Sinful Ever After (Sinful Serenade Book 5) (36 page)

He presses his lips to mine with a deep kiss. Every feeling inside me pours into him. Every feeling inside him pours into me.

I can feel our love in my soul.

Gently, he undoes my restraints and checks my wrists.

Then his arms are around me. His body is against mine. I nestle my head into his chest and I exhale every heavy thing in my body.

He runs his fingers through my hair.

"Would you really spend that much time making me come if I let you?" I ask.

"Yeah. You want me to?"

I shake my head. "I'm not sure I can move."

He chuckles. "We don't have to go anywhere for a while."

That sounds like a hell of a plan.

––––––––

P
ete

Jess falls asleep in my arms. There's a real pride of accomplishment from making my fiancée come five times. Knowing I wore her out enough she can't even keep her eyes open is icing on the fucking cake.

I use the time to make arrangements for the wedding. The hotel-casino has a few standard packages, but I want things special for her. I demand enough extra to frustrate the poor wedding planner, but it's not as if I'm rude about it.

My imagination goes wild thinking about me and Jess tying the knot at the top of the stratosphere. She'll look like an angel in some curve-hugging ivory dress, her blissful expression lighting up her face.

The ceremony is going to be simple and elegant— deep red roses, teal ribbons, the city skyline as our backdrop.

The reception is cocktails and cake. In our case, it's mocktails and cake. I don't want her worrying about her dad's sobriety. I don't give a fuck about what it is that's in the champagne glasses when we toast.

What matters is that we're toasting to the rest of our lives together.

The bedroom door doesn't open until well past lunch time. Jess is still naked. She's not even wearing her glasses.

She stretches her arms over her head as she yawns. Her eyes scan the room then they're fixed on me.

She smiles. "You used up all my energy."

Damn, I'm not sure it's possible to smile wider than I am right now. This, the two of us in our hotel room together, getting married in a few days—it's fucking perfect.

I motion for her to come here.

She squints, trying to make out the gesture.

"Come here."

She shakes her head. "I don't have anything left." Her smile widens. "You have to promise to be good."

"Good?"

"Chaste."

"Don't think I can do chaste. Not if you're naked."

"I suppose I'll have to put on clothes." She grabs her glasses and slides them on. "Looking at anything interesting?"

I take in all the curves of her body. "Very fucking interesting."

She blushes. "I mean... on your computer."

"Scheduling our wedding."

"Already?"

I nod. "It's done. Sunset on Christmas."

She sighs with pleasure. "It's done, all that planning, like that?" She snaps her fingers.

I snap mine. "Like that."

"You're amazing."

Again, I motion for her to come here.

She bites her lip, considering it. There's delight in her eyes, but there's exhaustion too. She takes a step backward. "You're trying to kill me."

"Absolutely."

"You didn't just exhaust me. You also worked up my appetite."

"Get dressed. We'll stop by Tom and Willow's room before lunch."

"Is everything okay with her?"

"It will be."

"But you want to check, just in case?"

I nod.

She smiles. "You're a good brother."

"Do what I can."

"You do more than what you can. I... I've been a pretty shitty sister to Madison the last few months."

"She slept with your ex."

"Yeah, but she apologized. I forgave her."

"Don't apologize for your feelings, baby. Just because you forgave her, it doesn't mean you have to trust her."

She chews on her lower lip. "You make it sound easy."

"It's not easy." I know it's not easy for Jess to put herself first. She wants to take care of her sister and her dad. Even after everything they've done to hurt her, she still worries about their well-being. "This is our wedding. It's your chance to be selfish."

She nods. "I'll think about it." Her eyes go to the pink gift bag sitting on the table. "What is that?"

"A present for Tom and Willow."

She raises a brow. "Do I want to know?"

I chuckle. "Up to you."

"It's the same color as her hair."

It is. That was luck. I found the thing in some closet at our apartment. I nearly forgot I'd brought this with me. It's supposed to be for Christmas, but after what Willow told me, I'm pretty sure they need it today.

"Okay, I'll bite." Jess's eyes meet mine. "What is it?"

