The punch of emotion in my gut is not something I entirely expect. It brings up that memory, and the pain behind it. And though I've moved on, it's still a strong visual for me. "Why?" I ask.
"I can't turn back time. And you are right the other day when you said that our past actions don't define us. That they can't define us if we’re ever going to move on. But it doesn't mean that I can't try to make things right. I know I hurt you that day. I know I hurt you a lot more than that day, and I'm sorry for that. I know it's not an excuse, but I was so far gone, so deep in that world that I didn't know just how awful I was being. I didn't know that until later.
"I got this for you as a reminder. Both for you and for me, that I can be better. Consider it my first step."
I haven’t been able to look away from the toy, but her words drag my eyes to hers. "You've apologized more than enough, Monica. You know that, right?"
She nods, and I see the seriousness in her eyes. "I do know. But that doesn't alleviate all of my guilt. Neither does this. But I want to try."
I put the toy in the box on the table in front of me and pull her against me so that she's nearly in my lap. I kiss her, and I don't feel like I can stop. I kiss her until I feel like I'm going to pass out from lack of oxygen, and it's only then that I let go. "I love you, so much. And even though you don't need to apologize, and you don't need to feel guilty, I'm grateful for the gesture."
She blushes my favorite shade of pink, and looks away. I drag her gaze back to mine, and make her look at me. The fragile emotion I see there makes my heart skip a beat. I love to see that love in her eyes. I'm looking forward to seeing it on our wedding day. "How did you know? Which version to get? You actually remember that after all these years?"
Monica laughs, shaking her head. "Honestly, no. I didn't. So I went to the people that I knew would."
Shock strikes me. "You asked my parents?"
“I did.”
I recognize the weight of the gesture now. It wasn't just about the Game Boy. It was about her reaching out to my parents regardless of their feelings about her. I haven't heard from them the last couple days, and I don't know their decision. In the end, it won't matter. I'm going to stay with Monica no matter what. But the fact that they spoke with her, and gave her the information that she needed, gives me hope. "That was brave of you," I say.
She smiles. "They were actually nice. When I explained what I needed and why I was doing it, they were more than happy to help. I think they may actually not hate me as much as they thought. We have a shot of getting them to come to the wedding."
I laugh, a laugh freer than I felt in a long time, because everything is absolutely perfect. I used to think my life was perfect, with my wealth and my job and having risen above my circumstances. But it wasn't. Now, with this gorgeous, brave woman in my life, it is.
I crush her to me, hugging her so hard that I feel her back crack and she makes a sound in protest. But then were both laughing, and soon after that, we’re kissing. I love Monica Blast, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Epilogue
Monica
One Month Later
I shouldn't be this nervous for my wedding to a man that I'm already married to, but I can't seem to escape the butterflies in my stomach. I've been ready for a while, but it's still a few minutes until the ceremony starts. I haven't seen Daniel since last night, and he's the only person I really want to see. So much has changed so quickly, but he's the only person who can ease this anxiety.
I want him to kiss me, and tell me he loves me like he does every morning now.
But anxiety aside, the wedding is going to be perfect. We are in a beautiful vineyard in Southern California. The weather is perfect, and I couldn't ask for a better setting for my wedding. Alex came through on the dress, and I’ve never felt as beautiful as I do now. It’s gorgeous and flowing while at the same time comfortable and sleek and stylish.
There’s a knock at the door, and I jump. “Come in.”
The door opens, and Daniel’s hand waves through. “I was told that I was not allowed to come in here without a blindfold,” he says. “Alex threatened my manhood if I dared to look at the dress before the wedding, so I am here appropriately attired.”
I laugh, and pull him into the room. True to his word, he’s wearing a blindfold. “I swear, I won't tell if you don't," I say.
He grins. “Okay.”
I pull his blindfold away, and he takes me in. His entire face goes slack, and his eyes are filled with awe. "You are absolutely stunning, Princess."
I love that that nickname started between us as his way of mocking me for being who I was. But over time it's come to mean more to us. I am his Princess, and he is my Prince. We are perfect for each other in every way.
“Thank you."
He leans forward and kisses me gently, and I know it's because he doesn't want to ruin my makeup. "I love you," he says.
I wrap my arms around him, and lean my head on his chest. It's hard to imagine myself any other place, since this has so quickly become my happy place. Just like I wished, I suddenly feel calm. "I missed you," I say. "I'm glad you risked Alex’s wrath. But why did you?”
I can hear the smile in his voice even though I'm not looking at him. "Because I have a surprise for you. A wedding present of sorts."
“Before the wedding?" I look up at him and raise an eyebrow.
He nods. "I thought it would be better this way.
"All right."
Daniel kisses me again, soft and slow. "It'll be here in a minute. I'll see you at the altar." He slips the blindfold back on again before he leaves the room, and I'm left wondering what the hell he's talking about. But true to his word, it's less than a minute later when a soft knock comes at the door.
