The Loyal Groom Read online

  “I love it,” Darian says against my neck. “I think it’s exactly what we all need.”

  “Me too,” Lindsey agrees. “And with that, I’ve got to go meet Mary.” She hugs us goodbye before she heads out, looking way more confident than she did when she walked in. I know she’s got this.

  “We have time before we need to catch a flight.” Darian pulls the string of my robe, making it fall open. “And there’s something else you need to tell me. I can sense it.” His hands rub up and down my hips.

  “I do. I think it’s why last night got to me so much.”

  I don’t know why I’m so nervous about telling him. We both want kids, and we always said one day. In fact, we’d said forever ago it didn't matter if we made it big or not, we’d start trying on my twenty-fifth birthday. I’d stopped taking the pill then, but I hadn't brought it back up to Darian. Maybe I should have, but I'm sure he forgot about it. It was so many years ago when we were lying in bed talking about our future together.

  “You’re pregnant,” he guesses, making me gasp.

  “How did you know?!”

  “I might have been a busy man, but I know your body. Plus we already talked about it, and you threw out your pills months ago.” I burst into tears. “You don’t want to have a baby?” I can hear the panic in his voice.

  “I do! I’m sorry, I’m just so happy and so many things I’ve wanted for so long are finally happening.”

  “Oh love.” He cups my face. “Don’t say you’re sorry.”

  “Last night when I said I forgave you, I meant it.”

  “I know, but I need something else from you.” He kisses a few of the tears away. “You’re the heart of the family. There is a sweetness you give us all, and that’s who you are. That’s why everyone that meets you falls in love with you, and it’s part of why we’re so protective of you. We don’t want anyone to take advantage of that.”

  “That’s really sweet,” I sniffle.

  “You’ve got to start telling me when you want something. I don’t care if you think it’s going to bother someone else. I’ll handle that. How you and our baby feel, that’s number one to me.”

  I’ve always known Darian would be a wonderful father and husband. Whatever he puts his mind to, he can do. I think we somehow got a little lost along the way to this point, but both of us tried to give the other what we thought they needed.

  “I can do that,” I agree. We’re both going to make changes.

  “I love you so damn much.” He pushes the robe all the way off me, letting it fall to the floor.

  “I love you too. For richer or poorer. I’ll always be yours.”

  Epilogue

  Darian

  Two years later…

  “I’m home!” Rosy calls out, and I stand up, nervous to see what she thinks. “Darian, are you—” She stops talking when she walks out onto the back terrace and stares at what I’ve done.

  “Welcome home, love.”

  It took about a year to build our perfect home, and even longer to finish the outside just the way we wanted it. We spend so many nights out here eating dinner when the weather allows or playing with our daughter while she perfects her walk. It’s one of our most favorite places because of the view and the time we spend out here, so I knew it would be the perfect place to do this.

  “What are you doing?” She glances around at all the candles I’ve lit and the flowers that were delivered while she took our daughter Megan to Lindsey’s house for a sleepover.

  We had our house, Lindsey’s, and the twins' houses built all at the same time, so that could account for what took so long. We’re all on this big piece of property together, and Allison lovingly calls it “the compound.” I like it because we’re all close, and at any given time Megan gets to be loved on by her aunts. It will be even better as she gets older and she can play with her cousins anytime she wants.

  “It took me a long time to find what I was searching for, and I wanted to make the moment special.”

  “You’re not giving me a new ring, are you?” She holds her hand close to her chest, and I see the gold band shine in the candlelight.

  “No.” I smile as I shake my head.

  She made it clear she never wanted to upgrade or replace the band that made us husband and wife, and although I always want to give my wife the best of the best, I understood her choice. Although it wasn’t flashy, and almost everyone around her has diamonds and stones the size of golf balls, she always touches the simple gold ring with love and reverence. It makes me feel the same when I see mine.

  I reach down to the table beside me and grab the small wooden box. When I hold it out for her, her eyes widen, and she looks at me in disbelief.

  “You didn’t,” she whispers, and I nod.

  “I did.”

  “How?” She steps forward and takes the box from my hand, and I see her fingers tremble. “I tried to track down the watch dealer for years, but nothing. I thought it was gone.”

  She opens the box, and nestled inside the velvet is her grandfather's watch. I take it out and then hold it out for her to put it on.

  “It took me a long time and a lot of phone calls, but I found it at an estate sale four states over.” I slide the watch onto her wrist and turn it over so she can see the alterations I made. “I had a jeweler make a few modifications so that it would fit your wrist.”

  “Oh Darian, I can’t believe it.” I see the tears begin to form in her eyes, and I lean forward to kiss them away.

  “It was the right decision at the time to sell it, but now it’s time to have it home with us. Time for you to take this out from under the bed and wear it.”

  “You know I was going to nag you about not taking the trash to the curb this morning, but you kind of made up for it.”

  “Good thing I was one step ahead.” I laugh and then wrap my arms around her.

  “You’re always one step ahead, but it’s one of the many reasons I love you.”

