Through a Magnolia Filter

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Through a Magnolia Filter Page 19

by Nan Dixon


  Samuel Forester escorted Abby down the silk-covered aisle. He didn’t use his walker, so their pace was slow, but Samuel couldn’t have looked any prouder than if she was his own daughter. He kissed her cheek and murmured something only Abby could hear.

  The ceremony flew by. He traversed the room, trying to stay inconspicuous. After they were declared husband and wife, he was delighted to catch Abby’s mouth form an O as Gray dipped her into a kiss. Then he swung around and snapped the witnesses laughing and applauding.

  He lined up the groups for the family pictures. Dolley’s grin never left her face. When she could, she helped by changing cards or lenses. If she wasn’t in a series of pictures, she grabbed a camera.

  It was like she could read his mind, always ready with the right camera or adjusting the groups to suit him.

  If she could read his mind, she would know he wanted to strip off her dress with his teeth. What would she think of that?

  He needed to focus. There was the cocktail hour, dinner, cake cutting and the dance to get through.

  “It’s time for you to take a break,” Dolley insisted. “Amy will bring your plate to my table.”

  “Can you sit with me?” They were tucked behind a pillar.

  She touched his face. “I thought I would cover while you took a break.”

  He leaned in. “I want more time with you.”

  “And I want the last dance with you.” She smoothed the lapels of his suit.

  “I want that, too.” And more. “In my room?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Grinning, he brushed a kiss on her upturned mouth. “I’ll be back.”

  Her eyes blinked open, but her gaze was blurred.

  He loved that he could fog her mind, because she was sure messing with his.

  After he finished another fine meal, he moved next to Dolley.

  She shot the cake cutting. “Got it.”

  She handed his camera to him. “How was dinner?”

  “I missed you.”

  Her face softened.

  Bess ripped Dolley away from him. “First dance. Come on.”

  He was so used to being alone. Used to watching other people have fun. But being with Dolley was...different.

  That was a thought for later. He still had six weeks to enjoy Dolley, the Fitzgeralds and Savannah.

  While the couple shared their first dance, he circled the dance floor.

  “Abby and Gray want the bridal party and their parents to join them on the floor,” the DJ announced. He pointed to the Foresters. “That incudes you, Mr. and Mrs. Forester.”

  Liam took pictures of each couple. When he turned his lens to the smiling faces of Dolley and Phillips, Phillips held Dolley way too tight and his gaze was glued to her cleavage.

  Liam flipped on the flash and shot a picture right in Phillips’s eyes.

  “Hey!” Phillips loosened his grip on Dolley.

  Dolley laughed. “Sorry, sorry.”

  Thankfully, the song ended. He was close enough to hear Dolley say, “Thank you,” to the lecherous man.

  She stopped next to him. “That wasn’t necessary.”

  “He was staring down your frock.”

  Her head bobbed up. “What?”

  “He was looking down the front of your dress,” he said through clenched teeth, leading her away from the dance floor. “I’d assumed we were...exclusive.”

  Her face cycled through joy, relief and then came irritation. “We are. But what you did was not appropriate.”

  “It was from my side of the camera.”

  “Men,” she muttered.

  “Come on, Dolley, let’s dance.” Nathan, Daniel’s twin brother, grabbed her hand.

  “See you later.” She squeezed Liam’s hand. “Remember I want the last dance.”

  He kept an eye on the Forester brother. Ready to shine the flash in that man’s eyes, too.

  * * *

  DOLLEY SHOULD HAVE been checking whether Abby needed anything, like a good bridesmaid. She glanced over at Liam, inhaling, but couldn’t draw in a full breath.

  All she could think about was dancing with Liam. It didn’t matter if they danced right after Abby and Gray left or thirty minutes later. She wanted Liam’s arms around her.

  “Come on.” Bess tapped her on the shoulder. “Abby and Gray are leaving.”

  Thank goodness.

  Bess looked at her funny.

  Shoot. Had she said that aloud?

  The guests waved Abby and Gray out of the ballroom.

  She didn’t have to turn to know Liam stood behind her; the air changed when he was near. She grabbed his hand. “Last dance?”

  His blue gaze promised so much more. “Absolutely.”

  The DJ played a slow ballad. Liam pulled her close, and they rocked to the song.

  “I’ve wanted to hold you all night,” he whispered in her ear.

  He twirled her, and she tipped her head back. Lights flashed and sparkled off the chandeliers. “My sister’s wedding was beautiful.”

  “So are you.” He eased her head back and into his chest.

  Her knees went weak. Liam was as intoxicating as champagne.

  He held her up. “You all right?”

  “Yes.” More than all right. She was where she wanted to be. In Liam’s arms. It may not last, but right now she had him.

  At least for tonight.

  His arms pulled her close as they swayed to the music. “Oh, not just tonight, darlin’.”

  His words added to the heat bubbling inside her. “I have to quit mumbling.”

  Guests gathered their things and said goodbye. Bess and Daniel swung by on the dance floor. Her sister winked. “We’re taking off. See you two at brunch?”