I open the door, and I freeze.
Standing there, dressed for a wedding, is my mother.
After I confessed to Daniel that my father was blackmailing me, he hired the best private investigators in the country to find my mother, while making sure that she wouldn't be in danger. He also made sure that no further attempts at blackmail would be possible from my father. The story in the news now makes that clear. I don't think he ever thought that we would go public with his blackmail, but it killed any chance he had of an appeal, and the recording on the prison phone line is proof enough.
People still don't want to hire me because of my father, but it's not as bad as it used to be. I've made some connections, and hopefully after our long honeymoon, I'll be able to do some actual work.
My father was not invited to the wedding. In fact, he was banned from it in case he tried to leverage it for time free from prison.
But right now, I can't even think. Because my mother is here. "Mom?"
She smiles. "Hi, sweetie."
A thousand emotions go through me at once. Anger at her for abandoning me and being complicit to all those things my father did. Thankful that Daniel managed to find her, and fear of what will happen if my father finds out where she is. I don't know how much sway he still has over her. But also, I'm so fucking happy. I've missed her.
"What are you doing here?" I ask her.
She steps forward through the door and pulls me into a hug. "Before I get to that,” she says, "I need you to know that I'm divorcing your father. It took me a long time to figure out how to do it in a way that he would agree to. I didn't have any money of my own, and I know you didn't either. I never knew he did those things, I swear, Monica. If I had known, I would have left a long time ago and I would've taken you with me. I don't care what we would have done, as long as we wouldn't have had to be with him."
I hug her harder, because those are the exact words that I've been longing to hear.
"But to answer your question, I'm here because Daniel found me. He told me about the two of you, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
I hold onto her and I can’t let her go. There's so much that I want to say, the words welling up in my chest until I can't say anything at all. I fe
el like I might cry, and my eyes well up, but she scolds me. "I'm not worth ruining your make-up over, dear. Your wedding is about to start. Don't worry about anything, we’re going to have plenty of time to talk later. I just wanted you to know that I was here so that you didn't see me and get surprised during the ceremony. And I also want you to know I’m here when you say your vows."
"I love you, Mom.” I know that I have things to work out with my mother. I know that we have things that we need to forgive each other for. But right now, those are the only words that matter.
“I love you too, Monica. Now go get married."
I smile at her, and it’s genuine.
The wedding goes smoothly, and I cry like a baby during the ceremony. Thank God Alex made my make-up artist use waterproof mascara. The joy I feel absolutely takes me over the moon. Daniel is already mine, but now he's mine publicly. I can see it on his face, too. When he leans down to kiss me, I think I may explode with happiness.
The crowd cheers, and I know that I will remember this moment forever. In the moment after that, in the moment when we dance, and the moment when we cut the cake. The whole reception is a string of moments that are filled with perfect bliss. I chat with my mother. I dance with Alex. I kiss my husband, and lean against him when my feet get tired. I can't believe that this is my life, but I'm so happy that it is.
I never thought that I would be so happy about losing a hand of fucking poker.
It's already late in the night when Daniel and I decide to leave. We run to the car in a shower of sparklers, and kiss for the cameras while the guests cheer. I don't think I've ever been so exhausted and so happy at the same time. But I also know that our night is far from over. Because every time Daniel touched me today, I wanted him more.
In the month that we've been married, our craving for each other hasn't lessened in the slightest. Every night we fuck each other into exhaustion, and every morning one of us wakes the other up with pleasure. Except for last night and this morning, when we slept apart. And I can't wait to get back to our room so he can touch me.
Neither Daniel or I speak as we ride the elevator back up to our hotel room. We’re staying in this resort for a couple of days before we leave on our honeymoon.
When we get to our bedroom, Daniel turns to me. “Have I mentioned today that I love you?”
I smile. “Several times, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”
“I love you.” He pulls me against his body. “And I’m so happy that we had our wedding.”
“Me too,” I say, letting him kiss me. I kiss him back, our tongues dancing, and letting that craving under my skin be unleashed. I fucking love it.
“I need to take advantage of this,” Daniel says.
“Of what?”
That sharp, feral smile that I love so much comes out. “The opportunity to fuck my wife in her wedding dress.”
I shiver at his words, and he sinks to his knees in front of me, lifting my skirt and disappearing beneath it. Daniel’s hands run up my legs and pull them apart.
I’m wearing a white lace thong. Daniel’s breath is hot on my pussy, and suddenly I’m clinging to the post on the bed to stay upright. There’s a brush of his tongue on my clit, through the lace, and I moan. God, I’m soaking wet and he’s barely touched me.
My husband has a talented tongue, and I love it when he uses it on me. His hands slide up to my hips and pull me closer, licking into me. He savors my clit through the lace, sucking deep. The rough texture of the fabric against my skin feels so good that I can’t breathe.
