by Ace Gray
My heartbeat slowed immediately and my lungs finally expanded to take a full, deep breath. I climbed off the bed and tiptoed over to his chair. He moved his arms to let me crawl into his lap but his face didn’t change. Absolutely no blue filtered into his eyes. I curled my head into the crook of his neck anyhow.
“We can’t get married tomorrow.” He finally breathed into my hair.
“Fuck you,” I whispered vehemently.
“I’m serious. How am I supposed to knowingly put you, and Wells for that matter, in danger?”
“Whether you like it or not we’re both already pretty deep in this. Married or not won’t create distance.” I tilted my head and pressed my lips to his neck. “Don’t think of him. Please. Think of me. Think of our son.” I kissed his jaw. “I need you. Not to protect me, but to complete me. I can’t live without you. And I’ve never wanted to marry you as much as I do now.” I kissed the corner of his mouth.
“This is what it takes for you to want to marry me?” There was a hint of humor in his voice.
I’ll take even the tiniest bit.
“Fuck you.” I reached up and nibbled on his ear lobe this time.
“You’re insatiable. One day you’ll kill me.” His arms finally wrapped around me.
“Nope. I can’t live without you. You know that.”
He squeezed me and my body melted like butter into his. “I feel so selfish. So irresponsible even considering…”
“This isn’t your fault. I’ll even let you blame Brooklyn or Jaime or Colton if you really want. I fully blame Christopher, maybe Francis a little, but not you. Never you. And you trust me don’t you?”
“That’s not fair.” He smiled against my skin.
“I never said I fight fair.”
He kissed my head where it rested beneath his lips.
“Kate, what are we going to do about Christopher?”
We? Thank God.
I took a deep breath and a moment to really think about it. Only one answer came to mind.
“I don’t know. But we’ll do it together.”
35.
Arms bound me like black silk ribbon when the soft morning light fell on my face. Soft, steady breathing was comforting beside me too.
Thank God.
I turned, still encased in his arms, and burrowed further into his chest before planting a kiss on the skin below my lips.
"Sweets," he responded still half asleep.
I leaned in to kiss his chest again. I let my hand wander down to his cock and my fingers flexed against his morning wood. He rolled his hips up into my hand and purred.
"You can't check out on me like that again. One, it’s not just me anymore. Two, I can’t…” My breath caught in my throat. “Well I just can’t without you.” He groaned as I started leisurely stroking him. “We'll make it through anything because were together." I kissed his jaw where I could reach.
"I couldn't ever really leave you. Or Wells. I just..." His words trailed off, replaced by a moan.
"Get scared,” I breathed against his skin. "I know. I do too. Until I remember I have you." My hand fell away from his perfect penis and I started kissing down his taut stomach. My body seamlessly slid between him and the sheets.
"Promise me you won't ever walk away,” I purred just before planting a kiss on his shaft.
"I'm marrying you." His raspy words made my thighs shift against one another.
"Promise me.” It was a playful warning as I bent to kiss him again.
"I swear on everything I have,” he grunted and I smiled as I let my tongue trace the length of his cock. His thighs bunched in response. My lips hovered right above the tip of his dick when knuckles wrapped on the big wooden door.
"Go away!" Nick roared and it echoed in the room.
"I think you'll want an update, Bryant." Brooklyn's muffled voice came from the other side of the door.
"Shit," Nick swore as his hands wrapped around my shoulders and he pulled me back up along his body. His lips mashed wildly to mine before rolling from bed and snatching jeans from the floor. He jerked his chin toward his t-shirt and I scrambled for it before landing back beneath the sheets. Nick whipped open the door more violently than was absolutely necessary.
"Sorry to interrupt.” Brooklyn arched and eyebrow and I couldn't help but giggle.
Nick shot me one hell of a look but I noticed the blue stayed in his eyes.
"What's the update?" Nick voice was still gruff but most of his usual ice had melted.
