by Alison Mello
As I’m tying my tie, my phone chirps with an incoming text. I pick it up and see that it’s from Kara.
Kara: Morning, baby, I just wanted to say that I can’t wait until this is us.
I smile to myself as I type my reply.
Reid: I can’t wait either. One day soon, this will be us and it will be the best day of my life.
I finish getting ready and grab my phone and keys before heading for the door. I jump into my new Audi TTS Roadster. I couldn’t resist the gorgeous car when Kara suggested it was about time I upgraded. The fact that it was a deep red like Kara’s favourite lipstick was one of the selling points. Perhaps that makes me sound weird, but I like the look of it on her lips, and every time I see my car, it makes me smile because I think of her.
Traffic holds me up a little bit and I get a text from Kara.
Kara: Reid, where are you? We’re all ready and you need to be here.
Reid: Sorry, baby, traffic is worse than I thought. Hopefully I’m only about 10 minutes away. Don’t stress, I’ll be there.
I smile to myself. She’s stressing, but only because she wants everything to be absolutely perfect for her best friend. I don’t blame her, but I can’t be held responsible for the traffic this morning.
Pulling up outside the church, I see the family beginning to enter through the large double doors. I hop out of the car and join my brother and Liam as I spot them approaching.
***
Kara looks beautiful in her aubergine-coloured dress. It’s a colour that really compliments her. She has had a smile on her face all day, and I can’t wait until this is us because I know that smile will be even brighter. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I can’t wait to make her my wife.
She did her duty as maid of honour, she made sure everything ran smoothly for Zoey all day. The only minor hiccup was when their dog, who was meant to be the ring bearer—which is literally one of the weirdest things I’ve ever heard of—decided it was more fun to play with the cushion the rings were tied to and nearly ended up swallowing the rings. But I managed to stop that from happening by catching Bracken and taking the cushion from her, rings still intact.
Liam, Jason, and I were sat at a table with Kara and Zoey’s other bridesmaids. I’d heard Brock give his speech and seen them have their first dance. I felt happy for Zoey that she’d found the right man for her. She deserves happiness as much as anyone. Just because we aren’t together anymore doesn’t mean I don’t want her to be happy. She and Brock seem like a good fit for each other and their daughter Thea is so precious. She has her mother’s eyes and her father’s smile, with an added little dimple that makes her all the more adorable. She’s busy running rings around Bracken at the moment and it tugs at something in my heart. I realise that this is what I want. Not just to be married to the love of my life, but to be a dad too. It would make my life complete.
***
“You look so beautiful,” I whisper in a husky voice as Kara stands before me.
She blushes and looks so breathtakingly gorgeous. I reach out to take hold of her hips, holding her in place.
Kara places her hands on my shoulders as I sit at the foot of the bed in front of where she stands. I pull her closer and part my legs so she can stand between them.
“You look so handsome in this suit. I suddenly know what it is that makes a woman go weak at the knees when she sees a man in a sharp suit.”
I slip my arms around her and pull her to sit on my lap. Nuzzling into the crook of her neck, I inhale the scent of her shampoo and fragrance.
My heart feels like it skips a beat when she leans in to kiss me. Her soft, full lips claim mine in a sweet kiss that’s both breath-taking and a little dizzying. My cock begins to stir to life and I have an almost animalistic urge to throw her down on the bed and claim her. Instead, I deepen our kiss and feel around blindly to undo the zip at the back of her dress. Once I have that undone, I slip it slowly down her arms without breaking our kiss. She lets it pool at her waist and begins to unbutton my shirt. I quickly loosen my tie and pull away momentarily to pull it off over my head and discard it on the floor.
Kara stands and her dress drops to the floor. I look at the gorgeous lacy underwear she has on underneath and lick my lips slowly.
Slipping my shirt off, I throw it in the same direction my tie went. The look in Kara’s eyes must reflect the hunger in mine. Slowly, she kneels at my feet.
I unbuckle my belt as Kara undoes the button and zip of my trousers. I stand to allow her to pull them down and she doesn’t hesitate to pull my boxer shorts down with them. My cock springs free and the twinkle in Kara’s eye suggests mischief.
Pushing me down on the bed, she takes the base of my erection in her hand, slowly licks her lips and throws a smirk my way. Then she reaches her tongue out to lick the pre-cum from me before tracing circles with her tongue around the tip of my cock. She takes the tip into her mouth and I harden at the feel of her silky tongue gliding over me. Using her hand and mouth to create the perfect rhythm, Kara couldn’t look more beautiful. I want to lie back and close my eyes, to lose myself in the sensations she’s creating in me; instead I lift myself up onto my elbows so I can watch her movements.
I’m moments from shooting my load and I try my hardest to hold out for just a little longer. But all too quickly, I’m coming down the back of her throat. She slowly stops what she was doing and licks the tip of me clean again before standing up. She begins to remove her underwear, but I shake my head and she stops.
I stand on slightly shaky legs so I can lie her down on the bed to worship her the way she did to me.
