by Ivy Smoak
"I need you, James. You have no idea how much I need you."
"Then you know how I feel all the time." He grabbed my ass and lifted my legs around him.
I could feel how hard he was. His erection was pressed against my stomach as he lowered me onto the table.
"I've been waiting my whole life for this moment. I'm going to savor every second of it." He bent down in front of me and kissed the inside of my ankle as he slowly pushed my dress up.
I wasn't going to be able to take his torturous ascent. "James, please."
"Insatiable as ever," he said once he reached the inside of my knee.
I knew my whole body was trembling with want. All I could feel were his lips on my skin.
"I like this," he said and snapped my garter against my thigh.
I squirmed and he tightened his grip on me.
"It's hard to know how I should make my lovely wife come first." His breath was hot between my thighs.
He grabbed the sides of my thong and slowly lowered it down my hips.
"Your cock."
I felt him smile again as he kissed me just beside where I needed him most. "That'll be the last of the three. So you'll have to choose what's first. My fingers," he lightly stroked his fingers against my wetness, "or my tongue."
I felt his hot breath again. I didn't want to go slowly, but I did want that. There was never a moment where I didn't want that. "Your tongue."
"I was hoping you'd say that." He placed a long, slow stroke against my wetness.
Fuck.
He expertly swirled his tongue, hitting all my walls. He knew exactly what to do to make me putty in his hands.
I tilted my head back and moaned.
He responded by thrusting his tongue deep inside of me. He gripped my thighs firmly in his hands and spread them as far as they would go, allowing him to go deeper still.
God yes.
He was completely devouring me. I was moments away from release. He wrapped his hands around my thighs and pulled me to the edge of the table, changing the angle again. I could barely control myself. And then he gently rubbed his nose against my clit.
I came. Hard. I gripped his hair as I screamed his name. It was almost embarrassing how fast he could make me come. But I was never embarrassed about my reaction to James. And I knew he loved it just as much as I did.
"There is nothing better than the taste of you," he whispered and placed one last slow stroke against my aching pussy. "And now for my fingers."
"James, please, I need you."
"Baby, trust me, I know exactly what you need." He slowly encircled my wetness with one finger.
I whimpered as he sunk his finger deep inside of me.
"And it makes me even harder each time you tremble in my arms. The look on your face when you come makes me want to do it over and over again to you." He thrust a second finger inside of me.
"James," I moaned.
He began to massage my clit with his thumb. "Penny Hunter. God, I love the sound of that." He kissed the inside of my knee and then stood up so he could peer down at me. The new angle just made his fingers go deeper. He moved his hand slowly at first and then faster and faster, driving me toward the edge.
"I love how flushed your cheeks get when you're about to come. And the way your lips part ever so slightly."
He knew me even better than I knew myself.
"Look at me when you come, baby." He curved his fingers, hitting the spot that always made me come.
Yes! I could feel myself start to pulse around his fingers. A small smile curled onto his lips when he felt it too. I let myself collapse back onto the table, but didn't drop his gaze. I could feel the heat of his stare. Each time my pussy throbbed against him, it made him want me more and more. And it was an intoxicating feeling. I loved that he got aroused at my pleasure. It made me feel so sexy.
He slowly slid his fingers out of me and put them in his mouth, sucking off my juices. "I've never seen you more beautiful than in this moment."
The room was only illuminated by the candlelight. His face danced in the shadows, somehow making him look even more perfect.
He slowly lowered his pants, revealing his massive erection. "And I've also never wanted you so badly."
I reached behind my back, searching for the zipper on my dress.
"Keep it on," he growled and stepped forward. He spread my thighs apart again. "I want you just like this."
"Then take me." I grabbed his tie and pulled his lips down to mine.
He groaned into my mouth as he slowly sunk into me.
Fuck, yes. Even though he had just had me with his mouth and his fingers, his thick cock always seemed to stretch me even wider. And I loved the feeling. I loved being completely possessed by him.
"I was made for loving you, Penny," he said against my lips. "I'll never stop. I'll love you until the day I die." He grabbed my hips as he slowly started sliding his length in and out of me.
All I could think about was the friction that I had craved ever since I had stepped into this room. All I could feel was the heat between us.
"You're so beautiful." His fingertips dug into my hips slightly as he quickened his paced. "Fuck," he groaned.
"Don't stop. Please don't stop." I wasn't even sure if I was talking about right this second or our entire future. I just wanted him forever.
"Baby, I'll never stop. I'm yours. Forever and always." He kissed me hard as he slammed into me more forcefully.
There were no doubts anymore. There were no more what-ifs. He was mine and I was his.
His fingertips dug into my hips ever harder as my toes started to curl. He exploded inside of me with a force I had never felt before. And I came just as hard.
"My beautiful wife," he said and kissed the tip of my nose. "I promise to love and cherish you every day."
I felt so full. Full of his love and everyone else's that had come to our wedding. I couldn't stop the tears that fell down my cheeks.
"I was made for loving you too, James. You're my everything. My perfect husband." I put my hand on the side of his face.
