Five Dates Only

by R. L. Kenderson

  We finished meeting with the agent, but the wedding planner told us that they were booked for the day. We told her we didn’t care about a big ceremony. We didn’t need to include guests, although a fleeting thought of Mary and Ted went through my brain. But I felt like so many things between Caleb and me had been a show for them. I wanted this wedding to be just ours. We didn’t need anyone else at our wedding.

  It also helped that we still had alcohol in our systems, making us care a bit less if Mary and Ted would be mad at us.

  Caleb and I ended up saying I do on the beach as the sun rose. It was the officiant, the wedding planner, and the two of us. The hotel had cheap sterling silver rings. We purchased one for Caleb, and I already had the one he’d given me. We slipped the rings on each other’s fingers as the officiant announced us as husband and wife.

  As Caleb pulled me into his arms and kissed me, a tear escaped my eye.

  He pulled back and brushed his thumb over my cheek. “This is going to be a great story to tell our grandkids someday.”

  I laughed and kissed him again.

  The wedding planner handed us a clipboard to sign the marriage certificate, and it was officially official.

  I looked up into my husband’s eyes and grinned. “We did it.”

  “Hell yeah, we did.” He looked at the planner. “Do you need anything else from us?”

  She smiled. “Nope. Go and celebrate your wedding night—or rather, your wedding day.”

  Caleb grabbed my hand, and we ran toward our hotel. It felt like it took hours to get up to our floor, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, we ran down the hall.

  The wedding planner had found a cheap bouquet for me, which I put to my nose to smell while Caleb opened our door. He pulled me inside and threw the flowers on the bed.

  “Hey, I want to save—”

  Caleb shut me up with a kiss, and I forgot all about my bouquet.

  “Mmm,” I said against his mouth as his tongue teased my mouth open.

  As he kissed me, he pulled the straps of my dress down. When it landed at my feet, I kicked it off and helped him remove my bra and panties.

  Caleb stepped back and drank in the sight of me. The heat in his eyes was intoxicating.

  “I can’t believe you’re mine.” He looked up to my eyes. “Do you know all the things I want to do to you?”

  I shook my head. “Have you been hiding a kinky side, Mr. Stanton?” I teased.

  He laughed. “Nothing you don’t already know about me, Mrs. Stanton.”

  I closed my eyes and sucked in a breath. “Say it again.”

  He ran his hands along the backs of my thighs and squeezed my ass. “I want to take you bare, Mrs. Stanton,” he said against my lips. “I want to feel every inch of you with nothing in between us.”

  He was making statements, but I knew he was asking for my permission. After Melanie and Neil’s situation, the two of us had talked about STIs, and I was on the pill. We could have had sex without a condom weeks ago, but for me, that was something special, and Caleb knew it.

  I opened my eyes. “I want that, too. I want to feel you inside me.”

  Caleb groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  He’d said that earlier at the club, so he must have really felt it.

  “At least you’ll die happy,” I said.

  “Fuck yeah, I will.” He glided his hand between my legs and pressed a finger into me. “This is worth dying for.” He kissed me and pushed his thumb against my clit. “You’re worth dying for.”

  I pushed him away, and he looked startled.

  I laughed. “I don’t want to come like that. I want to come with you deep inside me.”

  He grinned. “I love your sexy mouth.”

  Caleb pulled me into his arms and picked me up. He carried me over to the bed, and the two of us fell onto it.

  “You’re wearing too many clothes,” I complained.

  He stood at the end of the bed and pulled off his shirt. I didn’t know if I would ever get sick of seeing Caleb without clothes. His shorts hung low, showing off his impressive V.

  “Someday, you’re going to have to let me take pictures of you like that,” I told him.

  He paused as he reached for his pants. “Why?”

  “So, I can look at them when you’re not around.”

  He grinned and pushed his shorts and boxers off. “You don’t need pictures of me when I’m right here.” He put a knee on the bed and crawled up to me, settling between my legs. His cock nudged my entrance. Caleb cursed and shook his head.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m never going to last.”

  I laughed. “I won’t hold it against you.”

  “I’ll hold it against me,” he said as he scooted down to the end of the bed. “I’m not some teenage boy. I’m a man. And a man should know how to please his partner.”

  “If you come back up here, I promise I’ll be very pleased.”

  Caleb nudged my thighs apart. “Open. I want to see your pretty pussy.”

  I spread my legs. “That’s an oxymoron.”

  His gaze was focused on my bottom half as he brushed a finger over my cleft. “What’s an oxymoron?” he asked, not looking up.

  “Pretty pussy.” I sucked in a breath and arched my back as he pressed a finger into me and hooked it on my G-spot.

  Caleb looked up at me. “Not when it comes to yours. You have the prettiest damn pussy I’ve ever seen.” The corner of his mouth tilted up. “And I’ve seen a lot.”

  “Uh … I don’t want to hear about you with other women.”

  He grinned. “I’m talking about porn. You’re the only woman I’ve been with.” His mouth lowered, and he flicked his tongue over my clit.

  I knew he was joking, but it sure made me hot to think I was the only woman who’d gotten to make love to him. I supposed I was the only one who would get to do that from now on since we were married.

