The crowd laughed, and a few people in the back cheered, egging him on.

“I’m sure everyone would like to hear a few horror stories about my brother, the perfect Brady Maxwell,” Clay joked. He even managed a grin. “But, truth be told, I couldn’t find any of those stories to share with you. Because that man who married Liz Dougherty today—” He laughed softly. “Liz Maxwell, excuse me—is the luckiest son of a bitch alive.”

Everyone burst out laughing again. But he was damn serious.

“When I first found out that Brady and Liz were a couple, my first thought was, How the hell had he gotten that lucky? I mean, Liz is even more perfect than my perfect brother. Smarter, prettier, maybe even more ambitious than Brady, and I never in a million years thought that would be possible.”

He ran a hand back through his hair again and winked at Liz. “Then, as I’ve watched them together for the past year, it was plain to me and everyone else who knew him that my bachelor brother had fallen in love. Head over heels, risk-his-career, risk-the-public, risk-his-world in love with this woman.” Clay pointed at Liz. “And it was the best decision of his life.”

Brady’s smile was magnetic in that moment. It was like he had never known Clay could say something this nice about him. Could say something this nice about anyone.

“As the younger son, you can only imagine what it was like, living in the shadow of a legend. But since he’s been with Liz, it hasn’t felt like a shadow. It’s felt like being on the sidelines of something incredible. Of something worth believing in. Brady and Liz are the kind of couple that makes everyone in the room demand to find their one true love.” His eyes searched out Andrea. “To find something so magical that nothing and no one could stand in the way of it. And I’m so happy and proud to be standing here today, delivering a congratulatory speech to two of the best people I know.”

Clay raised his glass in the air. “To Brady and Liz. To a lifetime of happiness, good cheer, endless sarcasm, and great sex!”

Everyone burst out laughing again and raised their glasses, too.

Someone from the back yelled out, “Clay Maxwell for president!”

He laughed and said, “Cheers!”

He downed his drink and went over to give his brother and new sister-in-law a hug.

“That was great, man,” Brady said. “I appreciate it.”

“Do what I can.”

“Clay,” Liz said, throwing her arms around his neck, “who knew you could be so kind? I love it.”

“Easy there, sis. You just got married. Wait to ravage me later.”

“Looks like someone already did,” she said as she nudged him.

He shrugged and nudged her back. “Can’t help it, you know.”

“I do.”

He shouldered his way back through the crowd toward Andrea. Victoria glared at him as he passed her.

He winked. “Challenge completed.”

“Ass. You weren’t really supposed to outdo me. Why didn’t I think to raise a toast to good sex?” Victoria grumbled.

“Great sex,” he corrected. Then, he scooped Andrea into his arms. “Speaking of great sex…”

“You just had some,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Yeah…but I have a room.” He produced a key out of his pocket and dangled it in front of her eyes.

“Later,” she said, swatting at him. “Let’s celebrate with them first.”

“You’re right. You’re always right.”

So, they spent the next few precious hours enjoying Brady and Liz’s epic party. Clay didn’t know how much of this time with Andrea would change what was between them. He could still feel some distance from her. He was sure it was borne out of fear of the unknown between them, but for this one night, he wasn’t going to think about it. They could deal with the real world tomorrow. This truly was their element after all—a big event with his entire family around them.

Maybe tomorrow, when it was just the two of them, they could figure out how to move forward.

Brady and Liz finally proclaimed that they had to leave the party for the night.

“We’d love to stay and party all night,” Brady said, wrapping an arm around Liz’s waist, “but I have to be alone with my bride.”

Clay snorted. He couldn’t blame the guy.

They set up for the send-off, and soon, Brady and Liz were running through a line of people, waving farewell, climbing into a limo, and riding off into the sunset.

Chapter 24

OUR DECISION

Waking up next to Andrea the day after Brady and Liz’s wedding was the best thing that had ever fucking happened to Clay. He’d forgotten what it was like to have her warm body curled into his side. To have her fan of platinum hair splayed out across the pillow, some strands so light that they blended into the pillowcase. To have his hands running down her sides, his lips pressed into her shoulder, his dick against her tight little ass.

Naked.

Completely one hundred percent naked.

That was how he liked her here with him.

His cock was already hardening and lengthening at the feel of her. He’d had all night with her, and it hadn’t been enough. Not even close. He wanted inside her all over again.

“Baby,” he whispered against her skin.

She groaned. He kissed across the rise in her shoulder and slid his hand forward over her hip bone and down between her legs. She stirred at the first gentle touch to her clit. He pulled her leg over his hip to spread her open to him and gently coaxed life back into her. It took a minute or so before she seemed to really realize what was going on.

“Clay?” she whispered.

“That’s right, baby.” He kissed her shoulder again.

Then, he dipped his fingers inside her, wetting the tips of them and going back to her clit for more.

“God, that feels good,” she purred.

“Good morning to you, too.”

She sighed pleasantly as she reached her hand back and wrapped it around his dick. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as she started stroking him with the leisurely pace he was applying to her.

It was intoxicating, this buildup between them. It didn’t matter how many times he’d had her last night or over the years before this; it felt like the first time all over again.