by Ali Parker
"It's too much." I pressed my hands to his chest and molded myself against him. "I don't need all of this."
"This isn't about need, Erica. All I need is you, but this space is what we want. Hush and enjoy it. It's yours, baby. It's ours." He leaned down and kissed me until I clung to him.
Never in my life had I felt so adored, so loved, so noticed.
It was a moment that would stay with me forever.
Chapter 59
Two Months Later
Matt
"Please tell me again why the hell you two made me come to this." I glanced over at Erica and back at Bethany. It was mid-January in Dallas, which beat Seattle for sure, but being out and shopping for wedding dresses with two very girlie girls had me wanting to fake diarrhea.
"Because we need a male perspective. Come on. It's going to be fun, and you're my only sibling. Jeez." Bethany slipped her arm into mine. "And Erica is here because the two of you are inseparable."
"And because you need someone with an eye for the arts." Erica wagged her eyebrows and slipped her arm into my other one. She glanced up at me, stealing my heart for the millionth time. "Are we inseparable?"
"Yeah. Especially when we do it like dogs. You know, they say that-"
"Matt!" They yelled together and let me go.
"Gross. Good grief." Bethany slipped her arm into Erica's as they walked to the dress shop, leaving me standing on the sidewalk by myself.
I pulled out my phone and texted my brother that he owed me big time. Him, Karen and my dad. What the fuck? Like I was cannon fodder for the wedding.
"Matt. Come on, baby." Erica held the door open and moved back. "Let's go. Bethany wants you to tell her what Damon might like or not like about these dresses."
"This is creepy." I walked toward her, grateful that Bethany was already inside. "She's my step-sister. I don't want to check her out to see what looks right and what doesn't. And where the hell is Karen."
"Right here." My step-mother walked up from behind us. "I'm sorry I'm late."
I felt like shit. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that to sound like it did."
She smiled. "Sure. Get in here. You deserve this torture."
"Where are the other males in our family?" I walked in and dropped down on a rather comfy couch. I bounced a little until Erica gave me a look that warned me to chill my nuts, less she takes them from me.
"They're golfing." Karen cringed. "Sorry. I knew you'd be upset. They asked that I didn't tell you, but you know that I'm an open book."
"Unbelievable." I leaned back and let out a long sigh, pissy as hell that I was there with the girls. "Are you all trying on dresses?"
"Yeah. Here hold our purses, baby." Erica handed off all three purses and disappeared into a dressing room with Bethany and Karen.
I let my head drop back and closed my eyes. They'd wake me up when they came back out.
"You poor thing." A soft voice caught my attention.
I jerked up to find a petite blond with pretty eyes staring down at me. "Are you the purse holder for the day?"
I glanced around and laughed. "It would seem so. You guys don't have free beers for the purse holder like the bar has free soda for the designated driver, right?"
She laughed. "No, but I wish we did. We would be a lot more popular." She glanced behind her and back at me. "You here with your girlfriend?"
I realized where she was going with it. "Yeah. Her, my mom and my sister."
"Lucky woman." She smiled and walked off.
"I'm the lucky one." I leaned back, slightly uncomfortable at being hit on. Erica was the only woman I saw when I looked around, but that didn't mean she would appreciate some wedding store chick hitting on me. A smile lifted my lips.
You still got it, old boy.
"What are you smiling about?" Erica stood beside me.
I jerked up again. "Oh shit. You scared me."
"Did you fall asleep?" She moved back, and I realized she had on a pretty bridesmaid’s dress. Her curves were accentuated, but only if you really stared her down. My mouth started to water as I took her in.
"No. Some chick hit on me, but I told her to scoot on out of here. My woman is the finest thing in the world." I stood and reached for her, wanting to touch her everywhere.
She stepped back. Apparently telling Erica that the cute blond across the room hit on me was not a way to win points with anyone, least of all - her.
"Where is she?" She turned around, and I took the opportunity to encircle her waist.
