He pressed a kiss to my head. “I love it, Addi.” He paused. “I love you.”
I lifted my head, offering him my mouth. “I love you.”
Our kiss started the way it always did. Soft and gentle. Then it changed, becoming deeper, longer. Taking and giving to each other, our tongues sliding and exploring. With a low groan, Brayden gathered me close, and seconds later, I was under him on the blanket. I loved how he felt on top of me. Solid, warm, and present. How his hands felt as they slid under my skirt, pushing up the fabric and teasing my skin. I whimpered as he ran his fingers over my center, the ache between my legs deeper and heavier than ever. All night, I had been watching him. He seemed different. Taller, his shoulders broad in the close-fitting shirt he wore, his muscular arms evident in the tight sleeves. We’d been so busy with school, work, and life, we hadn’t been alone for a few weeks, and I had missed him. The desire I felt for him was overwhelming, and suddenly I knew.
“Make me yours,” I whispered.
He drew back, surprise on his handsome face. “But Addi, you wanted to wait for your wedding night.”
“I changed my mind.” I slid my hand through his hair, cupping the back of his neck. “It’s going to be you either tonight or then, right?”
“Absolutely.”
I already wore a promise ring on my hand, and I knew he planned on changing it to an engagement ring soon.
“I don’t want to wait anymore, Brayden. I want to be yours—in every way.”
His green gaze was intense. I knew he was having an inner argument—wanting to give me what I said I wanted, yet worried I would regret it.
Except I wouldn’t. This was us—and we were forever.
“Make love to me.”
“Here?”
I smiled. “This is our place. We’re alone. I want you. Yes, here.”
He crashed his mouth to mine and kissed me. Lifted me into his arms and carried me to his room. The house was silent as he set me on my feet.
“Are you sure?” he asked one last time.
I answered by tugging on the bows that held up my sundress. I rolled my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor, and I stood in front of him, my breathing hard. “Yes.”
I smiled as I thought about our first time.
It wasn’t perfect by any means. Our hands shook and searched, there were times our mouths were overeager, and our teeth clashed. He fell off the bed reaching into his nightstand for a condom. “Thank God Aiden gave me these as a joke last year,” he mumbled. “I never thought I would need them, but I tossed them in here.”
I giggled too hard when he struggled to rip it open, mumbling how much easier it looked in movies. We rolled and fumbled. Laughed, groaned, and apologized.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he confessed. “I know the first time will.”
“I’ll be fine. I have you,” I assured him. When he was finally seated inside me, he gazed down, his eyes burning in passion.
“Nothing prepared me for this,” he hissed. “Jesus, Addi—” He hung his head. “I’m not gonna last. You feel too good.”
I was reeling from the way he felt. Filled by him and needing something. Something only he could give me. “Move, Brayden. Please move.”
It was fast, intense, messy, and perfect. It was us.
And Brayden, it turned out, was a quick learner. He grew to be an amazing lover and, to this day, could turn me on with a look or a smile.
I expected very little sleep over the next couple of days.
And I was fine with that.
Another round of clapping brought me out of my memory-gathering. Brayden was standing, his hand held out, waiting for another kiss.
I was happy to accommodate. He grinned as he pulled me close. “What were you thinking about?” he asked quietly, gazing down at me. “Your cheeks are flushed again.”
“Our first time,” I whispered. “How amazing you felt inside me.”
With a low growl, he kissed me. “Jesus, wife, you are killing me.” He pulled me in tight, letting me feel his growing erection. “You keep doing this.”
I grinned at the word “wife.” I liked it. “I’ll take care of that later, I promise.”
Those words got me another deep kiss.
“I promise to take really good care of you tonight.” He kissed me quickly. “Tomorrow.” Another longer kiss followed. He bent me low, making me gasp and grip his shoulders. “The rest of our lives.” Then he kissed me so long and hard, I forgot where I was.
It was perfect.
