Текст книги "Cherished"

Автор книги: Kelly Elliott

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Текущая страница: 20 (всего у книги 24 страниц)

The evening had been a blast so far. I couldn’t help but worry about Lauren though, and Ari was getting frustrated with me because I kept trying to call Scott.

“If you try to call him one more time, I swear to God, Jessie, I’m gonna smack you!” Ari yelled over the music.

Ellie came bouncing back over from the DJ. “Oh my god, I’m having so much fun! He’s gonna play a song for us, y’all!”

I glanced over at Amanda and Azurdee dancing on the dance floor. Two guys were trying desperately to dance with them.

When Katy Perry’s “This Is How We Do” started playing, Ellie let out an, “Eeeep!”

She grabbed Ari and me and dragged us out to where Amanda and Azurdee were. I couldn’t help but laugh at all of them. They were having a blast, and all I wanted to do was go home to Scott and Lauren. Scott and I weren’t going to be spending the night together tomorrow since the wedding would be the next day, so tonight was our last night together before we got married—and I was out dancing.

A few friends of mine from college had met us at the club, and they were dancing right along with us. A guy walked up to Ari and said something to her. She smiled big and looked at me. She tapped on a few of the girls’ shoulders before she grabbed me, and then we took off, following the guy. We walked down a hallway and then into another room that had a giant glass window with tables all around.

“We get our own private room?” Ellie asked with a smile. She looked over at the pole in the middle of the room and smiled. “Oh god, I want to take pole dance lessons!”

Okay, she’s had too much to drink.

“Just take lessons from freaky-fresh Heather over there. She knows how to get her groove on,” Ari said as she jerked her head over toward Heather, who was on her way to being drunk also.

“Hell yeah!” Heather grabbed Ellie’s arm and dragged her over to the pole.

I looked up and saw a DJ in a booth. He started laughing, and then Eminem’s “Shake That” started playing. I couldn’t believe how Heather could move her body. I just stood there and stared at her and Ellie dancing.

“Years of dance lessons and getting nasty in the bedroom will do that for ya,” Ari said as she hit me in the arm.

I snapped my head over at Ari and busted out laughing. “My god…she could make serious money doing that,” I said as I shook my head. “What are we doing in here anyway?” I yelled over the music.

Ari smiled. “I have a surprise for you.” She pulled out two pieces of red satin and wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

“What is that for?” I asked as the music stopped.

Heather and Ellie were laughing their asses off as they walked back over toward us. Ari reached for my hands and pulled me over to a chair that someone had put in the middle of the room.

Oh, hell no! She did not…

“Sit down, Jessie,” Ari said with a wicked smile.

“No! Oh my god, no, you didn’t, Ari. I said no strippers.”

Azurdee jumped up and down. “Stripper? Yes!”

I quickly looked at her, and my mouth dropped. “Azurdee!”

She shrugged her shoulders. “What? Do you know how long it’s been since a man has touched me? The least you could do is let me touch a hot guy dancing.”

Heather, Ellie, Amanda, and the rest of the girls all started laughing.

“For me, Jess?” Azurdee practically pleaded with a smile.

“No!”

Ari pushed me down in the seat and grabbed my hands. She pulled them behind me and quickly tied them.

“Ari, so help me God, if a strange dick comes anywhere near me, I will never talk to you again!” I yelled at her.

“Ari, you promised us no strippers,” Ellie said.

“Stop whining, Ellie, and just trust me,” Ari said with a wink.

I looked up at Ari. “Ari…please. I don’t want to do this, so please…”

Ari put the red satin cloth over my eyes, and I instantly started panicking.

Oh my god. Scott is gonna find out, and I’m not going to get married. He won’t marry me!

Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” started playing.

“No! Absolutely not, Ari. Scott loves that song!” I yelled out.

Then, I heard all the girls start yelling and hollering.

What in the hell is wrong with them? Is that Ellie yelling? Ellie, of all people, is going crazy over a stripper! Oh, I am so going to have a talk with her after this. Gunner would be devastated!

Oh god…he’s in front of me. The moment I felt him near me, I wanted to puke. I tried hopping back in the chair, but I was getting nowhere.

