Clear As Day

by Babette James

  Kay sucked in her breath and arched sensuously into his hand. “Why? With you it’s more off than on.”

  “Exactly.” He slid the other cup aside and closed his mouth over her nipple.

  ****

  Pleasure jolted Kay and her reply vanished under the twin assaults of his talented hands and mouth.

  She shivered, from the pleasure, her desire, and the after-burn of the day’s wild emotion swings. She’d nearly ruined this, nearly lost him.

  Her weariness, her aches and pains, all faded under the sweet arousal. Then her world narrowed to a lush blur of touch and stroke and heat and sweat, mouths and hands, cries and gasps.

  More and more. Her mouth found his and delight flooded her in the slow, drugging kiss.

  She blindly sought, and caught, his rigid hot shaft, stroking her fingers against his silky skin, sliding over hard flesh, mentally cursing her bandaged palms that kept her from holding him fully as she wanted. She caressed him delicately with her fingertips, relishing his shudders of pleasure and the buck of his hips.

  He rocked into her strokes. His breath hissed out, and his eyes closed in tense bliss. “Yes, yes, more.”

  Pulse and breath heated to a frantic pace under the urgent press and slide of skin, their bodies rocking together, straining for and against the coiling heat.

  “Wait—” Nate wrenched to the side, chest heaving, leaving her splayed in abandon on the sleeping bag. She sighed, waves of desire flushing over her, feasting her eyes on his lovely, aroused body as he flexed and stretched and searched his hand under the pillows. “Where? There!” He grabbed the condom, hands trembling as he tore open the packet.

  She reached out a hand, intending to help him.

  He just gave her a fierce grin and a shake of his head as he rolled it on with the swift accuracy of the desperate. Then he was back over her and she was lifting her hips, hungry for him to fill her. He thrust home in one swift drive, deep and hard, delighted groans breaking from both of them.

  She gripped his sides hard, needing to anchor herself. Stings of pain from her bandaged palms broke through the bliss. A wince escaped her.

  He caught her wrists in his hands, firmly, but gently stretching her out. “No, take it easy on your hands.” The controlling position added lovely tension to their bodies surging and driving together. He shifted his hips, going deeper and stronger. Passion blazed in those beautiful gray eyes. She clenched at every withdrawal, welcomed every thrust, breathy cries escaping her throat.

  “Oh, babe, how I love those sounds you make.” His husky voice jolted a thrill over her.

  She gulped air to replace the breath he was driving out of her and laughed. “I love…you…everything…you do to me—Oh, Nate, yes!” she cried out as his next thrust tipped her spinning into the bright carnal grip of pleasure.

  However, he was far from done. Grinning, his breath coming in short, fast gasps, he eased to a lazy circling motion, giving her a chance to come down. The rhythm might look and feel lazy, but he was all control and focus. The muscles in his shoulders and neck were taut. Sweat trickled along his temples. He nudged her legs to spread and draw up tighter.

  Kay found the cot frame with one foot and braced herself. Oh, yes. Better. More.

  Still rocking and circling in the mesmerizing pattern, he released her wrists and caught her face between his hands. “I love you. Look at you, so beautiful.”

  The words came so easy this time, freeing, her emotions frothing like champagne. “I love you, Nate.” Happy tears pricked at her eyes.

  He kissed her tenderly, long and sensual. Kay sank her fingers into his hair, drowning in the kiss and the dance of their bodies.

  The rhythm shifted again, and the tense rush and race to the finish began in earnest. He braced on his arms and reared up to drive short, hard and deep.

  She reached right along with him, pent between laughter and ecstasy, clawing her fingers first into the soft blanket and cushioning sleeping bag, and then, needing to hold him, catching onto his arms. Any discomfort in her hands vanished under the promise of the coming climax clenching deep within her and trembling along her legs. Both of them moving in intense harmony, their breathing harsh and shuddering in the desperate, delightful race.