"Stop it. You know I only have eyes for you." I kissed the side of her neck. "Get a dressing room to yourself, and I can help get you out of that thing?"
"This thing?" She moved out of my arms and spun around. "I love it."
"I do too." I licked at the side of my mouth. "What color are your panties?"
"I'm not wearing any." She gave me a 'gotcha' smirk and walked off.
"Not fair," I called after her and dropped down on the couch again. A few minutes later, Bethany walked out, looking like a princess.
"Wow." I stood back up. Obviously, it was going to be a long ass day for my thighs. "You look amazing. Beautiful."
"Really?" Her sweet smile captivated my heart. How did a sweet girl like her end up with a cock like my brother? Either way, I was grateful for her being in his life. She turned around slowly. "I don't look puffy or overdone or any of that, right?"
I didn't understand a word she said. "No. You look beautiful. Radiant."
"Thanks, Matt." She smiled and moved closer to me, pressing her hand against my chest. "Do you remember when we first met? Damon had upset me, and you took me out for Mexican food?"
I laughed loudly as the memory swept through my mind. "We were at mom and dad's house. You were in the bed, acting like a fucking diva."
"I was not. Damon had hurt me."
"And I saved you." I reached out and pinched her chin softly. “I'll always save you, Sis.”
"I love you." She hugged me tightly before walking back to the dressing room. I dropped back down and let the memory play in my head. It warmed me and reminded me that family was by far the most important thing in my life. My own voice rose up in my ears as a smile spread across my face.
"Oh hell no," I grumbled loudly. Bethany moved the pillow from her head and looked up, her tears having soaked the sheet beneath her.
"Go away. I'm not in the mood to be friendly."
I pounced on the bed, my hand pressing against the upper part of her back again and again. She bounced with my efforts, growing angry and swatting at me after a few seconds.
Having a sister was going to be so much fun.
"No need to be friendly. We're family. Get your ass up. I'm taking you out."
"No. I'm not interested in seeing people. I hate everyone."
"Liar. Get up. I'm going to inhale everything in the fridge. When I come back, you better be in the shower and getting ready. Jeans and a t-shirt. Get up, get dressed and let's go have fun together."
"No," she grumbled and sat up as I walked toward the door. She was upset, and I wasn't letting her stay there. She was soon to be family, and I'd wanted a sister my whole life. Bethany was going to be a great joy to me. I had no doubt. "Get up, or I'll drag your ass out of there." My voice lost volume as I walked out.
I gave her a few minutes before walking back in and banging on the bathroom door. "Hurry up. I want chips and queso. Nothing else will do!" Now I sounded like an agitated child. That was about right.
"I'm hurrying. Excuse the fact that I have to stop for a fucking meltdown every few minutes."
"It can't be that bad. Come on. We'll work through it together." I ran my fingers through my hair and pressed my forehead against the door.
"You don't want to know this Matt."
But I did want to know, and I wanted to help. Damon's happiness meant more than mine to me. Seeing him and Bethany reconciled was a huge weight off all of our shoulders. He never thought he would find a moment of peace or joy after what mom did, but he
found all of that in Bethany, just like I did in Erica.
"You reminiscing out here?" She walked out in her sundress and smiled. "You look like your lost deep in thought."
I reached for her and pulled her down into my lap. "Just reliving a few memories."
"Happy ones?" She curled up in my lap like we were sitting on the couch in our Seattle home.
"Yeah. Really happy ones." I leaned down and kissed her. "Get ready to come back here again soon. Bethany and Karen are going to want to come in when it's your turn."
Her eyes widened. "Is it going to be my turn soon?"
"When you least expect it." I gripped the back of her neck and kissed her until someone cleared their throat near us.
The cute blond. Bad timing on her part.
"Yes?" Erica gave her a nasty look and turned, pulling me into another hot kiss.
I'd take them however they came, and for whatever reason, they showed up.
