by Riley, Alexa
I roll her hips back and forth on it until she’s wiggling under me and about to go over the edge. As soon as I feel her pussy squeeze me and she cries out, I pull my cock out and watch as my cum splashes across her belly. I jack off my slick length, gritting my teeth while I mark what’s mine.
When I’ve released all that I can, I drag the thick head of my cock between her puffy folds and slide back into her warmth. I give her a few shallow thrusts then just hold myself inside her as I press my forehead to hers.
“I promise everything will be fine,” she says, rubbing my chest.
She knows me better than I know myself. My possessive hold on her eases slightly and I kiss her with gentle lips. I was rough and domineering because the thought of something happening to her or our baby is enough to make me insane. She knew I was on the edge and instead of telling me to calm down, all she did was take what I gave her.
“I love you so much,” I whisper, hugging her body closer to me.
“I love you more,” she says as she kisses my neck.
“That’s impossible.” I grab her ass and pick her up, carrying her towards the bed. “I said it first, so I mean it more.”
“Not fair!” she laughs and playfully smacks my chest.
I lower her down onto the bed and thrust inside her, turning her laugh into a moan.
“I never said I was going to play fair.”
We make love again, and this time it’s slow and sweet. When she finally falls asleep on my chest I look up through the skylight and pray to whoever is up there that her words are true and everything will really be okay.
Chapter 25
Genevieve
“That’s my favorite,” Lynn says, and we all laugh.
“You’ve said that about every single dress,” I remind her, and she shrugs.
“I’ve had to drink this champagne all by myself. Everything looks beautiful.”
We arrived at the bridal salon a couple of hours ago. As soon as we came in we were greeted by a team of people who made us feel like celebrities. Barrett and Neal are behind all of this, we’re sure, but we aren’t complaining in the least.
True to Barrett’s word they’ve stayed outside and only walked us to the door. Before I went in, I gave him one last kiss and he told me even if I wore the jean shorts and tank top I had on, that I’d still be the most beautiful bride in the world. My man really knows how to butter me up.
“It’s just seeing you in a dress and wearing Nanna’s ring.” Lynn smiles and wipes away a tear. “I’m so happy to be gaining a sister.”
“Hey.” Steph pops her on the shoulder. “What am I? Dog meat?”
“You’re not shiny and new like Ginny is. Plus, it’s like we get two of her with Gabi.”
We all laugh, and I look at myself in the mirror. This is probably the tenth dress I’ve tried on, but it might be my favorite. It could use a few alterations and I’m not crazy about the cap sleeves. But with a few changes it could be perfect. I thought I’d slide a dress on and it would be the dress. But so far nothing has been exactly perfect.
Gabi grabs another slice of cake and sits back on the long sofa. I do a twirl on the small stage in front of the mirrors and Gabi points at me with her fork.
“I don’t like the sleeves. And I’m not convinced the mermaid style is the best for you. You’re too short.”
“You wore a mermaid style,” I remind her, but she shrugs.
“I’m taller.”
“By an inch,” I remind her. She just winks at me as she takes another huge bite of cake.
“And what do we think of this one?” Bridget asks as she enters the room with her three assistants. “Oh, I’m not sure about those sleeves.” She appraises me as she circles the platform. “And we might need to stay away from the mermaid style.”
“Told ya,” Gabi mumbles around a mouthful of icing.
“Don’t worry, Ginny, we’ve got an entire fleet of gowns, and I’ve been saving one that I think would be perfect,” Bridget says, clapping her hands together.
“Maybe she should have brought that out first,” Lynn loudly whispers to Gabi, and they both fall into giggles.
“Here. I’ll help you get out of this one,” Steph offers as she comes over and takes my hand to steady me as I step off the stage.
A bell rings softly, and Bridget perks up. “That will be lunch. Your two very instructive men waiting outside informed us that we would need to feed you regularly.”
“God, I love my husband,” Gabi says, and I snort.
“We’ll go grab the catering and set up for you. If you like you can just slip on your robe for the time being. I think a small break would give everyone fresh eyes.”
Bridget leaves our lounge area, and her silent assistants follow her closely. I step into the dressing room and Steph comes in with me and closes the curtain behind her.
“Thank you so much for making this trip. I know it wasn’t easy and it took a lot for you to come last time,” I offer, but Steph waves me off.
“Don’t thank me. This is such a special day and I’m so glad to be a part of it. Thank you for inviting me.” She takes my hand and lifts it so she can look at the ring. “You are so special to all of us. I’m so happy Barrett found you and gave you this beautiful ring. It deserves to be loved all over again.”
“It’s so perfect, just like Barrett,” I say, and Steph laughs.
“Boy, he’s got you fooled. Now turn around and let me get you out of this thing. And just a little bit of advice, get something with a zipper. My dress was ruined on our wedding night because I thought the buttons looked classy. Turns out it was just an obstacle for my very impatient groom.”
We fall into fits of giggles until the curtain is yanked back.
“And how did John feel about being sloppy seconds?” Mark’s cold voice pierces our little bubble of happiness and Steph goes rigid beside me. “Or did you keep that our little secret?”