  Nate’s eyes locked on her. There was his fierce pirate smile again. He’d never looked more wild or beautiful. His words streamed, rough and urgent, and as sensual for her ears as the sleek pounding drive of his body into hers, “There you go. I can feel you, almost, almost there. Yes. You feel so good. Go for it, babe. Come for me.”

  The intense pleasure loomed, too much. Too much. “Oh, Nate!”

  “Tell me. Tell me. I love you. Tell me. Go for it!” He drove hard. His face tightened.

  “I love you!” Her cry tore free and joined with his hoarse shout of masculine satisfaction.

  As the lovely shock and roll of her release flashed over her, he bucked hard and came with her.

  “Yes!” Nate sagged against her, heavy and sweating, his cheek glued to hers, as he stayed half-propped over her on elbows, his harsh breaths rushing over her damp shoulder. Exhausted chuckles shook him, and he collapsed the rest of the way and rolled them to their sides. The twitch and pulse of him still locked within her set off answering shivers of delight through her.

  Kay stroked her fingers through his damp hair, cuddling him to her, floating in the peace wrapping her mind and body.

  He stirred to shower lazy kisses over her face and throat, a contented smile on his lips. He brushed his lips over hers in soft, licking teases. “What’re you thinking?” he murmured drowsily.

  “Vegas. I want to marry you in Vegas.” The words just popped out of her mouth. Kay would have sworn she couldn’t have put a coherent sentence together, he had her so relaxed.

  His eyes widened, surprise knocking the drowsiness right out of them. “You do?”

  She expected embarrassment or the nagging, crazed doubt that had tormented her over the past several days to follow her statement, but no, just cool, solid certainty and clean happiness that Nate and Vegas were exactly what she wanted.

  She smiled, joy at her decision filling her. “I do.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Five days later, Kay was more than fed up with her new sandals. They were pretty, but completely useless for walking. She could do this better barefoot. Or in hiking boots.

  If only she had put her foot down at that last shop…

  JoAnn laughed. “Stop fidgeting, Kay, sweetie, you’re losing your flowers. Livie, hon, want to fix that one for her?”

  “I am not fidgeting. These shoes are going to be the death of me.” But she obediently held still as Olivia fixed the tiny orchids JoAnn had the salon put in her hair along with what felt like a few hundred bobby pins.

  “They’re gorgeous, and you are so not taking them off. You are going to knock Nate’s socks off. If he’s wearing any.” Olivia stepped back and smiled in cheery approval, genuine happiness filling her serious brown eyes. “You’re so beautiful.”

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Pink! Elvis!” Kay glared at the offending hot pink, ridiculously high-heel sandals that perfectly matched the glossy polish on her fingers and toes, the bright Gerbera daisies in the simple bouquets, and the pink dresses JoAnn and Olivia wore. Kay wore the sleeveless ivory dress with the ballet-length skirt they had picked out during the whirlwind shopping led by Olivia.

  Olivia had declared she knew the perfect shops and salon, and she’d proved herself: three shops, three perfect dresses. JoAnn’s dress was floral and flirty, and perfectly comfortable for her baby bump. Olivia was stunning in the eye-popping pink of her simple slip dress.

  Her friends hadn’t allowed her one minute to worry and, somewhere between breakfast and this moment, they’d managed to get her completely ready for the wedding: from JoAnn as Matron of Honor and Olivia as her bridesmaid, down to something borrowed—Olivia’s elegant diamond earrings—and something blue—the scandalous lacy bra and pantie
s under her lovely dress that Patti swore with a deadpan voice was her and Scott’s wedding present for Nate.

  Kay hadn’t seen Nate since he’d left her with a kiss at breakfast in the Venetian and had no idea what the men were planning for their wardrobe. All during the shopping and salon, the girls and she had giggled and groaned over the possibilities the guys could spring on them, from tuxes to Hawaiian shirts, swim trunks and flip-flops, not putting any utter silliness past them.

  Kay stole a look through the doorway.

  Yep, straight ahead Elvis posed in all his glittering white jumpsuit glory.

