Of Loss & Betrayal (Madison & Logan 2)

“You’re not supposed to carry m

e over the threshold until tomorrow,” I joked as he plopped me on the bed. “Plus, aren’t we supposed to be chaste the night before our wedding so our wedding night is special?”

Logan raised an eyebrow as he proceeded to take my clothes off. “Don’t worry. I have enough special for tonight and tomorrow.”

I laughed, but it was soon replaced with moans as Logan showed me just how much special he had.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I woke up the next day feeling nervous. This was it. My wedding day. I had to leave Logan’s apartment early since Emily and his mother were coming over to my place to help me get ready for the wedding.

“The next time we kiss, we’ll be married,” Logan said after dropping a kiss on my lips. “Then I get to tell you what to do.”

I playfully hit him in the chest. “You must be delusional. Married or not, you don’t get to tell me what to do.”

Logan gave me a sly look. “That’s not what you were saying last night. I believe you were begging me to tell you what to do.” He cocked his head with a mischievous grin. “I believe your words were ‘the dirtier, the better.’”

I smacked Logan on the chest again, this time harder. “Don’t bring that stuff up in the light of day,” I insisted, blushing. “Especially if you ever want it to happen again.”

Logan raised his eyebrow, taking my words as a challenge. As it turned out, it wasn’t the last kiss before getting married. He made a point in showing me that it wasn’t just at night that he could make me beg. Fortunately, I made it home in time, right before Emily and his mother showed up.

“Are you okay?” Mrs. Delaney asked me, looking concerned. “You look a little flushed.”

I tried to smile naturally. If only she knew what her son had just been doing to me. “I’m just excited for my wedding day,” I explained, which was partially true. Emily just gave me a wry look, probably reading my disheveled appearance more accurately.

I didn’t have time to dwell on being embarrassed because there was so much to do. With Emily and Mrs. Delaney’s help, I was ready to leave for the church on time, with just enough time for them to get ready as well. The limo we ordered arrived, and they helped me climb in, which was no small feat with my dress.

“Are you nervous?” Emily asked as the limo weaved impressively in and out of traffic.

I reached up and touched the heart pendant around my neck, a reflexive action. “A little,” I admitted. “But mostly I’m excited. I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”

Mrs. Delaney interrupted to tell us about her wedding day. Her non-stop chatter actually helped because it stopped me from feeling nervous, although it was a relief to arrive at the church so I was spared the details of every course at her reception dinner.

I was ushered into the bridal room, where I paced nervously, since there was nothing to do except wait. Emily had gone to check on the chapel, and I was relieved when she came into the room so I wasn’t alone with my thoughts.

“How does it look out there?” I asked anxiously. “Is everyone here?”

“It’s a pretty full house,” Emily replied. “The flowers look amazing.”

“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” I said in a choked voice. “I was okay until now. Suddenly I feel like I’m going to freak out from nerves.”

“I saw a bar down the street. Should I go get us a couple of stiff drinks?” Emily pursed her lips, tapping her finger against them as if in deep thought. “Better yet, I could swipe some of the wine they use for communion and we could chug it.”

I laughed. Leave it to Emily to be able to make me laugh when I needed it the most. “I’d down a bottle of tequila right now if I wasn’t afraid of falling while I walk down the aisle.” I took a deep breath. “I can do this. People get married all the time. I don’t know why I’m so nervous all of a sudden.”

Emily smiled sympathetically. “Your life is going to change forever, starting today. It would be weird for you not to be nervous.”

I nodded. “You’re right. And it’s going to change for the better. I just have to calm down.”

There was a knock on the door. “Madison, it’s your father. Can I come in?”

“Of course,” I said. The door opened and my father’s face split into the broadest smile I had ever seen.

“You look beautiful,” he said, a suspicious sheen in his eyes. I had never seen him so emotional. He took my hands in his. “Despite being a bumbling father who didn’t know what to do with a little girl who was probably wiser than he was, even at a young age, you somehow turned into an amazing woman all on your own.”

Now I was fighting back tears. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You made me feel loved. What else matters besides that?”

He gave me a hug, careful not to crush my dress. “It’s almost time to walk down the aisle,” he said, his voice thick with unshed tears. “I’ll wait for you outside.”