  Dolley nodded.

  The music ended. Liam laced their fingers together. “Ready?”

  She nodded, unable to push words past the lump in her throat. They were really going to do this. What if she...disappointed him?

  He gathered his camera bag. “I think I got some good pictures.”

  “You rarely take anything but a good photo.”

  “I need to keep you around.”

  Her breath escaped in a whoosh. Did he mean that, or was it foreplay talk?

  They avoided the departing guests by escaping to the back stairs.

  In the narrow staircase, he pressed her against the wall. His hand cupped her chin, tugging her face up. “Here’s something else I’ve been thinking of doing all night.”

  “Me, too.” Her hands wrapped around his neck.

  His mouth crashed down on hers as if he couldn’t wait another second. Tongues collided, his taste an addictive combination of whiskey and cake. He cupped her ass, tugging her into perfect alignment with his erection.

  His bag bumped her side, and she didn’t care. “Oh, my,” she said.

  He rolled his hips against hers.

  “We need to get to your room,” she whispered.

  “Now.” He took her hand.

  They hurried down the remaining stairs and stopped at his doorway. He fumbled the key card more than once. So cute. And her confidence built.

  “Finally.” He yanked her inside, and the door locked behind them. Moonlight drenched the room. She reached out and stroked his shadowed face.

  “Why did we wait so long?” She kicked off her shoes. One flew under the desk, the other behind the sofa.

  “This last week, I’ve barely seen you.” He toed off his own shoes. “Before that, I wasn’t sure you liked me.”

  She tugged off his suit coat and tossed it over the desk chair. “But I did. I just didn’t want to ruin my shot at a mentorship.”

  “Not going to happen.” He spun her around a
nd dragged down her zipper. Nothing could cool the heat flaming inside her. “I love working with you.”

  “Me, too.” Her voice shook.

  His fingers smoothed along her shoulders, pushing away the dress. His hands trailed to the small of her back. His lips took the same path. “Your skin is so gorgeous.”

  With a little shimmy, her dress slid off, pooling on the floor. Stepping out of the circle of fabric, she kicked it away.

  His hands slid around her, cupping her breasts as he pulled her into his chest. His thumbs brushed her nipples, forcing them into aching peaks under the silk of her bra. He nuzzled her neck. “Anticipation is a wonderful thing.”

  Each touch of his fingers drove waves of liquid heat to her core. Gripping his thighs, she leaned her head back.

  He kissed her, thrusting his tongue to meet hers. His erection surged against her bottom.

  It wasn’t enough. She twisted so her chest pressed against him. But nothing relieved the ache building inside.

  She fought the buttons on his shirt, fumbling and pushing to get at his bare skin.

  “Let me.” He ripped his shirt over his head and tossed it toward the sofa.

  With his hands on her arms, he backed her toward the bedroom.

  Her fingers caressed his chest, thumbs finding and brushing his flat nipples.

  His groan filled the room. “I want to be inside you, luv.”

  “That’s the plan.” But her voice shook. The back of her legs hit the edge of the bed.

  “I love the undies.” He brushed a finger along the top of her pale peach bra and ran it down the center of her belly to the matching thong. “The color suits you.”

  “When I put them on—” she shivered “—I was thinking of you looking at me.”

  She inched up on the bed until her back hit the pillows, her elbows propping her up.

  He shucked off his pants, shoving his socks off with a sharp push. She waited for the boxer briefs to drop. There was a lovely bulge tenting the fabric.

  Instead of joining her, he hurried into the bathroom. Light leaked into the room, chasing away some of the shadows.

  Tossing condoms next to her, he crawled on the bed and straddled her legs. “I want you naked.”

  She clutched his hips. “We’re on the same page.”

  “It’s going to be your needs first, because I don’t want this to end too early.” He slid his hands behind her back and popped the hooks on her bra.

  Her hands clutched the comforter as he peeled her bra away.

  He stopped and stared.

  Embarrassment heated her cheeks...probably her whole body. “I thought you were in a hurry.”

  “I want to admire you.”

  “Liam,” she whispered.

  He traced a finger from her chin down to the top of her breast and then repeated the action on her other breast. “What?”

  “You’re taking too long.”

  “I love looking at you. I love your body.”

  His constant use of the word love had her breath stuck in her chest. “You’re not hard on the eyes, either,” she said, keeping things light.

  He slipped lower, licking her nipple until it formed a tight aching bud. Then he took it in his mouth, working it with his tongue and teeth.

  “Oh, yes.” His touch made her drunk.

  “Liam,” she gasped, stroking his head, his shoulder, anywhere she could.

  Her nipple popped out of his mouth, glistening. “I’m right here having the time of my life.”

  “I want to touch you,” she pleaded.

  “I don’t think so.”

  He planted kisses between her breasts and worked his way south. Down her belly, lingering to circle her belly button with his tongue. His fingers clamped on her hips as he kissed his way across her stomach to each hip bone.

  And headed lower. Her breath caught in her chest. She couldn’t think. Only feel. Everything pitched inside her like a boat caught in the surf.