She lies down on the bed and I take a moment to appreciate the exquisiteness before me. I’m a hell of a lucky guy to have a woman that radiates this much beauty inside and out. Getting down on my knees, I nudge her legs a little wider apart. I place tender kisses along the inside of her thighs, taking my time getting to that sweet spot. As I get closer to her core, Kara’s legs tremble slightly. I know she loves it when I take my time with her. Unable to wait any longer, I move her panties to one side and lick her wet folds. She’s hot and wet for me already, and her breathing hitches as I toy with her clit. Reaching for her, I slowly push one finger inside her. She gasps and her walls clench around me. I love the silky feeling of her walls around me and can’t wait to bury my cock inside her. Pushing another finger inside her, I tease her G-spot and have her writhing on the bed. My cock hardens and it takes all my restraint not to claim her. Instead, I tease her closer to the edge of her first orgasm. I lick and nip as her legs quiver. She rides my hand, matching the rhythm I set, and it isn’t long before she’s coming and screaming my name into the night.
***
As I lie here looking at my sleeping fiancé, I’m overcome with emotion. Men might not be the best at showing our feelings, but Kara has brought out that side of me more and more over time. I want to show her how much I love her every single day for the rest of our lives. I never want her to doubt the way I feel about her. I will put my all into every day with her.
I’m so glad that stuff with Molly is in the past. Kara told me the only person my anger is hurting is me, not Molly, so I’m trying to just let the past lie. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a heart, because then I wouldn’t have felt the sting of what she did. I could be as cold as stone and not feel a thing. But then I wouldn’t have what I have with Kara, and that’s what’s most important to me right now and forever.
I snuggle closer to Kara’s warm body and drift asleep, content in the knowledge we have the rest of our lives together.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Kara
I wake in Reid’s arms and can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. Last night, he made love to me as though it was our first time all over again. I swear, sometimes, he gets this look in his eyes as though seeing me for the first time.
Suddenly my stomach roils and I have to make a mad dash to the toilet. I only just make it in time bef
ore throwing up. Once my stomach is empty and I’m just dry heaving, I flush the toilet and stand at the sink, splashing cold water on my face. I quickly brush my teeth and swill my mouth out so I no longer taste like sick. Deciding it might be best to shower too, I turn to walk back into the bedroom to fetch a towel.
Reid is stood in the doorway, a look of concern marring his features.
“What’s up, baby?” he asks as he reaches out to pull me into his chest. He wraps his arms around me and I sink into him.
“I think it might be something I ate yesterday.”
“Are you okay now?”
“I think so. I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“Don’t be sorry. If you’re ill, I want to take care of you.”
“I’m okay, baby, I just need a shower. I must stink.”
He inhales and pretends to gag. I swat him away and go to fetch a towel.
“Fancy some company?” he asks, his voice mildly flirtatious.
“Umm…not when I smell like this.”
“Damn!”
He sounds like his hopes have been dashed, but he turns round and walks back into our room.
When I’m showered, I walk into the bedroom and dry myself off. Reid is nowhere in sight. I get dressed in a comfy pair of jeans and a sweater. We don’t have any plans for the day, so I don’t have to dress to impress anyone. Reid has seen me at my worst, so he won’t care that I’m in comfy clothes with no makeup on. He prefers me without makeup anyway. So I pull my hair up into a messy bun and tie a band around it.
Walking downstairs, I hear the radio playing in the kitchen. I walk in to see Reid standing in front of the toaster.
“I thought some plain toast might be good for an unsettled stomach,” he says as he pulls out two slices of fresh toast.
I love crusty bread toasted and dripping with butter, but I don’t think that’s a good idea at the moment. I can’t really remember what I ate yesterday. I was so busy with my maid of honour duties that I picked at a plate of food occasionally when I got chance.
“Thank you. You’re so sweet.”
“Anything for my girl,” he says as he winks over his shoulder at me.
Reid pleads with me to text Liam and tell him I’m too ill to come to work tomorrow, so I do. Lee tells me that I better let Reid take care of me and not to worry about going to work until I feel better.
Feeling like absolute hell, I grab a throw blanket from the back of the couch and wrap myself in it before lying down.
“Do you want to watch a DVD or do you want to get some more sleep, baby?”
“Can we watch City of Angels? If anything can make me feel better, it’s Nicholas Cage.”
“Hey!” Reid exclaims in mock offence. “I don’t know whether I should feel slighted by that remark, Miss Scott.”
“You can take offence if you like, but I’m not changing my statement!”
“Fine, I won’t put the DVD in, see if I care,” he teases.
I pout at him and make my bottom lip tremble.
“But pleeease baby,” I whine.
“Tell me I’m better than Nicholas Cage and I will.”
“Baby, Nicholas Cage is damn sexy, especially as Seth, but he doesn’t have a thing on you.”
“Better, but still not good enough.”
“Reid Marks, you are the most amazing man alive. You are gorgeous, funny, sensitive, kind, and much, much more. But most importantly, you are mine.”
He walks over and pulls the DVD from the shelf. He puts the film on and sits on the couch, placing my head in his lap. Although I’m tired and feel like death, I am happy to be laid on the couch with my man, watching a great film. It gets to where Seth is taking a shower in the cabin and I begin to get choked up. The flame from the candle suddenly goes out and I begin to cry quietly. As the scene changes and we see Maggie on her bike, her arms outstretched, my cries get a little louder. Reid strokes my hair in a soothing gesture and I lie in his lap, crying until the very end of the film.
