831 Marriage Lane (Cherry Falls)

“The fuck,” Lennon mutters from beside me. “Why is there a ring on your finger?” His head snaps back to Gabriella through the window. He’s quiet for a beat before he bursts into laughter. Asshole.

“Fuck off,” I say before he can pull it back together.

“I can’t believe this. If I didn’t know Gabby, I’d think you had some crazy plan to stop the whole wedding by pretending to be married or something.” His eyes keep bouncing between Gabriella and me. “You’re married? When the hell did this happen? And how the hell did you get that sweet soul to say I do?” If he weren’t my brother, I’d wipe that damn smirk off his face.

“Yeah, I’m married, but my wife isn’t sharing that news yet. And the how part is none of your damn business.” My response only makes Lennon laugh harder. Earlier I heard Gabriella’s comment about getting the ring at the fair. It took everything in me not to barge into the living room and tell everyone she got that ring because I put it on her finger and married her little ass.

Instead I waited until I could drag her into the bathroom and remind her she belonged to me. I lick my lips thinking about it again. My blue balls are back. Not sure they ever went away actually.

“You’re really not going to tell me what’s going on here?”

“I’m married. Nothing else is going on.” I shrug. “I have no plans to stop your wedding. Unless you try and introduce my wife to any dick swinging asshole you invited to this wedding.” The last part comes out a growl. I’ve been growling a lot since I met Gabriella. I try to clear my throat knowing it won’t help. Nothing does.

“How’d the prenup conversation go with the new missus?”

“Fuck off,” I say again. Lennon goes back to laughing his ass off. All the ladies turn to stare at us through the glass double doors in the living room that lead out to the deck. Gabriella shoots me a glare that has my cock hardening again.

After I made her come on my face, I sat her on the bathroom sink and once again put the head of my cock inside of her virgin cunt and came inside her. She moaned behind my hand the whole time I did it, not trying to stop me. I rewarded her by getting her off again. Her cheeks are still flushed right now.

“Don’t hurt that girl,” Lennon says with an edge to his voice. One I’ve only ever heard from him when it came to Willow. Normally he's easy and laid back. In comparison to me, at least.

“Why the fuck do you care?” I pull my eyes off my wife to glare at him.

“You upset her, it will upset my Willow.”

Before a few days ago, I would have thought his logic was stupid. Now I get it. I don’t much care for anything that might upset my Gabriella.

“I’m playing for keeps.”

“Is this a Carver thing? I mean, I set my sights on Willow when I was a kid, and I was done. It was her or no one else. Even though we’d barely shared a few words, I knew she was my one and only even as a kid. Was it the same for you too?”

“Yes,” I admit. Hell, I’d locked eyes with Gabriella, and I instantly knew she was meant to be my forever.

“At least the women that knocked us on our asses are good ones.” I suck in a breath as I realize what he’s saying. He’s referencing our parents' relationship. And how our father hadn’t been so lucky.

“You jumped into a marriage without a prenup. I’m guessing you don’t care if this new wife of yours bleeds you dry.” I don’t respond. I’m not sure what to make of that either. “Because it doesn't matter if they bleed us dry. Them leaving would be worse. Everything has now become pointless without them.”

He’s right. I’d give it all up to keep Gabriella.

Gabriella can take everything I have.

All I want in return is her. Every last inch.

10

Gabriella

The Cedar Springs Lodge has always been a beautiful place, but now it’s freaking breathtaking. There isn’t a surface in this place that’s not covered in flowers. The whole place has been reserved for wedding guests or staff only.

I watch as people rush around, getting ready for the big day. It’s not shocking what Lennon has pulled off in a little under a week to get this wedding ready. When you have his kind of money and a town willing to pitch in to help, anything is possible. That’s one of my favorite things about living here. People are always willing to lend a hand.

Seeing all the beautiful displays makes me feel a bit nostalgic. I’d always wanted to get married on my family's land, but in my mind, everyone would have been there when I said I do. My family may be small, but we’re still tight-knit. Guilt fills me when I think about them still not knowing that I’m married. It’s been hard to keep it under wraps. There have been so many times I almost slipped up.