Chapter 60
Five Months Later
Erica
"So much has changed, has it not?" Erica stood encircled by my arms as we watched Damon and Bethany leave their wedding reception.
"It has, but it's been amazing." I moved back as she turned in my arms and glanced up at me. "Is everything ready for Kendal?"
"Yeah." He smiled and glanced around, his expression that of a little boy at Christmas. Kendal Tarrington was like a part of the family to Damon and Matt. His life had been such shit lately, but he'd finally found his way out of the dark hole he'd fallen in. He was going to propose to his girlfriend Dana, and we were all in on it.
I was happy as hell for them, but I couldn't help but feel a little jealous too. I wanted my ring and my date. Matt and I had been together for almost eight months but had been in love for years.
"Let's get where we can see." I forced my wayward thoughts away and reached for Matt's hand, pulling him toward the dance floor. "So sweet!"
"Yeah. It's so good to see Kendal happy." Matt moved up beside me, and the rest of the family and our friends crowded around to watch Kendal and Dana dance slowly together. It was almost comical when Dana realized we were all watching her.
"What's going on?" Dana turned and let out a soft yelp as Kendal moved to his knee.
"I'm done waiting," he spoke with reverence in his voice.
I wrapped my arms tightly around Matt as tears filled my eyes. For someone who didn't believe in true love, I was quickly learning my lesson. Damon belonged with Bethany, Kendal belonged with Dana, and Matt belonged with me.
"You okay?" Matt leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose as a tear ran down my cheek.
"Yeah. Just overwhelmed." I turned back to watch Dana's eyes widen.
"Done waiting on what?" she asked.
"On the right to call you my bride." He pulled out a small box and lifted it toward her. "I love you with the depths of my heart, baby. I'll spend forever proving how much you mean to me if you'll just give me the chance to. There's no mountain I won't climb, no obstacle I won't beat, no rule I won't break to have you beside me as my wife. Tell me you'll say yes and be my girl forever."
She let out a soft sound of joy and dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around him and knocking him to the floor. "Yes!"
Matt and I laughed, as did everyone around us.
"I love you, Dana," Kendal held her tightly, stealing all of our hearts.
"I love you more." She leaned in and kissed him the way I kissed Matt, with fierce passion.
"Come on. I have something for you." Matt moved out of my arms and reached for my hands.
"A ring?" I gave him a cocky grin. "I am up next, by the way. I caught the flowers at your mom and dad's wedding."
He laughed. "Someone is impatient."
"I should be! We've been together forever." I moved up to let him wrap one of his arms around me.
"And we're going to be together for the rest of time. I'm not pulling out a ring here with everyone watching. I have it all planned out. Don't you worry about a thing, baby." He kissed the side of my head, and I let my angst go. It was silly.
It already felt like we were married. We lived together, worked together and went everywhere together. I loved my life.
"Where are we going?" I followed him through the hotel where the reception was to the elevator.
"Upstairs. My dad said him and some of Damon's buddies would wrap everything up."
"You got us a room here?" I pressed myself against him as the elevator closed.
"Yeah. I'm not waiting another minute to strip you out of that dress and lavish your sexy body with my tongue and hands."
"And your cock?" I licked his lips.
He growled low in his chest. "You drive me crazy."
"In a good way." I moved back and turned as the door opened. I shook my ass a little more than necessary, but there was something so deliciously powerful about turning Matthew on. He was laid back and docile most of the time, but once I got him in the bedroom, he turned into a beast. I loved every part of him, but his alpha nature in the sheets took the cake for me.
"You smell so fucking good." He pressed himself against my back after barking out the room number and handing me the key.
I fumbled with trying to get the damn thing in the keyhole as he ran his hand all over me. "I can't get it open."
"Keep trying, baby." He cupped my breast and pushed my hair to the side before sinking his teeth into the back of my neck.
