“I am too.”
I lift my hips to rock into her, wanting every inch of my cock inside her when I detonate. I can feel the explosion forming, and I know that I’m about to give her everything that I have. I want to fill her until she can’t hold another drop.
“Ohh… Leith… it’s starting.”
Her eyes are squeezed shut, and her open mouth is pressed against mine, her breath coming out as whimpers against my lips.
“That’s it, baby. Come all over me.”
She tightens around me and my detonator is pushed. Pounded. Punched.
I grip her hips and pull her all of the way onto my cock hard when I come. It isn’t possible to be closer than we are in this moment.
When it’s over, she collapses against me, her every muscle quivering.
My girl is a gorgeous sex vixen.
But the sex isn’t sensational because of her beauty. It’s the best that I’ve ever experienced because we share a connection that no one else understands. It’s not something that a person can comprehend unless they’ve experienced it for themselves.
Apart, we’re weak. Together, we’re strong.
Apart, we’re in hell. Together, we’re in heaven.
Apart, we’re broken. Together, we’re whole.
Chapter 12
Lorna Frazier
It’s after eight o’clock and Leith’s eyes are still closed. It’s not like him to sleep after seven, but we had a late night after our engagement party. Late and draining.
I slide across the bed slowly, trying to not wake him, but I know that it’s in vain when I hear his voice. “Hey, you. Come back here.”
“I can’t. I should have already gotten up.”
He ignores my reply and pulls me against him. “My shift at the bar doesn’t start until three. We can stay in bed all day… doing a lot more of what we did last night.”
“I would love to but I’m going wedding dress shopping with Jenny and the girls today.”
“I forgot about that. What kind of dress are you looking for?”
“I’m not sure. I only know that it won’t be formal.”
“My only request is that it looks like a wedding dress. Even though we’re getting married at the bar, I want you to look like a bride.”
I didn’t expect Leith to care one way or another about my dress. “I was planning to buy a short one.” That seems most suitable, considering the venue.
“A real bride wears a long white dress.”
Not that I’m opposed to it, but that’s not what I had in mind at all. “There are plenty of short dresses that look like they belong on a bride.”
“Some things I’d like to keep traditional, and your wedding dress is one of them. I want you to wear a long white bridal gown when you become my wife.”
This is blowing my mind. I didn’t think Leith would care what I was wearing.
“All right. If the dress is that important to you.”
“It is.”
“I guess you have an opinion about the veil too?”
“I would like for you to wear one.”
He has a vision for the way he’d like me to look. Well, I have a vision too. “I’ll wear the long dress and veil if you wear the Duncan tartan. And I mean your formal kilt outfit with the sporran and kilt hose and flashes. The whole package. I don’t want to see you in a suit with only a small accent piece of the Duncan plaid.”
“Of course, I’ll wear my formal kilt outfit. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Sin hasn’t worn his kilt in years. I just don’t want you to think it’s all right to skip an important tradition because our leader chooses to.” Sin once wore his formal kilt outfit with pride. I don’t know what happened. I haven’t seen him in it in years.
“Sin has his reasons for no longer wearing a kilt.”
“Which are what?”
“It’s not my place to discuss that.”
I don’t like it when Leith keeps things from me.
I lift one of my legs and wrap it around him. “I could come up with a way to force you to tell me… if I cared. But I don’t care why he chooses to not wear it.”
“I’m glad that you don’t care.”
Will Leith always have a hang-up where Sin is concerned?
He’s spent a lot of years believing that I chose to be with Sin. He was wrong, but I guess it’s a mind-set that’s going to take a while to leave behind. That’s why it’s so important that I show him every day that I choose him.
“I only care about you and us. That’s it. Nothing else matters.”
“I know but sometimes I need to hear you say it.”
“I understand but sometimes I need to hear it too.” He isn’t the only one who needs reassurance.
“You’re the only one I dream about. The only one I want. The only one I love.”
“I want to spend forever with you.” I lean in and kiss the tip of his nose. “And I’m going to, but first I have to get out of this bed and go find the perfect dress for our wedding day.”
Leith’s hand comes down hard against my bum when I get up. “Go now before I flip you on to your back and have my way with you again.”
I look at dress number three in the mirror as I stand on the platform, and my eyes immediately go to my boobs. “This one is a no.”
Bleu gets up from the sofa where she and the girls are sitting and walks closer, studying me. “I think it’s beautiful. What do you not like about it?”
I look at Janet, the sales associate who is helping me, and wave my hand over the top of the dress. “It’s the cleavage. Too much is showing. Can you show me something with more coverage at the top?”
“Of course.”
“Did Leith tell you to choose a modest dress?”
“No. His only requests were long and white. I’m the one who doesn’t want the dress to reveal too much.”
The girls don’t know what it was like for me, walking around in that pub uniform. The brothers of The Fellowship saw too much of my body for too many years. I won’t have them seeing it on my wedding day.
