Author: Jaci Burton

Jenna’s dad was the last to toast by saying there was always room for another guy in the Riley family, and Ty had settled in just fine. He said he hadn’t known about Jenna’s dreams, but Ty had and he’d helped her achieve them. And then he’d gone on to say that he couldn’t think of anyone who was better equipped to take care of his little girl than Tyler. He wished the two of them well, and said he knew his daughter was going to live her happily ever after with Ty.

Liz blinked back tears and Gavin squeezed her hand.

“Emotional, huh?”

Liz nodded and dabbed the corners of her eyes with her napkin. “Seems to be a lot of emotion where weddings are concerned. Especially this one. I’m so happy for Ty and Jenna and I can’t wait for the wedding tomorrow.”

“And here I thought you were so tough.”

She laughed. “Yeah, well, don’t tell anyone. It could affect my business.”

After dinner, no one lingered. They’d be back here tomorrow night for the reception anyway, and tomorrow was going to be a big day.

Liz and Gavin headed home. She slipped off her heels, hung her dress in the closet, and went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

“I’m shocked you didn’t try to seduce me in the hotel,” Gavin said as he came in to brush his teeth.

She smiled as she combed her hair. “I’m saving that one for tomorrow night when there are more people. Everyone will be relaxed, drinking, and not paying attention to us. Tonight, though, we’re going to have to do it in the bed like a normal, boring married couple.”

She walked out of the bathroom.

He followed, turning off the light. “How unfortunate.”

She slipped under the covers. It was cold tonight, and snow was expected for tomorrow. “I hope it doesn’t snow for Jenna and Ty’s wedding. That could be a big mess.”

He shrugged, crawled under the covers, and pulled her next to him. “It’s a Saturday night, so it shouldn’t be too bad traffic-wise.”

“Unless we get a lot of snow.”

He pulled her on top of him, his body already warming hers. “Quit worrying about the wedding. It’s going to be fine.”

“You’re so sure about that.”

“Positive.”

Thoughts about the wedding fled as soon as Gavin put his hands on her ass. “Mmm, I like that.”

“Which part? Your gorgeous breasts rubbing against my chest, or my hands on your ass?”

“Yes to both.” She kissed him, and then he was the only thought in her head as his tongue slid over hers, expertly obliterating any thought but that of his cock hardening between her legs.

She rose up and rubbed a nipple between his lips. He grasped her breast and flicked the bud with his tongue, making her gasp. He knew what she wanted, that she needed him to take her nipple and suck, but still, he teased her by licking the areola and laying his tongue against it.

“Gavin.”

He lifted his gaze to hers. “Yeah, babe.”

“You know what I want.”

He plumped her breast with his hand. “Not psychic here. You’re going to have to tell me.”

Such an obstinate man. “Suck my nipple into your mouth.”

He brought her forward and took her nipple into his mouth, drawing it in deep.

“Yes, that’s what I needed.” She held on to his head while he sucked the bud, flattening it in between the roof of his mouth and his tongue. Her nipples were sensitive and the sensation shot straight to her core, making her swell with need for his cock.

She pulled her nipple out of his mouth, watched him stare at it.

“I wasn’t finished with that.”

She let out a low laugh. “You can come back to it. In the meantime, there’s something I want to do.”

She eased down his chest, stopping to lick and suck at his nipples, rewarded when he emitted a groan. She kissed her way down his abs, snaking her body over his, stopping to nip at his hip bone.

“I like where you’re going,” he said, tangling his fingers in her hair as she nuzzled the hairs on his lower belly.

She loved the way he smelled, so crisp and clean, and yet a musky scent that never failed to turn her on. His cock was hard and pointing toward his stomach. She wrapped her hand around the base of his shaft and stroked upward, slow and easy, then got up on her knees so she could put her lips around the crest.

“Elizabeth.”

Hearing him say her full name in a deep whisper like that made her skin tingle. It spoke of need and desire, his voice on the edge of control.

Just where she wanted him as she swirled her tongue around the head of his cock and eased his shaft into her mouth. At this angle, with her above his cock, he could see it disappearing into her mouth inch by inch, could feel what he saw.

His hold on her hair tightened and he arched his hips, sliding his cock along her tongue. She closed her mouth around him and gave him pressure, hearing him groan as his cockhead hit the back of her throat. Giving Gavin this pleasure made her nipples tighten, her clit and pussy tingling with the need to have him pumping inside her just as he pumped his cock in her mouth.

And when he pulled out and dragged her up, kissing her until she was delirious, she knew he wanted the same thing.

He shifted her onto her back and slid inside her with one hard thrust. She moaned against his lips and arched into him, pulling him deeper inside her.

He rose up and looked at her. “I love the feel of you when I’m inside you, the way your pussy grips me and sucks me in.”

The way he looked at her, his features tight with strain as he moved within her, never failed to make every nerve ending in her body come alive. She reached up and swept her hand across his face, rubbing her thumb along his bottom lip. He nipped at her thumb and she wrapped her hand around the nape of his neck to draw him down for a kiss. Kissing him while he made love to her was like dual pleasure, his tongue sliding along hers as his cock thrust within her, making her senseless as she climbed each peak toward the very pinnacle.