We had agreed to keep speeches short. Our parents kept theirs brief, my father far too emotional to say much, letting my mother speak. As the best man, Reed stood, approaching the microphone. Knowing his distaste for anything to do with public speaking, I knew it would be fast.
Except, he grinned into the microphone and looked over at us. “Sorry, friends. He’s bigger and stronger. And he gave me a hundred bucks.”
I watched as Aiden stood and approached the mic, pulling it from the stand. Both my father and Maddox dropped their heads, already grumbling, and Reid started laughing before Aiden began to speak.
Brayden groaned. “It’s a wedding, Aiden. Not a roast.”
“Have some faith, kid.”
He turned to the mic. “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Aiden Callaghan. Adopted uncle, best friend, and all-around favorite boss of tonight’s couple.”
There was much laughter and taunts, which made Aiden smile.
“I’ve known these two kids since they were born. Before that, even. Twinkles in their fathers’ eyes. The reason business suffered so greatly for a time because they were too busy with their own erections than the ones that the company was trying to build.”
Everyone groaned. My dad dropped his head to the table in mock disgust. Maddox laughed, slapping him on the back. “Reed, Bent will give you five hundred to take back over,” he called out.
Aiden pointed his finger at Reed. “Keep your ass in that chair, young man. I’ll give you a grand to stay there.”
Reed held up his hands. “I like where this is going.”
I heard my dad groan. “I don’t.”
I chuckled. This was all too funny.
Aiden held his hand over his heart. “Imagine. My two best friends’ kids getting married. Who would have dreamed that, all those years ago when we were poor university boys just trying to get by? Living hand to mouth, or in Bentley’s case, million to million. Poor guy. We felt sorry for him, which is why we took him in. He was floundering, dripping money out of his pockets with nowhere to go.”
That made my dad laugh.
“We’re here today to celebrate something truly magical. Something so rare and fortuitous, it has to be celebrated. I am, of course, talking about the open bar. Holy shit, Bent. Did you know how much these people would drink? Good thing the groom’s dad has access to the accounts—you’re going to need it.”
There was more laughter.
Aiden made some other jokes about us as kids but stuck to his word about keeping it brief and not going overboard.
Until the end.
“Marriage between the right two people is an amazing thing. It completes you in a way nothing else can.” He looked over at us. “I wish you as much sex as I have had in my own marriage.” He paused, scratching his head. “Wait. I mean success. I wish you a successful marriage.”
He snorted with laughter at his own joke, while shaking his head at the whooping from the tables. “You guys are sick. I meant success.”
“Sure, Dad!” one of the boys hollered.
Aiden winked. “I just want to add—may your ups and downs only be in the bedroom.”
After the groans settled down, he became serious. “Stand with me and join in a toast. To two young people meant to be together. Their love is strong and beautiful. I’m proud to be their uncle, and I can hardly wait to see what the future brings for them. Or see Bentley bounce their child on his knee and be able to call him Gramps and get aw
ay with it.” He lifted his glass. “To Brayden and Addi—the couple of the day.”
He engulfed us both in his massive arms, lifting me right off the ground. “I did good, right?”
I chuckled. “Sure, Aiden.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You did real good.”
Hours later, I smiled, remembering how proud he was of himself, as I sat down in a dark corner, the unexpected moment of quiet welcome. I had danced with my husband, my father, my new father-in-law, my brother, and Aiden. One turn with Aiden and I wasn’t sure my body would recover. His strength and size didn’t make for a good partner. And during the faster numbers, we all knew to give him a wide berth. His enthusiasm knew no bounds and made up for his lack of coordination. Cami usually just “held on for dear life,” she told me once.
Pops, Reid, Van, Halton, Richard. My “cousins” insisted on their turns, and Ronan, Paul, Jeremy, Liam, Reed, Gavin, Theo, Matthew, and all the rest had claimed a dance. I bent low, rubbing my aching feet. I was grateful for the reprieve, although I didn’t expect it to last long. Brayden would find me once he finished dancing with his mom and would want to dance some more. He loved to dance with me. In fact, he loved to dance period and moved with an easy grace. I was grateful for that.
