“He headed to the airport right after the ceremony, to catch an earlier flight home.”
Of course he had. If it’d been even twenty-four hours earlier, I probably would have called him to bust his balls over it. But now that I’d met Alessia, I understood why he’d left early. I angled my body towards Alessia. “Remember how I said my friends would understand about us getting married the way we did?”
“Yeah.”
“Another teammate of mine, Ryan, only stuck around for two drinks last night. Then he hightailed it out of a fancy Vegas wedding reception for his line mate to catch a commercial flight back to Chicago when he was supposed to be on the private plane with the rest of us tomorrow afternoon.” Her eyes went wide with surprise at my mention of a private plane, and I made a mental note to do my best to ensure we were on one when I convinced her to come out to Chicago—something I was determined to do. “You want to know why he made those dumbass decisions?”
She nodded.
“Because he’s a smart guy who missed his girlfriend of two and a half months. He hasn’t mentioned any plans to pop the question, but I fully expect to see a ring on her finger the next time I see them.”
“That’s fast,” she conceded. “But two and a half months is still like a hundred and fifty times longer than the one night it took us to get married.”
“True,” I agreed. “If it makes you feel any better, the bride and groom have only been together for three and a half months and she’s already knocked up.”
“Alec!” I cringed at the feminine exclamation, followed by a not-so-gentle tap to the back of my head. I turned to find Jason’s mom standing behind me, her hands on her hips as she glared at me. “It’s rude to call the bride ‘knocked up’”—she made quotation marks in the air with her fingers—“especially when it’s my future grandbaby you’re referring to.”
“Sorry, Alison. I didn’t mean any offense.”
“Such a pretty apology.” Her gaze moved to Alessia. “But what I’d really like is an introduction to your lovely guest. I’ve been hearing such interesting things.”
I shifted in my seat to wrap an arm around my wife. “Alessia, this is the mother of the groom, Alison Cameron-Campbell. Alison, this is my new wife, Alessia Rourke.”
My tone turned raspy as I used my last name instead of Alessia’s. She gasped and turned startled eyes my way. It was the first time I’d done it tonight, opting to go with just her first name when she’d met everyone else. But the formal introduction felt right when talking to Jason’s mom.
“Alessia, such a lovely name. At first, I thought my son was pulling a practical joke on me when he asked me to add another seat for the woman Alec married last night. But then I saw the two of you together and knew he wasn’t playing around. The connection between the two of you is too palpable to be faked.”
I flashed her a grateful smile while Alessia blushed. “No practical joke,” I confirmed. “Just quick-thinking on my part to keep Alessia at my side.”
“I’m glad to see one of you boys isn’t afraid of commitment.” Andrew snorted, and I saw Josie jab him in the side with an elbow. “But I’m troubled by something Cee-Cee mentioned as we were walking in.”
“Troubled?” I echoed.
“I’m not sure how else to describe her asking me if we have a lawyer on staff who’s licensed for the state of Nevada.” She offered Alessia a sympathetic smile. “She thought maybe we could offer you some assistance with your situation with your previous employer.”
“Shit, you guys are worse than gossiping schoolgirls,” I growled, turning an accusing glare my brother’s way.
“Like you’re any better,” he chuckled.
“In this instance, at least the grapevine was beneficial for the subject of conversation,” she pointed out to me before turning her attention back to Alessia. “We do, in fact, have lawyers on staff who’re licensed to operate in Nevada. It’s a necessity since we own a business here. As such, they’re well equipped to handle sexual harassment cases. I’d be more than happy to ask one of them to send a letter to your former employer, with an appropriate settlement request for their mishandling of the situation with her boss.”
“Oh, no. Really, that’s not necessary,” Alessia murmured.
I squeezed her hand. “Ignore my wife. She’ll take you up on your gracious offer.”