Thankfully, Reid doesn’t make fun of me for crying. Instead, he hands me a tissue so I can dry my eyes.
***
It’s been days and I haven’t been able to go to work. Reid’s also taken time off because he refuses to leave my side. I’ve been so sick and lethargic. I’ve had utterly no energy for anything except sitting on the couch watching films. We’ve watched a few chick flicks, but I’ve let Reid have his way and watched a few action ones too.
Reid has been so attentive. Anything I’ve needed, he’s got for me. I haven’t been able to eat much, but he’s made me eat some dry toast and arrowroot biscuits. I text Zoey to check on her and Brock, to make sure they were enjoying their honeymoon and hadn’t gotten ill themselves. Zoey was concerned for me and told me to drink peppermint tea, but it’s disgusting. The first cup Reid made me was poured down the drain. But considering it’s meant to help abate the nausea, I have accepted drinking it if it has one spoonful of sugar in.
Reid phoned the doctors to make me an appointment, but they said it’s most likely just a sickness bug and they would rather I didn’t go into the surgery in case I give it to the elderly or babies in the waiting area. They say not to go in in cases of a bug and there’s no treatment they can give me anyway, so I’m just eating little bits of plain food here and there, drinking plenty of water, and a cup or two of that peppermint tea crap each day.
Five days after I started feeling ill, I’m beginning to feel slightly better. I’m thinking that half a day at work won’t hurt, so I tell Reid to go to work and I’ll see him at home later. He’s not convinced I should be working, but even with his company, I’m starting to get cabin fever. I need to stop staring at the same four walls, so I said that Liam wouldn’t let me overdo things and would send me home if I felt too ill. After much nagging, I finally got him to agree to let me do things my way. So he’s at work and I’m sat behind the cash register at Chapter & Verse. It’s quiet, so I’m reading my copy of Caught by Her by GL Chapple. Reading about Jake Masters is easily one of my favourite things to do. I’ve read the two book series over and over.
“Kara.”
Just the sound of that voice has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. She’s got a nerve turning up here after everything she’s done. My blood is beginning to boil and I don’t even know what she wants. I look up and see her standing right in front of me. I want to slap her just for having the gall to come here.
“What do you want?”
I don’t bother holding back the irritation in my voice.
“I know this isn’t going to make amends for what I did, but…” she says as she hands me a piece of folded paper.
I open it and see that it’s a cheque made out to Reid.
“You’re damn right it won’t. I don’t know why you couldn’t just have mailed this. Why are you here?”
“I wanted you to see that I’m truly sorry. I wish I could go back and undo it all, Kara, I really do.”
“So why did you do it, Molly? What possessed you to hurt Reid in the most unthinkable way?”
“Honestly? Jealousy. I knew he didn’t want me. But I loved him, Kara. I wanted him to want me the way he wanted you. But I wasn’t enough to compete for his affections.”
“So you made up a baby to try to bring him back to you? You thought that he would all of a sudden change his mind and fall hopelessly in love with you because you were having his child?”
My voice is raised and I can’t rein back the venom I feel for this woman. Liam must not have been far away because he’s at my side, trying to calm the situation. He suggests we go and get a coffee and talk in the back, but I don’t want to be anywhere near this psycho woman. I want to rip her hair out, claw her eyes from their sockets. I want to make her pay for what she did. But I know I won’t. I’m a bigger person than that. I have more sense than to lash out at her, regardless of my feelings.
“Please, Kara, hear me out,” Molly implores as I give her my best death stare.
“
What makes you think you have a right to be heard?”
“Ladies, please, take it down a notch. There are a few customers milling around, and this isn’t good for business,” Liam tries to talk some sense into us, or rather, me.
“Fine.”
I huff and fold my arms as I walk towards the coffee bar at the back of the store. I hear the annoying click-clack of Molly’s heels, so I know she’s following me.
Once I place my order for a latte, I take a seat at one of the tables and wait for Molly to sit down opposite me. As she’s ordering her own coffee, I take out my phone and type out a text.
Kara: Molly’s here at Chapter & Verse. Think you should be here.
It’s not long before I get a reply:
Reid: What the actual fuck? She’s been in hiding for ages and now suddenly she turns up out of the blue? Are you okay? I’m just getting in the car. Be there in 10 minutes. Love you.
Molly sits down and has the decency to look ashamed.
“I’m not sure what there is to say here, Molly.”
“I know that nothing I say can make amends for the way I behaved, Kara. Nothing I tell you will make you forgive me, I get that. But I wanted to try. The cheque is to pay Reid back for all he gave me and did for me.”
“You mean what he did for the woman he thought was carrying his baby. The woman who told bare-faced lies over and over again. The woman who stooped to new lows I’ve never seen the likes of. Do you think that money will make the problem go away?”
“I know what I did was wrong, Kara. The way you feel about me is nothing compared to how I feel about myself. I’m not that kind of person. Not really.”