3 Times the Heat

by Sapphire Knight

  “It’s perfect,” I whisper, and my father inclines his head. “Thank you for this.”

  “It was all your momma.” He waves off the compliment like he always does.

  “No, Daddy, thank you for working so hard. Without you, the engagement party, the wedding, all of it, wouldn’t be the same. You’re a good provider for your family and a great father to me. You always have been.”

  He pats my hand on his arm. “It was my pleasure, sweet pea. I’m proud of the woman you’ve grown into and couldn’t be happier with the choice in Clyde. He’ll be good to you; I know it.”

  I’d never realized that I needed to hear that from him. To know I make him proud. I mean I always knew it in my heart, but to hear him say it aloud means so much. And knowing that he approves of Clyde, he’s always had a soft spot for the other man in my life.

  “I love you,” I mumble through more tears gathering already. I’m so freaking emotional today—happy, but moody all the same.

  “Love you too.” His eyes crinkle with his smile, the same smile that’s offered me love and comfort my entire life.

  It makes me sad for Clyde, knowing he’s missing this right now. If I could bring his parents to him, even for today alone, I would. Glancing at my father, I know Clyde must miss his parents, unlike anything I can fathom. At least he has his brothers beside him; he deserves all the happiness in the world.

  Following the flower path in front of me, lost in my thoughts of Clyde and his parents, I’m drawn out of them by my father coming to a stop and clearing his throat.

  “Who offers the hand of this young lady?” the priest asks, and my father meets his stare.

  “I do. I offer her to the love of her life, the son I never had.” He leans in, pressing a kiss to my forehead before placing my hand in Clyde’s. His palm lies on his shoulder. “Clyde, take care of her until you breathe your last breath and then watch over her even after.”

  “I will, sir; you have my word.”

  “I’m proud of you, son, and I love you, Shyla.” They shake hands, and then my father and mother take their seats in the front row behind my side.

  A quick glance behind him standing on the makeshift altar and I’m met with the charming smiles of his younger brothers dressed to impress in all black with mint colored skinny ties and then…it’s just Clyde and me in our own little world when I finally meet his gaze. He’s beautiful, utterly magnificent in that rugged alpha male sort of way. He’s in midnight black to my powder white lace, soft and hard, rough and tender, coming together as one.

  “Hi.” He stares at me with so much love and warmth; I can feel it tingle through my entire being.

  “Hi,” I reply, mine coming out with a whisper.

  “You’re the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever seen before, darlin’.”

  I swallow, entranced by him, his voice, his stare—everything. I’m going to be his wife, and he will be my husband. The very thing I’ve wished for since I was sixteen years old is finally about to come true. I’ll wear his ring on my finger and belong to him for the rest of my life.

  “I love you,” I murmur, and the priest clears his throat, bringing me back to the people surrounding us, to what they’re waiting on.

  Turning, my eyes meet the priest’s. “Yes,” I state with strength in my voice and he smiles kindly.

  “I didn’t ask yet, young lady.” His white hair is combed to the side, his wrinkled face full of kindness.

  “I don’t care,” I breathe. “My answer is yes. I want him for the rest of my life. I love him with everything that I am.”

  The priest tips his head, surrendering to my declaration with a smile. “Well then, Clyde, please slide Shyla’s ring on her finger.”

  I do as the priest asks, placing my grandmother’s ring on her finger along with the white gold band full of baguette cut diamonds. It’s something new and old, fusing together as a small token of my love.

  “Very good,” the priest comments.

  “Now Clyde, do you take this woman to be your bride? To love her and hold her in sickness, to care for her and worship her with all you’re capable of doing for the rest of your life?”

  “I do. I will love her with every breath I take; I always have.”

  “Shyla, please slide the ring on his finger as well.”

  She does, placing a simple white gold band on my ring finger. I wanted nothing fancy with always out working the ranch. I’m afraid it’d get ruined, and I would hate to upset her by it. She listened on the plain part, but stubborn woman that she is, had the inside engraved. She’d shown it to me a few days ago, the neat script inside proclaiming “no distance is too far.” To anyone else, it’d be gibberish, but to her and me, we know exactly what it means.

  “Very good. With the power invested in me, in front of those you love and who love you, as God as my witness, I pronounce you husband and wife. Clyde, you may kiss your bride.”

  She’s a vision, here in front of me in that gown, leaving no curve to the imagination. The dress may cover her in a classic cut, but the tightness and the thinness of the material, well, it’s beyond sexy. Her hair, half up and half down, pinned neatly with silver combs encrusted with shiny pearls. I’ve never seen her so done up before, even back at prom. She is absolutely radiant in my eyes.