  “Holy shit, baby. You just got wetter. What are you thinking about up there?”

  I put my hands on my breasts and tweaked my nipples. “You,” I said.

  He groaned and proceeded to get me off.

  Thirty-One

  Caleb

  Sloan’s back arched, and she called out my name as her orgasm shook her body. I lifted my head, satisfied with my results, and crawled back up to her. I sat back on my knees between her legs because I wanted to watch as I pushed in raw for the first time.

  I hadn’t had sex without a condom since the one time in high school with my ex. My cock was so excited; I was worried I was going to embarrass myself.

  I rubbed the wetness from Sloan’s orgasm onto my eager dick as lube. Not that we needed it, but I liked having a part of her on me.

  “Hey, Sloan,” I said.

  “Huh?” she said in a daze, her eyes at half-mast.

  I grinned. “I want you to watch me as I take you bare for the first time.”

  Her eyes flared.

  That’s my girl.

  I hoped she came again. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone down on her.

  Although this wouldn’t be the last time we did this tonight. I looked at the window where a sliver of sun peeked through. Or this wouldn’t be the last time we did this this morning. I was still buzzing and not ready for sleep yet.

  I still had my hand on my cock, so I leaned forward and rubbed my head against her pussy lips. Then, I slowly pushed the crown in.

  I sucked in my breath and bit my lip to keep from shouting.

  I looked up into Sloan’s eyes and gradually pushed the rest of the way inside her body. “Fuck me,” I whispered.

  She feels fucking incredible.

  I withdrew slowly and thrust in again.

  Sloan’s hands were on her breasts, and I wanted my mouth there. I leaned over and nudged a hand out of the way, so I could suck on her pink nipple. She cried out, and her core clenched around me.

  I increased my strokes and brought my lips up to hers. She sl
anted her mouth over mine and sucked my tongue into her mouth. By this time, I was pounding into her, wanting to get as deep as I could go, and Sloan widened her legs to let me.

  It was so sexy, how she let me have it all.

  I ripped my mouth away. “I’m going to come.”

  “Me, too.”

  Kissing her on the neck, I said, “You first. I want to feel it.”

  No sooner had the words left my tongue than she was coming again. Her pussy grabbed on to my cock, and I saw stars. I drove into her as far as I could and exploded, draining myself inside her.

  A pounding on the door woke me up. A pounding in my head made me want to go back to sleep.

  “Go away,” I muttered too low for anyone but Sloan, who was sleeping beside me, to hear.

  More pounding sounded.

  Sloan leaned back and elbowed me. “Get the door.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because they said your name.”

  Huh?

  “They did?”

  “Caleb!” It was Ted.

  I sighed and reluctantly got out of bed.

  “What is the emergency?” I said, opening the door.

  “We have to get to the airport.”

  I frowned. “But we don’t leave until eight thirty.”

  “Son, it’s already six. We need to get going. We have to turn in the rental car and get through security.”

  I picked up my arm, but my wrist was blurry. My watch finally came into focus, and it indeed was a few minutes after six in the evening. “Crap.”

  “What the hell did you two do last night?”

  I ran my hand down my face and tried to recall the evening. “We went to dinner at the restaurant you’d told us about. Great food, by the way. Then, Sloan and I went to a local nightclub and closed the place down. And then we …”

  “Got married?” Ted supplied.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered. I looked at Ted. “How did you know?”

  “You’re wearing a wedding ring.”

  I picked up my hand again and stared at the thin piece of silver on my third finger. “Holy shit.”

  Ted raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “Congratulations, Caleb. How about you go wake up your new wife, so we can get going?”

  Going home was awkward. Ted was unhappy that we’d gotten married like we had, and Mary had cried when she found out she hadn’t been invited. Sloan had barely said anything to me since I got her out of bed.

  At first, I had been worried that she was freaking out about not making it to the airport in time, but after we made it with plenty of time, I knew she was freaking out about our little impromptu ceremony. And she clearly didn’t want to talk about it. But I couldn’t blame her. I didn’t really want to either. I was still hungover and was in no mood to talk about our future. I had used all my energy getting to the airport and making our connecting flight in Los Angeles.

  Hawaii had made everything seem romantic, but now, the reality of heading home was upon us, making everything feel way more substantial. I had no idea what we were supposed to do now.

  Stay married? Get divorced? Get an annulment? Try to slow things down and maybe date for real?

  I had no clue, and I didn’t want to think about it at the moment.

  My parents were going to freak. My friends were going to freak. I hadn’t even told them I was dating someone, and then I was coming home from a vacation, married. They were going to think I was crazy.

  I looked over at Sloan. I wondered if her family even knew I existed.

  She had big sunglasses on her face even though it was night out and the lights were off in the cabin.

  I had offered my shoulder—which she had happily slept on, on the way to Hawaii—but she had told me, “No, thanks,” in a voice clearly absent of all appreciation.

  I put my head back on the seat and closed my eyes. Despite all the worry, I fell asleep and didn’t wake up again until Sloan nudged me. We didn’t talk as we got off the plane or as we waited for our luggage, but it was time to go find my car in long-term parking.