  He brushed a soft kiss on the inside of her thigh as he tugged off her thong.

  “I can’t take much more,” she panted, trying to sit up.

  “You’ll have to.” He pressed her back to the mattress. “You smell good,” he growled.

  She couldn’t reach him to touch. Could only arch her back as he pressed his mouth to her aching center. Fireworks flared behind her eyelids.

  He tortured her for hours, days. Whenever she would get close, he backed away.

  “Not yet. Not yet.”

  She couldn’t take this. She grabbed his shoulder, pulling him up where she could touch him.

  Slipping her hand inside his briefs, she wrapped her fingers around him. A groan rumbled through his chest as she stroked him.

  “Enough,” he growled.

  Liam rose on his knees, pushing down his shorts. There was a crinkle of foil, and then he was finally, finally, taking his place between her legs.

  “Now.” She grabbed hold of his lean hips. “Please.”

  Pressing a kiss to her mouth, he entered her slowly.

  “I want to savor this. Savor you.”

  “You’re killing me.”

  He laughed. A rolling laugh that shook his chest and vibrated inside her.

  “Liam!”

  His blue eyes darkened to black as he held himself above her, his arms straining. She tilted her hips up to help him slide to the perfect union.

  His hair slipped over his eyes as he worked his hips up and down, finally pushing home. The tendons in his arms popped out in deep relief.

  She took a deep breath and breathed in Liam. His musk, the scent of their bodies together. Another addictive scent. She circled her hips, her breath catching.

  “Stop, luv. Give me a minute here.” His head dropped next to her ear, and he took her earlobe between his teeth and nipped. A bite she felt all the way to where their bodies joined.

  When he slid home again, everything—exploded. Sparklers flared behind her eyelids. Yes! She moaned, afraid the wedding guests would hear her in the ballroom.

  “Another,” he whispered.

  He rolled across his bed, taking her with him. Shifting so they stayed connected, he sat with the pillows stacked behind him.

  “Come here.” His voice was a rocky command she couldn’t disobey.

  She straddled him, resting her hands on the headboard, and undulated as he directed her body.

  His blue eyes grew black, and his chest heaved as she took him deeper. His fingers bit into her hips.

  She didn’t care. Her life had boiled down to each stroke of his body inside hers.

  Tingles rolled through her again and she splintered into a thousand raindrops.

  He thrust and held her as he came with her. Wave after wave tossed her around. She collapsed with a groan, and his arms were steel anchors holding them together, keeping her from disintegrating.

  “I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” Liam murmured.

  He rolled so they lay on their sides.

  She forced her heavy eyes open. “Hi.”

  “How’s the form?” He cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes.

  A weak laugh bubbled up. “Your form was fantastic.”

  He frowned. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m more than all right. I’m fabulous.”

  “That you are, luv. That you are.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead before sliding to the edge of the bed. “I’ll be right back.”

  She should dress and run across the courtyard to her apartment. But how could she move? Her eyes shut. She just needed to rest—a bit.

  And drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  There are no bad pictures; that’s just how your face looks sometime
s.

  Abraham Lincoln

  DOLLEY HOOKED HER arm with Liam’s as they entered the ballroom. There were a few people milling around, but no Abby or Gray.

  “You’re grinning.” Liam’s whispered breath in her ear had tingles dancing along her skin.

  “It might be gloating,” she whispered back. She planned to enjoy their new couple’s status.

  He covered her hand and squeezed. “After last night, I might never need a smile goal again.”

  Bess waved at them. “Don’t you two look like Reggie after he’s caught a couple of bunnies? You’d better tone it down, or Mamma will be asking questions.”

  Liam frowned, but it morphed into a smile. “Ah, Reggie is that behemoth white cat?”

  Bess nodded.

  Dolley stuck her tongue out at her sister.

  But she didn’t mind the teasing. She loved finally being on equal footing with both sisters. Well, close. Abby had just gotten married, and Bess was engaged. But this was the first time she’d had a man to show off to her family.

  “Where are the bride and groom?” she asked.

  “Abby’s on her way,” Bess said. “She loved their bedroom.”

  She and Bess had filled Abby and Gray’s bedroom with flowers, candles and rose petals. She let out a little hum. “It was so romantic.”

  Gray’s sister walked in the room.

  Bess leaned over. “I swear, Courtney pouted all week.”

  “I’m afraid she won’t like her candid shots.” Liam stroked Dolley’s back. “What can I get you ladies to drink?”

  “Mimosa,” Bess said.

  “Make it two,” Dolley said.

  Liam headed to the drink setup area.

  “So...” Bess asked.

  “So...” Dolley responded.

  “Anything new with you two?” Bess bumped her shoulder.

  Dolley pretended to lock her lips.

  Bess’s eyebrows arched. “Come on. How was it?”

  She was too close to her sisters. Yet normally, she would have shared. Why was Liam different? “Bess.”

  “It’s been a while since you’ve had someone in your life.” Bess touched her hand.

  “Wonderful. Incredible. Unbelievable. Pick one.”

 

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