by Christi Snow
Standing up on tiptoes, Emily brushed a soft kiss across Tommy’s cheek, being careful not to leave a smudge of lipstick. “You look gorgeous. Mac is a lucky guy.”
“I’m the lucky one here,” Tommy murmured as he peered through the open door.
Ryder followed his gaze, but he couldn’t see anything beside lush, green foliage.
Emily gave Tommy a soft smile. “There’s a pathway out the door. Follow it when the music starts. At the end of it, you’ll find your man. Okay?”
“Yeah, thanks, Em.”
“Emily?” Ryder said. She turned back with an expectant expression on her face. “You look beautiful.”
“Aw, thanks, doll.” She winked at him. “Just wait until you two see your men.”
Heat rose up Ryder’s cheeks at the mention of Stig.
She scooted out of the room, and then it was just the two of them again. Tommy checked himself in the mirror. Their gazes met in the reflection.
“You got this,” Ryder reassured him and took his photo.
“I do. I so do.” Tommy’s smile burst with a mix of confidence and excitement.
Then the music began, and there wasn’t time for any more words.
Stepping through the door was like stepping into a lush jungle filled with aromatic, colorful flowers, towering trees, and dense foliage...without the heat and humidity. A level, stone path wound through the gardens, leading them through twinkle lights and little seating vignettes. Everywhere were candles and little spots of color and light making the area feel both romantic and magical. It was like they’d left Vegas and entered a whole other fantasy world.
But then they broke through the plant life. In the middle of the meadow—was meadow the right word for a groomed garden?—stood a huge, white, round gazebo surrounded with a small creek that tumbled into a burbling waterfall running in front of it. A small footbridge crossed over the water.
As they mounted the steps, Ryder was concentrating on balancing with his cane when Tommy gasped. Ryder looked up to see Mac coming up the other side between his parents.
Mac looked dapper and handsome. No wonder Tommy had reacted that way. It wasn’t very often the writer got out of his jeans and T-shirts, but he really should dress up more. The black tuxedo hugged across his broad shoulders, tapering in at the waist. He wore a blue bowtie that perfectly matched the blue color glittering from his tear-filled eyes as he watched Tommy with pure love.
Ryder could sense Tommy’s impatience to meet his groom, but instead, he stayed at Ryder’s side, making sure he didn’t lose his balance.
“Go on,” Stig told Tommy as he came up beside them and placed a proprietary hand at the small of Ryder’s back. “I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
In any other circumstance, Ryder probably would have been embarrassed by having issues with the steps, but no one was paying him any mind except Stig, who offered his other arm to stabilize Ryder’s balance.
No, everyone here was focused where they should be...Mac and Tommy meeting in the middle of the gazebo, sharing a passionate kiss. The officiant cleared his throat, and Ryder had to bite back his laugh. He quickly snapped a photo that showed off the glaring preacher behind the two passionate men.
“Hey,” he tapped Tommy’s back as he reached the center where the two men stood. “I know you were taught better. There’s an order to these things, and I know the big man over there hasn’t said the part about kissing the groom yet.”
Mac and Tommy separated. Tommy ducked his head as he glanced at the preacher standing behind the podium. “Sorry.”
Mac didn’t appear sorry at all as he looked Tommy up and down. From the gleam in his eyes, Ryder was pretty sure the tuxedos would play an integral part in the wedding night.
“It’s no problem, son,” the preacher said. “You’d be surprised at just how often that happens. We’re good with that. Passion is a good foundation for a happy marriage. If you two would like to approach, everyone else can be seated, and we can get this ceremony done since you’re both so anxious.
With a final pat of support on Tommy’s shoulder, Ryder turned with Stig, and they sat in the chairs beside the podium. With the circular design of the gazebo, everyone sat off to the sides so that they could all see both the officiant’s face and the expressions of the two men.
The ceremony flew by quickly, probably because Ryder was more aware of Stig sitting beside him with his thigh pressed to his side and their fingers intertwined. Low-level arousal thrummed.
