by Alison Mello
I take Reid’s hand and walk to the top table. This time, we’re here for the speeches.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Liam. I am the best man’s husband and the bride’s best friend. I promise not to bore you with a long speech. When I was thinking what to say, I asked friends what their experience of speeches was and they said to start with a joke or a funny anecdote. Honestly, I’m not that good at jokes, so I’ll get straight to the point.
I watch as he smooths his hands down his jacket and pulls at his tie a little; sure signs that he’s actually nervous. He’s so cute, the way he shuffles from one foot to the other before continuing with his speech.
“When Kara asked me to give her away, I was honoured. It’s not every day you get to walk your best friend down the aisle to the man of her dreams. She was so excited at the prospect of me being by her side on her big day and I was jumping around like a fool when she asked.
“Today, I was by her side, making sure she didn’t face-plant, thanks to her gorgeous Louboutin’s—seriously, how you women walk in those things is beyond me. I walked with her towards a man I knew would give her the world and more. Kara and Grace are Reid’s everything, it’s as clear as day when you look at them together that there really is such a thing as ‘the perfect family’.
He looks at Reid, then his gaze lands on me and a broad smile takes over his face.
“Kara is an amazing woman with a whole lot of love to give to the right person. I knew this from the moment I met her. She gave me a job at her store and we became fast friends. It was then that I decided to set her up on a blind date with Reid, knowing how much they loved each other, but wouldn’t tell each other. The night of the date, they phoned and gave me an…ear-bashing—I won’t swear as there are children present—boy did they chew me out for my devious plan.
“When they finally realised that their love wasn’t unrequited, they got together and have been happy as anyone can be, ever since. There have been a few things to come along to test them, but they’ve risen above it all and have come to see that love really does conquer all.”
Emotions make his voice crack and I see a stray tear fall down his cheek.
“I would like to say just how much I love Kara, she’s the most loyal, loving, warm and genuine woman I have ever met. Kara, I wish you love every day for the rest of your life. Know that you are loved by us all. Not just Reid; you have me and Jason, Zoey and Brock, and of course Thea and Grace. If your grandmother is watching over you right now, she’ll be proud of the woman you have become. She showed you morals and values in life, and she would be happy to see that you have come such a long way. If she were here today, she wouldn’t stop crying all day. She would be so grateful to Reid for giving you all the love in his heart and she would love her grandson-in-law as much as she loves you. But as she isn’t here, I’ll say this; Reid, I know you will take care of Kara until your dying breath. You’ll protect her and love her and you’ll give her and Grace the best life you know how. I’m so glad you finally saw sense and married the right woman—no offence, Zoey—because you two are the other half of each other. If it were possible for two people to be one, then that is you and Kara. I wish you love and luck together. And if you ever hurt her, just know that I will be there with a baseball bat.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in raising a glass to the beautiful bride and her handsome groom. To Kara and Reid.”
As everyone lifts their glass in a toast, my eyes won’t stop leaking salty tears everywhere. I’m hoping the fixing mist Lucii applied earlier really works and doesn’t let my makeup run.
I smile at Liam as he sits down beside me.
“Were you serious about the baseball bat?”
He laughs quietly. We both know he doesn’t own one. The only games he plays involve an X-box or PlayStation and a controller, not actual sports equipment.
“Well, maybe I’ll just have to go and buy one now so I can show him I’m deadly serious.”
The look on his face makes me burst out laughing and everyone looks our way, trying no doubt, to guess what’s so funny.
“I love you, Liam.”
I lean over and kiss his cheek. He’s a faithful friend and has become very dear to me. I don’t know where I’d be without him. But I probably wouldn’t be Mrs Marks if it wasn’t for his meddling.
***
Once the speeches are over, I make my way to the ladies’ room to check my makeup. Reid’s words were spoken to my heart and seared their way into my soul. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room when he told me how much he loved me and that his life had gotten brighter from the moment we first kissed. He said if his love for me continued to grow, he was sure his heart would burst, but I was worried that my own heart would burst right there and then.
I walk out into the barn and take a good look all around me. I’m astonished that Zoey managed to capture my vision and made it into a reality. Yes, I’d made some of the arrangements myself, but Zoey had taken on most things, saying that she didn’t want me to have to stress.
The DJ calls over the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, will you please be upstanding for the bride and groom as they have their first dance.”
I don’t know what song Reid chose, he wouldn’t tell me even if I begged. So I make my way to the dancefloor and into his waiting arms.
The opening bars began to play and I know immediately what the song is. Reid chose one of my favourite songs, one he sings to me often. He leans his head close to mine and begins to whisper the lyrics directly to my heart. “Tenerife Sea” is his reference to my eyes.
We dance wrapped in a bubble of love and adoration. I never want this moment to end. I know it has to, but I’m not ready. In this moment, nothing exists but me and my soulmate.
People begin to gather on the dancefloor as the DJ plays the first part of his set-list. We asked him to play some Christmas songs considering it’s only nine days until Christmas. He puts on Michael Bublé’s version of “Winter Wonderland.”
