“You could be wrong,” she replies, but her protest is faint and without substance.
“If I was, I wouldn’t be sitting in this room, would I? Because you don’t let just anyone into your workshop—only the people that you love.”
Her cheeks burn, but she doesn’t deny I’m wrong. Instead, she pulls her hand out of my grip and grabs her polishing cloth. “I suppose I do love you but that doesn’t mean I’m marrying you this week.”
I return to my tablet since the only answer I have is one she doesn’t want to hear.
Chapter 18
Major
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” I have Maple’s veil up and my mouth is affixed to hers before the priest finishes his sentence. Keeping in mind that there are children in the audience, I keep the kiss as PG as possible. My hands stay at her waist instead of drifting upward to cup her tits or downward to clasp her ass and bring her closer. Still, it’s Maple and I’m in love so I can’t stop myself from deepening the kiss or bending her backwards as I eat every dab of lipstick off her cherry-flavored lips.
A rough hand on my shoulder hauls us both upright. I look back to see Gavin giving me an exasperated look while my sister, Julia, looks on dreamily.
“Someday that’s going to be me,” she mouths.
“I hope so, baby sis.” I shove Gavin to the side and lean down to peck my sister on her forehead. “As for you, it’s a miracle that anyone’s going to marry you.”
“It’s a travesty,” Julia chirps. We fist bump. The Benningtons stick together.
Gavin makes a gagging noise but before I can throw down with him at the altar, Levi mutters an “I’m sorry” and drags Gavin down the aisle.
I smile sunnily down at Maple and tuck her hand into the crook of my elbow as we wait for the attendants to file out of the church.
“One day you and my brother are going to be best friends,” Maple says.
“Debatable.” She looks beautiful with her sheer veil like a cloud behind her head. Her cheeks are rosy and despite my best attempts to eat her lipstick off, her mouth is still red like a berry. My gut clenches at the image of those red lips circling my cock. We haven’t had sex yet and it’s killing me. My dick is in a constant state of arousal.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re about to get me excommunicated from the church because you’re about two seconds from throwing me on the altar and having your way with me.”
“Don’t give me any ideas.” I shift my tux coat over, glad that I didn’t go for tails because that would’ve meant my erection would be on display.
“We could’ve had sex before today. The abstinence idea was yours,” she says, sticking her little nose up in the air.
“If I had taken you, we wouldn’t have left the bedroom for at least a week and that would’ve interfered with the marriage plans. While I think it’s important to celebrate this event with our friends and family”—I pause because the wedding planner is gesturing for us to move—“they don’t need to be in our bedroom and that’s where the wedding would’ve taken place if we had had sex a week ago.” Julia grabs Mom’s chair and wheels her down the white velvet runner laid on the floor for Maple to walk upon.
“We did not need to be married in a week,” Maple replies, smiling and waving to each aisle of well-wishers as we pass. “I told you that was nuts.”
“It worked out.”
“Penny’s hair was falling out yesterday.”
My gaze drifts to Penny, our wedding planner. The twenty-seven year old does look a little tired but she’s getting a fat paycheck so how unhappy could she really be? “It’s probably because she had to deal with Gavin.”
“You love him,” Maple declares.
“Yeah, like anyone would love a ragged stray that needs to be fed every few hours or he bites your hand.”
“And he loves you,” she continues as if I haven’t even spoken.
“Like a stray loves their master.”
She groans. “Please do not say that in front of Gavin or the two of you will be arguing the entire dinner.”
“Better me and Gavin arguing than me dragging you under the table and fucking you in front of four hundred of New York’s finest.” I twitch my jacket over again, just to be on the safe side.
“You’re the one who wanted to have a six-course meal for the reception.”
“You were leaning over the table and all I could see was cleavage. At that point, I would’ve agreed to beheading live chickens if asked.” I reach up and wipe the back of my hand across my forehead. The image of her tits pressed together and a dark shadow appearing between them haunts me. I can see my dick sliding between those two globes, slow at first and then faster until my balls draw up tight and cum jets out of my cock. I’d paint her flesh with my seed until her skin is coated with it. I’d rub it in so that she smells of me, so that when she leaves my bed every fucking male on this planet would know she’s mine. I’m going to mark her every night, leave red bites on her thighs, her stomach, her breasts, her neck. There won’t be a dick around that won’t know instantly that she’s claimed. If I could, I’d put a collar around that neck. I’d tie her to my bed, make her live in our room naked so that any time I could come in, push her down on the bed and with my hand on her throat thrust into her so hard that she could feel me in her throat.