Forgiven (Touched Series #2) (23 page)

Pearl steps behind me and pushes me out of the room. “Oh, don’t worry. We just wanted to see what it looked like with you in it. Now, put your feet into these shoes.” I look down at the matching shoes that are there before me. Turning my head quickly to her, she nods, winks and smiles at me. I slide my feet into the shoes, grabbing her shoulder to steady myself and she turns me to a full length mirror on the wall. “Now, let’s see what this looks like with the dress and shoes.” I see her arms move around in front of me from the mirror, and when she brings them behind my neck I see a sparkling diamond necklace. My hand rises and lays over it as my eyes move up to see hers and I start to turn my head. She quickly puts her hands on my head, keeping it straight, shushing me. “Oh, no! Not yet.” She moves around to my side and holds out diamond earrings that match the necklace.

“But….” She shakes her head, smiling and pushes her hand at me. I take them one by one, putting them in my ears and look at myself in the mirror. “Everything’s so beautiful. But I don’t understand.” My brows crease, and my confusion is apparent on my face.

“Isn’t this fun?” Jade squeals. “Come. Let’s go show the boys. They’ll just die when they see you.” She grabs my hand and leads me out of the room, my head turning and see that Pearl is following us and I’m even more confused than I was before. I follow her down the stairs, holding my dress up in one hand, looking down and watching every step so I don’t trip. When we reach the bottom I look up to see James standing there, in a tux.

“What?” I look at Pearl and then at Jade then back at James. “I’m so confused, I….” I shake my head and look into his eyes. He takes my hand, pulls it through his arm and smiles.

“My dear. Today, you’re marrying your childhood sweetheart and I’d love the honor of giving you away, if you’ll let me.” My heart beats so fast it feels like it’s lodged in my throat. My eyes shift around to everyone and my confusion starts to clear. “I haven’t been in your life when you needed me. Please, let me make that up to you beginning now.”

My chin quivers but my smile spreads and I fight to keep the tears away. “I’d be honored if you’d give me away, Dad.” Now his chin begins to quiver as he leans over and kisses my cheek.

Jade and Pearl both smile at me and run upstairs. Dad looks at me with such love that I’m taken aback by all my emotions. “I’m supposed to detain you for a few moments while they change,” he laughs.

“So…. whose plan was this or did you all conspire this together?” I smile and he laughs again.

“Hey, I’m an innocent bystander. Well, ok. They brought me in last night and just went over everything but they had it all figured out by then.” He stands there and just looks into my eyes. “You have your mother’s eyes, so beautiful, just as I remember them.”

“Don’t make her cry, Jim! She’ll ruin her makeup!” Pearl screams from her room and we both burst out laughing.

It’s only a few moments longer and they both descend the stairs, looking so beautiful in their dresses and once they reach the bottom by my side, Pearl hands me a gorgeous bouquet of roses in various colors. My head snaps up towards to the back of the house when I hear music playing and I look at Dad who’s smiling, his hand patting mine that’s laying on his arm. “Are you ready to get married?” Am I? Oh, hell yes!

Nodding quickly, my smile wide and my eyes blinking to expel my tears I watch as Pearl and Jade walk out of the room and then back at Dad. “I’ve been ready for this my entire life.” He pats my hand again and we begin to walk.

Epilogue

I’m a nervous wreck! It’s taking too long. They’ve been up there for hours! What in the hell do girls do for that long? I’m pacing the deck and biting on my fingernails as Dad sits calmly in a chair and just watches me. How the fuck can he just sit there? “Dad, maybe….” I stop in my tracks. My head snaps towards the door, when the music starts playing. Dad stands, grabs my arm and walks me down the deck steps and I almost have to jog to keep up with him down the dark peach colored rug until finally we enter the big tent and everyone turns around looking at us. We make it up to the minister. Dad kisses my cheek while shaking my hand, and smiling, then he takes a seat in the front row with Mom and Pearl. In my nervousness, I never even saw them pass us on the deck and come in here.

Dad, Mom and I had asked a lot of our regular customers, food critics and people that we’ve gotten to know to share this with us today. They all turn around and look at the opening in the tent and I look there just in time to see Stormy and her Dad walk in. She looks like an angel in that dress. Her long dark hair curled and pinned up. The glow on her face giving her a radiance making her more beautiful than I’ve ever seen before. She looks around, smiling, and then looks at me and I swear I could hear her breath hitch. The music changes and they begin to walk towards me. When they get close they stop and turn to each other.

“Go, my baby girl. Go to the love of your life. You deserve each other.” James kisses her cheek and she kisses his and I swear I hear her choke on a sob before he takes her hand and places it in mine. I can’t quit staring at her.