“I wore a modest dress because it’s what Kieran requested, and I thought my dress was beautiful. Well, both of my dresses.”
Both of my dresses. What a horrible reminder that Westlyn was attacked by a lunatic with a knife during the fitting appointment for her first wedding dress.
“I didn’t see your first choice, but the one you wore on your wedding day was stunning.” Proving that modest doesn’t have to equal ugly or boring.
The salesclerk approaches the platform with a plastic bag draped over her arm. “This one just arrived. It’s from a collection by a new designer. It’s different but I think it’s worth a try.”
She lowers the zipper on the bag and I immediately see layers of sheer fabric embroidered with silver thread. “How do you feel about the silver?”
It’s fabulous. “I love it but I don’t know if Leith will. He was very specific about the dress being white.”
She pulls the dress out of the bag and I get a better look at it. “I don’t think that the silver takes away from the dress being white at all. To me, it appears whiter and brighter because of the silver embellishments.”
“I want to try it on.”
My back is to the dressing room mirror when the salesclerk glides the zipper up. “All right. Let’s turn you around and see what you think.”
Sheer long sleeves. Ruched bodice. High neckline. Full skirt. It’s definitely high fashion and appears to be from a time period other than the one we’re living in.
I feel regal in this dress. “It looks like it could have belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots.”
Janet places her hands on my waist and twists the dress a little. “Not everyone can pull off something like this, but on you, it’s lovely.”
“It isn’t at all what I pictured myself wearing.”
“That’s often the case with brides. Do you like it?”
“I love it, but we’re getting married in my fiancé’
s whisky bar. I feel like this dress will look out of place in such a casual setting.”
“A beautiful bride is never out of place.” Janet holds up her finger. “Don’t move. I want to put a veil on you before we show your friends and family.”
I study the image in the mirror while I wait for her to return. The longer that I look at myself in the dress, the more I fall in love with it.
This is nothing like what I pictured in my head when I imagined Leith and I standing before the entire brotherhood saying our wedding vows. It’s so much better.
“Here we are, dear. A tiara and veil for the princess.”
She places the silver crown on top of my head, and I can’t believe how much I love the way it looks with the dress. “It’s goes perfectly.”
“You look stunning. And the dress is a perfect fit except for the length.”
“No surprise there since I’m only five-two.”
“No worries. That’s an easy fix. Do you want to show your friends and family?”
“Definitely.”
I grasp the skirt and pick it up, careful to not get tangled in it as I walk. Once I’m on the platform, Janet spreads and smooths the skirt and train.
“All right. Let’s hear your thoughts, girls.” Jenny, Bleu, Ellison, and Westlyn look at me, saying nothing. “Come on, let me have it. Do you love it or hate it?”
Jenny gets up and comes to me, taking my hands and holding them out. “A leanbh, this is the one. You’re going to wear this dress when you become Leith’s wife.”
“You really think so?”
“Oh yes. This is your dress.”
I look at my girls. “You agree with Jenny? This is the one?”
“Definitely. Absolutely. One hundred percent,” the three of them say at the same time.
“What do you think?” the salesclerk asks.
“This is my dress.”
This wedding gown is a bit of what Leith asked for and a bit of what I didn’t know that I wanted. It’s more perfect than anything that I envisioned.
I’m going to become Mrs. Leith Kendrew Duncan in this dress.
I’ve been working nonstop for the last two weeks on our wedding. Even with the help of Isobel’s event planner, it’s still a ton of work. I had no idea that pulling it together in such a short period of time would be so stressful.
Wedding dress and veil. Check.
Catering and music. Check.
Flowers and decorations. Check.
Menstrual period. Check.
I’m not pregnant but it’s all right; I didn’t expect to be. Leith and I knew that the timing was all wrong, but there’s still this small disappointment in my heart when I see the proof.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“I started my period.”
“You look upset.”
“I’m not. I mean, not really.” I just had this shred of hope in the back of my mind that it might somehow happen.
I know. Silly.
“It’s going to happen, just not this time. And we get to actually try if it doesn’t happen on its own, and that’s going to be a lot of fun.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Leith holds out his arms. “Come here.”
I go to him and he pulls me into his arms, squeezing my body against his and kissing the top of my head. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you.” He releases his hold of me and I take a single step backward, assessing him in his suit. I place my palms on his chest and slide them down his jacket. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“You know me. Suits aren’t my thing.”
“I know but you look so damn handsome when you wear one. Especially this black one; it fits you perfectly.”
“Doesn’t compare to how you look in this dress. I can’t wait to get you home tonight.”
“I’m having my period.”
“Makes no difference to me.”
“No, it never has.” Leith never let my menstrual cycle stop us from being together.
“I don’t recall it ever making any difference to you either.”
