by Stacy Gail
“Your dress. I picked out three dresses that I thought you’d like the most, so give them a looksee, and let’s get you dressed for your wedding, okay? Oh, and the makeup artist just texted and said he’ll be running a little late. Apparently there was a makeup emergency with one of the showgirls downstairs. Because Vegas, apparently.”
Right.
Because Vegas.
Where anything was possible.
The next twenty minutes were an amazing whirl of laughter, nerves and chaos. Just as someone called out that it was half an hour to midnight—the New Year—Mads smoothed a hand down the white silk skirt of the form-fitting, knee-length sleeveless dress with a plunging V-neck. The heels were a perfect match and surprisingly subdued, when she would have thought there were no subdued heels within the city limits. Her short hair had been fluffed and sculpted, and she still wasn’t sure how the makeup artist had created such a spectacular smokey eye look, but she was bound and determined to learn.
It was a perfect dress, and a perfect look, and she had her sister by her side. All she needed now…
Was Sage.
“Ladies, if you’ll wait in the vestibule for just a moment, we’ll get the groom and best man situated, and then we’ll be ready to go.” A round-faced grandmotherly type with a perpetual smile ushered Mads and Serena into place behind a set of closed double doors. “Do you have anyone to walk you down the aisle, dear, or is this a solo trip?”
“I’ll be walking her down the aisle,” Serena announced a little too loudly, then cleared her throat when the woman gave her an odd look before heading back out to leave them alone once more. “Sorry. That came out a little forcefully because… well. You know.”
“It’s okay.” Mads reached down and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I get it.”
“I saw Dad before I left,” she volunteered without looking at her, instead staring determinedly at the blank closed doors in front of them. “I thought, even after all he’s done, that narcissistic jerk still has a right to know his daughter’s getting married and moving on to the next stage in life with an incredible man by her side.”
Aw. “Let me guess. He didn’t give a shit.”
“Actually, he, um, made me wait while he wrote a note that I’m supposed to deliver to you. I haven’t read it,” she added in a rush, darting Mads a guilty look. “That’s why I haven’t given it to you. For all I know it could be one final fuck you, you ruined my life kind of thing, and there’s no way in hell I’m going to deliver that kind of poisoned-pen message to you on your wedding day. Maybe I shouldn’t even be telling you about it now, but I just… I just didn’t know what to do.”
A rush of compassion filled her at the sight of all the anxiety and guilt in her sister’s eyes. “Do you have it with you?”
“Yes, I—” Serena held up her clutch purse looped around her wrist by its strap, then abruptly dropped it to grip her bouquet of white roses and pink poinsettias, the perfect flower for the season. “If you want, I’ll give it to you later. Much later. Like after you get back from your honeymoon. Or on your fortieth birthday. Or maybe when your first child goes to college. Whenever.”
“It’s okay, Rena.” Mads held out her hand and smiled when her sister hesitated. “Dad can’t hurt me anymore. I want you to be happy, and you won’t be until I take that burden he gave you off your shoulders.”
Saint that she was, her sister still hesitated. “Are you sure, hon?”
“I’m beyond his reach now. Thanks to Sage, I now know what it is to be loved and treasured. That’s something Dad can never take away from me.”
With a dubious look, Serena opened her clutch purse and pulled out an envelope. Glancing quickly at the clock over the doors, Mads ripped the envelope open and unfolded the lined notebook paper within.
Mads,
I don’t have a lot of time to say all the things that I need to tell you. I don’t even know if you’ll read this message. You might just throw it away. If I were in your shoes, that’s what I would do.
That’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. Being in your shoes, and how I would have reacted to everything I did. Sometimes it’s hard for me to see that I’m doing damage, unless I think about someone treating me the way I treat them. Then I get it. That’s when I can see the damage.