“Who here gives this woman to this man today?” The minister speaks out.

“I do! Her dad.” We’re still looking into each other’s eyes and I reach out and wipe away the tear on her cheek as he speaks. Then I pull her to me and we turn to face the minister never taking our eyes off each other.

I hardly hear what the minister says but I look at him when Stormy and I turn to each other and hold hands then I look into my love’s eyes. “I remember the first day I told you I was gonna marry you one day.” She lets out a quiet giggle and so do others in the room. “You were eight years old and I was nine but I knew, right then, that you were mine and that we’d always be together. You once asked me if I could forgive you, but it was me that needed forgiving.” Her eyes fill with tears, and I just smile. “I figured out that you can’t always protect the one you love but you can forgive them.” I watch a tear slide down her face and hear her sniff, lean over and kiss it away then stand back again. “I’ll always protect you, forgive you and love you with everything I am. Marry me.” A burst of laughter leaves her sweet lips and others in the room begin to laugh.

She looks at me with such love in her eyes and grows serious. “There’s never been anything to forgive you for, my love. You’ve always been there for me, protected me and loved me even when I didn’t deserve you or your love. But know, you’ve always been in my heart, in my mind and soul and I could never love anyone but you. You fill me, you complete me and you have me until my last day on earth. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

The minister starts to speak, but I pull her to me. My mouth on hers quickly and I feel her arms move around my neck as my arms wrap around her waist. Her fingers glide into my hair and everything and everyone fades around us.

“Uh, well. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Dunway,” I hear the minister say but I don’t want to stop. Stormy breaks our release first and smiles into my mouth, I move back, take her hand and we turn towards the yelling crowd. I pull her down the aisle with me not looking at those who are yelling at us, barely feeling them patting my back and arms. I just look straight ahead at the tent opening until we are through and pull her around to the side of the tent, and my mouth latches onto hers again.

“God! Can we just go away? I want you so bad!” I say into her mouth. She doesn’t stop, our hands are all over each other, frantically, and my cock says we should leave now. A coughing sound makes us turn our heads. Our lips still stuck together and a big smile on Dad’s face makes me finally release her.

“Uh, your guests are in the reception tent. Thought you might want to know.” He puts his hands in his pockets, bows his head and laughs as he walks away. I turn my head to Stormy, who’s about twenty shades of red, and smile.

“Think they’d miss us if we just leave? There’s tons of food and booze in there to keep them happy for days.” Her eyes are glistening as she smiles, her beautiful teeth looking whiter in the Tiki flames glow and she looks more beautiful than ever. Her hands leave my back and move around to the front of me and I take them both in my hands and just stare into her eyes. “I did it. I finally married you. Told ya I would.” She bursts out laughing as I release one of her hands, and we start walking back around the tent and towards the other one. She turns her head and looks up at me with that beautiful smile still on her face.

“I can’t believe you went to all this trouble though. I would have married you anyway.” She smirks and then winks. “But I’m glad you made an honest woman out of me. God knows….” I tug on her hand and pull her close and stop dead. Her eyes search mine, my brows creasing and heart pounding.

“Stormy. You’ve always been an honest woman, more so than many. I hate when you say that about yourself, Peaches.” Her eyes now glitter with wetness and I rub my thumb over her cheek. “Nothing but happiness now, nothing but love and….” My other hand lays over her flat stomach, and I smile wide. “Family. I love you Stormy Dunway.” She leans up on her tiptoes, her mouth presses against mine and I can feel all her love pouring into me. My forehead rests against hers and I feel her cheeks rising with her smile. “Come. Let’s eat, dance and mingle so we can hurry and leave for our honeymoon.”

She steps back, her eyes widen and the look of shock on her gorgeous face is priceless. “Honeymoon? Where are we going? But the restaurant!”

Pulling her back to me, I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head. “Mom, Dad and Pearl have the restaurant covered and the new hostess Mom hired is working out great, so much that she’s made her into another manager, and I’m not telling you where we’re going just know to pack for hot weather. Or….” I lean back a bit and tilt my head. “Don’t pack any clothes at all. I’m good with that.” She smacks my arm, lightly, letting out her cute giggles and with my arm still around her shoulder, holding her close in my side, I take her to the tent to greet all our guests. I wonder how fast we can eat, mingle and then get the hell outta here.