He rubbed his thumbs under my eyes to remove my tears. "Thank you for saying no to Las Vegas. This was so much better."
I smiled, remembering him asking me to run away with him in my dorm. "This was perfect. Do you think we can sneak away now, though?"
He laughed. "Let's cut the cake and throw your bouquet and get the hell out of here." He grabbed my waist and pulled me to my feet.
I quickly pulled my thong back on as he put his belt back through the loops of his pants. I reached up and straightened his tie and ran my fingers through his hair.
"What, you don't want me walking around with sex hair for the rest of the night?"
"Rob's speech was enough inappropriateness for one night, don't you think?"
James laughed.
Chapter 16
Saturday
"Don't you dare do it, James." He was holding the piece of cake close to my face and it was way too big of a piece for me to eat.
"Do what?" He smashed the piece of cake against my mouth.
I leaned forward so it wouldn't get all over my dress and laughed. I immediately grabbed his piece and shoved it against his lips, smearing the icing across his cheek.
He laughed. "Delicious. You have a little something there," he said and touched the tip of my nose with his hand that was covered in icing.
I laughed and grabbed a napkin. "Chocolate cake was a terrible idea," I said. I licked the corner of my mouth. But he was right, it was delicious.
"But it looks so good on you." He handed me a cloth that a waiter had just given him.
I quickly wiped away the mess along with most of my makeup. Luckily most of the pictures had already been taken. "You missed a spot," I said and wiped my finger across his cheek. I put my finger in my mouth and licked off the icing.
"Are you just trying to make me forgo the hotel again?" He raised his left eyebrow and snatched the cloth back from
me.
***
The song had slowed down and I was swaying in James' arms. I had been staring into his eyes the whole time. I couldn't seem to stop. He was my husband. James Hunter was my husband. It was hard to wrap my head around it. I was married to the man of my dreams.
James smiled. "What are you thinking?"
"That I can't believe I married my professor."
"Any regrets?"
I shook my head. "None."
The song stopped. I thought another would start up, but instead, I heard the thump of the mic.
"It's time to see who's wedding we'll be celebrating next!" the D.J. said. "Someone get a chair in the middle of the dance floor."
Rob dropped Daphne's hand and pulled a chair up to me and James.
"This should be properly embarrassing," he said with a wink.
Embarrassing? There was nothing embarrassing about this. Unless I threw the bouquet too hard or something. I had seen someone throw it into the rafters before. But we were outside. I'd be fine.
"Mrs. Hunter, take a seat and let your new husband find your garter."
I laughed and sat down in the chair. James kneeled down in front of me and lifted up my skirt slightly. He bent down and his head disappeared beneath it. I hadn't even thought about how horribly awkward this would be. God, Rob was right. This was definitely embarrassing.
James kissed the inside of my knee and then my thigh. He was purposely taking a long time just to mortify me. He knew exactly where it was from earlier.
I felt his fingers slowly wrap around the garter and he pulled it gingerly down my thigh. He reappeared a second later and made a face like it had been hard work.
He laughed and smoothed my dress back into place.
Everyone seemed to think it was hilarious. "Ow, ow!" all the groomsmen yelled.
James winked at me and stood back up.
"All the single men please make your way to the dance floor," the D.J. said.
"All those sexy bachelors!" Justin said and clapped his hands.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"And all the single ladies, stand on the other side of the dance floor," the D.J. said.
I saw all my friends make their way to the dance floor.
"You or me first?" James asked.
"I'll go." I turned away from the group of girls. I threw my bouquet behind my back and immediately turned around to see who would catch it. It landed straight in Melissa's arms without her even trying to grab it. She laughed awkwardly and tried to hand it to Bee, but Bee shook her head.
Melissa shrugged and smiled at me.
As soon as I was back from my honeymoon, we could have that conversation I promised her. Just thinking about it made my stomach twist with guilt. And not just because of the fact that Tyler had left her because of me. It was also because this was the first time all day that I had even thought about Tyler. But it was better that he wasn't here. It wouldn't have been right. Maybe one day we could be friends again. The way I thought we had been this whole time.
James shot my garter belt into the group of bachelors.
Matt jumped up and caught it. He smiled as he walked over to Melissa. He grabbed her waist, pulled her in close, and kissed her.
A few people gasped. They were suppose to share a dance, not a kiss.
But in a few seconds, Melissa grabbed the back of his neck, ensuring that he wouldn't stop.
"Wow, I did not see that coming," James said and put his arm around my shoulders.
I smiled. "I think they'd actually be really good together."
"Yeah? They're both such strong personalities though."
"I'm just saying I could see it."
Melissa laughed as Matt kneeled down in front of her. He lifted up her skirt and slid the garter up to her thigh. She put her hands on his shoulders to steady herself and squealed when he kissed her thigh.
"Now it's time for the bride and groom to go get busy!" the D.J. said.
"Oh God." I put my hand over my face and James kissed my cheek.
When I opened my eyes again, everyone had formed two lines for us to walk between. And everyone was holding sparklers.