I understand what I did to you. I didn’t at first, because all that mattered to me was proving that I could be as good as any artist Payne had under his roof. It wasn’t until your man put his fist through one of my paintings that I understood how you must have felt when I ruined your painting. Except for me, it was some stranger doing the damage. For you, it was your father, so I guess maybe the hurt went that much deeper? I don’t know.
What I’m trying to say is that I guess I shouldn’t have done what I did. You deserved better.
I hope you’ll find that better with your new husband. He seems to know how to protect you in ways I never imagined you even needed. Be kind to each other. If you don’t know how to do that, try putting yourself in the shoes of the person who’s most important to you, then think about how they would like to be treated. Come to find out, it works a treat.
D
“He apologized,” she whispered, rocked to her core with disbelief. “I mean, he didn’t actually say I’m sorry, because I honestly don’t think he’s capable. But this was as close to an apology and an acknowledgment that he did wrong that I’m ever going to get.”
“Wow,” Rena whispered, taking the paper Mads handed back to her, scanning it quickly before tucking it back into her clutch. “Do you forgive him?”
“It’s not even a matter of forgiveness, Rena,” Mads said, shaking her head. “I meant what I said earlier. I’m beyond his reach, so nothing he does now—good or bad—can touch me. Dad will always be focused more on himself than any other person on the planet, but that’s okay. That just means he can take care of himself, and who knows? I think he might even be turning into a better man.”
“Wow,” Rena said again, looking dubious. “You think?”
“Anything’s possible.” At that moment, the swell of the Bridal March came through the overhead speaker, and she smiled in anticipation. “I’m getting married to the hottest, greatest, most talented man in the world, when just a couple months ago I’d been too closed off to even talk to him. I’m the living embodiment of anything’s possible.”
“Anything’s possible,” her sister repeated as if to herself as the double doors slowly opened. “I like the sound of that.”
So did Mads, but at that moment she caught sight of Sage at the end of the aisle in front of them, looking way too gorgeous in a tux that looked like it was made just for him. Faint surprise moved through her to see Charlie Woodbridge standing next to his son in a similar outfit, but ultimately she had eyes only for her man. Euphoric joy bloomed inside her as she and Serena moved down the aisle, so much so she felt she had to be glowing with it. When she at last drew alongside him and slipped her hand into his, she knew that even if she’d spent weeks planning that moment, it couldn’t have been any more perfect.
*
“Yes.” Eyes half-closed, legs folded and pressed tight against Sage’s sides, Mads rolled her hips as she chased the elusive pleasure shivering along her nerve endings with every fierce thrust. Then it ballooned within her, and she could feel her interior walls clenching around his cock that fit her so well, and she closed her eyes in sweet anticipation of the explosion.
When her orgasm hit, it was better than the fireworks that had boomed overhead just as she and Sage recited their vows to each other. The man fucking her so gloriously was not just the man she loved. He was now her husband, her everything, and that thought catapulted her to even greater heights of pleasure. Her cries mingled with his as he thrust into her on last time before he collapsed on her, breathing as though he’d just run a marathon.
“We just had sex as husband and wife,” she marveled dazedly, still tingling and loving it. “This wasn’t just sex. It was mar
ried sex.”
A low chuckle rumbled from him before he pulled out of her and rolled to his side, his arms tightening around her to bring her with him. “Hell, yeah, it was. And it was out-fucking-standing.”
“I didn’t think we could get any better at this, but I’m pleased to report I was wrong.” Expelling a long breath, her heartrate finally began to ease its way back down to normal. “Married sex is the best sex.”
“I’m glad you’re a fan of it, because that’s all you’re getting from this point on, Daniels. Lots and lots of married sex.” Still smiling, he kissed her long and deep, before tucking her against his side. “Though I really can’t call you Daniels anymore, can I? Charlie was right about that.”
“I’m more than proud to be Mrs. McCormick, but if you call me Daniels I’ll definitely answer. And if you’re really attached to that name, we can always call one of our someday-kids Daniel or Danielle.”