We walk into the tent and everyone stops and begins clapping and hollering. We both smile and I raise our hands up high in the air. People start walking up to us, patting our shoulders, giving kisses and their congratulations, Stormy showing her ring to everyone. Finally, Dad walks up and puts his arm around my shoulder and starts leading us up front to a long table. We walk around the back and I pull out a chair for Stormy. She smiles sweetly, kisses me quick and sits which makes everyone yell out their ‘Awww’s’. Two servers bring us each a plate heaped with good food, and I watch Stormy take a grape from the fruit platter sitting on the table and pop it into her mouth. Oh, to be that grape. We are about halfway through eating, talking and laughing when Dad stands, raises his glass of champagne and hits it several times with his spoon. Everyone’s chatter dies down and all turn to him, raising their glasses as well. I pick up Stormy’s glass of half empty champagne as I wouldn’t let her have much, hand it to her, and then pick up mine.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you will. Please join me in a toast to the newlyweds.” He turns his head to us and I see Mom on his other side already with tear streaks on her face. “Son. You’ve always been one of the lights in our lives, have always made us proud and now we have Stormy as our new daughter. But she isn’t really new to us. We’ve been blessed to have her in our lives since she was that small, dirty, sand covered little girl….” Stormy squeezes my hand, and I shift my eyes to her tear filled ones and remove my hand, putting my arm around her and holding her closely. “That we’ve loved a lifetime. This just makes it more official. Here’s to you both, son and daughter and to our soon-to-be grandchild.” There’s ‘Oh’s’ and gasps in the crowd, apparently some not knowing about the pregnancy but I guess they do now, making it feel even more real. We all take a drink and as he sits down and Pearl stands, next to Stormy and mimicking his moves.

“As Dad said, Stormy has been in our lives since we were very young and now after all this time she is officially my sister and I couldn’t be happier for her and Bo. Growing up with her I not only found a new sister but a best friend, one I hold close to my heart. I love you guys,” she wipes a tear and leans down, kissing Stormy on her cheek and then walks behind her and gives me a big wet kiss on my mouth. “That’s payback, Bro.” Everyone laughs as she returns to her seat.

We turn our heads to see James stand from his seat next to Pearl and clears his throat. “I’m new to this family. Some of you I’m sure don’t know that I’m Stormy’s father.” She looks up at her dad and smiles, the pride showing clearly on her face. “I was as surprised as she was to find out that I had a daughter but no matter how much time we missed together, we will be making that up ten-fold. Not only do I have a wonderful daughter that I’m so very proud of but I have a son-in-law and a grandchild on the way. Congratulations, Bo and Stormy.” He begins to take a sip of his drink but Stormy pushes back her chair and take the few steps to him quickly, her arms moving around his neck and kisses him. Pearl grabs his drink in the commotion and everyone claps loudly.

When she returns to her chair, I bring her into me and hug her tightly as she sobs into my chest. I know these are tears of happiness so I rub her back and let her get them out but when done she leans back and smiles. “Is my makeup all over my face?” She sniffs. I laugh and rub under her eyes and shake my head while smiling. God, I love her!

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

“We need to dance faster so we can leave,” Bo whispers to me on the makeshift dance floor outside the tents. I laugh and kiss him then put my head back down on his shoulder. We continue to move slowly, swaying with the music. The aroma of peaches fill the air with the small cool breeze blowing around us. This night has been perfect and I couldn’t have planned a better, more romantic, wedding myself and am amazed at all he did. I can feel his hard cock pressed up against me, and I know he’s about to explode. I’m enjoying myself so much and also having fun with his frustration. But, I must admit, I’m just as horny and am about ready to tear his clothes off right here.

My lips move up his strong jaw, his cheek and then to his ear then my teeth nip at his lobe and I blow a little breath. “I’m so ready.” My head jerks back when he releases his hold on me, taking my hand and tugging it hard. I have to jog to keep up with him as he leads me off the dance floor and heads towards the house. When we get up the deck stairs he stops abruptly, causing me to bump into him and then turns around.

“Attention!” He yells out into the yard. Heads turn as well as bodies and the music stops. “Thank you all for coming and sharing our special day with us but we have to go!” He looks at me, our hands together over the front of his pants and he smiles then turns back to the crowd. “Now! So, thanks again.” He turns quickly, and I hear people cheering and clapping as we practically run into the house, through the rooms and out the front door. Right in front of the house is a black SUV limo and a man standing with the back door open for us. Before getting in, Bo shuts the door enough to cover himself, still holding my hand, and we wave to everyone as they’ve all run outside to see us off. I blow kisses with my other hand to Jade, Knox, Pearl and Dad and am quickly pulled into the back seat and laying on my back. I hear the door shut and in the darkness I feel his body on top of mine. My dress being yanked up and my panties pulled to the side. His hard cock pushes inside me, and I let out a moan into his mouth that covers mine in an instant. “Fuck! I couldn’t wait anymore. I need you!” I’m not sorry and feel the same, my fingernails digging into his tux coat and I’m wishing it was his skin. “God, Peaches!” He moans as he pulls out and then slams back into me. My hips buck against him and I can’t get close enough.

