by Lee Savino
At first, we’d been too shy to discuss our sex lives, but little by little, we opened up, and were amazed to discover that we both had the same dark passions—as well as bossy, dominant, sexy-as-hell husbands.
Stan took hold of Odette’s bridle, and the bridal train began to move.
We walked for five minutes, and I savored every step as it brought me closer to Joel. He was already legally my husband, but I knew this wedding would mean so much more than the first one. We’d renew our vows in front of all our loved ones.
We turned around the corner of the yard and a beautiful sight came into view: a long, flower-decked archway, with a lovely garden on one side and a huge gazebo on the other. The color theme was burnt orange and purple. A fall wedding—or harvest wedding, as Joel’s mom had called it, wiggling her eyebrows significantly. Apparently, marrying during the harvest period was a great omen for future fertility. She was desperate to start having grandkids. And I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before Joel and I obliged.
Everyone I’d gotten to know in the last few months was waiting, watching expectantly.
Sheesh, and there were a lot of them. Half of Ashcroft must be there, all dressed up in their country best.
Stan led Odette through the archway. I couldn’t see Joel at first, but when I reached the altar, there he was, astride Flinders. He looked so handsome, in his light gray suit, with a crisp white shirt and a deep burgundy carnation in his lapel, that my heart just about stopped beating. When Joel had suggested we ride our horses to the altar, it had made perfect sense. My little horse, Odette, had unknowingly been a part of my life all these years. And she had also taken her role in helping to heal me.
Joel bounded down from his horse in his usual, careless way. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his mom throw him an admonishing glance, no doubt worried he was going to tear his suit pants. I smiled to myself. Then Stan helped to arrange my skirts while I carefully dismounted from Odette. The horses were led away, and Carrie handed me my bouquet, her grin stretching from ear to ear.
Standing behind Joel were six other guys in suits. He was so popular, he hadn’t been able to decide who should be his best man and, not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, he’d wound up going for a whole team. There were Dave and Trey—the two cops who’d rescued me from the mafia, and whom I’d always be indebted to. There was Deacon, whose bachelor’s party had been the whole reason why Joel had been at the strip club in the first place. There were Kevin and Caine, two other close friends of his, and of course, Steele, Carrie’s husband. They were all easygoing, good-natured guys, and I owed them so much.
The celebrant welcomed us all with a smile full of joy, and the wedding service began.
I was glad I’d had a chance to prepare my words this time. I told Joel how much I loved him, how proud I was of him, and I promised to do my best to make him happy every single day.
Then I said a prayer for my missing family. I truly felt they were looking down on us, sending their love and good wishes.
Joel had been very secretive about writing his vows, so I had no idea what to expect. But when he began to speak, he took my breath away. It was a testimony of how he’d known I was the one all those years ago, and how he’d been willing to wait for me, however long it took. And how, when he hadn’t been able to find me, he’d known he’d never get over me, and that he would never marry anyone else because I was always in his heart.
When the celebrant pronounced us man and wife—again—and Joel took me into his arms and kissed me, I cried so much, the tears spilled down my cheeks.
After that, it was a flood of congratulations. People weren’t real formal about these things, Joel had warned me. At most weddings, everyone lined up and you received the guests one by one. Here, it was more like a scrum. And I laughed and laughed at all the hugs and kisses. We were caught up for the next hour or so, but every so often I would look for Joel, and often he would be looking for me at the same moment, and we would exchange a special, private glance.
While we were busy with formal photos, the space was rearranged. An elaborate buffet was set up, and… a bunch of people appeared on the stage at the rear of the room. An old-fashioned country band, and a bunch of younger guys in black T-shirts and ripped skinny jeans. There was a lot of discussion going on between the two groups, and it was fast turning animated. The leader of the country band seemed to be squaring off to the tallest of the guys in black—the one with snake hips, and shaggy black hair.
“Joel, what is this?” I caught his arm.
He frowned. “I dunno. Doesn’t look like something my mom would’ve put together.”
Just then, Caine blew right past us. “Amos!” he roared. “What the hell?” He stormed right up to the stage, and grabbed the snake-hipped guy by his tattooed shoulders.
“What is going on?” I muttered, watching in fascination. I didn’t know Caine real well, but he was usually the strong, silent type. Kinda intimidating, but definitely not given to aggressive outbursts.
“Oh, I think it’s—” Joel began, but the end of his sentence was cut off by a shriek. A wild, female shriek of uncontrolled excitement.
“Oh… My… God! Amos Madison!”
Suddenly, the air was full of shrieks and whoops.
“Amos Madison? As in, Slick Lizards’s Amos Madison?” I murmured.
Joel chuckled. “Yeah, Caine’s cousin, I think. And by the looks of it, Caine is none too pleased by his arrival.”
Caine was dragging his famous rockstar cousin off to the side of the stage, gesticulating furiously all the way. Meanwhile, a group of women—and even some of the guys—were clapping rhythmically, and shouting out the names of the band’s most famous songs.
June rushed over to us, her eyes huge. “This is not supposed to be happening!” she gasped. “I’m sorry, I don’t know how—”
Joel laid his arm around his mom’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Mom. I’ll deal with it.”
June and I stood side by side, watching as Joel strode over to Caine and his unruly cousin. There was a bunch more gesticulating, then Joel came back to us, grinning.
“I’ve negotiated two songs from the Slick Lizards, then they’ll leave us in peace,” he said. “If that’s okay with you, honey?”
I nodded happily. As long as I had Joel, everything else was just icing on the cake.