"We tracked him for a few hours but, true to form, he had a plan. Retracing his steps this morning, I realized he was purposely disorienting us. Even using the blood trail to his advantage."
"Blood trail?" My chest constricted when I remembered the crimson puddle on the track.
The air seemed to rush out of the room and a weight landed on my shoulders. I was sucked right back into the serious events of last night. Nick saw my whole posture change, and he walked toward me, letting his fingers drift across my shoulder when he walked up.
"Yes. He sustained significant blood loss when I shot him. He'll have to seek medical attention." Brooklyn sighed heavily.
“What would we do without you Brooklyn?” Nick’s voice was warm and gracious, my jaw dropped. Where was the trademark temper? The utter meltdown from last night? “This might give us time to catch up to him. Should give us time to go through with this circus." His eyes twinkled when he referenced the ceremony.
Level-headed was new, and pretty damn sexy the way Nicholas Bryant did it. The urge to launch myself at him and his blue eyes was almost overwhelming.
"I have people on it. You'll be safe. Enjoy today,” Brooklyn smirked and slipped out.
I sagged into Nick’s shoulder as he climbed onto the bed next to me. I went to lean my head on his shoulder and caught the color of his eyes instead.
"What?" They’d shifted to steel gray after all. "What now?"
"What do you mean?" He crinkled his brow and cocked his head. His fingers hadn’t stopped circling on my shoulders.
"Your eyes are gray." I shifted up to kneel on the bed, coming nose to nose with him.
"So?" He arched an eyebrow at me and the tiniest bit of blue filtered back in.
"So they always turn gray when you're angry or upset. They're brilliant blue when you're happy. I expected gray because of Christopher but just now, when Brooklyn was speaking, you managed to keep some of the blue. The full on gray came later.”
"What?" He smiled and more blue filtered back.
“Your eyes change. They swirl. They tell me more than you do quite frequently." I cocked my head. "They have since the beginning."
"Really?" He rubbed his chin as his gaze fell to the bed. "And you noticed?"
"I always notice." I was trying to sound exasperated but his surprise was too cute, too genuine not to smile at. My brilliant blue was taking over as his grin went crooked. "Now stop changing the subject, why were they gray? What's was wrong that wasn’t a second ago?" I bit my lip as I waited for him to answer.
Nick rolled his eyes. "Now I wish you couldn't read me like a book." I waited patiently, knowing he would continue, "I don't want to ruin your day."
“I don’t care at all. The wedding doesn't mean anything as long as I get to be married to you."
He slowly looked up at me from under his long lashes. I got the sense he was searching my eyes for some similar tell.
"I don't want to be away from you. I don't want to go put on a tux in the guest house or wait for you at the end of an aisle. Today I want to be with you. I always want to be with you. ”
"Done." I beamed.
No words could have made me happier and the way his eyes danced when I agreed made my stomach clench.
“It’s not traditional, Kate.”
“Because we’ve always been so traditional,” I said meaning to be snarky but coming off soft.
I expected him to kiss me passionately but instead his fingers skated up along my cheeks and pushe
d into my hair. Nick cradled me, then ever so gently pulled my lips to his. He whispered my wife against them before he finally kissed me, planting a sweet kiss. Nick only paused for a moment to take a breath before he returned to my mouth and explored my lips like he’d never tasted them before. I let my tongue trace over his as if it was the first time all over again.
My fingers fiddled at his pants button for a moment then got it free. His went straight to my shirt hem. We were mid-strip when another knock interrupted us.
"Fuck," I muttered while he yelled, "Go away” again.
"You have a wedding to get ready for," Ari's whine cut straight through the wood.
“We’ll be ready on time, Aribella."
Three different voices erupted on the other side of the door. Ari, Gemma, and Laura were all working themselves into a frenzy. I heard “But the stylist” and “Girls day” and “I’ve put up with too much” respectively. I shut them all out as Nick’s hand came back to my shirt. My lips happily went back to his until Wells started crying. His howling adding to the cacophony in my hallway.