Alessia huffed in annoyance, and Alison laughed softly at the reaction. “Don’t worry, my dear. He’s not going to be nearly as happy with my second offer. My new daughter-in-law also mentioned something about you and your sister having an issue with your apartment. My husband and I keep an owner’s suite here, and the two of you are more than welcome to use it for as long as you’d like. We’ll be heading out of town on Monday, and the suite can be made ready for you in a matter of hours after we leave.”
“I couldn’t possibly,” Alessia whispered.
I’d planned to agree with her, until I spotted the tears in her eyes and reminded myself that I was supposed to make decisions based on her needs and not mine. I gave her hand another squeeze. “Ignore my wife again. She’ll take you up on the offer of the suite too, as long as it’s okay for just her sister to use it since I’m hoping Alessia will choose to stay with me instead.”
Alison offered me a pleased smile. “Then I’ll make the arrangements for the suite. Two keys will be available in Alessia’s name at the reception desk Monday afternoon. And I’ll pass your phone number along to our legal department so they can get in touch with Alessia first thing Monday morning.”
“Thank you,” Alessia and I offered our gratitude in unison.
Alison accomplished something I’d been unable to do—removing all the tension from Alessia’s body. Her mood lightened by leaps and bounds after that, and we chatted with Andrew and Josie over dinner and danced our way through the rest of the reception. Although there was an open bar, I limited myself to a few drinks and kept a close eye on how much Alessia had as well. She was spending the night with me in my hotel room again, and I didn’t want to rule out the possibility of something happening between us—which meant both of us needed to be mostly sober when we headed upstairs.
I was glad for the effort at the end of the night when Alessia stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but a tiny pair of sleep shorts and a thin tank top.
I wanted to fuck her.
Badly.
To show her how explosive I knew it would be between the two of us. Even the softest kisses with her made me rock hard. The more heated ones were better than any orgasm I’d had with another woman. I had no doubts about us being sexually compatible. If anything, we were explosive enough together that we might burn down the hotel.
But I didn’t want to push her into it. I wanted it to be a natural progression to our relationship. To happen because Alessia was ready to take that step with me.
I knew she wanted me. I could see it in her eyes and her body language. But she was skittish. Understandably so, considering what she’d gone through at work. And how long it’d been since she slept with anyone else. Also because she’d only known me for one day—even though she already wore my ring on her finger.
“You have choices, Alessia. Alison was serious when she offered you and Ariana use of the owner’s suite here for as long as you need it. You don’t owe me anything for sharing my room with you tonight. I can sleep on the couch—” My words cut off when she yanked on my shirt to pull my face down to hers.
“I know my sister gave you the white knight nickname, but you can stop being such a gentleman and kiss me now, Alec.”
It was all the encouragement I needed. I tossed her over my shoulder, and dumped her on the bed. Dragging the T-shirt I’d just put on over my head, I crawled after her in only my boxers. I claimed her lips in a hard kiss, groaning at her taste. Tilting her chin with my hand, I deepened the kiss as our tongues tangled with each other. Alessia’s nails bit into my shoulders and a rough moan rumbled up my chest.
“Kissing you on th
e mouth doesn’t make me less of a gentleman, beautiful.” I nibbled my way down her jawline and along her neck. “But there are other places I can kiss you that’d be downright filthy.”
“Yes.” She wiggled beneath me and lifted her tank by the hem to pull it off her body. “Please.”
Her tits were fucking perfect. Round and lush, tipped with hard, pink peaks. I bent my head to them and licked at her nipples, breathing warm air over them before I drew one into the heat of my mouth. She made a soft sound, a breathy moan, and it spurred me on.
I flicked at her nipple with my tongue, tugging on it gently with my teeth. She buried her hands in my hair and pressed me tighter to her chest as her back lifted off the mattress. I switched my attention from one side to the other, teasing her nipple before drawing it deep into the heat of my mouth. Then I kissed my way over the curves of her tits and back up to her mouth. Her lips trembled beneath mine, and she gave herself up without holding anything back as we kissed.
I’d never felt like I could spend a lifetime kissing a woman—until Alessia. She fit in my arms like she belonged there. But as fucking incredible her kisses were; I wanted more. I tore my mouth away from hers to kiss my way back down to her chest.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous.”
