Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Left to my own devices, I’d voice in no uncertain terms the debauchery we’d be getting up to for the rest of our lives. How she’d be swollen with my children again and again until she forbade me from doing so. There could’ve been gallant paragraphs uttered about how I’d forfeit my life before ever allowing her harm. How I’d never stray or break a promise to her again. Lastly, I most certainly wouldn’t touch a single hair on her brother’s cuntish head. But I knew Brighton would want the carefully constructed words in front of our friends. The supplementary vows could be whispered later when I was deep inside of her.
We got to the part with the rings, and I grinned when panic flashed across her face. She stared down at the little white pillow with parted lips, only now realizing there wasn’t one for me. I milked it out a few seconds longer than necessary, so my evil counterpart could watch her blush again.
Hard as a rock in my trousers, I pompously displayed my hand. The warmth of her fingers traced over the fresh tattoo and tears welled in her eyes.
“My heartbeat?” she squeaked.
I nodded and squeezed her hands in mine.
“Oh, God,” she blubbered to the officiant. “I’m going to lose it, so you better wrap this up.”
He smiled and said the words I never thought I’d hear. We were now husband and wife.
“I love you.” I smashed my lips against hers and tasted the salt of her tears. “So fucking much.”
“I love you too, Ryland. More than anything.”
Fuck, yeah. No take backs, Brighton. I’m all yours.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Brighton
“How long do you think we have to stay and keep mingling?” I asked.
Ryland paused and shot me a worried expression. “Are you getting tired?”
I smiled and shook my head. “No, I was just wondering when I can take my husband back to our room.”
He laughed and continued to hold me in his arms while we moved in time to the music. “Someone’s being greedy. You know how much I like that.”
I glanced at Matt and Nicole as they danced beside us, and I’d never seen her look happier. I hoped that it would last. I hoped that all the bumpiness was behind us now.
Norma danced with Ted, who’d made the journey to Florida as well. It took me by surprise at first though it probably shouldn’t have. He was the closest thing Ryland had to family. My heart squeezed in my chest when I looked up into his blue eyes. He looked as at peace as I’d ever seen him and I wanted him to stay that way forever.
Almost as if he could sense my train of thought, a dark look passed over his face.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said quietly. “I’m just… happy, baby girl.”
I nodded and swallowed down my fears. He didn’t have to say anything else because I knew his were the same. He’d told me once that happiness was fleeting, and as much as I didn’t want to believe that, I had to wonder if it was true.
I couldn’t let any of those thoughts have real estate inside of my brain. Ryland and I had a fresh start, and I wanted to put everything else behind us.
“Come on.” He reached down and threaded his fingers through mine. “I think we’ve mingled long enough.”
***
“Brighton, tell me what’s wrong.”
Ryland sounded worried, but he had no reason to be. I wrung my hands together and bit my lip to keep my voice from shaking. “It’s nothing. I’ll be out in just a minute."
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, wondering for the hundredth time if this was ridiculous. I’d never worn lingerie in my life. Well, not like this anyway.
The sheer white babydoll that looked great in the photos online only served to flaunt my growing belly, and I wondered if Ryland would even find it remotely sexy. The larger I got, the more I started to worry that at some point he would stop finding me sexy at all. I knew it was a ridiculous train of thought. I was growing a human, and my body had to change to accommodate that. But whether it was logical or not, those fears were still there.
“Brighton,” Ryland’s voice carried from the other side of the door. “If there’s something wrong, just tell me.”
I took a deep breath and twisted the knob.
His eyes met mine and then trailed down my body. I realized it was silly of me to worry because right away I saw the hunger he couldn’t hide.
“You are so fucking beautiful.” He gripped my hips in his hands and tugged me closer. My belly bumped into his, and I laughed.
“I was nervous,” I admitted.
“Why, baby?”
His hands smoothed up my sides and then dipped beneath the silk cups to play with my breasts. I could hardly think when he did that.