“Damnit,” I whispered against Nick’s lips.
“That’s an understatement.” He pulled back and kissed my forehead just a second before everyone burst in.
I yanked at the covers while Nick slyly adjusted his jeans. I was still adjusting the comforter when Nick took Wells out of Gemma’s hands.
“You guys, it’s bad luck to see each other before the wedding.” Ari shoved her hands onto her hips and glared first at Nick then me.
“Ari, we’re pretty adept at dealing with shit.” Nick smiled down on Wells, bouncing him as he spoke to his sister.
“This was supposed to be a girl’s day,” Gemma’s voice was quiet and her gaze fell to her deeply bitten fingernails, which made me feel a little guilty.
“No one is kicking you out. I’m just not kicking Nick out either.” Nick bit his lip when I said it but the corner of his smile went crooked all the same. “Laura, what’s your grievance?”
“No grievance.” She rolled her eyes. “Why on Earth would I have an opinion? Why would I want to be in here with you today?” Her voice dripped with a sarcastic venom.
I was about to shoot my mouth off when Nick spoke up. “Gemma, will you please help me get Wells fed? And Aribella, make yourself useful and grab our tuxedos from the guest house.”
“But I…”
“Aribella,” he barked.
Gemma lightly wrapped her fingers around Ari’s arm and pulled her from the room. Nick swung Wells and made an airplane noise, pulling a screech from my son as they followed the girls out. Nick winked just before he shut the door.
“That was bitchy.” I crossed my arms on my chest.
“Well how am I supposed to react when you replace me so completely I cease to matter at all?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve seen you less and less over the past two years. I miss my friend. I know you’re in love. I know it’s more than love but jeez…” She crossed her arms and leveled her gaze at me.
“What in the fuck are you talking about?” I was trying to keep my temper. “You know damn well I do my best. I know my shit gets a little out of hand, and I don’t have tons of time but besides Nick and Wells, you are the only person I think of every day. You’re certainly the only person I’d tolerate this shit from.” I arched an eyebrow at her.
Laura crossed the room and sat with her back to me on the bed.
“If I lose you, I’m left with nothing.” She slumped and it broke my heart. “My life has become a bad joke.”
“Laur, you’ll never lose me. But moreover, you’ve got plenty going for you.” I leaned forward and let my hand brush down her back.
“I don’t have this.” She half-heartedly waved her hand around. “And I want it. I always did. I thought I was going to marry Malik. And I certainly thought I’d be getting married before you.” My back bristled even though I knew that wasn’t why she said it. She barreled on before my temper could pop up. “Instead everything keeps getting worse. Exponentially. My relationships have fallen apart that much more spectacularly. Each one faster or worse than the one before.” She shrugged then let her face fall into her hands.
I shoved the sheets to the side and crawled across the bed, stepping off right next to her. I crouched between her knees and rested my hands on her thighs.
“Take it from someone who is pretty good at falling apart spectacularly, it only takes one person to show up and help you keep your shit together.”
“Is that why you need him in here today? To help keep your shit together?” She only shifted enough to look up at me.
“Among other things.” I started chewing on my cheek.
“Have anything to do with those bruises?” She barely jerked her head toward my shins.
I hadn’t remembered until then and I shifted to inspect them. My heart constricted when I recalled the frantic events that led up to my legs being shut in the car door.
“A little, I guess.” I shrugged. “A little because it’s us.”
"You still love him as much as you did when you first met him?" She leaned against her palm and met my eyes.
"More," I answered unequivocally.
"Sex life still everything it used to be?”
"Also more."
“I’m trying not to be upset or jealous." She sighed. "Really I am."
"I know." I stood up and turned toward the bar. "It means everything that you’re trying. We both know I’d be a bitter bitch if the situation was reversed.” I winked as I handed her a scotch then clinked her glass.
“Were you going to explain the bruises?”
My face fell.
“Do I have to?” I prayed she didn’t hear my voice waiver.