“Harder,” I choke out. His hand finds my breast, but with my dress on it’s not enough. “Damn, harder…. Please, I….” The heat inside my body is building fast, burning as a my heart rate increases so much that I can barely breath. The only sound in the car is our heavy pants, our bodies slapping against each other and the loud moans we’re making. “Bo!” I scream as my climax reaches its peak, my head dizzy with my desire, tingle sensations run rampant throughout my body and my fingers cramp with the tight hold on his coat.

“Stormy!” he yells, his head against my shoulder as I feel his liquid coming inside me, my inner walls clamping around his pulsing cock as our chests rise and fall against each other’s rapidly. As our bodies shudder, he raises his head and looks at me, his eyes still full of lust and love and I blink several times to clear mine. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to attack you but I couldn’t take it anymore,” he smiles sheepishly.

I run my fingers through his short blond hair, my other hand folded and rubbing the soft skin of his gorgeous face and I smile warmly. “I’m not sorry. Damn, that was hot!” I let out a giggle as I turn my head trying to see in the darkness if our driver can see us. Bo turns his head and then back to me.

“Don’t worry. The divider panel is up, he can’t see us and I made sure to turn the speaker off so he couldn’t hear us either. Come. Let me help you up, Peaches.” He starts to rise but I pull him back down with my hands around the back of his neck, bringing his luscious lips back to mine. He moans into my mouth as I begin to suck on his tongue and I’m lost in him. When I finally need some air, I release his mouth hesitantly, and he pulls me up into a sitting position, reaches over to the mini fridge and hands me a bottled water, which I guzzle eagerly. I didn’t realize how thirsty I was. “Breathe, Peaches,” he chuckles.

I lean against him as I drink, his arm moving around my shoulder and I finally recap my water and look up at him. “That was the sexiest and hottest thing I’ve ever done.” He looks down at me and smiles and then takes another drink. “So…. Where are we going anyway, not that it matters as long as I’m with you.”

He turns a little, his smile huge and I can tell he’s excited. “Mom and Dad’s wedding gift is a four day stay on a private island, staff to serve our every need but total privacy. A private beach right outside our back door with a small pool off the deck and no one around for miles.” My eyes light up and now I can’t wait to get there. His hand cups my face, his thumb rubbing over my skin and the look in his eyes are full of love. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself for a while because I know that will be short lived, especially once our baby is born. I love you so much.” His lips come to mine and it’s the sweetest, most tender kiss I’ve ever felt.

“Baby, wake up. We’re here.” I let out a yawn and open my eyes slowly to a view of his gorgeous face, the light blonde scruff on his strong jaw making me smile, lazily. As I sit up I look out the private plane’s window and catch my breath when I see the most breathtaking view. Sun, palm trees, sand and glimmering water. He reaches over me, buckling my seatbelt and then kisses my lips, smiling the entire time. “You look exceptionally beautiful.” I suddenly wish I could brush my teeth and go to the bathroom but feel the bump as we touch down on the water and watch as we float over to a long dock. Once secured, he unbuckles my belt and takes my hand, helping me stand, the plane rocking in the water and I feel a little wobbly as he leads me out the front and down the few steps. Equally unstable, we make out way down the swaying dock and I can still feel the motion as we walk on the sand and up some stairs to a beautiful cottage. He opens the door and bends down, lifting me up into his strong arms and quickly his mouth is on mine as he takes me inside.

When he finally sets me down I get a chance to look around and am in love with this place. Beautifully decorated in a rustic look, but I don’t get to look for long as he takes my hand and leads me out the back, opening the double doors and leading me outside where the warm wind blows my hair away from my face. I gasp with the view of the beach and ocean and turn to him, throwing my arms around his neck. My mouth finding his and kiss the hell outta him.

Later we’re lying on the beach, on huge towels and drinking up the sun’s warm rays when I stand, lean down and kiss his sun kissed face and head into the cottage to go to the bathroom. When I wipe myself I look down and my heart beats faster as I see some blood on the tissue. Quickly, I pull up my swim suit bottom and run out the door and back to Bo. “Bo!” He sits up and turns to me as I approach, the look on my face changes his to alarm. “There’s…. There’s some blood….” I’m gasping for air, my chest rising and falling quickly with my fear and he jumps up, his hands on my arms.