Brayden’s mom, Dee, looked lovely today, her mossy green dress complementing her soft red hair nicely. She smiled up at Brayden, their conversation constant since they’d started to dance. He was smiling indulgently down at her, towering over her as he did me. She had a couple of inches on me, but Brayden was six three, so he dwarfed both of us. He adored his mom, and she him. I was thrilled to have her as a mother-in-law. Like my own mom, she had been supportive of us from the beginning, saying it was destined to be.
It had been a great night, but I was grateful it was starting to wind down. Some guests had departed, and the ones who remained were mostly family. I liked it best that way. Brayden and I were in no hurry to leave since it was our wedding and party, and we were enjoying ourselves. But I knew soon he would come take my hand, and we would leave the last of the partiers to shut the place down.
I had a feeling the night would end with my father, Aiden, Maddox, Reid, Van, Halton, and Richard sitting at the last table, feet kicked up, a bottle of whiskey between them, lamenting how their kids had grown up too fast. They’d trade stories and heartbreaks, trying to outdo one another. For such stern businessmen, they were a bunch of softies when it came to their families. I loved them all for it.
I leaned back my head, the sound of a hushed conversation behind me making me perk up my ears. I recognized Gracie’s voice. Her plus-one had been unexpected and mysterious. She had introduced me to him as he came through the receiving line. Her lips had been tight as she spoke.
“Brayden, Addi, this is Jaxson Richards, my, ah, coworker. He helped get me here.”
Jaxson’s eyebrows lifted at the introduction, but he didn’t say anything. We thanked him, and he shook Brayden’s hand, congratulating us on our nuptials, then lifted my hand and kissed it. “A pleasure.”
I noticed a few things about him immediately. He was drop-dead gorgeous. His hair was so dark, it was almost black. He was tall, broad, and his suit was custom tailored. His jaw was chiseled, with a deep cleft in the middle. He carried himself easily, his confidence evident. He looked stern and haughty—serious, without humor. His eyes were a startling blue, piercing and shrewd.
And they were focused intently on my best friend, whereas she was trying to look everywhere but at him. Her over-the-top casualness made it obvious that whoever he was, whatever he was to her, it was not casual.
And the third thing was the fact that around his ring finger was the same pinched pink line I’d noticed on Gracie’s hand earlier.
I could tell I was the only one who noticed. Brayden was already greeting the next guest, and everyone else was too busy enjoying themselves.
Jaxson lingered in front of Gracie, speaking in a low tone, then moved on, heading to the bar. He took a glass of champagne and headed toward the table where Katy was sitting. Beside me, Gracie tensed.
“Did you put him with my parents?” she asked, horrified.
“I don’t honestly know. Jen arranged a spot for him. Is that a problem?” I asked.
“Um, no, of course not. It’s just he and Dad will probably talk business all night.”
I lifted my eyebrows so she knew I knew how full of BS she was. Then I turned to greet the next guest. We would continue this conversation later.
Even though Jaxson had only spoken a few words to me earlier, I recognized his deep tenor.
“Why should I leave, Gracie? I’m enjoying myself.”
“Stop calling me that. It’s Grace.”
“All your family calls you Gracie.”
“You aren’t my family.”
“Hmm. I beg to differ.”
I sat up straighter. What?
“You shouldn’t be here,” Gracie insisted.
“You’re here. I belong at your side.”
“No, you don’t,” she hissed.
“I imagine the law would agree with me.”
“Fuck the law,” she almost growled, shocking me. Grace rarely swore. She rarely got upset. It was one of the reasons she was going to be such a good lawyer.
The next words I heard shocked me even more.
“I would rather fuck you again, darling. Far more enjoyable.”
There was an odd choking noise, and then I heard the sound of footsteps hurrying away. High-heeled ones. Then a low chuckle and that deep voice murmuring a quiet promise.
“Run, Gracie, my darling. I’ll catch you, regardless.”