But it’s nothing compared to when he moves my panties aside and licks me again, his tongue sliding against my skin. Daniel sucks down to my entrance and back, and my knees are shaking. Sealing his mouth over me, he licks my clit, taking me higher and higher until I see white, almost ready to come. And then he’s gone.
My orgasm fades, and I groan. “Why? Fuck.”
Daniel lowers me down onto the bed, releasing his cock from his pants and hiking my skirt up so it’s billowing fabric around the two of us. “Because I want you to come on my cock, Princess. I want to feel that pretty pussy squeeze me. Your first orgasm after your wedding is going to be me fucking you hard enough so you scream.”
I try to focus on him, but my eyes won’t focus as he slides home, sending embers of pleasure spiraling along my limbs. “I always scream with you,” I manage to say.
“And tonight will be no exception.” His mouth crashes onto mine with beautiful, bruising force. His tongue plunges into my mouth, taking it with the same brutal momentum that he’s fucking me with. He’s not wrong. My lost orgasm is already back, bearing down on me with perfect certainty.
“Fuck,” I say against his mouth, and Daniel goes faster, angling his hips in that perfect way that makes the stars flash behind my eyes, and my voice escapes me in a whine. I beg him. I gladly beg him to fuck me. I know that he loves to hear it, and I need it from him now. And so I beg.
The orgasm crashes down on me, crushing me with the pleasure of it. And I do scream. I scream his name. Yes. God. Yes. More. Fuck me, Daniel. And he does, yelling his own climax as he spills himself deep inside me.
His eyes devour me, watching me pant in my dress, still stuffed full of him. “We’re not done, Princess,” he says. “Once I get you out of that dress, we’re going all night.”
I grin at him. “And before you get me out of the dress?”
He stands, cock slipping out of me, slick from my pussy. “I think, Princess, that I’m going to need you to prove that you’re an excellent wife.”
Looking at his cock, my mouth starts to water. He’s covered in our sex, and I want to taste it. I want to be on my knees for him in a way I’ve never wanted with any other man. I’ll play this game. Because in the end, I love him and he loves me.
So I sink down onto my knees, my wedding dress puffing out around me, and I suck my husband’s cock. I let him come down my throat while I’m staring up at him, and I let him peel me out of my wedding dress and fuck me again and again.
When we finally collapse together—sweaty and spent—even then we can’t keep our hands off each other. Daniel pulls me too him and tucks me against his body. He kisses me softly, eyes closing. “I love you, Monica. Always.”
I’m exhausted too, and I feel myself being pulled down into delicious, sated sleep. “I love you too,” I say. I’ve never meant anything more.
* * *
Read Mara and John's hot story in Overnight Wife. What happens when a hookup in Vegas turns into an accidental marriage to your hot new boss? Read OVERNIGHT WIFE here!
* * *
Marrying my Dad's Best Friend is deliciously naughty. Savannah and Lonnie can't get enough of each other, even though Lonnie is completely off-limits. I mean he's her Dad's Best Friend, but who can resist this silver fox? The blurb is below!
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* * *
Marrying My Dad's Best Friend
My first crush wasn't some celebrity or a movie star. My heart throbbed for someone much closer to home. But my father's best friend was out of reach, there's no way my family would have been okay with our relationship.
So I chased another dream—becoming a big shot lawyer.
Except years later, my degree hasn't helped me land a job. I have to work at a coffee shop to pay my massive debt down.
That's where I was when he walked back into my life.
At age 44, my dad's best friend is a silver fox. His smile lights up my heart just as much as it did when I was a teen. He stares at me with hunger. Obvious desire.
I'm stunned when he offers me a job at his law firm.
But the surprises don't end there.
I'd never say no to the job of my dreams...
What do I say when he proposes to me?
* * *
If you loved THE MARRIAGE DARE, please leave a review. Thank you so all your love and support. I love making stories that ma
ke you go WOW.
Books By Penny Wylder
Filthy Boss
Her Dad’s Friend
The Virgin Intern
Her Dirty Professor
The Pool Boy
Get Me Off
Caught Together
Selling Out to the Billionaire
Falling for the Babysitter
Lip Service
Full Service
Expert Service
The Billionaire’s Virgin
The Billionaire’s Secret Babies
Her Best Friend’s Dad
Own Me
The Billionaire’s Gamble
Seven Days With Her Boss
Virgin in the Middle
The Virgin Promise
First and Last
Tease
Spread
Bang
Second Chance Stepbrother
Dirty Promise
Sext
Quickie
Bed Shaker
Deep in You
The Billionaire’s Toy
Buying the Bride
Dating My Friend’s Daughter
Big Man
Trapped with My Teacher
My 5 Bosses
Good Girls Say Yes
His Big Offer
Dangerous Love
The Roommate’s Baby
Perfect Boss
Cowboy Husband
Knocked Up By Her Brother’s Enemy
The Marriage Dare Page 15