"Bondage kit."

Her cheeks flush. "Because we... Oh god. She knew I was tied up in the bedroom?"

"She got the gist."

The flush spreads to her chest. Her nipples harden. She presses her thighs together. Jess can play as coy as she wants. We both know she gets off on the exhibitionism.

"You've turned me into a pervert," she whispers.

"Pervert was always inside you."

"Yes, I often have a pervert inside me." She laughs.

I chuckle. I love her bad jokes. "I only brought out your inner freak." My eyes pass over her body. I'll never get enough of those round hips of hers. I'll never get enough of any inch of her, but fuck, do I love the way her lush ass feels against my hands.

"Uh-oh." She laughs as she takes a step backward. "I know that look."

I feign innocence.

"I’d better get dressed if I don't want to suffer death by orgasm."

***

Even with Willow in tears, I never doubted that she and Tom would be okay. But I have to admit I've been worried. I stay worried until we check on them.

They're okay, great even. Once they get past their embarrassment, the present will keep them busy. We make plans for dinner. I call Mom to confirm.

Jess is still in a daze. I take her to a secluded bistro for lunch. Then we head to the suburban part of town to take in a movie in a quiet, dark theater. I honor her wish not to die from orgasms and keep my hands off her.

It's difficult, but I do manage.

***

All these Las Vegas restaurants run together. This place is nicer than average. The lights are dim. The walls are a mix of cream and black. There's a chandelier hanging over our long dining table.

It's a ridiculously long table for five. But this is the only private room in the place.

On a normal night, I don't mind the occasional dinner interruption.

Tonight isn't a normal night.

Tonight has to be perfect.

The rest of the week has to be perfect.

Jess rests her head on my shoulder as she marvels at the exceptionally long table. Her eyes light up.

At the moment, I'm on exactly the same page.

My brother's voice grabs my attention.

"Damn, get a room, you two." Tom steps into the room. Step isn't quite the right word. He saunters into the room like he owns the place.

Most of the time, he does own the room. Not tonight. Tonight is about Jess.

"They're cute." Willow steps in after him. She looks at me and mouths,
Thank you
.

I nod back. Tom's always been a guy with good spirits, but he was never happy, not really, until he met her.

Jess perks up. She takes in Tom and Willow's smiling expressions and sighs with relief. She's been worried too.

I wait until they're seated across from us. "How did you like your gift?"

Willow blushes.

I can't fucking believe it, but Tom is blushing.

He stumbles over his words. "You realize that it's rude to ask people if they liked their gift." He shakes his head. "Damn. You ever think about anything besides sex?"

Jess laughs. "It's ninety-nine percent sex."

"Baby, you wound me." I squeeze her hand.

"No, I don't." She smiles. "You like everyone thinking you're this depraved sex god."

Willow runs her fingers through his hair. "I can't believe you're jealous."

He groans as she drags her fingers over his earlobes. I look to Jess to make sure she isn't disturbed by their PDA—it's not like they're able to turn it off—but she's smiling.

She presses her forehead to mine. "I love your family. They're not like mine. They're open and honest and wonderful."

I lean in to whisper. "They're your family too."

"Damn, don't you two get chafed?" Tom shakes his head.

Willow laughs. "You're incredibly jealous."

"No." Tom pouts. "I can do the same thing." He slides his arms around his wife and pulls her into a deep kiss.

She melts into the gesture.

"I'll fuck you right here if that's what you want," he mumbles.

Willow turns red. She shakes her head.

Jess laughs. "Tom, you're so funny. Don't you realize everyone thinks you and Willow are the cutest thing ever?"

When he pulls back, he's smiling. "Course they do. We are the cutest thing ever. But we're not a boring married couple. We're as exciting as you two perverts."

I look to Willow. "Did you like it?"

She stammers. Her cheeks flush. "Uh. Yeah. But I don't know if that's really dinner table conversation."

"Course, you two probably prefer to use your dinner table for fucking," Tom says. "Any place in your house you haven't fucked?"

"No. You?" I ask.

Tom shrugs, conceding my point.