Jaxson Richards stepped out from behind the corner. He noticed me and lifted his eyebrows with a smirk. He bent close. “Your boss is funny.”
“He’s not just my boss.”
He smiled suddenly, changing his face. It went from haughty to open. His dimple deepened as he grinned, and his eyes danced. He was devastatingly handsome. He tilted his chin toward the direction he and Gracie had been standing. “I’m not just her boss either.”
Then he headed toward the table he’d been sitting at, leaving me gaping at his retreating back. He didn’t appear upset or worried. If anything, his confidence was higher.
I slipped around the corner and into the ladies’ room that was at the end of the hall. It was deserted except for Grace. She stood, gripping the counter, her head down, and her shoulders taut.
I stepped behind her.
“Gracie.”
She whirled around, her eyes wide and startled.
“What is going on?” I asked quietly. “Don’t tell me nothing because we both know that’s a lie.”
She sighed. “Remember me telling you about the pompous jackass I work for?”
I nodded. “It’s Jaxson?” I guessed. “He’s not just a coworker, but your boss. Your direct boss.”
“Yes. He specializes in corporate law. I’m his intern. The firm sent us both to Vegas to work on this copyright mess we’ve been dealing with.”
“Is he any good?”
“He’s brilliant,” she admitted. “When we’re in the zone, we work really well together. The problem is we strike sparks the rest of the time. We’re constantly battling with each other.”
I waited. There was more to the story, but she wasn’t telling me everything.
“When I missed my plane, and the snowstorm hit, he helped me get here. I never would have made it if it weren’t for him. Part of the deal was he got to come to the wedding.”
“Okay?”
She waved her hand. “I told him it was enough. To go home. He’s been here far too long already. He refuses to leave.”
“Why?”
She pressed her lips together. “Can we drop it?”
“No. Why is he refusing to leave, Gracie? Why were you so upset that he was sitting at your parents’ table?”
“I don’t want him getting comfortable with them.”
“Why? If he’s your boss
and he helped you, what’s the big deal?”
She began to turn away, but I refused to allow it. I grabbed her arm. “What happened in Vegas, Gracie?”
She met my eyes. “I married him.”
Chapter 5
Addison
Before I could recover from the bombshell Gracie had just dropped, the washroom door opened, and Heather, Gracie’s sister, came in.
“There you are. Nan and Pops are leaving, Bray is looking for you, Addi, and Gracie, that sexy coworker of yours is prowling around like a dementor. Does he suck the happiness out of every room he enters?”
She finished off her rapid announcement with a hand on her hip, looking exasperated. “He’s a bossy SOB, isn’t he?”
Gracie blinked, then let out an uncharacteristic giggle. My lips quirked at Heather’s tone. The two sisters physically looked alike. Both small with dark hair and delicate features like their mom, Katy, but while Gracie had blue eyes like their mom, Heather had Richard’s hazel eyes that seemed to see everything. That was where the resemblance ended. Gracie was calm, quiet, and unflappable, while Heather was exuberant, creative, and loud. She spoke her mind and used her hands to make a point, as if she were painting a picture for you. Despite their differences, they had always been close, but Gracie had obviously not shared her news with her sister.
“He is a bit over the top,” Gracie stated, smoothing her hands down the front of her dress. “I imagine he’s leaving and wanted to say his farewells.”
Heather shook her head. “I don’t think so. He told Mom he’s alone at Christmas since he has no family, and she invited him to stay. She offered him the spare room.”
Gracie paled. “What? He doesn’t need the spare room. He has his own home in Toronto.”
Heather glanced in the mirror, tucking a loose tendril behind her ear. “He told her that.”
Gracie blew out a relieved breath. “Oh. Okay.”
Heather grinned. “He said he’d love to come back, though, so he’ll be here Christmas morning.” She grabbed the door handle. “I guess Christmas just took on a different feel. I hope he learns to smile by then. Come say goodbye to Nan and Pops.”
A Merry Vested Wedding Page 6