  Ted and Mary hugged us good-bye. They were still upset, but I could tell they would both come around.

  As I pulled out of the parking garage, I finally spoke, “Do you want to come to my place tonight?”

  Sloan didn’t answer at first. “I think I’m going to head home. Alone. I need to think about some things.”

  I secretly breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn’t known I was holding. I’d had no idea how much I wanted to go back to my apartment by myself until she said something. I needed some familiar ground. I needed time to process.

  “Is that okay?” she asked when I didn’t answer.

  I picked my hand up to put on hers but set it back down. “Of course. We’ll talk tomorrow. After we both get some sleep.”

  Sloan smiled. At that moment, I thought everything might turn out okay, no matter what we decided to do.

  Thirty-Two

  Sloan

  I walked into the restaurant right as the hostess called Melanie’s name. We quickly hugged each other before following the lady to our table.

  “Can I get you anything to drink?” the hostess asked.

  “I’ll have a wine,” Melanie said.

  The woman looked at me.

  “Water for me, thanks.” I was staying away from alcohol for a while.

  The hostess left, and I turned to Mel. I’d just returned from Hawaii the night before; I’d promised to meet up with my dear friend to tell her all about it.

  “Are those new earrings?” I asked after spotting the beautiful, dangly purple accessories.

  She hit one of them with her finger to make it move. “Yes. I bought them with my fifty bucks.”

  “I thought you were going to buy shoes?”

  “I was. But then I saw these babies, and I had to get them.”

  “Good choice.”

  “I know.” She grinned. “I should have upped the bet to a hundred.”

  “Never would have happened.”

  “Because you knew you couldn’t keep your hands off of Caleb.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I didn’t have to tell you I’d slept with him again. I could have kept my money.”

  Melanie held up her hands. “Hey, I’m only teasing you. I thought you’d be in a better mood after going to Hawaii for almost a week.”

  She was right. I was testy, and she didn’t deserve my wrath.

  Our server came over at that time with our drinks. “Do you still need a minute to look at the menu?” he asked.

  “Yes, please,” I said, reaching for my water glass.

  Melanie didn’t say anything, so the waiter turned and left. I looked up from my menu to see my friend staring at me.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What the hell is on your finger?”

  I looked down at my left hand and quickly tucked it under the table.

  “Sloan Margaret McCarthy, did you get engaged? And you didn’t tell me? You never said that putting a ring on your finger was part of your deal with Caleb.” She made a come here motion. “Let me see it.”

  I reluctantly put my hand on the table, so she could see.

  “Ah …” Her eyes got soft. “It’s the kind of ring you’ve always wanted.”

  “I know.” I couldn’t help but smile.

  “How did this come about? Did he spring it on you?”

  “Kind of,” I answered. “We were out for breakfast at our hotel, and he went up to get the ring. He texted me on the way back down, saying that Ted had encouraged him to buy it and pop the question. I think he waited because he’d been trying to get out of it.”

  “I bet that made Ted and Mary happy.”

  “They were very happy.”

  Melanie let go of my hand and sat back. “As long as you didn’t get married, it’s just as easy to break off an engagement as it is a relationship.”

  I bit the side of my lip.

  Melanie leaned forward and shouted, “You got ma
rried?”

  Several tables full of people turned around to look at us.

  I smiled awkwardly and leaned forward. “Shh.”

  “Don’t tell me to shh. You fucking married Caleb?” She covered her face with her hands. “Why?” She pulled her hands away. “What did he promise you? I think his boss would have been just as happy without you getting married.”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing what?”

  “He didn’t promise me anything. Mary and Ted weren’t even there.”

  Melanie’s eyes got so big that I thought they were going to pop. “Then, why—what were you—I don’t get it.”

  “Promise not to judge?”

  “Sweetie, that ship has sailed. But I promise to support you, no matter what.”

  “You’re judging me? When you dated Neil?”

  She took a sip of her wine. “Hey. I judged myself for dating Neil. Now, don’t change the subject.”

  I thought back to our vacation. “It was so”—I shrugged—“romantic. We had a lot of fun together.”

  “And a lot of sex,” Melanie piped in.

  I smiled wistfully. “That, too. But, seriously, I had a lot of fun, hanging out with him. We did all this stuff together, and we had a great time. And Hawaii”—I sighed—“it is so beautiful and romantic.”

  Melanie nodded sympathetically. “You felt like it was the two of you in this bubble. In your own little world.”

  “Yes.” That was exactly it.

  “So, now what?”

  “We got married our last morning there after being out all night. We had stayed up so late that we slept all day until it was time to go to the airport. After I remembered, I felt stupid and could hardly face him. I don’t know Caleb that well, but what if he’s regretting the whole thing?”

  “Are you regretting the whole thing?”

  I stuck out my bottom lip. “I have no idea. I don’t know what to think, how to act, or what to do.”

  “What happened when you got home last night? Did he go to your place, or did you go to his?”

  “Neither. We each went to our own places. I needed time to think, and even though he tried to hide it, I could tell Caleb was relieved.”