“Take it off, cowboy!” Heather yelled out.

“What?” I screamed. “Oh my god, Heather! What is wrong with y’all?” I tried to figure out where he was. “Just stay back, stripper cowboy.”

Then, I felt him straddle me. He must have taken off his shirt because I felt something wrap around my neck, and Ellie screamed something about how hot his abs were.

“Um…no…I’m not happy with this at all. Really, go dance with one of the horny drunks.”

Then, I felt his breath on my neck. Oh god…he smells like Scott. For about ten seconds, I lost my wits.

“Please…I really don’t want…”

I felt someone untying my hands.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“You have got to feel his abs, Jessie!” Azurdee said with a laugh as someone grabbed my hands.

“Azurdee! If that is you grabbing my hands, you are no longer my maid of honor. I’m stripping you of the title.”

The only girl I couldn’t hear was Amanda.

“Amanda! You’re my new maid of honor!” I yelled out.

Ari started laughing. “Sorry, sweets. Amanda is busy making out with one of the stripper’s friends.”

What. In. The. Hell?

“What? She’s not even drinking. Ari, please…you’re gonna get everyone divorced and—”

The minute my hands touched the stripper’s chest, I felt a funny feeling zap through my body. I froze for two seconds until he straddled me again. I moved my hands across his chest and then slowly down to his abs.

I’d know this body anywhere.

I slowly smiled and then felt his lips against my neck. My body instantly jumped to attention, and every sensation kick-started. He slowly kissed along my neck and up to the side of my face.

“Wait,” I said.

He stopped moving, but he kept his lips against my face. He was now putting more pressure on my legs, and I could feel his hard-on.

“I’d like to take off this blindfold, so I can see my future husband strip for me,” I said.

Scott started laughing as I reached up and pulled the silk cloth up and over my head. He didn’t even give me time to say anything before he started kissing me. All I heard was everyone whooping and hollering. His kiss felt like heaven, and I wanted nothing more than for him to pick me up and just take me out of this stupid club.

“For a second there, baby, I was getting worried that you might be liking this a little too much,” he spoke softly against my lips.

I smiled. “The moment I touched you, I knew it was you.”

I glanced over and saw Brad and Amanda making out like they hadn’t in years. Gunner was hugging Ellie and whispering something in her ear. Josh looked like he wanted to rip Heather’s clothes off her body, and Jeff had Ari in his arms while he was talking to her. Lark was talking to a few of my college friends, and Azurdee was standing there, looking really pissed-off.

I turned back to Scott. “What in the world are y’all doing here?”

“Ari planned it all. I know I told you I didn’t want to have a bachelor party, but we’ve pretty much been following y’all around all night. Josh and Lark are well on their way to being trashed with Jeff and Gunner running a close third and fourth. All I’ve wanted to do was get this part over with, so I can take you back to the hotel and have my wicked way with you.”

I shook my head. “Is that why all the moms were at the houses because y’all had planned on going out the whole time?”

He looked down into my eyes, and I swore they were piercing into my very soul. I would never get tired of how he looked at me with so much passion.

He tilted my chin up with his finger and slowly leaned in to kiss me. “I. Want. You,” he whispered after each kiss.

“Yes,” was all I could manage to get out.

This was the first time we were out and away from Lauren for so long, but we both needed it.

“Scott?” I asked as I quickly looked around.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Please save me from this bachelorette party. Take me to the hotel and love me.”

The way his body moved when he turned around and walked over to Gunner turned me on. I loved his walk. It was confident and sexy as hell.

Gunner nodded his head and said something back to Scott. Lark walked over with Cassie, a friend from college, on his arm, and when I looked over toward Azurdee, she was standing at the window of the club, looking out. I walked over to her and put my arm around her.

“Why does he do this to me?” she asked.

I shrugged my shoulder and pulled her closer to me. “I don’t know. Defense mechanism, maybe?”

She turned around and rolled her eyes, and then she glanced back out the window. “He’s probably going to take Cassie back to her hotel.”

“Azurdee, go tell him how you feel. I know y’all like each other. I think everyone can feel it when the two of you are together.”