But then they were to the vows. Tommy spoke first, and Ryder held his breath, knowing how important this was to Tommy to get right.
The two men faced one another, their hands held together. “Wow,” Tommy said, still sounding breathless. “You in a tux. We need to do this more often.”
Mac smiled and winked. “That can be arranged.” He raised an eyebrow and leered at Tommy from his feet to his shoulders. “You clean up pretty nice yourself.”
The officiant cleared his throat and tried to look at them sternly, but there was no hiding his grin trying to break free.
“Sorry,” Tommy apologized and then refocused on Mac. “If someone had told me the day we met that we’d be standing here just a little over a year later, I would have told them they needed to stop smoking weed. I thought you were such an asshole that day. Gorgeous, but still an asshole.”
Emily giggled, and Mac was beginning to look offended.
“But then life changed, and you forced your way into my world, taking over, taking care of me when I needed it most. You showed me the incredible guy underneath, and I fell in love. So hard.
“The past year hasn’t always been easy, but it has been easier, because you’re always in my corner. I’m better, braver—more—with you behind me propping me up. Thank you, Mac, for being that stubborn asshole that wouldn’t give up on me. I love you, and now, you’re really stuck with me.”
Mac chuckled but it was a watery sound. He blew out a breath. “How the hell am I supposed to follow up that speech?”
“You’re the writer.” Tommy grinned cheekily at him. “I have faith you’ll find the words.”
“You do know me.” Mac reached into his jacket and pulled out his notecards. “I knew I’d be too flustered to think straight, so I wrote something down earlier this morning.” He cleared his throat and wiped a tear that had managed to escape his eye. “Although this would have definitely been easier if you hadn’t left me blubbering.” He cleared his throat again.
“Sorry, not sorry?” Tommy chuckled low, but he squeezed Mac’s hands.
After another deep breath, Mac began. “Tommy, I’ve made my career out of creating fantastic, out of this world, pieces of fiction, but I never could have envisioned this kind of future for myself. I have an imagination, but the kind of happiness I’ve discovered over the past year was so far out of the realm of possibility, I couldn’t have even imagined it. And you’ve done that...taken me out of my normal world and showed me one filled with love, passion, and devotion.
“That being stuck with me goes both ways, because I’m never letting you go. You’re stuck with me now. Thank you in advance for your patience when I’m obsessive and distracted. You know how I get, but never doubt for a moment that that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. I love you so much and am so thankful today to make you my husband.”
By the time the both of them were done, everyone was sniffling, including the officiant.
Stig pressed a handkerchief into Ryder’s hand.
“Thanks,” Ryder whispered as he dried his eyes.
He met Stig’s gaze and saw the same swell of emotion there. Stig brushed his fingertips over the remaining moisture on Ryder’s cheek. His breath caught at what he saw in Stig’s eyes...passion and caring, and maybe even love? Holy fuck.
“I think we can all agree that the love between these two men is apparent to everyone here,” the officiant said.
They refocused on the middle of the gazebo.
“So without furth
er ado, I now pronounce you husbands and now you may kiss your grooms...again.”
The two guys embraced, diving into a passionate kiss. Ryder jumped up with a whoop and began to clap. Everyone laughed and joined in. This was truly a celebration of their joining.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Stig
As the limo carrying the newlyweds pulled away from the curb to head to the airport, Stig turned to his companions, Emily and Ryder. Mac’s parents had already left, so it was only the three of them now.
He studiously ignored the fact that Emily continued to dab her tears from the corners of her eyes. She wouldn’t appreciate him noticing. “We still have twenty-four hours in Vegas. What would you two like to do?”
Ryder was beginning to look a little worse for wear and could probably use a nap after their long night, but Stig wasn’t going to fall into the position of babying the man. If Ryder needed to rest, Stig trusted him to speak up. Besides if he chose to spend the rest of the day at the hotel recovering, that meant Stig could take his time removing that suit off his gorgeous man one slow piece at a time. He could take all day and let Ryder lie back while Stig slowly worshipped his glorious body. After last night, his cock should be satisfied, but he hadn’t taken into account how fantastic Ryder would look in a tuxedo.