I always knew that the week of my period meant no foursomes. It was only Leith and I—so I didn’t mind it so much. “I wanted you any way that I could have you.”
“And now?”
“Nothing has changed. I still want you any way that I can have you.”
“That’s what I like to hear from my girl.”
We arrive at the Witchery and Sin and Bleu, Jamie and Ellison, Kieran and Westlyn, and Mitch and Shaw are already seated.
“Are we late?”
“No, you’re fine. They just seated us.”
Party of ten. I love being here with our best friends. I’ve missed out on so many get-togethers with them because I was avoiding Leith. And it was so unnecessary since the whole thing was a stupid misunderstanding between us.
Maybe one day I’ll stop feeling so much regret about that.
“Who’s keeping the babies tonight?” Westlyn asks.
“Thane and Isobel,” Bleu answers.
Westlyn laughs. “Together? In the same house? Hope it’s still standing when you get home.”
“Their relationship has changed over the last several months. They’re very different with each other.” Bleu’s brow lifts. “They more than tolerate each other, if you know what I mean.”
“You’re talking about my aunt and uncle who can’t stay in the same room together for more than five minutes? I’m going to need you to expand on that a little more.”
Bleu giggles. “Thane and Isobel are in love.”
Westlyn’s gasp is loud. “No. Way.”
“I’m not kidding. They’ve fallen in love.”
“After being married for thirty-some-odd years? They’ve hated each other every second of every day and now they’re in love?”
Sin nods. “She speaks the truth.”
“How does something like that happen?” Westlyn asks.
“Becoming grandparents changed them. They softened and that allowed them to be open to the possibility,” Sin says.
“I can’t believe it.”
He chuckles. “You think that you can’t believe it? You should have grown up with them as your parents and seen on a daily basis how much they hated each other. You really wouldn’t be able to believe it if you were Mitch or me.”
Mitch reaches for Shaw’s hand. “I can’t wait to see what a fourth grandchild does to them.” All attention focuses on Mitch. “Shaw is pregnant. We just found out today.”
A series of congratulations are voiced at the same time from everyone around the table.
Sin gets up to hug his brother. “A second Breckenridge-Hendry child is on the way. One for The Fellowship and one for The Order. That is wonderful news, and I know that Mum and Dad must be thrilled.”
“They are very happy.”
“We were going to wait to make the announcement, but I guess now’s the right time to tell you that there’s going to be yet another Breckenridge. Ellison and I are expecting a baby too.”
Wow. There are three pregnant women at this table right now. I wish that I was one of them, but that doesn’t take away from the joy that I feel for my best friends.
I smile, and it’s genuine because I am happy for everyone, but I’m also a little sad because I feel left out. “I’m so happy for all of you.”
“You’ll be next, Lolo.”
“Hopefully.”
“She will be.” Leith looks at me and squeezes my hand beneath the table. “I’m seeing to it personally.”
Chapter 13
Leith Duncan
I carry Lorna’s bag to her car and place it in the back. “Where are the wives taking you?”
Her brow lifts. “I’ll tell you if you tell me where the husbands are taking you.”
It’s a stag party. The wife-to-be isn’t supposed to know anything about it.
“You’re going to be away from me for the first time in a month. I need to know where you’ll be
in case something happens and I need to come for you.”
Lorna rolls her eyes. “Shaw is pregnant. Ellison is pregnant. Wes is pregnant and could deliver at any time. What kind of trouble could we possibly get into?”
Yes, we have an alliance with our former enemy, but I’m not sure that I’ll ever truly trust those people. “I’m not worried about you and the other wives getting into trouble. We’re Fellowship, and we never know when trouble is going to find us. So where will you be?”
She sighs. “The girls have booked a suite at the Balmoral. We’re having a spa and massage day with manis and pedis before we go out for dinner. There will be little opportunity for trouble to find us, but I imagine that the opposite is true about the night you’re going to have with your mates.”
Greer sent word to Lorna that she was going to be the stripper at my stag party. Of course, it’s a lie but Lorna has been uneasy ever since.
“We’re going to drink whisky at the bar until we pass out and wake up with throbbing heads. Nothing more.”
“Tonight is the last chance Greer will have to see you before we’re married. I don’t think she’ll miss out on her final opportunity.”
I’ve been expecting her to reach out to me in some kind of desperate last-ditch effort to try and talk me into being with her instead of Lorna. But she hasn’t. Maybe she’s moved on.
“If Greer or any other woman shows up at the bar tonight, she’ll be turned away at the door.” The plan is already in place. Nessa and Gwyneth will be there to serve us but that’s it. No other women allowed. I have no intention of allowing anything to happen that might bring my faithfulness into question.
“I don’t question your fidelity but Greer is sneaky. I worry that she’ll somehow manage to get into the bar.”
“And do what?”
“I don’t know exactly, but she’s crazy enough to try anything.”
“You think she would try to seduce me on the night before my wedding?”
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