Ready to Wed (10 page)

We laughed and redressed each other, and headed back to our reception, hoping to hell that we didn’t look like we’d just been shagging down the hall.

~Logan~

Dinner passed in a blur. I think we had chicken, or pork?

There were so many people talking to us, I honestly didn’t have a chance to eat anyway, so it could have been lasagna for all I know.

All I could think about, in between answering questions about our “honeymoon” and our decision to sell Clare’s house and move into mine, was the time we’d spent in that ballroom.

Visions of Clare lying on that table flashed before my eyes. Her hair fanned out in every direction like a whimsical goddess. The touch of her skin as I held her and slid inside her for the first time as husband and wife. The look in her eyes as she came.

Then it hit me. I’d taken my wife for the first time in a dark ballroom, fully clothed, backed up against a wall. I was an animal. I looked over in her direction and took her hand. She caught my eye and smiled, a faint blush spreading across her face.

I should have waited. Taken her slowly and lovingly. Stripped her down and spent hours kissing every inch of her skin. Instead, I’d taken her fast and hard, slamming her and that stunning wedding gown into a wall.

I suddenly had this overwhelming desire to show her exactly how much I treasured, loved and adored her. Maybe it was the whole cancer thing or just the high of getting married, but I decided to be spontaneous.

Rising from my seat, I gently kissed her temple. “I’m going to run up to the room and grab something. I’ll be right back.”

She gave me a confused look but just nodded and said okay.

Within fifteen minutes, I was walking back into the reception having completed my task.

Leah spotted me first, and her lips upturned into a smile.

“Hey, Superman, are you going to serenade me?”

Clare turned and saw my guitar slung over my shoulder and her eyes widened in surprise.

“No, I’m going to serenade my wife,” I said with a grin.

The hotel staff was just about done setting up the impromptu stage, putting together a microphone and amp they had stored for larger weddings and business meetings.

All eyes were on me now as I set up, pulling my guitar out and taking a seat. I plugged everything in and then looked up to find Clare’s green eyes staring back at me. I wasn’t much of a performer. I played for myself, so I took a deep breath and tried to focus.

“I hadn’t planned on entertaining everyone tonight, but one of Clare’s favorite things lately has been listening to me play the guitar. So, today…on our wedding day, I wanted to sing her something special.”

It had been a song I’d been working on for a while now. I’d heard it on her iPod a few weeks ago and I knew she loved the band, but probably didn’t know I knew.

I started strumming the opening of “I’m Yours” by The Script and her eyes sparked in recognition.

Leaning into the microphone, I sang each word like they were written for her.

When I finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Except for Maddie who came bounding up to me and jumped in my lap the moment I set the guitar down.

“I liked that song. It’s pretty.” she said.

“It is. A pretty song for your pretty mommy.”

Clare came up to us, her eyes still wet from tears and she kneeled down in front of us, completing our new little family.

“You married my Mommy.”

“Yes, I did,” I answered, grinning at Clare.

“Mommy said that means I can call you Daddy.”

Clare smiled and my full attention turned to Maddie who was looking at me with her big brown eyes. I couldn’t put words together fast enough so I just nodded.

“So, can I call you Daddy now?”

Still nodding, I choked out a yes and pulled her to me. She’d been my daughter since the moment I committed myself to Clare, but this? This was more than I ever expected. I never wanted to replace the father she lost, but I also didn’t want to go through life being known as
Logan, the stepfather.

Tears I couldn’t contain anymore broke free and I felt Clare lean in to join us. I pulled my two girls closer, and thanked every deity known to man for bringing them into my life.

~Clare~

After cake, which we very nicely fed to each other, and many well wishes later, we were set free. Maddie gave us hugs and said she was sorry she was leaving us to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa. We laughed and told her it was okay and we’d survive one night without her.

As soon as we made our way up to the top floor and into our extravagant honeymoon suite, I gasped. He’d had the entire room covered in flickering candles and roses.

“You’re crazy.”

“Yes. Maybe a little,” he said, “But only about you.”

“This is over the top.”

“I’m trying to make up for earlier.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

He pulled me towards the bed, which was covered in red rose petals. There was a bucket of champagne chilling in the corner, and chocolate covered strawberries on the windowsill.

“I wanted every moment of today to be special for you. When we came together for the first time as husband and wife, I wanted you to know exactly how much I love you. I wanted to spend hours worshiping you and loving every part of you.”

“So, you’re worried that I’m going to look back and remember our first time as less than ideal?”

He cringed and nodded, “Yes, basically.”

I pushed him down on the rose covered bed. He looked a bit startled but quickly grinned.

“The only thing that will make this night less than ideal is if you don’t continue what you started in that ballroom and take me right now.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Yes, what?” I asked, as he stood and slowly walked behind me.

“Yes, Mrs. Matthews,” he whispered in my ear and began making quick work of the buttons and sash of my dress.

He rotated me around, brushing his hands around my waist as I turned until we were once again facing each other.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said. His fingers slipped under the fabric of my dress at the nape of my neck and gently began pulling. When his eyes collided with the lacy top of my blue corset, he sucked in a breath and his hand dug into my hip.

It really was a beautiful work of art. Sapphire blue and ivory colored lace, with tiny pearls scattered everywhere. The fact that it made my breasts look like a million bucks didn’t hurt either. Garter belts and matching stockings finished the look.

