Paige Cameron (23 page)

“Averil, Payton, and Cody have requested the civil service be held at this time,” Elle said. “Payton, please step to Averil’s right side since you will be the one married to her in this ceremony, and Cody will be your best man.”

The service was brief. Payton slipped a smaller set of rings on her left hand, a solitaire diamond and a gold band. Averil loved the simplicity of the set.

When Elle pronounced them man and wife, the guests cheered and rose petals flew into the air as Averil and her husbands turned to greet their family and friends. Then they hurried back down the aisle amidst petals raining all over them.

Averil took their hands and pulled them along and into the back bedroom where she’d been earlier. Once the door was shut, Cody grabbed her into his arms, kissed her, and twirled her around.

“Good morning, wife.” He grinned his teasing smile that always gave a jerk to her heart. “Wife. That word sounds so good.”

Payton pulled her away and into his embrace. “You look so beautiful. I can’t believe we were so lucky to convince you to take on these two cowboys.” He cupped her face and tenderly kissed her. “When can we leave on our honeymoon, and where is this place you’re taking us to?”

“My sister’s cabin in Northern California. It seemed apropos since we met in California. You’ll love it, believe me.”

“As long as you are there, nothing else matters.”

“But we can’t leave before I’ve had a dance with each of you. And we have to cut one of Mom’s many wedding cakes.”

“Let’s join the party and get started. The sooner we can leave, the happier I’ll be.” Cody held the door open for her.

Averil and Payton walked through. Then they headed into the middle of the crowd waiting to congratulate them.

* * * *

Gala’s cell phone rang. She had to step away from all the cheers and talking. She moved toward the circle of trees where the ceremony took place earlier.

“Hello.”

“I saw you go to a more private spot. Good. Are you ready for the plan we discussed by phone yesterday?”

“I have a small vial of the initial poison.”

“Wait until the wedding party leaves. We’ll let the lovers have their honeymoon. Put the poison in one of the small bowls of spiked punch. It’ll disperse throughout the punch and make whoever drinks from that bowl sick. But it won’t kill them. We’re just playing with them now. Then we’ll strike hard the next time.”

“I’m all for that. I’m ready to be done with this.” She ended the call. Gala didn’t tell him that guilt had been growing inside her. It was getting harder to hold on to the hate and revenge she’d originally felt. But she’d do as he said this one more time. Then she’d do what she wanted to.

Gala mingled with the crowd and cheered when the cake was cut. She watched Averil dance first with one husband and then with the other. A twinge of envy curled inside her. She’d never have a husband and children because of what she’d done. In fact she’d probably be killed if anyone found out. But it was too late. When the wedding party waved good-bye, Gala made her move.

Gala casually walked toward the punch bowl she’d already selected. When she was sure no one was looking, she snapped the tiny vial open and let it run into the punch. Then she shut the vial and put it back in her pocket. She picked up a nearby spoon from where they’d added the liquor and stirred the mixture.

“Are you wanting to make sure you get plenty of whiskey and not too much punch?” Raoul’s voice behind her made her jump.

She forced a smile. “Actually, I wanted to be sure I got more punch and less whiskey.” She stirred the punch one more time and set the spoon aside.

“That’s no fun. Here, I’ll get you a cup.” Raoul took the cup handle and scooped some punch into a mug. Then he did the same for himself. “To the happy couple.” He raised his drink to Gala, and he took a long swallow.

She pretended to sip hers. Her lips got wet, so she’d probably have some effect from the poison, but not much. It might help keep her from suspicion.

Raoul waved and walked off toward Jewel and Aleron. Gala managed to carry her cup through the crowd and to her parents’ car, where she poured the rest on the ground. She walked around the main house to Sara’s greenhouses on the other side.

No one was around, so she went in to where the rosebush sat covering her buried bucket and stash of poison. There was a concrete bench close to the spot. She sat on it, and with the toe of her shoe she made a small hole and quickly buried the vial. Then she smoothed the dirt and sat for a few minutes, trying to find peace among the flowers and their sweet scent.

* * * *

Averil’s parents and Kira rode to the airport with them. They’d borrowed an SUV from a friend, so they’d have plenty of room. At the airport, Kira handed Averil the key to the cabin.

“I was afraid to give this to you earlier for fear in your excitement you’d lose it. Have a great time.” Kira hugged each of them, and her parents did the same. They waved as Averil and her husbands hurried inside the terminal.

“We’re tight for time. We have to hurry to our gate. They’ll be loading the plane in the next thirty minutes,” Payton said.

He was right, and they were soon seated in first class. When the flight attendant heard they’d just been married, she gave them a bottle of champagne and opened it.

“Congratulations. Enjoy the flight.”

“To us and our wonderful new life.” Payton raised his cup, as did Averil and Cody.

“To us.” Averil clinked her glass against Cody’s and Payton’s.

“And may we be happy and fruitful,” Cody whispered, bringing a blush to their new bride’s cheeks.

“Where in the world are we?” Cody asked. “This is a well-hidden cabin.”

“We’re coming up to the road now. See, there it is. Slow down or you’ll miss it.” Averil pointed to show Cody where to turn.

“Finally.” He made the turn, and they bumped along the narrow path. “I’d hardly call this a road.”

“It encourages strangers to stay away. Most people fly by on the highway and never see it.”

Payton put his arm around her shoulders where she sat between them. “Good, we’ll truly have you to ourselves.”

At the end of the road, Cody parked the car. He got out and looked all around him. “I like this place. The cabin and the surrounding trees and mountains are beautiful and peaceful.”

“Just what we need after all we’ve gone through,” Payton said as he helped Averil out. “Let’s check out the inside.”

Averil gave Payton the key and he unlocked the front door, which was actually at the side. They all opened windows as they walked by them. Cool, fresh mountain air blew inside, clearing away the closed-up smell.