  “What are all the others?” I kiss my way across her cheek and to that soft spot under her ear.

  “The way your lips feel on me.” My mouth moves lower down her neck as my hands slide down her back. “The way you grab my ass.” I do it just as she says it, and she moans with pleasure.

  “Do you have an opinion on how I eat your pussy?” I grind my cock against her lower belly, and she groans.

  “I think you should remind me of your skills.”

  “Gladly.”

  I sweep her up in my arms and walk over to the covered veranda nearby. There’s a big couch we keep out here to sometimes watch outdoor movies on. She laughs as I toss her onto it then kneel down in front of her, quickly tugging off my shirt.

  “I love how excited you get just before you taste me.” She spreads her legs and pulls her dress up.

  “I’m like a dog about to get a treat.” I lick my lips as I run my finger down the edge of her panties and then pull them to the side.

  Her moans fill my ears as I swipe my tongue through her folds and run circles around her clit. She’s already hot and wet, but I want this first one in my mouth. I like her soft and ready when my cock fills her up, so she needs to cum first.

  Her fingers tangle in my hair as I grab her ass and lift her up to my mouth. I feast on her sweet flesh as my tongue makes love to her pussy. She arches and begs and then finally cries out when she can’t fight the climax any longer.

  So slowly I lower her back to the couch as I unbutton my jeans and release my cock. It springs free between us, hard and thick and swollen with need. There’s a bead of cum on the end of it, close to dripping, as I grab the base and slide it through her silk.

  She’s still panting from her first release as I shove in hard and deep. The pulse of her orgasm clenches around my cock, and when I grind against her clit, it sends her over the edge quickly into another wave of bliss.

  Every time I enter her, it’s heaven and home all mixed into one. She’s perfect and giving as she opens her legs wider
and allows me to drive my need into her. Over and over I give myself to her, and she cries out for more. My own need is bearing down on me, but I have to have another. I’m greedy for her pleasure, and I need to know that her body is wrung out by the time I let myself cum.

  “Darian,” she whines, lifting her hips. “I need it.”

  “Stop,” I grit out between my teeth. “You’ll make me cum too fast.”

  “But if you cum, it will make me cum.” She clenches around me to try and steal it, and god help me, she almost does.

  “Fuck,” I curse, pounding my fist into the cushion.

  “Please,” she begs, and she knows I’m done for. I can’t say no to her, especially when I’m balls deep in her perfect pussy.

  With one final thrust, my cock throbs, and the well of release pours out of me. True to her word, the feeling of my cock pulsing inside of her sends her over the edge with me.

  Together we groan and cling to one another as I bury my face in her neck. It’s powerful and fast but no less perfect as I slowly catch my breath and come back down to earth. I take my time kissing her slowly and she smiles up at me as she traces my jaw.

  “I love you so much,” I say because I can’t think of anything else I feel right now. Love. That’s all I have in my heart because every day I have her in my arms.

  “I love you too.”

  When we make love again, it’s slower this time, but she manages to steal my release from me like a little witch.

  Epilogue

  Rosy

  Five years later…

  “Baby.” Darian pushes my hair off my shoulder, kissing my neck. I’m sitting at the kitchen island looking over the cards in front of me. “Everything is going to be fine,” he tries to reassure me. I should know that. Darian wouldn’t let this play out any other way.

  “I don’t know why I’m so nervous.” I pick up all the cards, stacking them in a pile.

  “Need me to calm you down?” His hand goes to my thigh, slipping under my dress. I drop my head back, resting it on his chest. He pulls my panties to the side, his fingers finding my clit. “Always so fucking wet for me.”

  A small moan comes from me. I’m trying to be quiet. Our kids are in the next room over watching a movie. I bite the inside of my cheek.

  “Tonight after we get the girls to bed you’re going to sit on my face. It’s been too long since I had your taste in my mouth.” If I wasn't about to orgasm I’d laugh. He had a taste of me this morning, but Darian is always up for another. The man is addicted to me. I’m addicted to him too. “Gotta cum for me, beautiful.” He bites down on my shoulder.

  My body jerks, and I cum for him. My eyes fall closed as the pleasure courses though me and I relax. I can feel some of the tension leaving my muscles. Darian can always get me to relax one way or another. The man knows my body better than I do.

  He pulls his hand out from under my dress, licking his fingers clean. I grab his shirt and pull him down for a kiss. His hand goes to the small baby bump that has already formed. With our first and second it took forever for me to show. Not so much with our son. He is already making himself known. He’s going to be as big as his father.

  “I just don’t want the girls to get attached to them and something to go wrong.” I shrug. I know better than anyone what a disappointment my parents can be. But I also remember them being loving when I was little.

  “People change. Life does that to you.” He’s right. Life teaches you lessons along the way. My parents are getting old.

  “How are you not mad at them?”

  “I was for a long time. But I was only mad because of how they treated you. At the end of the day, it didn't matter if they liked me or not. I got you and our family. They are the ones that are missing out.” I nod in agreement. He’s right. We made it all on our own.