My body tightened with need, my nipples budding, my sex growing wet. "Fuck. Stop, Matt. Give me a second."
"I'm gonna fuck you out here in this hallway if you don't open the goddamn door, Erica."
I moaned loudly and bumped him with my butt, gaining myself a few seconds to get the card key in the hole. I walked into the room and turned as he barged in after me, his eyes hooded, cock thick and pressing against his slacks.
"Don't rip the dress." I held out my hand, but he slapped it away and grabbed my wrists, pulling me close.
"Turn around and let me unzip it." He ran his nose by mine, and the scent of his cologne and arousal filled my nose.
I moaned and turned around, dropping my head so he could get to the zipper without effort. He had it down and off of me seconds later.
"Where do you-" I stumbled toward the wall in front of me as he barked his commands.
"Put your hands on the wall. Now."
I walked to the wall and pressed my hands against it. "I love it when you act like this."
"What? I act like this every night." He undid my bra and slipped it forward to massage my breasts. "I want to be buried deep inside your body."
"Good. Then take what's yours." He slid his hand up to my neck and cupped it tightly, forcing me to look back as he leaned down and consumed me with a wicked hot kiss. He ran his hand down my stomach and into my panties, parting me and wasting no time in sliding his middle finger deep into my pussy.
I moaned against his lips and rolled my hips, massaging his erection as he worked me hard and fast.
The sound of him enjoying himself combined with his strong dominance over me had me limp in his arms and screaming my release.
"So beautiful, Erica." He kissed me again and released me, moving back a little. I started to turn, but he grabbed my arms and pressed my hand to the wall again, sliding them upward just a little bit. "Stay here."
"Anything," I whimpered as he moved down to his knees and pulled my panties from me. "Matt. What are you doing?"
"What I've wanted to do all night." He turned and sat down, pressing his back against the wall. "Come here."
I took a step forward and moaned in ecstasy as he parted my folds open and leaned in to lick my slit. He wasn't careful or concerned with how he looked. He was starving for me, and he was more than happy to let me know.
"Fuck," I moaned above him and reached down to slide my hand into his hair. I pulled it sharply, and he groaned and sucked more of me into his mouth. He had me shaking like a leaf within a few minutes. I released his hai
r and lifted my head toward the ceiling, bending my back a little as my second orgasm tore through me.
Pleasure, like I couldn't remember feeling, slammed against me in thick waves, over and over again.
He lapped at me until I stepped back, panting loudly and feeling dizzy. "Damn. I feel like I'm going to pass out. The room is spinning."
"Lie down baby." He moved off the floor and helped me to the bed. "I'll just hold you."
"No." I curled up on my side as everything calmed down a little. "Make love to me, but do it from here."
He spooned me, sliding his thick cock into my wet body in one tortuously slow thrust. We groaned together as pleasure coursed through me.
"Tell me if I hurt you, or you need me to stop." He gripped my hip and pressed his chest against my back as we took our time making love. Ever stroke felt better than the last, and before I realized what was happening, he slipped his hand between my thighs and brought me over the edge, following soon after that.
"You okay, angel?" He kissed the top of my back and wrapped his arms around me tightly.
"So good." I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. I didn't need a ring yet and knowing Matt, it would be a while before I got one. He was a showman, a perfectionist, and artist.
He never followed the rules, and he sure as hell wasn't the kind of guy to steal Kendal or Damon's moment.
He was creative. He was handsome. Wealthy as a man could be.
But most of all, he was mine.
Epilogue
Two Months Later
Matt
"Come on, baby. We're going to be late." Matt stood at the bedroom door and gave me a look. "You don't look so good."
"What?" I turned around in the mirror, the black dress I'd bought fitting me great. "I love this thing. You don't?"
"I love everything you wear, Erica." He walked into the bathroom and picked up the little blue stick I'd peed on minutes before. "I meant that you look pale. When the fuck is this thing going to show us what's up? We're going to be late."