I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth and let go of it with a pop.
“And sexy.”
Her long lashes drifted up, and her green eyes blazed into mine. They were drenched with need, and I was determined to fulfill it for her. I kissed my way down her ribs, hesitating when I reached the waistband of her sleep shorts. Tucking my fingertips into the material, I waited for her little nod of approval and the lift of her hips before I dragged them down her legs.
My breath lodged in my throat at how wet her panties were. The fabric was soaked clear through, and it ripped away from her body when I tugged at the seams. Dropping my head, I groaned when I inhaled the scent of her arousal.
“Alec,” she gasped.
My head jerked up, and I searched her face for any sign that she was having second thoughts. I sighed with relief when I didn’t find any. My blood thundered in my ears, and my cock felt like it was ready to bust through my boxers. My fingers bit into her hips as I brushed my lips up her inner thigh.
Both of her hands caught at my shoulders, her nails digging in. She went very still, her breath catching, but she didn’t protest. I ran my tongue up higher, making her legs quiver. She made a small strangled sound in the back of her throat, and her hips jerked up off the mattress.
“I want to eat you up,” I growled. “Devour your little pussy whole, over and over again because I’ll never get enough.”
Licking and nibbling on her soft skin nearly drove me out of my mind with lust. My blood pounded hard in my veins, my cock pulsing with each heartbeat. I had a deep craving for her, and I didn’t think it would ever be filled. “Let me taste you, beautiful.”
“Yes,” she hissed.
I spread her thighs with my hands, opening her to me. Using two fingers, I separated her pussy lips and dipped my head to swipe my tongue through her folds. Her hips bucked under my hold, and I groaned at the burst of flavor on my tongue. She tasted even better than I imagined she would.
“Fuck, I want to live between your legs,” I moaned.
My hands held her thighs apart while I began to lap at her, over and over. Her body was taut, vibrating with tension. She dug her fingers into the sheet and bunched the material inside her fists, struggling for a control I wanted to destroy. My mouth turned aggressive as I dipped my tongue into her opening, plunging inside several times before I swiped upwards to circle her clit. I kept at her, licking and sucking until she was screaming my name with her hands clenched against my scalp, holding my face to her pussy.
When I felt like she couldn’t take any more, I stiffened my tongue and drove it deep inside her, tugging on her clit with two fingers at the same time. She screamed, trembling in my arms as her orgasm ripped through her body. I kept at her, feasting on her pussy through her climax until I felt her relax against the mattress.
Rising up on my knees, I moved over her body to stare down into her face. I’d never seen anything more beautiful than the look of complete satisfaction on her face. Her green eyes were hazy, the lids at half-mast. Her cheeks were tinged pink, and her lips were puffy and slightly parted. It was a sight I wanted to see...often.
“That was amazing.”
“It was,” I rasped.
“But I’m not sure it was as filthy as you promised.” Her hand slid between us, gliding down my chest to dip under my boxers. Warm fingers wrapped around my cock. “I’m thinking maybe you can do better?”
“Fuck,” I groaned, my hips jerking forward to press my hard length into her palm.
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.”
When I realized what she was suggesting, it had me leaking pre-come. I wanted inside of her more than my next breath. “I can’t imagine anything more perfect than fucking your sweet pussy beautiful,” I ground out. “But only if you’re sure you’re ready for it.”
“There you go, being my white knight again.” Her grip on me tightened.
My control shattered. I quickly shucked my boxers and positioned my throbbing cock at her slick entrance. She moved her palms to my chest, caressing my pecs, and tracing the grooves of my abs, making me groan from the pleasure. I slid the underside of my cock against her wet pussy, letting her feel how much I needed her. She was hot and damp; so fucking ready for me.
Watching her face, I pushed slowly into her scorching-hot core. Inch by inch until her pelvis was flush against mine, the tip of my cock right up against her cervix. Her tight muscles surrounded me, silky smooth and gripping me so hard it took my breath away. I gritted my teeth, fighting to gain enough control to stop myself from hammering into her the way my body demanded.