Azurdee let out a small chuckle. “Everyone but Lark. It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to force someone to like me if he doesn’t. I think I’m going to ask my friend Paul to the wedding. I sure don’t want to be the only one there without a date.”

I looked down at the ground and then back up at her. “I don’t blame you.”

“Um…do you know if Lark is bringing anyone?”

I shook my head. “Nah, he told Scott that it would just be him.”

I saw the slight smile move across Azurdee’s face. My heart slightly broke at the idea of Lark just planning on hooking up with one of our college friends, but I didn’t dare say anything to Azurdee.

I felt Scott’s arms wrap around me as he pulled me closer to him. He had put his shirt back on, and he looked so damn handsome in his cowboy boots, jeans, tight-ass T-shirt, and cowboy hat.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked as he raised his eyebrows.

I looked at Azurdee. “Will you be okay?”

She nodded her head. “Oh yeah, the limo is big enough for all of us to fit in and head back to Mason.”

“I don’t think y’all are going to Mason tonight. Gunner made hotel reservations for everyone at The Driskill Hotel.”

“Oh, okay.” Azurdee quickly glanced over toward Lark.

I followed her eyes, and Lark was now talking to Brad and Amanda. They had finally pulled their lips apart from each other. Cassie was now back with the rest of our college friends. When she turned and walked up to us, I held my breath.

“Hey, Jess. Azurdee, we are going to head back to our hotel. It’s been a blast, but I need to get back and give my boyfriend a call before he starts worrying. I can’t wait to see you at the wedding. If you need any help, Azurdee, please give me a call.”

I saw Azurdee’s whole body instantly relax.

“Will do!” she said a little too excitedly.

Scott grabbed my hand. “If you’ll excuse us, I have to finish my strip show in private.”

I immediately felt my cheeks turn red as everyone laughed.

As we walked outside, Scott called for a cab, and my stomach started doing flip-flops. I had no idea why I was feeling the way I was, but the idea of Scott stripping for me had my body aching even more for him.

As he held open the door to the cab for me, he said, “I’m about to make this a night you won’t forget, baby.”

I smiled. “Bring it on, stripper boy.”

I couldn’t wait to get Heather back to the hotel and just be alone with her. I couldn’t shake the image of her dancing on the damn pole for the last hour. The girls had had no idea that we had been there as we had stood on the other side of a two-way mirror, watching them. I was sure Gunner had felt the same reaction I had. The whole time that damn song had played, I’d even thought about putting a pole in our bedroom.

I followed as Heather walked through the door and into our hotel room. The second the door shut, I grabbed her and pushed her against the wall. She let out the sweetest moan, and I couldn’t get her clothes off fast enough.

“Jesus, Heather, do you know how turned-on I’ve been since I saw you dancing?”

“Wait—when did you see us dancing?” Heather asked.

I smiled and pushed myself into her. “There was a two-way mirror, and we were standing behind it, waiting for y’all to get Jessie seated. We had no idea that you and Ellie would start, um…dancing like that. I thought someone was going to have to hold Gunner back from busting in and taking Ellie right then and there.”

Heather laughed as she put her hands under my shirt and pushed it up and over my head. She bit down on her lip as she looked me up and down. “I want you so much, Josh. I never get tired of looking at your body.”

I picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around me.

“Back at ya, baby.”

I walked over to the bed, and I gently laid her down on it. Then, I took off her shoes before making my way up to her pants. As I pulled them off of her, I took her body in.

So beautiful and all mine.

My eyes landed on her black lace push-up bra that clasped in the front. I reached over, and with one flip of my fingers, her breasts sprung free, and my pants grew tighter. I crawled on top of her and cupped each breast in my hands as I leaned down and began sucking on one and then the other.

“Oh god…Josh.”

“Heather…you are so damn beautiful, baby.”

“I love you. Please make love to me, Josh.”

As I moved my hand down her side, I felt her whole body shiver. I smiled, knowing that even now, I could still cause her to shudder with just a touch. When I slipped my hand into her panties, I thought she was going to come off the bed. One slip of my finger inside her told me she wanted me badly.

“You’re always so wet for me, Heather.”

“Yes…” she whispered as she pulled my face to hers.

We began kissing, and then I pulled away just long enough to take her panties off before I crawled on top of her and teased her with my tip.