“What happened?”
Still can’t hide from her.
“The less you know the better.” I slugged back scotch despite the morning hour and started worrying on my lip.
“Christopher? Really? Is everyone okay?”
Of course she knew what I meant. She shot off the bed and started pacing. She’d been through a lot with him too.
“Nick’s bruises are worse than mine but otherwise, yes, everyone is fine. Shaken up though…” I let my voice trail off.
I found my shoulders creeping up toward my ears and my heart picking up pace.
The second there was a strong, steady knock at the door my tension melted. My body knew beyond a shadow of a doubt who was knocking on that door. And when both my boys slipped back into the bedroom my earlier calm returned. Nick’s eyes met mine and for a moment, the whole world fell away. All that I could see, all that mattered, was the way he looked at me.
Laura laughed lightly and it broke the spell between the both of us. She took a small pull of scotch then looked between the two of us. “Well folks, it would seem we have a wedding to get ready for.”
36.
I’d spent hours in a salon chair. The way the stylist played with my hair was so exquisite, I relaxed and let a lazy grin creep across my face. When she badgered me about doing my makeup too, my smile swiftly went from serene to phony. Laura sensed the change and ushered her out the door, her words so jumbled, I didn’t think she breathed. I bit my lip so I didn’t laugh at the scene. As soon as the stylist was gone I threw my arms around Laura, hair be damned.
When I was finally left alone, I stood and surveyed myself in the bathroom mirror. My dark hair was pinned up in romantic curls. A few tendrils fell into my face or trailed down my neck, framing the diamond studs my father had given me years ago. A matching pendant diamond hung down into my cleavage, a gift that Nick had given me earlier today. It would rest just above the deep sweetheart neck of my dress, the bright, clear compliment to the black one he’d given me last night.
I'd gone for dark red lips, the kind that Nick would stare unabashedly at. The bruises on my ass almost matched the color and I smirked when I realized I didn’t know which he’d be more turned on by.
“I’m sorry about last night.”
I jumped slightly at Nick’s apology as he snuck back into the bathroom. When I settled, I turned to find him fidgeting with his tuxedo which was in various stages of unbuttoned and untucked. A completely different warm honey feeling spread through my insides.
“You already apologized.” I went to him, unconcerned that my silk robe was falling off my shoulders.
“I’m sorry I was delusional enough to act like I could leave you, even for your own good.” The last part got gravelly when my robe slipped even further and hunger flashed in his eyes.
I laughed loudly, and I threw my arms around his neck.
“Apology accepted.” I planted a sweet kiss on his lips, then pulled back to make sure I hadn’t left a crimson mark.
His fingers were circling on my back, bringing me closer to him and his growing erection. My hand slid from his neck, down his body, and straight for his cock as I leaned in to kiss him again.
“No,” he said sharply. “If anything keeps us from getting married today, it’ll be that.” He kissed my forehead then turned to walk away.
“Nick, don’t go. I’ll behave. I promise.” He shot me a look, with a half-cocked eyebrow that told me he didn’t believe me in the least; the blue of his eyes said he didn’t care.
He turned and kept walking.
“Nicholas Bryant!” I hadn’t meant to stomp my foot.
“Do you want that ass a darker shade? Deep purple is a beautiful color on you.” He chuckled darkly when he turned and saw me flush. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He bent over the bed to mess with the garments I'd left there. When he turned around, I drank in the lethal glass of water that was my soulmate. I bit my lip as I pictured what was underneath. Nick shook his head as he walked back, crouched down and kissed the inside of my knee. He held out what he’d retrieved from the bed.
His shoulder was the perfect height for me to steady myself as he slowly rolled up one sheer silk stocking and clipped it to the white lace garter belt already hidden under my robe. He repeated the sweet gesture on my other leg, this time kissing all the way up. Instead of reaching the apex of my thighs, he rocked back and gazed at his handy work. His hands ran up and down my thighs just before he stood and turned back toward the bed.