“Joel, I don’t want them upstaging the two of you on your special day,” June hissed, looking like she was fixing to go punch Amos Madison herself.
“He understands. He’s promised to leave right after.” Joel tipped his Stetson back on his head. “And if he doesn’t, well, he’ll have an angry Caine to deal with, and, wooh, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
The country band shuffled off the stage, and Slick Lizards took their positions with a wild riff from Amos’s electric guitar. Shady Lady. The guests went crazy. The song was so familiar; it was kind of surreal that it was being played right here, at our little country wedding. I tucked myself under Joel’s arm, and watched the spectacle.
Amos Madison was a famous heartthrob. Most eligible bachelor of the year; always being linked with this-or-that female celebrity. I didn’t read gossip rags, but even I knew that. I guessed I could understand his bad boy appeal—the hair, the tattoos, the jeans that looked like they were already halfway off. But for me, he couldn’t begin to hold a candle to Joel. My gorgeous husband. As Joel snuggled me close, another wave of euphoria went through me.
At last, the two songs were done, and Slick Lizards refused an encore, despite a ton of pressure from the audience. To Amos’s credit, he did leave the ranch immediately, and the afternoon’s scheduled entertainment resumed.
The country band took to the floor again—a little huffily—but they played their hearts out, as if determined not to be outdone, and I was soon re-immersed in the beauty of the day. The burning heat of summer had faded away but it was still plenty warm, and the light played soft and golden over all the joyous guests.
> When the band had played their first set, June called everyone over to the buffet, and the guests tucked right in.
Later that afternoon, after everyone had eaten their fill, and people looked like they were about ready to start dancing, Joel took me to the side of the dancefloor. Carefully, he unhooked my elaborate skirt from the top half of my dress. Underneath, I was wearing a short, flippy skirt that would be a lot easier to move in.
When I was ready, he led me to the center of the floor, the band counted us in, and we began the dance that I’d choreographed myself. We’d practiced it every single day for the past month. Despite Joel’s lack of confidence in his abilities, he’d worked real hard at it, and I sensed how much he wanted it to be perfect. How much he wanted to show me off onstage on my wedding day.
And it was a beautiful dance. I would never dance ballet again, but with Joel’s encouragement, I’d looked into other dance styles, and discovered tango. I found I loved the elegant, high-energy tempo. It suited my natural rhythms, and Joel’s strong arms were perfect to catch me and support me.
We danced a four-song mash-up. And when we’d finished, both a little out of breath but laughing with happiness, there was a round of thunderous applause.
Joe gazed at me in awe. “You were… you were, like, a star. And I was part of it.” He laughed, like he couldn’t believe it. “It was unreal.”
I blinked fast as emotion welled up in me yet again.
Understanding, he pulled me off the dancefloor, and held me close.
I buried my face in my beloved husband’s broad chest, and cried tears of pure happiness.
***
Want more dark cowboy romance? Read Steele & Carrie’s story:
The Cowboy’s Babygirl
Fate brought the pretty little runaway with defiant green eyes and that sassy mouth to my doorstep.
Carrie Smith needs more than shelter.
She needs protection.
Discipline.
A firm hand.
She came to the right ranch.
I never thought I'd have a wild girl of my own to tame.
I'm just the man to tip her across a hay bale and show her who's in charge.
But there’s more to this girl than meets the eye.
I may give her the discipline she craves, but she'll satisfy my darkest desires.
She'll be my one, my only... my babygirl.
Click to read now
Also by Lee Savino
Dark & Sexy Contemporary Romance
Beauty & The Lumberjacks
After this logging season, I’m giving up sex. For…reasons.
Her Marine Daddy
My hot Marine hero wants me to call him daddy…
Her Dueling Daddies
Two daddies are better than one.
Innocence: dark mafia romance with Stasia Black
I’m the king of the criminal underworld. I always get what I want. And she is my obsession.
Beauty’s Beast: a dark romance with Stasia Black
Years ago, Daphne's father stole from me. Now it's time for her to pay her family’s debt…with her body.
Dark & Sexy Paranormal romance
The Berserker Saga and Berserker Brides (menage werewolves)
These fierce warriors will stop at nothing to claim their mates.
Draekons (Dragons in Exile) with Lili Zander (menage alien dragons)
Crashed spaceship. Prison planet. Two big, hulking, bronzed aliens who turn into dragons. The best part? The dragons insist I’m their mate.
Bad Boy Alphas with Renee Rose (bad boy werewolves)
Never ever date a werewolf.
Tsenturion Masters with Golden Angel
Who knew my e-reader was a portal to another galaxy? Now I’m stuck with a fierce alien commander who wants to claim me as his own.
About Lee Savino
Lee Savino has plans to take over the world, but most days can’t find her keys or her phone, so she just stays home and writes smexy (smart + sexy) romance. She loves chocolate, lives in yoga pants, and looks great in hats.
For tons of crazy fun, join her Goddess Group on Facebook or visit www.leesavino.com to sign up for her mailing list and get a free book.
Website: www.leesavino.com
About Tristan Rivers
Tristan Rivers has been writing romance full-time for the past five years—which is the best job in the world, of course :D
She has a thing for hands—big, rough hands that can turn gentle enough to leave you breathless. She also loves work-toughened leather and wild open spaces.
Her heroes are bossy but kind, and her heroines are most definitely in need of a firm hand!
She lives in Colorado with her husband and two mischievous rescue mutts.
Be sure to download the extra freebie with Carrie & Steele so you can follow her new releases! Go here to download: https://geni.us/Steeleandbabygirl