When it comes time for the cake to be brought in, I’m just hopeful that Reid will love it as much as I do. I’ve only seen photographs of it so far and they were only progress shots, not the finished cake. The initial sketch Dave drew for it had me falling head over heels, and as Reid had chosen the wedding song alone, I had chosen the cake.
I remember being so nervous when I emailed the guys over at Choccywoccydoodah. I watch their show all the time, and I was desperate for them to create my cake. Christine Taylor herself emailed me back and said they’d be happy to create something for our big day.
Reid and I are stood to one side as the door opens and Barry—who is nicknamed Breaky Bear by the rest of the Doodah team—wheels the cake towards us. Henry from the London store is with him and looks very dashing in his shirt and trousers that go well with our theme.
“What the…” Reid begins to ask.
“Surprise, darling,” I say as I lean over and kiss his cheek.
Looking at the cake, I see it’s even better than the sketches. It’s possibly the best cake I’ve ever seen. There’s a large deer’s head at the top, with an array of flowers flowing down below it. The colours are blue, silver and white and they shimmer beautifully. The deer looks like he’s in a snowy forest. I’m floored by the exquisiteness and for once, I have no words to say.
“You must be Kara,” Henry says as he extends a hand for me to shake.
“Henry, it’s so good to meet you. I’m speechless, this is above and beyond what I imagined.”
“Dave really outdid himself, didn’t he? And look, Breaky Bear here didn’t break anything.”
Henry laughs and it’s infectious. Soon Reid, Barry and I find ourselves laughing out loud too. Our guests must think we’re nuts, but I don’t care. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as happy in my entire life as I do this day. Well, actually, there was one day; the day I gave birth to Grace.
We stan
d back so all the guests can admire the cake. I take the microphone from the DJ and stand in the middle of the dancefloor.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this cake was made for us by the wonderful team at Choccywoccydoodah. Can we please have a round of applause for Henry and Barry who are here to deliver it for us? Also a big cheer for Dave and his magic hands that actually sculpted this work of art. I’m not sure whether to eat it or buy it a display case.”
Everyone cheers and hollers. They clap loudly and the odd wolf-whistle can be heard.
One of Blakelands staff hands me a knife and Reid and I pose for photographs with the cake before and during cutting it. It feels like sacrilege to cut into it, but I keep a smile on my face as Reid closes his soft hands around mine and we cut the first slice.
Reid picks up the slice we just cut, he breaks some off, and offers it to me. As I lean in to eat it, the thought enters my mind; he wouldn’t dare miss my mouth on purpose would he? It would ruin my makeup.
Turns out I thought wrong, he doesn’t care about spoiling my makeup, and so I pick up a piece of cake and smear it on his face too. The smiles on our faces as the camera flashes tells it all. Nothing beats the feeling of love.
To love and be loved in return is all I can ask for in life. Reid proves every second of every day that he loves me and Grace with all of his heart and soul.
I take Grace from Jason’s arms and pose for a few more photos. Today is a day I shall carry in my heart until the very last breath leaves my body. Today I know that I am truly, deeply loved.
Reid
I know it’s tradition to carry your wife over the threshold of your home, and I chose to carry Kara into our suite too. She laughed as her shoe fell off and I couldn’t bend down to retrieve it without dropping her.
Now we’re sitting in the Bridal Suite. I haven’t been able to see it until now, but it really is outstanding. The four poster bed is the best feature, and my mind can’t help but stray to thoughts of tying Kara to the posts and devouring her.
I help my bride out of her gown and see her stood before me in a gorgeous strapless bra and matching panties. She’s got legs that seem to go on for miles and I notice the stockings and suspenders she’s wearing. It’s a good job someone else is looking after Grace tonight because I intend to have my wicked way with Kara more than once.
She catches me staring and offers me her beautiful Hollywood smile. Kara Marks is the most beautiful woman I have ever known. Inside and out, she is absolutely stunning. Her heart is kind, loyal, giving, and she has a lot of love to give. I’m just glad I’m the man she’s giving it to.
We may not have had the easiest of starts to our relationship. Hell, we might not have an easy relationship for the rest of our lives, but I know that what doesn’t break us makes us stronger. And nothing in this world will ever break us. I know the statistics for marriages ending in divorce, but we aren’t a statistic. We are a man and woman, a husband and wife, a father and mother that will pour our hearts into the bond we have together. The three of us, Kara, Grace and me, we are a family unit, and nothing will ever get in the way of that.
Hopefully, one day soon, we’ll be making baby number two. I’d really like to give Grace a brother, but I don’t mind if it turns out to be a sister. As long as it’s happy and healthy, I don’t care.
I look at Kara as she lies on the bed before me. She’s reaching for something in the bedside drawer and I can see the globes of her perfect arse, thanks to what little material she’s wearing. I want her so much it hurts. This amazing woman is the purest kind of beauty in every way possible. She makes me feel alive, and in this moment, time stands still, the world stops turning, and I smile from the heart as I stand at the foot of the bed, watching her every move.
