Immy blushed, her smile radiant as her pale blue eyes sparkled, and despite not seeing her for months, I could tell she’d grown stronger. Her eyes still held some darkness, but she wasn’t hiding any longer. In fact, she stood tall, and that was significant progress. My cousin walked over, hugging me as well, joining our huddle.
“Loren, it’s so good to see you. I’m sorry I haven’t reached out as much since everything with Brian. I’ve been worried about you,” she whispered before pulling back. Shaking my head, I dispelled her guilt.
“I’m good, and I’m so happy for you today. I can’t believe you’re getting married, Jo.”
“Me either!” she squealed, “But speaking of things you can’t believe.” She wiggled her eyebrows before looking at the group that had gathered to the side. Nicco, Sax, Jude, Immy, and my aunt all spoke in hushed whispers.
“Jude? I know, it was a surprise, but the best thing I’ve done.”
“No, silly. The hot men you have that were willing to schmooze me just to get an invite.” Her smile was wide as she delivered the news. “I’m not one to turn down an upgrade either, but just so you know how much effort it took on his part,” she whispered, leaning in further. “I’d tried to get the Rose room a year ago, and the bitchy lady told me it was booked out five years in advance and I should plan better. So, whatever strings he pulled to make it happen… like damn!” Her eyes went wide with her statement.
Butterflies erupted inside me, and I looked at Nicco again. He was talking with the others, but his eyes were on me. When he caught my stare, his lips lifted up on the side, a softness entering his eyes, and I couldn’t deny he was trying. Mouthing, “thank you,” I turned back to Jo.
“Wow, that is something.”
“Yeah, they are.” She giggled. “The bearded one hasn’t taken his eyes off you since I stepped out here either, and before, he’d kept your mother away, so winning! If I wasn’t marrying the love of my life right now, I’d be jealous, girl.” She squeezed my arms, her smile radiant as she turned back to everyone. “Speaking of, I think it’s time you all took your seats, so I can walk down that aisle and get married!”
“Oh yes, of course. You look gorgeous, by the way. Congratulations, Jo.”
“Thanks, Lor. And I do look great, don’t I?” She spun, striking a pose. “Imogen saved the day with a quick makeup fix.” She winked at the teen, then grabbed her mother and made her way to get in position. Jo stopped after a few feet, looking back over her shoulder. “Oh, beware your mother’s warpath. She’s been on one since she arrived, and didn’t like not getting her way.” She briefly flicked her eyes to Sax, and I briefly bowed my head in understanding.
Aunt Lorrie huffed, rolling her eyes. “That’s saying it kindly. She’s pissed Nicco showed her up by procuring the ballroom. She was prepared to brag all night about how she wrangled the Lilac room for Josey. I think for irritating your mom in the process, he should get bonus points.” She winked before they continued on their way to the ballroom, leaving our little group standing awkwardly as we regarded one another.
“Well, I guess it’s time to take a seat.”
Sax sauntered over, sticking out his arm to escort me, giving me a naughty wink as I placed my arm in his. The rest followed us into the room, an usher directing us to our seats. I caught my mother’s scowl as we sat, but I ignored it, too focused on the way Sax and Nicco’s bodies felt next to me. Because, of course, they both squeezed in close, not allowing an inch between us. Sax laid his palm on my leg, effectively wrapping it around the bare skin visible when I crossed my legs.
It was a possessive grip, and I sucked in a breath, peeking over at him from the corner of my eyelid. His lips lifted up slightly, but he continued to stare straight ahead, a look of innocence on his face. Nicco shifted, his leg brushing against my other side, and when Sax’s thumb began to softly caress me, I could no longer focus on anything or anyone around me. The music started, and we stood as the bride walked by, but once we sat again, they both went directly back to what they were doing. It was going to be a long ceremony at this rate.
* * *
Somehow,I’d managed to dodge and avoid my mother for the past hour as I greeted my family with my trailing shadows. Jude and Immy had found a safe place to hide away and were chatting while sharing a plate of hors d'oeuvres. They both had wide smiles on their faces, and I was glad they’d been reunited. I hoped it meant they would be able to continue their friendship now, though I wondered if there was potentially something more brewing between them. I might need to talk with Jude about making sure not to rush things based on Immy’s history. I didn’t want to see her be triggered and have it ruin their relationship.
Arms wrapped around me, and his now familiar smell greeted me. His tall frame cocooned me in him, and even with heels putting me close to 5’10”, he was still a good five inches taller than me. Tilting my head up, I found the sexy neanderthal staring down at me, a softness around his edges as he did. It was something I’d started to notice. When he was in his zone, everything was locked down, and he scanned the room looking for all possible threats, but in the tender moments with me, I was his focus, and he showed me past his walls.
“Hey.”
“Spitfire, have I told you how radiant you look tonight?”
“No,” I said, a smile in my voice.
“Well, you are, even more than the bride.”
Shaking my head at his nonsense, I looked back to the room, not wanting to lose sight of Jacqueline and be ambushed when I was actually enjoying myself. Sax’s hands slid back to grip my hips, pulling me harder into him. His breath skirted my neck as he bent down to whisper in my ear.
“Believe it, Loren. You’re sexy as fuck, but tonight, there’s a shiny confidence coming from you too. I think my dick changed you last night.”
Guffawing at him, I tried to distract him from the fact I wanted to rub myself against him like a cat in heat. The way he could say the sweetest and dirtiest things together, making my heart and pussy respond simultaneously, blew my mind.
“What I wouldn’t give to take you somewhere right now and remind you, if you’ve already forgotten, Spitfire.”
Sucking in a breath, I watched the couples dance on the floor and smiled at how happy my cousin looked. Sax didn’t let my distraction impede him, though, and thrust the thick appendage he kept speaking of against me. The hard length rubbed against my ass, reminding me of all the pleasure he had given me.
“Do you remember how dripping wet you were? How when you begged me to fill you, I picked you up and impaled you on me in one go?”
Shit. He wasn’t stopping or backing down, and I really didn’t want to moan out loud and have my family look over and see the blatant look of lust on my face. Taking his hand, I pulled him until I stopped in my tracks, realizing I couldn’t leave Jude vulnerable for someone to approach in my absence.
“Nicco will watch them.”