“Ugh! Josh…please. Please don’t tease me.”

I slowly pushed myself into her warm, wet body. I let out a long moan as I buried myself as deep in her as I could. I took her hands in mine and laced our fingers as I pushed them over her head. As I moved in and out of her, I kissed her gently on the lips over and over again and whispered how much I loved her.

I could feel when she was about to come because it felt like she was squeezing my dick.

“Oh…Josh…yes…I’m going to come,” Heather whispered in my ear.

I moved a little faster, and when she began to softly call out my name, I gently kissed her lips. There was nothing else on this Earth that I loved more than coming at the same time with Heather. Feeling our bodies react to each other was one of the most amazing things I’d ever experienced. I rolled over, pulled her to me, and listened to her breathing. Her body fit so perfectly with mine.

I thought back to the first time I’d ever seen her. She’d walked into Jeff and Gunner’s house, and I’d never had that feeling before—the feeling of all the air being taken from my body, my knees going weak, and that sensation in my stomach that I still got when she would unexpectedly touch my body.

“Heather,” I whispered.

“Mmm…”

“I just want you to know how much I love you,” I said, my voice cracking.

She turned over and looked into my eyes. “I do know. I love you so much, too,” she said with a smile that melted my heart.

“You know I’d do anything for you and the kids, right?”

She nodded her head. “Josh, is everything okay?”

I pushed her hair back and grinned. “Everything is perfect. It just scares me sometimes. I don’t ever want to lose you, Will, and Libby. I’ll do whatever it takes to make the three of you happy. Everything I do…it’s all for you.”

I watched as a single tear rolled down her face.

“Oh, Josh…you make me so happy every single second of the day. I’d be completely lost without you. I’ll love you forever.”

I laughed. “That’s a long time.”

She nodded her head and winked. “Yes, it is, but I think I’m up for the challenge.”

“You better be because I intend on making love to you as much as possible for the rest of our lives.”

She pushed me onto my back and crawled on top of me. As she slowly sat down on me, she smiled. “I’m going to hold you to that, Mr. Hayes. You’re my everything, Josh, and I love you so much.”

I pulled her body closer to me and placed my hands on the sides of her face as I looked into her beautiful blue eyes. I will love this girl forever with everything in my heart and soul.

“I love you more times infinity. I’ll forever be faithful to our love, princess.”

The Wedding—October Thirty-First

I stood there like an idiot, just watching everyone run around as they set up things for the wedding. I turned around and looked at our bedroom window. I smiled, imagining her getting ready. What will her dress look like? Is she going to wear her hair up or down? I took in a cleansing deep breath and blew it out as I felt someone slap my back. I turned to see Lark there.

“So, I believe it’s the best man’s responsibility to make sure the groom is at the wedding on time. I’ve got that covered. I also need to make sure he is dressed and ready to go.” He looked me up and down and smiled. “That’s covered. Now, I see what my real hurdle is going to be.”

I chuckled. “What’s your hurdle?”

“Keeping you away from the bride before the wedding,” he said with a wink.

I threw my head back and laughed. “That is going to be a hurdle because all I want to do is see her.”

“Tough shit. Come on, let’s go get a beer. I know a place where we can get away from all this wedding bullshit.”

He started to head down toward the barn. I looked at the tables that were being set up. Jessie was going to be so happy when she could see how everything was coming together. I glanced over and saw my mom talking to Jenny. The two of them planning this wedding was just what they both had needed. They worked amazingly well together, and Jenny had asked my mother if she’d ever thought of going into wedding planning. As of three weeks ago, they had become business partners, and this wedding was their first as partners.

I looked to my left and saw my father ordering around the guys who were setting up the bar and putting out the kegs. I chuckled and shook my head. Leave it to him to be in charge of the booze.

I turned the corner and walked into the barn. Jeff, Gunner, Josh, and Brad were all kicked back and sitting around a small table. Everyone, except Brad, had a beer in his hands.

“So, this is where my groomsmen have been, huh?” I walked around and grabbed a beer out of a—

Pumpkin?

“What in the fuck is this?” I asked as I sat down.

They all laughed.