I thought the night already looked magical. But with those, it was just perfect. James grabbed my hand and we laughed and ran through all the smiling faces. When we reached the end of the line, James grabbed me and kissed me. Everyone cheered. It felt like I would never stop smiling. Like life could always be this perfect. James let go of my waist and we turned to wave to everyone.
I heard a loud boom. Fireworks! I turned to look up in the sky. But nothing was there. Just the stars that had magically appeared for our wedding. I felt James's hand on my shoulder. A second boom rang out before I had even turned back toward him.
When my eyes met his, I could see it in his face. Terror. Pain. His hand on my shoulder grew even heavier as he stumbled forward. He coughed and blood splattered onto my dress. I looked down at the red that was spreading across his dress shirt. No. No!
It wasn't like you see in the movies. He didn't whisper my name and say he'd always love me. It was just fear in his eyes. A terror that had to match my own. And time didn't slow down. If anything, it sped up.
Everyone started screaming. Sirens wailed in the distance.
"Get down!" someone shouted.
"James." A third shot rang out and he fell to his knees, pulling me down with him. "James!" I screamed. I pressed the skirt of my dress against the wound I could see. "Somebody help him! James, stay with me." I pressed down more firmly on his wound, but it just seemed to make it worse. His stomach was covered in blood. His arm was covered in blood. His chest was covered in blood. "Baby, please. Please." It wasn't desperation in my voice. It was despair. Because he was no longer looking at me. He was staring blindly at the stars.
The sparklers fizzled out as I watched the life drain out of my husband's face. The darkness of the night seeped in around us.
PART 2
Chapter 17
Saturday
Someone pulled me off of him.
Porter bent down over James and ripped his shirt open. I could see the hole in his stomach. I could see the hole right below his chest. There was so much blood. Porter pulled off his jacket and pressed it against both of the wounds as he put his ear to James' chest. "Briggs!" he yelled.
Briggs released me from his grip. His hands replaced Porter's as Porter began performing CPR.
James wasn't breathing. This can't be happening. I felt frozen. I kept blinking, thinking what was happening in front of me would change.
An ambulance screeched to a stop and paramedics burst out of it.
Briggs stepped out of the way of the paramedics and scanned the top of the buildings that surrounded this side of Central Park as Porter shouted instructions.
"West side," Porter shouted. "Check the rooftops."
Briggs cursed and took off running.
I closed my eyes. Please let me be imagining this.
"Penny," Porter said and grabbed my arm. "Get in the ambulance. We'll meet you at the hospital."
"Is he going to be okay?"
"You need to get in the ambulance."
That was a no. James wasn't going to be okay. He was dying. James was dying. Tears streamed down my face. I quickly climbed into the back of the ambulance as soon as they had lifted James into it. I watched them press down on James' body with electrical paddles. James' body jolted.
"James," I whispered and squeezed his shin. "James, you can't leave me." I cringed when his body jolted again beneath my hand. "James, please, wake up."
"Turn it up," one of the paramedics said as the ambulance came to a stop outside of the hospital. His body jolted again as the doors flew open. His gurney was lifted out of the ambulance and he was rolled into the hospital.
I ran after the paramedics. A doctor leapt onto the gurney and started performing CPR as they disappeared behind swinging doors that stated personal only. I was left alone in the empty hallway, watching the doo
rs swing until suddenly they stopped.
I fell to my knees and let myself cry. I had sensed that something was wrong earlier. If I had told James that, maybe he would have let us leave. Maybe we would have stayed inside for the rest of the evening. My thoughts flooded with maybes. I could sense that she was there somewhere. Isabella. And she was still out there. She'd rather James be dead than with me.
Someone needed to come back through the doors. Someone needed to tell me what was happening. Tears cascaded down my cheeks and I didn't bother to wipe them away. Someone needed to tell me he was okay.
"Penny."
I shook my head.
"Penny." Rob lifted my face so that I would look at him.
"Rob," I sobbed and I started crying even harder.
He put his arms around me and held me. He didn't bother telling me everything was going to be okay. We both knew that it wasn't. He ran his hand up and down my back. It didn't calm me down at all.
I wasn't sure how long he held me, but eventually he pulled back. "Come with me," he said and stood up. "Maybe someone will have an update for us." His eyes were red too. I had never seen Rob cry before. And it made me even more unsettled. He was crying because he thought James was gone too. He was crying because he thought he had lost his brother.
I grabbed his hand and he pulled me to my feet. I turned back toward the doors James had disappeared through. Please, James. Please don't leave me.
Rob put his arm around my shoulders and walked me toward the front desk. I stood there listening to the commotion of the emergency room as Rob was handed forms to fill out.
"No," Rob said. "I asked how he was doing. Not this," he said and slammed the clipboard down on the counter.
"Sir," the woman said. "We will have someone come talk to you as soon as we know."
"Can't you just check?"
"That's not my job."
"How about you get off your ass and..."
"Rob," Mason said and put his hand on his shoulder. "How about you sit down and let me talk to them?"
Rob ran his hand through his hair. "They won't tell us anything."