I loved seeing her stretched around me, her body accepting mine with her pearly white teeth biting down on her plump, bottom lip. I dipped my head to lick at that lip and murmured, “Don’t hold back. Let me hear you, beautiful.”
“You feel so good inside me, Alec.”
With her silken heat surrounding me and her words spiraling my need higher, my breath left my lungs in a rush. I threw my head back and closed my eyes, holding myself still while I fought to stop myself from shooting into her on my first stroke inside. Once I gathered the smallest measure of control, I began to move slowly. “I want to feel you come around my cock.”
“I can’t,” she whined. “I’m a one and done kind of girl, no matter how amazing you feel. Just finish, Alec.”
I increased the power of my thrusts, my hands gripping her hips hard enough to leave a mark. Her legs wrapped around my waist and her head fell back against the pillows. I leaned in close and growled into her ear, “I’m not going without you.”
My hips moved back and forth, driving deep each time. I stared down at her face, in awe of the passion etched there. The frank desire in the green of her eyes. Her panting breaths. The flushed skin, growing damp from our energetic fucking.
I plunged deep and hard, burying my body inside hers. The scorching-hot friction sent shock waves through my body, sending me closer to the edge. When she was writhing beneath me once again, her walls clenched tightly around me, I pressed my thumb down on her clit. Her body clamped down on me as she went off like a rocket.
I moved my hand back to her hip, and my hold tightened on her. My cock swelled even more. With her pussy fluttering around me, my pleasure grew out of control. She squeezed me, taking me with her over the edge. I let go, flying apart as intense satisfaction washed over me while I came. Long, hot jets of semen shot from my cock in spurts, filling her up and leaking out of her pussy.
I wasn’t sure how long we stayed locked together. After a while, our breathing slowed and our hearts returned to a steady beat. I released my hold on her hips and stared down into her beautiful face. Her hair spilled over the pillows, tangled strands of blond
silk. Her mouth was swollen from my kisses. And her gorgeous, green eyes were dazed. I kissed her throat and reluctantly withdrew from her body, brushing my lips across the side of her neck, just above where her shoulder was, and biting down gently on her soft skin.
“What are you doing?” she asked suspiciously.
“Leaving my mark on you.” Having my ring on her finger wasn’t enough. The bruises I was sure to have left on her hips weren’t either. I was starting to think I would never be satisfied with all the ways I could make it clear Alessia was mine.
Chapter Seven
Alessia
Waking up in bed with Alec the second time around wasn’t quite as startling as the first. Or maybe it was, but in a completely different way.
Yesterday morning, he was still pretty much a stranger to me. The hot guy I’d met and only had fuzzy recollections of the time we’d spent together. The wedding ring had been a shocker, but it was still a situation I could have walked away from without too much trouble since getting a divorce in Vegas was almost as easy as getting married there.
But the contentment I felt from being held securely in his arms wasn’t easy to walk away from. Not after spending an entire day with him. Not with how thoughtful he’d been. Breakfast delivered to the room. Beautiful dresses. What had to be a ridiculously expensive ring. Showing me off to his friends and family. Solving my problems which had seemed impossible to handle only a day and a half before. And then there was the sex.
Holy crap, it’d been incredible. A small part of me wanted to rationalize it away as being due to how long it’d been since I’d slept with someone. But I would have been lying to myself. I didn’t have a lot of experience with sex, but even if I’d still been a virgin I would have known the orgasms Alec had given me were amazing. That my reaction to him wasn’t normal. And that I was lucky to have found someone with whom I had such insane chemistry.
Slowly turning in his arms, I was struck again by how insanely hot Alec was. My fingers itched to play with his dark hair. The gentling of his face in sleep didn’t take away from the masculine line of his square jaw. His firm lips were relaxed and slightly parted. Heck, he even smelled gorgeous. Then his low-lidded blue eyes met mine, and my breath caught in my throat.
Married Into Love (Bachelorette Party Book 3) Page 6