Fingers snapping in my face pulled me back. “Maid of honor! You’re up.”
Ugh. I hate this wedding planner. I shot the planner a look and said, “I have a name. It’s Maddie, not maid of honor.”
I was feeling pretty good about myself for standing up to the Wicked Witch of the West—until she glared at me, making a strange noise.
“Walking now,” I said as I made my way to where I would start heading down the aisle. While I was walking, I smiled and nodded, saying hello to complete strangers. I didn’t know most of these people, and I was pretty sure Jack and Monica didn’t either.
That’s when I saw Cale. I sucked in a breath and attempted to keep my jaw from dropping to the ground and drool escaping. Holy shit. I need a new pair of panties.
He was dressed in a black tux, white dress shirt and a light teal tie. His messy brown hair was tamed, but not too much. The smile on his face made me slow my pace, until I heard a whispered, “Speed it up maid of honor!” I looked behind me, but the evil wedding planner was nowhere to be seen. Maybe I’d imagined it. Or she had something planted in my flowers so she could boss me around remotely.
As I came to the front, I saw Cale’s parents, Mary and Mitchel, sitting with Jack’s parents, Craig and Diane. My heart hurt for Monica, knowing that her parents weren’t here. Mary was holding Lily, who was also dressed in a light teal dress. She was five months old and just the sweetest little thing. I felt tears building in my eyes, and I looked away. I glanced back at Cale and his smile faded briefly before I gave him a slight grin. When I got to my position, he caught my eye and mouthed, “Happy tears?” I nodded and winked. I wasn’t sure why, but I was suddenly overcome with sadness.
The wedding march began and everyone turned to watch Monica. My heart leapt with awe. She was stunning. I smiled when it looked like Jack’s knees were going weak. His smile was huge as he watched her walk toward him. When she finally arrived at his side, he held his hands out for her. He leaned in and I could hear him say, “You look beautiful, Monica. More beautiful than what I dreamed.”
That’s when it happened. My best friend, a woman I’d known since middle school, publicly broke down in tears. Rachel, me and Monica’s college roommate, leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I’ll give you the fifty bucks after the reception.”
I smiled and nodded.
I TOOK IN a deep breath, inhaling Cale’s heavenly scent. I closed my eyes, moaning just slightly.
“Maddie,” Cale said, “keep making noises like that and I’m going to sneak you out to my car and have my wicked way with you.”
I looked into his eyes and giggled. “I’d totally be okay with that.”
Cale looked around. “Shit, I wish we could.”
I followed his gaze. My eyes caught Jack and Monica dancing.
“They really are so good for each other. I’m so happy for them,” I whispered as Cale pulled me closer.
“We’re going to be next,” he said with a grin.
My heart slammed in my chest and I swallowed the lump in my throat. He turned and captured my eyes with his intense stare. His lips curled into that crooked smile that melted my heart.
“That’s not a very romantic way to ask me to marry you, Mr. Blackwood.”
Cale let out a chuckle. “No it wasn’t was it?”
I slowly shook my head.
He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against mine. “I love the way your lips taste.” His eyes searched my face. “I love the way your eyes reveal how much you love me.” His hands moved up and cupped my face. “And I love how you are mine.”
I closed my eyes and barely spoke the words, “Yes. Yours.”
His lips met mine again and soon we were lost in our kiss. Cale’s want pushed up against my abdomen and had my fingers digging deeper into is arms.
“Cale, I love you so much,” I said. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted. All I’ll ever need.”
He moved his hand down to my neck and pulled me back into a kiss. It was as if we were the only two people in the room. I was lost in his passion, engulfed in his love.
“Excuse me, maid of honor and best man? It’s time for the toasts so break it up and follow me.”
Cale glared at the wedding planner. “I hate that woman,” he hissed through his teeth.
I giggled and turned to follow her. I didn’t even know what her name was. I was starting to think that Monica didn’t either. The lady only referred to herself as “the wedding planner.” So everyone called her that.
“I don’t think she believes in names. I don’t even know if she has a name,” I said.
Cale grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it as he laughed. “She has a name all right. It’s ‘bitch.’”
I covered my mouth and laughed as the wedding planner turned and glared at us. I hit Cale in the side. “Great, now you’ve got her mad at us.”
“After the toast, let’s make a run for it. Just for our own safety, no other reason.”
I nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. Purely for our own safety, we should skip out on our best friends’ wedding before they even leave.”
“No one will even notice we’re gone.” Cale said, pulling me closer to him and wrapping his arm around my waist.
“Nope, no one. I don’t even know these people,” I said looking around. We stopped at the wedding party table and the planner handed us each a glass of champagne.
“Since I never did get those speeches ahead of time like I asked, keep it short and sweet. No one wants to be bored by your toasts. Make it personal but not about you.” She gave me a once-over, and I made a face, slightly offended. Cale started laughing but quickly stopped when the evil witch turned to him. “Don’t say anything about his past girlfriends, sex life or any of that bullshit. Him. Monica. That’s it. Got it?”
Cale chuckled. “Um…yep. I got it, Your Evilness.”
She shot Cale a dirty look and said, “You’re on first, smart ass. Thirty seconds.”
Cale winked at me before he stepped up to the microphone.
It took everything out of me to stand there with a straight faced as Cale started from kindergarten and moved his way through college, with stories of him and Jack. The wedding planner finally took the mic from Cale, thanked him for his toast, and handed the mic to me. I smiled at Jack and then Monica.
“I’ve never in my life met two people so in love with each other,” I said. “Your courtship was an amazing whirlwind, your wedding a breathtaking adventure, but your union…” I smiled as I watched Monica wipe away her tears. “Your union is a journey that will lead you to your happily ever after. I love you both so much, and I’m so happy for both of you. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Rembrandt.”
Monica looked at me and mouthed, “I love you,” as Jack kissed her on the cheek.
Cale walked up next to me and leaned down. His hot breath on my neck had me placing my hand on my stomach to calm the butterflies.
“You’re so afraid of the wedding planner aren’t you?” he said.
I smiled and nodded. “Yep.”
I SLOWLY ROLLED over and pulled Maddie closer. The moment she let out a soft moan, my dick hardened. I smiled and turned her over.
“Good morning, beautiful.” I said as I kissed the tip of her nose.
She stretched and smiled back. “Good morning, handsome.”
“It’s our first Christmas Eve together as a family.”
The tears in her eyes made my heartbeat pick up. I loved Maddie so much, and I wanted to scream it from the tallest mountain.
“I know,” she said. “I’m so excited. I feel like a little girl.”
I teased her entrance as I cupped her face with my hands and gently kissed her cheeks. “Do you want your first present?”
She thrusted her hips toward me and giggled. “If my first present is you making love to me, then, yes. I want it very much.”
I slowly pushed into her as we both moaned. “God, Maddie. It’s like the first time every time wi
th you.” She wrapped her legs around me and pulled me closer.
“Mmm…nothing is better than this. Best. Present. Ever.” She whispered against my lips.
I slowly made love to her as we kissed. We couldn’t get enough of each other, but we needed it to be slow. Gentle.
“Dada…”
I stopped moving and looked at the monitor. I pulled out of Maddie, stood up, and pointed to the monitor. “Oh my God!”
Maddie quickly sat up and looked. “What? What’s wrong with her? Oh, God!”
She stood up next to me and looked at the monitor. Then gasped and started jumping up and down. “She’s sitting up. Cale! She’s sitting up!”
“Dadadada.”
My mouth dropped open. “She said, ‘Dada,’” I breathed. “She said, ‘Dada!’”
Maddie tilted her head. “Yeah, I didn’t hear ‘Dada.’”
“What? She clearly said, Dada.’”
“Mamamama…”
Maddie punched me in the arm. “Oh! My! God! She said, “Mama!’”
My shoulders dropped and I stared at Maddie as she jumped up and down, grinning like a fool. “She is sitting up and saying, ‘Mama!’”
I shook my head. “Uh, no. She’s sitting up, but she said, ‘Dada,’ then rambled off and said nothing but jumbled baby talk.”
“Dada…Dada….” Maddie and I both looked at the monitor again.
“Damn it. She said, ‘Dada.’” Maddie said as I ran toward the dresser. “Wait! Cale, where are you going?”
I grabbed my phone off the dresser and headed upstairs. I opened the door and looked at my little princess sitting up all by herself. She looked up at me and smiled as she started to tip over. I quickly reached for her and sat her back up.
“Good morning, Princess,” I said as I took a picture of her sitting up. “Were you calling for me? Dada? Say it again baby girl.”
She smiled bigger and my heart about burst from my chest. “Mama,” she said.