Okay, time to go for the kill. I shoot Jess a
watch this
look then I turn back to Willow. "What was it like, being in control of the man who never lets go of control?"

Willow's jaw drops in surprise. "How did you know? I mean... that's really not..."

Jess squeezes my arm. Her laugh fills the room. "You're incorrigible."

I feign innocence as I shrug.

Her blue eyes fill with delight. "Not buying that for a second." She looks to Willow. "If you ignore his questions, he'll stop."

Willow laughs. Her eyes meet mine. "You're more like Tom than you let on. It was... interesting. And that's all you're getting, so you can go back to whispering about your very active sex life."

"They get their jollies from talking about it in front of us," Tom says. He looks to Jess for confirmation.

She clears her throat. "I plead the fifth."

He looks to me.

I raise a brow. Tom sticks his tongue out.

"You two never turn it off." Mom steps into the room. "I could hear you by the hostess stand."

I shrug.

Tom adopts an
it wasn't me
expression.

"What bullshit." Mom shakes her head as she takes a seat.

"Nice to see you, Ophelia. Your dress is beautiful. Hot date tonight?" Jess squeezes me, a little harder this time. Her tone is light, but there are nerves in her eyes.

We're about to tell them we're getting married on Christmas. We're asking them to spend Christmas celebrating our relationship instead of holiday cheer. I know they won't mind, but Jess isn't used to that kind of support.

"I wouldn't exactly call it a date," Mom says.

We go through the usual vacation small talk for a few minutes. The server stops by to drop off drinks and take our dinner orders. Then he's out the door.

I lean in to whisper in Jess's ear. "You want to do it or should I?"

She presses her finger to my chest in the
you
gesture.

Tom, Willow, and Mom are joking about something.

I wait for a lull in the conversation then I clear my throat. No sense in beating around the bush. "Jess and I are getting married. On Christmas. At sunset."

Willow squeals. "Really? That's romantic. Where?"

Tom shoots me that
this shit true?
look.

I nod. "At the Stratosphere. They have a private balcony for ceremonies. It's just gonna be family and the band."

"But on Christmas?" Willow sighs dreamily. She looks to Tom. "Isn't that nice?"

He nods.

Mom raises a brow. She looks to Jess. "Sweetheart, weren't you telling him to shove the marriage plans yesterday?"

Jess nods. "He's very convincing."

"He paying for your tuition?" Ophelia asks.

"Technically, it's all our money, legally, once we're married." Jess cocks her head to one side. She chews on her lip, thinking. "There are a few 'women in law' scholarships I want to apply for. They're all merit-based. If I don't get any of them, I'll find a loan. If, somehow, I can't find a loan, then I'll use
our
money to pay the rest of my tuition."

She will? Fuck, that's fantastic. Knew I'd convince her eventually, but I didn't think it would be this easy.

"Don't gloat, sweetheart. Even you don't look good smug," she says.

Ophelia chuckles. "I'm happy for you two. If you're as sure about this as he is."

Jess beams. "I'm one hundred percent."

I melt.

––––––––

J
ess

Pete's eyes close the moment he hits the bed. He looks cute half-asleep. I want to climb in next to him and forget the rest of the world.

But I have to call my sister. I have to tell her I'm getting married. I have to ask her to spend Christmas at my wedding.

I run my fingers over my phone. Pete insisted on holding my hand while I called, but he looks exhausted.

He stirs enough to blink one eye open. Then the other. His expression is fuzzy, the haze of semi-consciousness.

"Sleep." I lean down to press my lips to his forehead. "I can handle this on my own."

He mumbles something, then his eyes are closed. I'm not sure how he has any energy left after how thoroughly he fucked me all afternoon.

I need to let him rest.

I take a deep breath and step into the main room. It feels huge right now. My thoughts have nowhere to go.

What will Madison say?

She's romantic but she might be jealous. She might not be happy for me. She might not want to come.

She might not want to be my maid of honor. I can ask Meg, Willow, or Kara to fill in, but it's not the same. Madison is my sister. Pete will have Tom standing with him at the altar.