“Kira said we could use the loft bedroom and the nice bath off of it. It’s usually her bedroom.” She led the way up the stairs.

“How did Kira ever find this place?”

“We both found it. I was visiting her, and we decided we wanted a private place to get away. We went driving and ended up in the little town just beyond our turnoff. This had just come on the market. Kira grabbed it up.”

“That big bed looks inviting.” Cody raised his eyebrow at Averil. “I hate to be so uncouth as to want to jump on you as soon as we get here. But I do want to.”

“I’ll tell you what. I noticed a grill outside. I’m going to ride into town and get some supplies. You two can play while I’m gone. When I get back, you get to cook, Cody, and it’s my playtime. If Averil agrees.”

“It sounds wonderful to me. You can’t miss the local store. It’s right on the main road going through town. They have a surprising variety of goods.”

“Then I’m off.” Payton headed down the stairs and out.

Cody started unbuttoning Averil’s shirt. “We don’t have much time.” He pulled it off and unsnapped her bra. “I’m sure glad you changed at your parents’ and your sister helped you out of all those buttons. She’s right, I’d have just torn the gown off of you.”

“Why, Cody, I never expected you had a violent side,” Averil teased him.

“Only when it’s something standing between you and me.” He grinned and tossed her bra aside to join her blouse. Then her slacks and panties went down and off. She’d stepped out of her low-heeled shoes.

He held her hands out and looked at her. “Sheer, delicious beauty.” He scooped her into his arms and tossed her on the bed.

Then he straddled her, and his warm hands cupped her breasts.

Heat began to flow through her veins, and when he bit lightly on her puckered nipple, a sizzle of desire made her pussy clench. “Your touch drives me crazy.” Averil pushed upward, giving him even more access to her full breasts.

She took hold of his hard cock and ran her hand up and down the wide girth. When her fingers rubbed across his crown, he groaned. “You have no idea what your touch on my dick does to me.”

“Oh, I think I do. Come closer.” She pushed his hands away from her breasts to bring Cody’s cock close to her mouth. She licked across the crown. Then she took his cock in her mouth as far as she could.

* * * *

Her warmth wrapping around his dick sent his desire roaring through every inch of his body. When she pulled back and trailed her tongue along the hard ridge at the bottom of his dick, he thought the top of his head was going to blow off.

“Darlin’, that drives me crazy,” he managed to say between gritted teeth. He was trying not to come too soon. “Let’s start somewhere else, or this will be over before Payton gets to that town.”

Averil raised her head and looked at him. Her gorgeous brown eyes glowed, and her lips were rosy pink. Cody leaned down and kissed her sweet mouth. She tasted of him and her own delightful essence. His tongue lightly brushed around the soft interior of her mouth.

He let his body lie on top of her, but he kept most of his weight off of her with his arms. As he kissed her neck, he was surprised again at how incredibly soft her skin was, and the creamy color had him nibbling at the edge of her shoulder.

Cody kissed her luscious breasts and licked across her enticing, rosy nipples. Going further down, his hands smoothed along her ribs and her soft tummy.

Then he took a deep breath of her sexy scent surrounding the pink folds covering her pussy. His fingers uncovered her clit, and she moaned when he licked across the sensitive bud.

He slipped a finger into her hot, wet pussy as his tongue continued to rub against her clit. Her sweet nectar coated his finger. He found her G-spot and put slight pressure, making her squirm and moan louder.

“Ready, my darlin’?”

“Yes, yes.”

Cody positioned his hungry cock at her opening and thrust inside her pussy. She raised her hips, taking his cock further in, and clenched tight around his girth.

“Oh, you feel so good.” Averil moved her hips, encouraging him.

“I’m just taking a second to enjoy the feel of your pussy wrapped around my cock.” Cody held her hips still. Then he put his hands out and caressed her breasts as he began to slowly move out and then plunge back deep inside her pussy.

Every stroke was the most exquisite pleasure almost to the point of pain. His heart pounded in his ears, and his breath came more rapidly as he steadily sped up his strokes. When Averil clenched and unclenched her pussy around him, a rush of desire like a fever shook his body.

She was meeting his every move, and when the ripples started in her pussy, he couldn’t hold off any longer. His cock almost hurt with pleasure as his body stiffened and then let go in a frenzy of gratification. At the pinnacle, he yelled out her name.

“Wow,” Averil said under him.

After a few minutes, Cody lifted his body off of her and rolled to the side. He turned and grinned. “You are some wonderful woman.” He pulled her close and closed his eyes.

The sound of steps on the stairs woke them. “This is how I expected I’d find you, wrapped in each other’s arms. I’ve got a load of groceries. I’ll go put them away and give you two a chance to shower, but no dallying. It’s my turn.” Payton winked at Averil and took the stairs two at a time on his way down.

* * * *

Payton returned upstairs just as Cody got out of the shower and Averil got in. “I’m in time.” He smiled at Averil and started unbuttoning his shirt.

She turned to watch as he threw his shirt to the side, exposing his broad, muscled chest. Then he unfastened his jeans and took them and his underwear off in one quick move. He must have got rid of his boots in the bedroom. He stepped into the shower.

“I love to watch you remove your clothes and expose your sexy body.” Averil ran her hands across the blond hair on his chest. He didn’t move as her hand went lower and grasped his cock. She heard him breathe out. His skin was satin smooth and yet so hard underneath.

He reached out and covered her breasts with his hands. She ran her finger along the hard ridge underneath his cock and then began a slow up-and-down motion while she cupped his sac in her other hand.

His gorgeous blue eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened as she gently moved his balls. “Are you trying to get this over in a hurry, honey?” he asked in a raspy tone between breaths.