I think for a split second about calling for Barrett, but he and Neal are outside and there’s no way he could hear me. Gabi and Lynn are just on the other side of the wall in the other room. I could scream and they’d come running.
“Don’t even think about it,” Mark says, flashing a knife in his hand. “You little bitches stay quiet or you’ll be sorry.”
Steph hasn’t made a sound and I think she might be in shock. I raise my hands and take a step forward; my only thought is to protect her from this monster who hurt her once already. Someone will come looking for us any minute now. I just have to keep him distracted and calm until then.
“What do you want?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even.
“You ruined my life,” he spits, not answer the question. “The both of you.”
It’s then I truly notice him for the first time. His clothes are dirty and his hands are covered in filth. His hair is slicked back, but it could be because he hasn’t been washing it. But the worst part is his face. He hasn’t shaved in weeks and his eyes are bloodshot. His pupils are as big as saucers and I wonder what kind of drug he’s on. He’s completely lost it, and he looks like he’s been living under a bridge. The police said he had disappeared, so maybe that’s where he’s been.
“I’m sure there’s a way we can work this out.” I try again to reason with him. “I can talk to Janet and get you your old job back.”
“Liar,” he snaps, calling my bluff. “You’re nothing but trouble. Since the day I saw you I tried to do it the easy way. I was nice and polite. I asked you out and you kept putting me off. That was until you wanted something from me. But then Barrett showed up and ruined everything.”
I watch as he grips the knife tighter and I wonder why anyone hasn’t walked back here yet. How long has it been?
“Listen, we can talk this out. Why don’t we sit down and—” I go to take a step forward and he brings the knife up to my face.
“You think I’d trust you? You’re just like the rest of them. You’re nothing but a tease, just like she was,” he
says, turning the knife to Steph. “You got exactly what you wanted that night, but afterwards you pretended like you didn’t.”
“That’s enough,” I say and move again to block her from his view. “You want to be mad at someone you be mad at me. I’m the one who got you fired. I’m the one who had the police chasing you all over town. What do you want from me now, Mark? How do you think this is going to end?” I don’t know where this strength inside me comes from, but now that the words are out, I’m terrified of what his answer is going to be.
The evil smile that spreads across his face tells me all I need to know. He wants me dead.
“Are you guys not finished in there yet?” Gabi calls out just as she comes around the corner.
“No!” Steph and I scream as Mark spins around and grabs Gabi.
He’s got the knife to her throat and his back to the wall, his crazy eyes darting between us.
“She’s not the twin I wanted, but I plan on having all of you. So, I guess it doesn’t matter where I start.”
He’s completely lost his mind. There isn’t any reasoning now. This is a situation we’re going to have to fight our way out of.
“Please don’t hurt me. I’m pregnant,” Gabi pleads and covers her belly with her hands.
Seeing the fear in her eyes has every inch of my body on red alert. She’s my other half and I’ll be damned if some psycho is going to take her away from me.
“Take me.”
I’m surprised when I look back to see Steph come out from behind me and step forward.
“Take me, Mark. Isn’t that what this is about?” she says, her voice more confident with each step she takes. “It all started when we were in high school, and every girl since has been a poor substitute for me.”
Steph must have watched some serious true crime documentaries because she is laying down some psychological shit right now.
“I can see the resemblance between Ginny and me. You went after her, but it was me you really wanted. And you still do. Don’t you?”
Gabi whines as the arm around her neck squeezes and the knife gets closer. Mark is staring at Steph like she’s the Ring and he’s Gollum. Could it be true? Could all this be because he still wants her?
“Let her go, Mark, and you can have me,” Steph says, opening her arms and showing her hands, palms up. Gabi tries to protest, and Steph shakes her head. “I’ll leave with you right now and no one ever has to know.”
She takes another step closer and then waits. Mark looks like he’s thinking it over. I hold my breath wondering what the hell is going to happen.
“You’ll do what I say?” he asks quietly, suddenly much calmer than just a moment ago.
“If you let her go, yes,” Steph says, taking another step closer.
Mark looks over at me, then as if in slow motion he loosens his grip on Gabi and turns his head to the right, trying to look around the corner and see if anyone is coming.
Before I know what’s happening, Steph throws herself at Mark, grabbing the arm with the knife and shouting at Gabi at the same time.
“Get down!” she calls out.
I realize what’s happening a split second later and I lunge for Gabi, covering her body with mine. She crumples in a heap on the floor, and I look up to see Steph and Mark wrestling for the knife.
Steph screams, and I push myself off the floor, but the stupid wedding dress is twisted around my legs. I have to untangle myself before I can get up and help her.
Mark backhands Steph across the face, but she manages to knee him in the balls. He bends forward but recovers impossibly fast. She tries to grab the knife just as he slashes out at her.
When I get to them, he’s got a hold of her with his free hand and there’s blood on them both. I jump on Mark’s back and wrap an arm around his neck, trying to hold on and choke him at the same time. Steph smashes the heel of her hand against his nose. He cries out, and though I can’t see his face I hear the sound of his nose breaking.