Emily straightened, squared her shoulders, and winked. “Well, you two are just going to have to suffer without my presence tonight. I have a hot date.”
“Do tell.” Ryder raised an eyebrow at her. “Wait, is it the piano player from last night?”
Her grin turned downright salacious. “Let’s just say his fingers aren’t just good on a keyboard.”
Stig groaned. “Way TMI.”
“So let’s head back to the hotel, and then I’ll catch up with you both tomorrow for our charter flight home,” she said.
Stig was happy for her. As far as he’d ever seen, she didn’t date much. She’d devoted her life to furthering Mac’s career at the cost of her own social life. It was good to see her breaking lose, having a good time, and taking advantage of this trip.
He turned to Ryder. “So, I guess it’s just you and me. Think we can find something to fill the time?”
Ryder tugged him by the hip until their groins met. “I’m sure we can find something,” Ryder practically growled as he nipped at Stig’s chin. That was so incredibly sexy.
“Okay, okay. Break it up,” Emily chided. “Unless I’m allowed to come watch all the sexiness going on, none of that in front of me. I don’t want to get all hot and bothered for the wrong reasons.”
“Emily, I would have never taken you for a voyeur.” The corner of his mouth quirked in a teasing smile.
“Um, yeah,” she said like he was an idiot. “You two are gorgeous. Any girl would be happy to watch.”
Ryder had turned the color of a tomato.
Emily grabbed his sleeve. “Sorry, hon. I’ll stop embarrassing you now. Let’s go.” She gestured toward the other limo waiting to take them back to the high-rise hotel.
***
Fifteen minutes later, the two of them were back in their suite. Stig went directly over to the connecting door, waved at Emily on the other side, and then shut and dead bolted it. He turned back to Ryder, looking sexier than any man should have a right to.
His thick, blond hair had become disheveled as the day wore on, and now the term “rakish” definitely applied, especially with that saucy grin Ryder flashed.
“You look like you have plans, Mr. Garrett.”
“I do, Mr. Minton. Watching you strut around all afternoon looking that way”—he nodded toward Stig’s tux—“has me a little worked up. So I’m wondering...” Ryder hesitated and color rose up his cheeks as he ran a nervous hand through his hair. He swallowed. “I’m wondering how you’d feel about letting me fuck you?”
A burst of arousal spun through Stig’s torso straight to his cock, making it feel like a lead pipe had taken up residence in his pants. His legs shook from the sudden lack of blood flow. “I think I’d be really, really good with that.” His voice sounded like he’d swallowed a box of nails.
Ryder slowly approached him. His fractured gait from using his cane didn’t detract from how beautiful he appeared as he stalked in hunting mode, all predatory and hungry.
“Then let’s get upstairs.” Ryder reached him and tugged at his jacket, pulling it off his shoulders. “I want to peel this tuxedo off you piece by piece.”
“I can agree to that.” He kissed Ryder and then pushed him toward the staircase, anticipation and need warring within him to let loose.
He trailed behind Ryder as they slowly made their way up. Compared to last night, Ryder was definitely moving slower and using much more contained and methodical motions.
When they topped the stairs, Ryder turned. His pupils were dark with desire, but in the low light from the side table it was hard to miss the dark circles of exhaustion under his eyes.
Even though his hard, pulsing cock screamed at him to ignore those smudges, Stig brushed his thumb across one of them. “You know, we don’t have to do this today,” he said gently. “I’m good with taking a nap. We can take this as slow as we need. I’m going to be here whenever.”
Ryder’s grin dimmed a little bit as he shook his head. “Thanks, but I don’t think so. I’m tired of waiting.” He cupped Stig’s hard dick through his pants.
He hissed at the surprisingly confident and domineering touch. Damn, that was hot. Liquid moistened the tip of his dick, dampening his underwear.
“I get what you’re saying,” Ryder said, his low tone stern and no-nonsense, “but I really want to do this now. First, I plan to wear you out. We can nap afterward. Promise.”