  Leaning in, I tip her chin up gently and place my lips on hers. This is the first kiss signifying forever with her. People may rush theirs, but I savor mine. This is a moment I intend to remember for the rest of my life. A dream of sorts I’ll look back on until I’m so old I can remember nothing else but her.

  My hands find the soft skin of her cheeks, my palms cupping them as I hold her in this spot. My kiss is tender, loving, showering her with my devotion. As if she can sense what it means, her hands cover mine, pouring just as much feeling back into it. I’ve never been more in love with her in my life than right now. All those years lost, but she’s finally found me, broken down my walls and made me fall helplessly in love with her. I’d worship at her feet easily, protect her from any sense of harm and do whatever I possibly can to bring her happiness and love for as long as she’ll have me.

  With my eyes still closed, my lips barely touching hers, I murmur, “I love you, Shyla Owens.”

  “I love you,” she breathes back, and my heart’s so full, I could burst at the feeling of so much warmth and light.

  “Congrats, you two.” My brother Tyler claps me on the shoulder and pulls Shyla into a hug. “Welcome to the family, officially,” He says and passes her to Nate to get to his own woman, Kadence.

  “I’m happy for you Shyla—you and Clyde, both,” Nathan says, pulling me in for a man hug once he releases my wife.

  My wife.

  She’s actually my wife. There was a point in my life where I believed it would never happen, a time when I wondered if I’d ever love another woman again. The answer undoubtedly was no. I wouldn’t love another because it always was and always will be her.

  Her hand finds mine. “Ready big guy?”

  I nod, unable to speak. I’m surrounded by her and my brothers. I couldn’t ask for more. I’m happy. After so much bitterness filling up my soul, she’s replaced it all with light and love.

  “You’re the only one left, man.” I hear Tyler razzing Nathan behind us as we head back down the makeshift aisle. Our friends and family shake our hands and lightly pat our arms and such with each step as they wish us well in our marriage.

  Nate snorts, and I can imagine him rolling his eyes at our youngest brother. If it weren’t a wedding, Nate would no doubt be socking him in the arm right about now as well.

  “It’s not what you think,” Ty continues. “I thought it was crazy too, then I met Kadence, and you see how Clyde is with Shyla. Just wait, you’re going to find a woman who knocks you on your ass, and then we’ll be standing up at your wedding next.”

  “Shut it,” Nate grumbles and Shyla catches my eyes, flashing a grin. She obviously hears their bickering as well. I don’t need
to give my opinion ‘cause like it or not, Ty is right. Nate will find a woman eventually, one that’ll steal his breath away and makes him fight with his very being to be the best man he can for her.

  I thought Tyler was nuts with Kadence, but I learned my lesson. All it takes is one little woman with a spine like steal and determination on her side to make an Owens fall.

  Best stumble I’ve ever taken.

  Hold your horses.

  He ain’t done yet.

  —Philippians

  The Honeymoon…

  “I really hope your brother can manage the ranch.” I peer up into his hazel irises as they gaze at me full of warmth.

  “The sheriff has everything with the shooting under control. Nathan is feeding and taking care of the dogs and horses. Everything is fine,” he reassures me. We’ve taken time away to spend a late honeymoon together after getting our ducks in a row right after the wedding.

  “Thank God. I wanted alone time with you; I needed it,” I admit softly, and he kisses the top of my head, pulling me into his chest as we stare out over the beautiful sparkling water of the enormous lake. We’ve been out here for two days now, and it feels more like a week, our bodies finally getting a real chance to relax and be happy with one another.

  “I did too, darlin’,” his rich timbre confesses, bringing goosebumps over my exposed flesh. “Especially if it involves you, naked, doing whatever I want.”

  “Who was Nate ranting about when we were packing our things into the truck?”

  “I guess he ran into his childhood best friend in town. I remember her, little scrawny thing back then. Her name is Summer.”

  “Wait, she’s mixed, right?”

  “Yeah, she’s light skinned. I think her momma is African American and her father’s white. He was a lawyer too if I remember correctly.” He shrugs, “I think they both were, actually.”

  “Lucky. She probably has the perfect tan all year long,” I comment, and he grins.

  “You know who I’m talking about then?”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure. If I remember correctly, her hair was long, with spiral curls and a cocoa color?”

  “That’s her.” He nods.

  “She wasn’t scrawny! She was beautiful, and that was back when she was in ninth grade.”

  He shrugs his wide shoulders. “I never saw her like that. Anyhow, that was Nate’s best friend growing up. She moved away, and he never spoke of her again.”

  “Wow, and he saw her after that long?”

  He nods again, and I smile.

  “Don’t think of it, Shy. You leave those two alone; my brother has a lot on his plate already.”