“Our someday-kids.” His eyes softened in a way she’d never seen from him before, and it melted her all the way to her soul. “I’ll be honest, baby. I don’t know if I want to name any of our kids after the name your father carries, because he’s a dick. But I wouldn’t mind naming one of them Charlie.”
“Charlie or Charlene,” she added, and to her surprise there wasn’t even a hint of a freak-out at the thought of having children. How far she’d come, thanks to this beautiful man. “I would love that. I think your dad would love it, too.”
“Yeah, he would. He’s a marshmallow underneath all the crust.”
“Charlie’s not that crusty.”
“No, he’s not,” came the thoughtful reply. “In fact, he’s pretty damn awesome. I’m glad I’m going to have him around to ask advice for when our kids decide to mutiny and tie us to chairs.”
She snorted. “I doubt it’ll get that bad.”
“Don’t bet on that, Skittish. If they have anything of me in them—and they will—we’re going to have some hairy moments.”
“But we’ll be together. And together we’ll show them how much they’re loved and valued and respected. So no matter how bad those hairy moments get, as long as we have each other, we’ll be okay.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
He slid a loving hand through her hair before it came to rest against her cheek. “Jesus, you do, don’t you? You believe in us that much.”
“Don’t you?”
“Hell, yeah, I do. When I’m with you, I know there’s nothing we can’t conquer. That’s why I’m wearing this,” he added, holding up his left hand for her to see the thick gold ring on his finger, with its more delicate twin around her own finger along with her engagement ring. “When I’m with you, I’m a better man. A stronger man. You give me strength to take on the world, if that’s what it takes to keep you safe and happy.”
“All I need to be happy is you.” She stretched up to kiss him, and had to laugh when somewhere beyond their room came the sound of a clock striking one. “Have I wished you Happy New Year yet?”
His nose nuzzled hers as his hands began to roam once more. “As a matter of fact, I don’t think you have.”
“Happy New Year, husband,” she whispered, letting her hands do some wandering of their own. “If the first hour is any indication, this upcoming year is going to be incredible.”
“Not just incredible,” he said, his tone making it sound like a vow. “It’s going to be the best of our lives.”
Note from the Author
Happy Holidays!
HOUSE OF PAYNE: SAGE wasn’t supposed to be a Christmas/holiday book (and I don’t think it is). When I first started writing SAGE back in September, I was already feeling the Christmas spirit, to the point where I had my Christmas tree’s box in the mudroom ready to go. When it came time to make SAGE happen, I was all for a book filled with twinkling lights and Hallmark movies. And though the story’s plot didn’t orbit around the holiday itself, it sure was nice to have it in the background. :)
The next House of Payne-related books are a novella (Serena’s side story) and HOUSE OF PAYNE: TALON—finally! We got a good look at Talon in SAGE, and we caught a glimpse of his future ladylove, Zenni Greer in HOUSE OF PAYNE: ICE. Zenni has ambitions, and nothing’s going to get in her way to make it to the top in her field. If she could just get that aggravating tattooist out of her business, life would be just dandy…
Look for Serena’s novella in February, and HOUSE OF PAYNE: TALON in late spring! After that, I’m switching gears a bit by debuting a new limited series centered around the Gravediggers MC, with Tyr Colgrave taking center stage this summer. For a good look at Tyr and the Gravediggers MC, be sure to check out HOUSE OF PAYNE: LOKI. Loki and Tyr will be sure to rev your engine. ;)
There’s more lust, lies and love to be had in the House that Payne built. Look for Serena’s novella in February, and HOUSE OF PAYNE: TALON this spring, 2021!
Tyr Colgrave is roaring into his own limited series, THE GRAVEDIGGERS MC, coming summer, 2021!
About the Author
A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time. By fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a figure skating coach who was also a published romance author, or a romance author who was also a figure skating pro. Now, with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and writing everything from steampunk to cyberpunk, contemporary to paranormal at night, both dreams have come true.
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