
“May I come in?” Lydia pokes her head into her bedroom.
Michelle opens the door for her with a big smile on her face. “Wait till you see her.”
Lydia’s mouth falls open. “You look beautiful, my dear.” She walks toward Grace with her arms wide open.
“You look beautiful, too, Lydia,” Grace says, as she falls into Lydia’s embrace.
“You’re going to make her cry again,” Michelle says, looking at the two of them, seemingly trying to hold back her own tears.
At the word cry, Lydia bursts out. Grace grabs a tissue from a box on a nightstand by the bed and dabs at Lydia’s tears. “You sweet, sweet girl,” Lydia cries.
A knock at the door surprises them.
“Who is it?” Michelle asks, drawing out the word who.
“James.”
Grace feels her stomach drop. She takes a deep breath and waves at Michelle to open the door for James. “You look so handsome,” Grace says as she takes James by the hands and holds his arms out to get a better look at him. James pulls at the collar on his shirt and Grace sees beads of sweat forming near his temples.
“You’re going to cry?” Michelle asks, as she studies James’ face.
“Well,” Lydia says, coughing. “I am going to leave y’all alone so you can have your time together.”
“You don’t have to leave,” Grace says, gently grabbing onto Lydia’s arm.
With a tissue in her hand, Lydia waves in front of her face as it pinches, ready to burst into tears again.
“Come on, Lydia, let’s go get you some water,” Michelle says, placing her arm around her.
“Cat got your tongue?” Grace asks, smiling at James.
“I…”
Grace wraps her arms around her brother and hugs him tightly.
“I wish Dad was here to do this,” James mutters through a slight stream of tears.
“I’m glad I have you though,” she says, as she brushes her finger across James’ face, wiping away his tears.
“He always knew what to do in serious situations. I feel like he would have had all this crazy cool advice that I just can’t seem to come up with.”
“Just the fact that you are here for me means the world to me. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
James reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large silver coin. “This was one of Dad’s favorites,” he chuckles. “He was so crazy about his coin collection. I thought that it might bring me good luck to carry it in my pocket today, but I think you should put it somewhere.” He looks at her tightly fitted dress. “Umm but I’m not sure where you will put it.”
Tears overwhelming her, she takes the coin from him and places it in the center of her bouquet. “Thank you. I didn’t have time to go home and pick out anything to have of Mom and Dad’s. You know me so well.”
“What do you have of Mom’s?”
Grace lifts her bouquet to reveal a delicate, fine piece of lace wrapped around it. “This is part of mom’s veil. Sara found it and sewed it so that it would fit around my bouquet.”
“My wife is amazing.”
“She sure is.”
“I guess the best advice I can give you is to always communicate, always trust, and never lie.”
“That sounds like pretty good advice to me, brother. See you’ve got this,” Grace says as she realizes she has already not communicated to Ben as she should.
James shoves his hands into the pockets of his tuxedo and walks over to the window. Grace follows him and his gaze. Below them, green grass with layers of white chairs form an aisle that leads to an awning covered in red, orange, and yellow roses, entwined with green and brown grapevines. The same flowers decorate the corners of the chairs at the end of each row. Behind the ceremony area, a huge white tent takes up most of the backyard. She focuses on the workers hanging white lights around the parameters of it.
She walks away from the window, leaving James to have a moment to himself.
Grace leans close to the mirror on a beautiful cherry wood dresser and turns her head to the side, staring at herself as she pushes a pearl earring into her earlobe.
She turns her head to look at him. “Are you okay?”
He turns to her, a serious look on his face. “I have to do this. Please don’t get pissed at me.”
Grace straightens up and turns her entire body to face him. James walks over to her, his hands still lingering in his
pockets.
“Are you sure you are making the right decision?”
She is shocked at his question, but she understands why he might have his doubts, after all, she has not known Ben for very long in the scheme of things.
After Ben proposed to her, he insisted that they marry as soon as possible. With Lydia’s assistance and Ben’s financial status, as soon as possible was only three short weeks later. Grace never had time to discuss her relationship with Ben with her brother.
“I love him, James,” she says, as her face lights up with a glorious smile. “And I know he loves me. He’s perfect.”
“No one is perfect,” James says, taking one of Grace’s hands into his. “I’m just worried. You’ve only known him for what, nine months or so?”
“I know, but I know he is the one.”
“I just want you to be happy, sweetheart.”
“I’ve never been happier.”
He releases her hand and takes a few steps back as he admires her. “I’ve never seen you look so beautiful. I always knew this day would come,” a tear drizzles out of the corner of his eye, “I’m just having a hard time letting you go.”
“I’ll always be your baby sister. I’ll always need you.”
A knock at the door helps James to ward off his tears for the moment. Grace nods at James asking him to go see who is at the door.
James turns his head back to Grace. “It’s Jaden.”
Again, the butterflies rage in her stomach. “He can come in,” she says, her voice flustered.
~ ~ ~
Jaden taps his dress shoe against the tiles while waiting for the door to open up. When James lets him in, he enters the room apprehensively, his hair pulled back into a small ponytail and wearing a gray suit.
“Grace,” Jaden breathes, as his eyes catch sight of her. She has always made his heart sink with her smile or a glance of her bright green eyes, but never before has his heart leaped from his chest as it does now.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” James says before he kisses Grace on the cheek, shoving his hands back in his pockets, and quietly leaving the room.
Jaden wraps his arms around Grace’s waist and pulls her to him. “You look incredible.”
The Falling of Grace (The Falling Series Book 2) Page 26