  My parents sent gifts for Megan from the beginning. They never called, but every holiday or birthday, gifts would show up. Then when Maddy came along they’d done the same. Over the past year the girls have been asking about their grandma and grandpa. How come they never come over?

  I didn't want to keep them apart if they wanted to be involved in their lives. I was scared that they could drop out of their lives like they did mine long ago.

  I ran into my mom a few weeks ago at an event. She broke down in front of me. Cried and said how sorry she was. She owned up to her mistakes, even said she understood if I never wanted to see them again. My father had done the same.

  “I want to move on. To heal. I think my grandpa would have liked that.”

  “I think he would have too.” Darian leans down and kisses me again. I dig my fingers into his shirt.

  “Did you already have a talk with my father?” I ask against this mouth. He smirks. I had a feeling. Darian is protective of all the girls in his family.

  “Like I said, everything is going to be fine. I think they’ve changed.”

  “Thank you.” Hearing him say that makes the rest of the worry fade away. No one is better at reading people than Darian. Okay, maybe Lindsey.

  “They’re here!” I hear Maddy scream. Then their little feet are running toward the front door. I pick up all the cards my parents have sent me over the years and put them away. Darian takes my hand and leads me toward the front door.

  Darian gives Megan a nod, letting her know she can open the door. She flips the lock and swings the door open. There is not a shy bone in either one of our girls' bodies. They don’t hesitate to run out to them. My parents both drop down to hug them.

  I lean into my husband and watch them fighting tears. Darian kisses me on top of the head. My dad stands with Maddy in his arms. She’s talking a mile a minute. Mom holds Megan’s hand as they walk over toward us.

  Darian lets me go to give them both a hug. Mom holds on to me for a moment, her hand going to my stomach. “I’ve missed so much.”

  “There is time to change that,” I say back.

  “We shouldn't get that chance, but you have always been a sweet soul,” she says. “I’m glad you had someone like Darian to protect that.” I watch as my dad and Darian shake hands.

  “We have to show you our rooms.” Megan drops her voice to a whisper. “There is a secret door. I can show you cause you're family.” She pulls on my mom’s hand.

  “And then the tree house!” Maddy says.

  “Go on. I’m going to get things ready for lunch,” I tell them so they can have a moment with the girls. I watch them head into the house together. I turn in Darian’s arms.

  “I don’t know how you did it, Darian, but you managed to give me everything I ever could have wanted. Even things I was sure were impossible.”

  “Never doubt a man who will do anything for the woman he loves more than anything in this world.” My heart melts.

  “Never.” I smile up at him.

  He gave me more than a happily ever after. He gave me everything and more.

  * * *

  THE END!

  Ringing in the New Year

  by Alexa Riley

  Chapter 1

  Reed

  Second grade

  I stand there watching the girls play hopscotch and wonder what they find so fun about it. They giggle as they jump down the chalk lines and repeat it over and over again. I only care because every time Cami makes the sound it gives me a funny feeling in my stomach. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it, but after I heard her laugh a few more times I decided it’s not so bad. She peeks over at me and smiles before it’s her turn again.

  “Reed, come on, man, we need you on our team. You’re the best kicker,” my best friend Sam yells at me, making all the girls turn to look at him. Cami looks at me again and my stomach does that thing.

  “Not today,” I tell him because I don’t have any plans to move from this spot.

  “You said that yesterday.” He throws his hands up in the air.

  “I’m busy,” I shout back, but he doesn't give up.

  Cami walks the few steps over to wh
ere we are and plays with the braid my mom put in her hair this morning. “You don’t have to stay, you can go play with your friends.”

  My mom takes both of us to school, and before we left she did her hair. I tried hard to pay attention to how she was doing the braid so I could figure it out. She even tied a pink bow onto the end to make it look nice. Before when I saw girls put stuff in their hair I thought it was stupid. Hats, I can understand because they block out the sun, but bows didn't do anything. But when I saw Cami’s I thought it looked pretty and it made her smile. I think everything about Cami is pretty.

  “I told my mom I’d watch out for you,” I tell her.

  Cami, or Camibell as her dad calls her, moved into our guest house three weeks ago. My dad hired her dad to take care of my mom’s horses. When he showed up he had Cami with him, but she didn't have a mom like me. I could tell she liked when my mom played with her hair and did other girl stuff with her. I didn't mind sharing my mom with her or even letting her play with my toys. She didn’t have any of her own and she didn’t break mine.

  Mom told me to keep an eye out for her because she’s new and new schools can be scary. I agreed because I like being close to Cami. She’s not like the other girls, who are annoying. She’s sweet and I want to make sure nobody is mean to her.

  “It’s fine. You really don’t have to.” Her voice is low and her bottom lip comes out and I don’t like the sound coming from her.

  “You heard her. You don’t have to stay. Come on, Reed,” Sam tries again.

  “Dude, shut up,” I tell him before I walk over to Cami. He shakes his head before running off and finally giving up. “She asked me to look out for you, but I was gonna do it anyways.”