Brad said, “This was Amanda’s job—carve out pumpkins for little mini ice chests.”

They all looked at me, but no one said a word.

“What?” I asked.

“You nervous?” Jeff took a drink of his beer.

“Pft, no. I’m not nervous at all,” I said, trying to keep my hands from shaking. They’d been shaking ever since I’d woken up this morning.

Gunner and Josh both laughed.

Brad smiled at me. “Dude, we’ve all been in your shoes—well, everyone but Lark here.”

“The only one with brains, I guess,” Lark said before downing his beer.

Brad laughed and rolled his eyes. “We’ve all been in your shoes. We know you’re nervous.”

I dropped my head and shook it. “I don’t understand what’s wrong with me. I mean, I want to marry her more than anything. I’m not having doubts at all, but my stomach is in fucking knots. I feel sick, my hands won’t stop shaking, and…and I’m…I’m…”

“You’re afraid she is going to change her mind? Wonder why in the hell she is marrying you? Does that sound about right?” Josh asked.

“Yes! That is exactly it. I have this fear that she’s going to decide at the last minute that she doesn’t want to get married.”

“Trust me, she’s just as nervous, if not more, than you are, Scott. Don’t worry, dude. That girl has been in love with you since we were kids,” Gunner said.

Lark held up his hand. “So, let me ask y’all something. Every single one of you is happy. No desire to be with another woman? You’re…content?”

We all let out a laugh.

“Fuck, you couldn’t pay me to be back in the dating world. Ari literally saved my ass. If it wasn’t for her, Luke, and Grace…” Jeff slowly shook his head and looked at Lark. “I wouldn’t want to live without Ari in my life.”

Josh leaned forward and nodded his head. “I feel the same way. Heather is the air I breathe. She’s my life, and then you add in Will and Libby…” He smiled bigger. “I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. One day, you’ll find the one girl who will make you lose your train of thought just by her smile. When she walks by you, her smell will about drop you to your knees. Her kiss will cause your body to go insane with desire, and the sound of her voice will make you feel all fucking giddy inside. Yeah…once you find that, you won’t ever want anything else but that.”

“Amen, brother,” Brad and Gunner both said.

Gunner lifted his beer bottle to Josh. They clicked bottles together and then did some hand gesture that they always did. It was something from college, and I’d never understood it or cared to.

“I should take all your damn man cards away,” Lark said with a smile.

“Are you hiding in here?” Drake asked.

We all turned to see Drake and Garrett walking in.

“Gramps, Drake. Y’all want a beer from our very own pumpkin cooler?” Gunner asked. He got up, walked up to them, and shook their hands.

I stood up and also shook their hands. “Nah, I’m just trying to avoid your sons. Dewey keeps making threats to me, and honestly, I don’t think he’s kidding anymore,” I said with a wink.

Drake laughed and nodded. “Don’t piss that boy off, let me tell you. I think he and your daddy are about to go at it over where the Bud Light keg should go.”

We all laughed as I gestured for them to sit down.

Drake shook his head. “We only came down to ask that y’all stay in here. Your mama wants Jessie to take a peek at everything before she gets dressed.”

I perked up. “She’s going out?”

Then, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t even think about it. I haven’t forgotten about that day when I came back to the barn from a ride,” Lark said.

He winked, and I felt my face instantly blush. I knew he was referring to the day I had taken Jessie on the side of the house while my mother and Azurdee were inside.

“Right. Um…yeah, Drake, we won’t budge from this spot until my mother or Jenny comes and gets us.” I nodded and smiled at him.

“Don’t ruin this for my baby girl. This is her day, not yours. Do you understand me? Just because you got a baby with her doesn’t mean I won’t kill you if you hurt her,” Drake said.

And then, I saw Dew and Aaron walk in behind him.

I swallowed hard and nodded my head. “Yes, um…yes, sir.”

We all watched as Drake turned and walked out of the barn with Dewey and Aaron following right behind him.

I let out the breath I had been holding, and I felt my whole body relax. “Holy shit, that man scares the piss out of me,” I said.

Josh laughed. “I guess I’m the only one who has never had to deal with the father-in-law.”

Jeff, Brad, Gunner, and I all said at the same time, “Lucky bastard.”