Stig bit back his grin. Hell yeah, that worked for him...both the take-charge attitude and the plan. A nap was always a good idea after an orgasm. “That sounds like a good idea.” He lifted his arms and loosened Ryder’s tie while kissing him, dipping to brush his lips across the bare skin just above the edge of Ryder’s collar.
“I don’t know what I’m doing here, so feel free to tell me what to do or steer me in another direction,” Ryder said, tugging at Stig’s belt and releasing the pressure on his cock.
“Baby, you just do what feels good. I promise you can’t go that wrong...as long as everyone feels good. Right now, we’re going to get naked, and then we’ll get on the bed. I think from there everything will feel pretty natural. If it doesn’t, you let me know, and we’ll change something.”
The only thing that slowed Stig from undressing Ryder was the press of Ryder’s lips on his heated skin as Ryder skillfully stripped Stig. Those mesmerizing lips should have spurred him on, but they were distracting him in the very best way.
Finally, they were both naked, and he ran his hands over Ryder’s taut belly. Before this night was over, Stig hoped he managed to trace every plane and valley on the man.
“I never realized how many erogenous zones I had,” Ryder said.
“I plan to find every single one of them.” Stig ran the pad of his finger over the divot in Ryder’s hip leading down to his groin. His lean hips surged toward Stig as if by instinct, that hard cock bouncing. Moisture beaded on the tip. Stig started to lean over to taste, but Ryder grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
“No, I’m too close.” Ryder’s voice was thin with tension. “Please, I really want to fuck you instead.”
“Who am I to argue with that?” He led Ryder over to the bed and lowered him to the mattress, straddling him. They kissed as Stig rutted against Ryder. His hole fluttered with phantom need. He wanted Ryder inside him. He pulled away from Ryder’s distracting kisses.
“I have something for you,” he told Ryder with a playful grin.
He’d stashed his supplies in the side table after their gymnastics last night, thinking they might have use for them eventually. He reached over there now, ripping a condom off the strip and grabbing a lube sachet.
“Hmm,” Ryder said as he sat up halfway to look
at the little plastic packets.
Stig handed him the lube after ripping of the top edge. “Get me ready?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Go slow, and it should be fine. This isn’t my first rodeo. It would be really hard to do something I couldn’t handle.”
A shadow crossed Ryder’s expression. Guilt clawed at Stig’s gut about how far and deep his experience went. But then Ryder reached behind him, running his finger up and down Stig’s crease, and he couldn’t think about anything else but what was happening here and now.
He arched his back into that touch. “Lube up your fingers and touch me.”
Ryder fumbled with the lube packet, but then those hot, blunt fingers wet with slick pressed against Stig’s hole, rubbing and caressing and teasing. Stig pushed back, hoping Ryder would take the hint. Just as Stig was ready to start begging, a single finger breached his ass. Stig groaned and stroked his cock, leaving a puddle of pre-cum on Ryder’s belly.
Ryder frowned, concentrating as he probed and massaged.
“Add another finger,” Stig gasped. If Ryder didn’t speed this up, then he’d be the one suffering from premature ejaculation.
Another finger slid in, and Ryder’s mouth dropped open. “You’re so tight. Help me. How do I find your prostate?”
Stig closed his eyes, concentrating on that scintillating touch inside his ass. He shifted slightly, driving down onto Ryder’s fingers. As they brushed his internal bundle of nerves, he gasped and his dick flexed, dripping more hot liquid.
“That’s it?” Ryder ran his fingers over that spot again.
“Oh, yeah, but you probably should stop and concentrate more on stretching me out, because I’m not going to last much longer if you keep doing that. Unfortunately, you’re a bit larger than average or else I’d just say go for it.”
Ryder scissored his fingers and then added a third, probing and stretching. So fucking good. Stig couldn’t wait any longer. He grabbed the condom he’d dropped on the sheet. He took a moment to stroke Ryder in time with the thrusting fingers in his ass, and then Stig quickly encased him in the thin rubber.