“You bitch!” he shouts.
It’s then I hear someone scream in the distance, and I think it must be Lynn. She’s found us. I don’t have time to look as Steph, once again, goes for the knife. This time when she does it the three of us go tumbling to the ground. I close my eyes and cry out as pain shoots through my leg as the weight of Mark and Steph land on top of me.
When I open them, Mark is staring at me with dead eyes.
Steph moves and rolls Mark over, then helps me sit up. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Lynn, go get Barrett and Neal.”
I must have hit my head when I landed because suddenly everything is fuzzy. Steph’s hands are covered in blood and Gabi is crawling towards me.
“Ginny!” she shouts as she looks into my eyes. “Stay with us.”
Their words are all coming from a long dark tunnel as my vision is edged with black. But just before I close my eyes I catch a glimpse of Barrett and I smile.
I love you, I think, before I fall asleep.
Chapter 26
Genevieve
I wake up with my right hand being gripped tightly and loud beeping coming from somewhere close by. I blink a few times at the bright light and look to my right to see Barrett sitting in a chair beside me with his head down on my bed. His eyes are closed, but I can see the dark circles under them telling me that he hasn’t slept much recently.
I see the monitor next to me and realize that’s the source of the beeping. There are two threads going, and one is much faster than what I think my normal heartbeat should be. When I see the words at the bottom, a lump rises in my throat: Fetal rate. It’s then I notice that one of Barrett’s hands is resting on my belly in a protective hold. Even in his sleep he keeps me from danger.
Using my free hand, I run my fingers through his hair and I smile as he leans into my touch. He’s so handsome when he sleeps. He’s so big and strong when he’s awake and looking after me, but right now he almost has a boyish quality to him. I don’t get to watch him like this often, so I’m going to soak it in before I wake him up.
I remember coming to the hospital after the accident but not much else. They gave me something to help me sleep, but Barrett must have told them about the baby since I have the monitor. I haven’t taken a test, but all our suspicions have been confirmed. Our baby is growing inside me and though we’ve just gone through something horrific, I’ve never felt happier in my life. We are beginning our family, and Barrett is here with me. I know nothing can ever touch us as long as he is near.
The door opens silently, and Gabi slips inside. I put my finger to my lips and she nods as she walks over and kisses me on the cheek.
“You okay?” she whispers, and I nod. “I think you can be discharged in a couple of hours. They wanted to monitor you to make sure you didn’t have a concussion. Your ankle is sprained but it’s not broken.”
“How’s Steph?” I remember she had a lot of blood on her, but I didn’t know if it was hers or Mark’s.
“She’s okay. She had a pretty bad gash on her arm, but they stitched her up and sent her home. She’s with Lynn right now. I just got off the phone with her and she sounds good. John and the kids are on the way here. He didn’t want her to travel back alone.”
I didn’t know I was so worried until I feel overwhelming relief that she’s okay. I don’t want to ask about Mark, but Gabi can already read my mind.
“He’s dead,” she says, her voice solemn. It’s not like any of us regret it, but the whole situation is awful. “I was listening outside the room when the cops were interviewing Steph. She said she was wrestling Mark for the knife and when they fell it went into his heart.”
I shake my head thinking how happy I am it wasn’t Steph who fell on it. We were so lucky. Mark has been a plague on her since high school. I can’t imagine what she went through, but now it’s all over. And we can finally put this behind us.
“Where’s Neal?”
“He’s getting me something from the vending machine. I wanted to make sure you we
re okay and they were going to let you go home before I left.”
She leans down and kisses my cheek one more time just as the door opens and her husband walks in.
Barrett stirs and then opens his eyes. They’re still heavy with sleep, and I run my hand down his face and jaw as he wakes up. I say goodbye to Gabi and Neal as Barrett sits up and smiles at me.
“Lady, you scared the hell out of me,” he says, his voice hoarse.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and he moves closer, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me that everything is going to be okay.”
“Everything is going to be okay,” I promise. We kiss softly. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“I know,” he says, rubbing my belly with his big hand. “I heard your sister catching you up on everything.”
“You were listening?”
“Of course,” he says. He doesn’t even apologize.
“I’m just ready to go home. I want to be in my own bed.”
“Me too,” he says, kissing my hand and looking up at me. “There’s just one thing she didn’t tell you.”
“What?” I ask, worry building inside me.
“Our parents are on the way.”
“Which ones?” I groan, knowing if it’s my mom she’s going to be so worried.
“Both. Yours and mine. Get ready, Genevieve. They’re going to smother us with love and worry.”
“I guess there could be worse things.” The wedding is still a couple of weeks away, but I’m sure that won’t matter to anyone. Heck, I can even see Barrett wanting to move it up now that everyone will be home.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. And I promise to never let anything like that happen to you again. Steph told me you stepped in front of her and…” He gets a little choked up and clears his throat. “You’ll never know what it means to me that you protected my family when I couldn’t be there.” He caresses my belly again. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and I love you so damn much.”