“I hate to speak up, but you’re all wrong about your daughter, Ms. Wilder.” Sawyer’s mother stood from the opposite end of the table. “She’s smart–brilliant and so talented. But the part you’re missing is that she’s beautiful, radiant, lights up a room with her laugh and has made my son the happiest I’ve ever seen him. She’s one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met, and I’ve known a lot of people–forgive me for saying that most of them are blind to true beauty, the kind that comes from the inside and radiates out.”
Sawyer’s mother came around the table and enveloped me in a hug. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I felt the love of this woman and her family welcoming me into theirs.
“Thank you so much for everything. You’ve been so wonderful to me from the beginning.” I confessed to my new mother in law.
“Oh, sweetheart, you’re the loveliest and kindest soul–my Sawyer is a lucky young man to have you. I’ll make sure he doesn’t forget that, and that he does his job pampering you as your husband.”
“I was raised right, of course I pamper her.” Sawyer crushed me into his arms, making me feel so very loved.
“Katie, honey, why do you hurt me like this, in front of all these people? I am mortified.” Mom wiped angry tears from her eyes.
“Mom, I didn’t say–”
“You give this woman all your attention, like she raised you–it was me that was there late at night when you had nightmares or needed anything.”
I had more memories of my father rubbing my back or cooking me late night salami sandwiches on the skillet fried in crispy brown butter and topped with shaved cheddar. I didn’t remind her that she was often in bed by nine and refused to interact with the world before eight the following morning. Every morning.
“You give her so much of your love and treat me like dirt.” Mom shook her head, turning away.
“Because she’s shown me more love and acceptance than you ever have.”
“Katie,” mom breathed, mouth open and closing like a shocked fish.
“She isn’t wrong, mom,” Hallie spoke up at her side, my father frowning softly at her shoulder.
“Katie, I-I just wanted the best for you. I’m sorry, honey, I promise I’ll try to do better.” Her hand hovered at my shoulder, finally enveloping me in a long hug.
The crowd erupted into soft claps, people wiping at their eyes before I smiled, my mother’s own tears streaking her mascara as she smiled back at me. “I love you so much, my sweet girl, I really do.”
“I know, mom.” I finally said, glad for Sawyer’s strong and steady hand on mine for each and every moment.
“Sweet Cheeks, it’s been eight hours…”
“Sawyer,” I whispered, his hand sliding up my thigh as we snuggled together in first class. The stewardess caught my eye from the front of the plane, smiling brightly and then pouring someone else a glass of champagne.
She’d already dropped off one for Sawyer and me–this entire trip a special treat for our honeymoon. By choice we’d skipped out of our own reception early because we had the last plane to Fiji to catch.
“Meet me in the bathroom as soon as she’s not paying attention.” He was up and out of his seat before I could protest.
But the truth was, every single nerve in my body wasn’t interested in protesting anything Sawyer was offering. His hands knew my body too well. His lips trailed my skin and turned me to melted butter. He was heavenly like dark chocolate and decadent like raspberry mousse, and he made me feel so rich with love that I was his willing slave at every opportunity.
I unbuckled my seatbelt, shooting up as soon as the flight attendant turned back to the cockpit to refill her champagne bottle.
“Hi, stranger,” I husked when I slid the bathroom door open and slipped into the tiny plane bathroom.
“Never thought I’d bang a stranger in first class on a flight,” he husked, arms wrapping my waist as I straddled his thighs. He cupped my cheeks under my skirt, fingers slipping under my pants and digging into the flesh of my backside.
His thumbs worked the seam of my core, already soaked and dripping down my thighs before he licked his lips and shoved me against the flimsy wall. It creaked under the weight of us but I couldn’t spend another second worrying about getting caught because his lips connected with my wet slit. His tongue dragged up the seam and caught my clit, tugging and nipping and licking with such force, you’d think he was starved.
Well, it had been more than eight hours.
“I’ve been patient with you all day, but watching you swirl around in that princess dress made me leak and throb so damn hard,” he slipped a finger inside of me and hooked, eliciting a soft groan, “all I could think about was unwrapping my dessert and soaking my lips in sweet cream.”