She catches my stare and a blush creeps over her cheeks. Her eyes tell me all I need to know. She wants me to take my time with her. To really make love to her. Now isn’t the time for sizzling hot sex, there’ll be time for that later.
I notice what she pulled out of the drawer; two pairs of white fluffy handcuffs. She flashes me a grin as she puts one cuff around each wrist. I move to help cuff her to the two top posts of the bed and her salacious smile widens. I lean down to place a chaste kiss on her lips. She tries to deepen the kiss, but I move back slightly. The look on her face tells me how disappointed she is that I didn’t allow her to control the kiss. Her eyes follow my movements as I undo my tie and throw it on the chair beside the bed. I undo the buttons of my shirt slowly and deliberately. As I discard my shirt and reach to undo my trousers, Kara’s eyes light up. I pull my trousers and boxer shorts down before reaching to stroke my cock slowly for her pleasure and mine.
My aim for the rest of tonight is to cherish my wife with all that I have. She is all I’ll ever need and I want to show her one thing; just how much she is loved.
~The End~
Bonus!
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About the Author
Keren lives in the UK and is an avid bookworm. She fondly remembers the days where she would lie in her bedroom away from distraction and get lost in the world of make believe. Her first real memory of reading something she fell in love with was The Hobbit. In her teenage years, she became addicted to Point Horror books like RL Stine’s The Boyfriend, but she also enjoyed light Summer reads like What Katy Did and What Katy Did Next.
Over the years she has come to realise that she is a bit of an OCD freak about books. They have to be in perfect condition without the slightest bit of damage. She has been a book reviewer for the last few years and a book hoarder for a LOT longer. You can NEVER have too many books! Her shelves are bulging and overflowing but she always wants “just one more book”.
Keren had her first book published by Limitless Publishing in November 2013. It’s a YA Paranormal Romance novel called Stolen. Her second book was published with LP in May 2014. This time, an NA Contemporary Romance called Nothing Like The First Time.She couldn’t have been more surprised when NLTFT appeared on the Amazon Best Seller list. That was a dream come true.
Keren is currently working on more NA Contemporary Romances for you to fall in love with.
Keren loves hearing from her readers.
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Chapter 1
Layla
“Layla! Come on, you have to come!” my best friend, Kacey Simms, said as we walked down the street toward our apartment.
Kacey was beautiful and if she weren’t my best friend, I would be jealous of her. She had long raven-colored hair that framed her face, light blue eyes, and an oval face that made her look like an angel. Kacey was only five-foot-three and one hundred and ten pounds at the most. We’ve been friends since freshmen year of high school. Back then, she was new, and when I walked into my first class, she immediately came up to me and said, “We will be best friends!” and we’ve been ever since. We are total opposites, though. Kacey is from a rich family, whereas I come from a poor, dysfunctional one.
Kacey has never rubbed her wealth in my face, however, and neither have her parents. You would think a family with a lot of money would be rude and stuck up, but hers wasn’t. They had to be the nicest people I’ve ever met. They became like my own parents when mine weren’t around. If it hadn’t been for her and her parents, I wouldn’t be where or who I was today.
“Are you even listening to me?” Kacey asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“What was that?” I asked.
“I said you need to come to the party tonight.”
“Kay, I can’t go. You know that,” I said, sighing. She’s been asking me to go
to some classy club with her for weeks now.
“Yes, you can and you will. There are going to be tons of people there, and so many hot guys. Plus, it’s a great way to end the weekend!” she said as we came to the doors of our apartment building.
“I don’t need to see any hot guys,” I protested.
“Oh really? Layla, you have not had a date in over five months and the last one you had sucked. Please, you owe me!”
I groaned, knowing she wasn’t going to give up. When she wants something, she is sure to get it. I opened our apartment door and pushed through. Kacey followed behind me, still trying to convince me to go. I loved her to death, but sometimes I really wanted to put a pillow over her head. It was hard to say no to her when she gave me puppy dog eyes or when she pleaded with me nonstop.
“Please, please, please! It’s tonight and I know you don’t have work tonight,” she said, taking off her shoes. I put my phone down and kicked off my own shoes. I tried to block out her talking but knowing she wouldn’t stop, I turned to her.
“Fine! I’ll go!” I said, not wanting to hear about it anymore.
“Layla, you have…wait, you said yes? Yay,” she said, yelling and jumping up and down. “We are going to have a blast! And I already have the perfect outfit picked out for you!”
I just shook my head at her and went to sit on the couch.
Our apartment wasn’t huge, but it was pretty good size. Kacey’s parents paid for it no matter how many times I told them I would pay half. There were two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Both of us had decorated it to make it look homier. If it were possible, I would stay here forever and never leave. I wasn’t home very much because I worked long hours, but when I was home I only wore PJs and never left. My job wasn’t the best nor the worst. I worked as a waitress in a café on the other side of the bridge. It was an okay job and if I had the opportunity, I would leave.