  All their friends stood waiting and grinning: Scott and Patti, Chuck and Pippa, Christopher and Margie, Mark, Rich, and even old George had taken the day off.

  And in the front row: Nate’s mom and dad, who had flown in before supper last night. Nate had his mother Ellie’s gray eyes and blond curls and his dad Tom’s smile and ears. Kay had nervously anticipated a polite, careful scoping out over cocktails followed by a full barrage of suspicious questions at supper. Instead she’d been swooped down on and scooped into a hug by the petite blonde tornado Nate called Mom and then further crushed by Tom’s bear hug of them both, and she hadn’t caught her breath since.

  And yes, the pink must be fate, because Ellie wore a glittery pale carnation pink cocktail dress, and a wild hibiscus tie livened up Tom’s sedate gray suit.

  JoAnn patted Kay’s shoulder. “It’s time. Ready?”

  Kay’s nerves rose and flew, but they were happy butterfly flutters. No more nest of nightcrawlers. “Yes. This is totally crazy, but I’m ready.”

  Olivia hugged her gently and moved off to stand in the open doorway to the chapel.

  Next came a hug from JoAnn with tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you.”

  The first notes of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” filled the chapel, and their Elvis crooned into the sweet words.

  Time. Kay took a deep breath, relaxed her grip on the poor daisies, stepped into the doorway, and carefully looked up front.

  Nate stepped into view, with Dave and Lloyd at his side. After all the confusion and tumult, everything that mattered was clear. Her smile widened. Cameras flashed.

  Amusement and pleasure filled Kay at their choice of clothing. Not the threatened white tuxes with pink ruffles—no pink at all, thank goodness—the men stood handsome, casual and retro in crisp white embroidered Guayabera shirts and black slacks. All three men had seen a barber and suffered their own polishing. Nate’s beard was neatly trimmed, and he’d let his hair be cut much shorter, but not back to crew-cut short. Enough length remained to run her fingers through those waves and curls.

  JoAnn followed Olivia down the short, carpeted aisle. The love in Lloyd’s eyes as he watched JoAnn made Kay sorry she’d ever doubted his devotion over the years.

  And Dave’s sharp gaze fixed on…

  Olivia? The flash of naked want should have sizzled the air before his usual grin slid into place and he laughed with Ellie and Tom.

  But Kay had no time to puzzle that very interesting look further. Her turn to walk the aisle. Her butterflies leapt into a crazed storm, but she fixed her eyes on Nate and stepped forward.

  Nate’s happy gray eyes and captivating smile embraced her in warmth as she walked toward him. With each step, the last hazy doubts lifted, and joy, certainty and peace filled her. JoAnn was right. Nate’s love had always been clear as day—she simply needed to look up from the shadows of the past.

  A last step and she was at Nate’s side, handing her daisies off to JoAnn, and taking his warm hand in hers. At his gentle squeeze of her hand, the last of her butterflies disappeared.

  Elvis stepped up, rolling through his act and the ceremony in a smooth, deep voice. Nate’s answers came quick and sure, with hers following strong and easy. All through the simple words, she and Nate held each other with their eyes.

  “…the ring…”

  Dave shot Kay a satisfied wink and a wicked grin as he handed Nate the ring. The white gold band they’d picked out yesterday fit perfectly on her ring finger beside Nate’s beautiful opal ring. Moments later her turn came with the matching ring for Nate that JoAnn held for her.

  Pent-up laughter sparkled in Nate’s eyes and grin as Elvis pronounced, “You may kiss the bride.”

  Without missing a beat, Nate swept her into a flashy back dip and deep, hungry kiss, holding her steady in his strong arms.

  Cameras flashed, and cheers and clapping filled the room.

  “I love you, Nate,” she murmured in his ear the moment he let her breathe enough to speak again.

  He raised her up and pressed another quick, impassioned kiss to her mouth. “I love you, too, babe. How’re you doing?”

  She laughed. “Just perfect.”

  A word about the author...

  Babette James writes contemporary and fantasy romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints.

  She lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and three extremely spoiled cats. A teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test!

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