  My hands fly up in surrender. “I never said anything!”

  “Hmm, you forget I know you.”

  A giggle escapes because he’s right. He knows me better than anyone else in the world. “You’ve made me one happy woman, Clyde Owens.”

  “Well, you taking my last name and then dragging me out to a cabin in the middle of nowhere next to our very own lake has made me one happy man, Shyla Owens.”

  My smile grows until it’s so wide it hurts my cheeks. “I love you,” I whisper and he meets the declaration with a tender kiss.

  He trails down over my naked breasts, peppering wet, soft kisses in his wake, “I…” Kiss. “Love…” Kiss. “You.” Kiss. He murmurs, bending to his knees where he tugs my lace boy shorts down my thighs, eventually freeing me of them altogether.

  “Completely naked?” I gasp as a breeze tickles the wetness his tongue left behind on my nipples. They pucker and strain with the cool air, wanting more attention from the man in front of me.

  “Mmhmm,” he hums, raking his gaze over every exposed inch of my skin. “You brought me into the middle of nowhere. That means I get you naked everywhere.”

  “And just what do you plan to do with me?”

  “This.” He leans forward, and his mouth finds the juncture between my thighs.

  “Oh.” Breathily, I spread my legs to welcome him where I crave him most. “Oh, I see, right there.” I ramble on as his tongue swipes through my slit.

  “Mmhmm.” His growl vibrates, and I moan. Thank God no one is around. I’m standing next to a lake, completely naked while my husband works my pussy with his mouth. This could never happen if we were at home, you don’t know who may show up or when. “You taste good, darlin’.”

  “Clyde,” escapes with a loud moan. His large hands grip my hips, planting me in place as he feasts on me. “Yes!” He licks me until my legs shake and he sits back on his haunches.

  “I want you.”

  Panting, I nod vigorously, whatever he desires at this point. He left me right on the crescendo of my climax. It was building so quickly he’d have had to hold me up if he’d kept at it another minute because my legs would’ve given out as I peaked.

  “Jesus, you’re so sexy like this.”

  “Like what?” I gaze down at him as he pushes free from his boxer briefs and lies back against the lush, thick emerald colored grass. This place is so stunning. It’s like a painting and add in Clyde Owens staring up at me as if I’m everything right here, right now, and I have no words.

  “You’re a goddess Shyla, nakedand bared for me to look my fill—your body ready and willing at my command. It’s a man’s dream come true.”

  Falling to my knees, I’m so wet that he easily slides deep into my center, filling me completely. “You’re my dream come true,” I confess, leaning over him. My hair drapes around his face, one hand covers my cheek as his other rests on my hip. “You’re my everything,” I whisper across his lips that taste like me and tilt my hips forward and then back, over and over.

  “Goddamn,” Clyde rasps, sucking my bottom lip in between his.

  My hips move in a rhythm, grinding my core against him in bliss. With each movement my breasts grow heavy, trailing over his chest. My stiff nipples rake against his smooth, tanned skin, begging for his touch. They want him to twist and squeeze them and draw them each into his mouth. My body craves his touch everywhere. It’s always too much but never enough.

  I’ll never reach my fill of the man under me right now. I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for lost time with Clyde. My body doing whatever it can to pull him farther in, to entrance him in any way possible. I want Clyde with every fiber of my being. I want to love him, have his children, and grow old with him.

  “You’re mine, forever,” I declare with a heated kiss and a pop of my pelvis.

  “That’s right, and you belong to me now, Shyla Owens.” He reaches behind me, gripping my shoulders with his fingers, planting me firmly to his groin. In this position he’s in me so deeply all I can do is gasp and let him thrust quick, demanding drives into my core until I yell in surrender. My body trembles with the typhoon of an orgasm washing over my limbs as he gives in and pumps me full of his hot come.

  With heavy breaths, we come down together, wrapped in each other’s arms, exchanging each other’s air. His hands frame my face as he peers into my eyes lovingly. “Promise me it’ll always be like this.”

  “Always, Clyde. It’ll always be like this for me when it comes to you.”

  “It feels like I’ve waited my whole life to hear you say that,” he replies, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips.

  “I’ve waited for nearly all of mine to have you; I won’t ever let you go now.”

  “Good, then let’s start on those babies I promised your momma we’d have.” He growls and flips me under him.

  “Bossy Alpha,” I laugh and kiss his lips.

  “Be careful what you wish for.” He grins and peppers kisses along my neck, muttering, “It may come true.”

  It already did. I wished for him.

  The End

  I hope you enjoyed Clyde and Shyla. I loved them both! Their story had me smiling the entire way. Please leave a review, any bit helps. XO—Sapphire

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