And when he ground his hips against her, brushing her clit again and again, she broke, crying out and raking her nails down his arms as she came. Gavin let go, then, shuddering as he climaxed, his body lifting over hers as he emptied into her.

He dropped down on top of her and pressed kisses to her cheek and neck.

“You’re killing me, Liz,” he said.

She stroked his back and arms, smoothing the spots where she’d dug her nails into him. “I hope not. I need you around for at least a few more years.”

He laughed and rolled to his side, pulling her against him. “All this sex. I’m not sure I’m up for it.”

“Oh, you’re up for it. I know your stamina level.”

“Good thing you feed me vitamins.”

She snuggled closer. “Good thing, huh?”

Chapter Nine

The skies were gray and ominous on Jenna and Ty’s wedding day for the entire day, the threat of snow hanging heavy in the air. Liz was certain that at any moment she’d see thick flakes come down from the sky. But so far they’d held off. Liz was going to keep her fingers crossed.

As they arrived at the church, all she could see were clouds. It was bad enough she was freezing to death in this sleeveless dress. She hoped the heat in the church was working well.

“I’ll see you at the front of the church,” Gavin said as he kissed her good-bye.

“Just like the last time.” She smiled at him, patted his chest, and they walked in opposite directions.

She made her way to the bridal suite, where Jenna’s mother and Tara were lacing up the back of Jenna’s dress.

Jenna looked stunning in a cream taffeta halter dress with a dropped waist and tiers from her hips to the floor. A bow sat at her right hip. It was luscious and elegant and her tattoos made her look beautiful.

Liz stood in the doorway and took a moment to watch Jenna looking at herself in the mirror. The look of awe on Jenna’s face was priceless.

“You look gorgeous, Jenna,” Liz said as she came into the room.

Jenna gave her a serene smile. “It’s kind of hard to believe this is happening. Me, in a wedding dress. Who’d have thought that day would ever come?”

“Me,” Jenna’s mom said, tears in her eyes.

“And me,” Tara said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

“Don’t you cry, Mom. I had to sit in a chair this afternoon for hours getting my makeup done. I don’t want to do it again.”

“All of you can stop with the blubbering. We all had to sit through makeup,” Alicia said.

“Southern girls never cry,” Savannah added, sniffling.

“We all look gorgeous,” Liz said, smoothing down her dress. “And no one is allowed to cry. Except maybe Jenna and her mom, but not until the ceremony.”

“You all look so beautiful,” Ty’s mother said. “And especially you, Jenna. My son is a very lucky man.”

Jenna reached over to squeeze Louise’s hand. “Thank you, Mom.”

“We should be starting shortly.” Savannah took her phone out of her clutch. “All we need now are the flowers.”

“They’re here,” Tara said, checking her phone. “I need to get the florist to bring them in here. I’ll be right back.”

Tara ran to get the florist, who came in bearing the most beautiful flowers Liz had ever seen—short of her own wedding, of course. Cream roses and purple lilies highlighted Jenna’s bouquet and were a perfect complement to her dress, and since the bridal party wore purple dresses, they had cream bouquets.

There was a knock on the door. Tara answered, then turned to them. “Five minutes. We should line up.”

Jenna laid her hand on her stomach. “I’ve never been so nervous about anything in my entire life. Even singing for the first time didn’t make my stomach flutter this much.”

Her mom came to Jenna’s side and put her arm around her. “You love Tyler. This is your moment. Be happy, and relaxed.”

Jenna nodded. “You’re right. I am happy. And excited.”

They all stopped out in the foyer. Jenna’s dad was there with a huge grin on his face. “You look beautiful, baby girl.”

Jenna blinked away tears again. “Thank you, Dad. You look pretty handsome yourself.”

“You sure you don’t want to make a run for it? I’ve been working out. We can dash out the front door and into the limo. There’s a game on. We can catch it at Riley’s.”

Jenna laughed. “As tempting as that sounds right now, I think I’m good here, Dad. But thanks for the offer.”

He took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Okay, then. Let’s do this.”

Liz could have kissed Jimmy for that bit of levity. It was just what Jenna needed to relax.

Everyone lined up in their positions. Gavin came and walked his mother down the aisle, then Ty’s mother was escorted to her seat.

And as the music started to play, Liz was overcome with dizziness and nausea and leaned against Savannah.

“What’s wrong?” Savannah asked, grasping her arm.

She took in a deep breath, then let it out. “Tight dress. No air. And probably too many flowers.”

“Take deep breaths,” Alicia said.

“Doing that.”

“I can ask them to wait,” Alicia said, a concerned look on her face.

Liz waved them on. “No, I’m good. Let’s get this thing moving.”

The bridesmaids moved down the aisle and Liz tried to quell the dizziness, holding the flowers as far away from her face as she could. The last thing Jenna needed was for Liz to face-plant walking down the aisle at her wedding. When it was Liz’s turn, she breathed as normally as she could, smiled, and concentrated on Gavin’s face. He smiled back at her, and she made it all the way to the altar, though she felt beads of sweat rolling down her back.