After Leah had helped me out of my wedding dress and into this, I’d stood in front of the floor length mirror in awe. I didn’t even care that both my mother and Logan’s mother were behind me. I was freaking hot.

And by the looks my husband was giving me, I’d say he agreed.

“Jesus,” he breathed, as the last of my gown hit the floor, and he eyes went everywhere, roaming over every inch of my body.

“Turn around. Slowly,” he ordered. His voice had dropped to that sexy tone I loved, and my stomach clenched in anticipation.

I made a slow circle, placing my hands on my hips and pivoting seductively so he could see all of me.

Before I’d even made it all the way back around, Logan was throwing off his suit jacket, tugging at his tie and tossing it to the ground. His eyes were wild by the time he looked up and zeroed in on me. It was hot.

He undid his cufflinks, followed by the buttons of his shirt, letting it hang freely to the sides which exposed his chest and perfect abs. He smirked, knowing I was loving what was in front of me, and continued his slow strip tease. His shirt hit the floor, and then in a rush, he made quick work of everything else, leaving only him standing in front of me.

My husband was so sexy.

Logan stalked towards me, backing us up until my thighs hit the bed. He gently wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me, placing me under him on the bed.

“I knew the moment I walked into that exam room, my life had changed. You gave me a reason…two reasons to live,” he said, brushing his hand down my thigh, as he kissed my neck.

He did this for what seemed like hours—running his hands up and down my body, kissing me everywhere as he whispered endearments and promises in my ear. By the time his fingertips reached the waistband of my thong, I was practically writhing in need.

“Logan…I need…,” I started.

“I know,” he said, as he slipped his finger inside me and flicked my clit. My hips shot forward and I let out a low moan.

“I think my wife likes that,” he chuckled, “Let’s see what else she likes.”

My thong slid down my thighs and joined my gown on the floor.

“Mmm…this is a good look for you,” he said as he pushed my legs forward and apart, exposing me completely. “Yes, a very good look.”

He scooted down the bed until he was kneeling in front of it, and I nearly whimpered as I waited, knowing what would come next.

“Wrap those legs around my head Clare.”

I did as I was instructed, watching as his hands moved up and down my thighs as I wrapped them around his head. His eyes were darker, like clouds right before a storm.

I criss-crossed my heels at the nape of his neck and he didn’t waste any time, making me cry out as his mouth made its first contact with my core.

He licked and worshiped me with his mouth and within minutes, I was climaxing, pulling at his hair as I screamed his name. “Oh Logan, yes!”

He crawled up my body, and I reveled in the feel of his skin brushing against mine.

“I love seeing you in this, but I think it’s time for it to go,” he said seductively, reaching down to separate my garter belt from my stockings with an expert flick of his wrist. He repeated the process on the other side and then slowly slid the stockings down my legs, stopping only to remove my shoes.

He returned, hovering over me, as he removed my corset, taking time to undo every tiny fastening with care. Apparently he didn’t want to ruin this piece of clothing. It didn’t stop him from tossing it in the growing pile on the floor however.

“Finally, nothing but you,” he said, before leaning down to brush his lips over mine. He teased me, nipping, licking, and tasting me until I was whimpering beneath him.

“I need you, Logan,” I begged.

“I know. I need you, too,” he agreed, pulling our bodies closer until I could feel them almost joined.

“I love you, Clare. My wife, my lover, my soul.”

“I love you, too, Logan,” I said and then two became one.

Our heated breaths and murmured words couldn’t drown out the overwhelming emotions that hung in the air. Logan was mine and I was his. Forever.

His body owned mine, pushing it closer and closer to climax and I felt it in the pit of my belly like an inferno.

“That’s it, Clare…let go,” he said, and I did. I screamed out my pleasure at the same time he groaned out his own.

We spent the rest of our wedding night entwined in each other, high on our love and intoxicated in the happiness of our marital bliss.

~Logan~

I awoke, bathed in ruby red curls and creamy soft skin. Clare’s eyes were still closed and her breathing still even. She had an arm draped over my chest, and from this angle, I could see every glorious curve of her. I loved the way her waist curved in and flared out at her hip, and that perfect round ass she always complained about.

I didn’t remember my life before her. I didn’t want to. Every moment I’d spent before Clare and Maddie seemed like a blur; an endless blur of nothing to get me where I was today.

Laying in bed with my wife, with a daughter I couldn’t wait to see, I now had a purpose. A calling in life.

I also had cancer.

Something that could tear me away from everything I held dear.

I would never tell her, but I was scared. Now that I had everything I’d ever wanted, I couldn’t lose it.
I wouldn’t.

“Hey, you’re awake,” Clare said groggily.

I looked down on her sleepy face and smiled. “Yeah.”

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“How beautiful you are,” I lied.

“Hmm…I sure hope that’s not what you were thinking about with that face. Try again.”

This woman knew me inside and out. It was the reason she knew I was lying about leaving her the night I tried to walk away. She could see it in my eyes I didn’t want to leave, and kept calling me out on my bullshit.

“You’re scared,” she said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes. A little,” I admitted.

She lifted her head and rested her chin on my chest.

“I would be a little surprised if you weren’t. Despite what Leah may think, you are not Superman.”

“I know. I just want to be strong for you.”

“And you are. You will be. But being scared of what might happen is normal, Logan.”

I nodded and kissed her head.

“So, what do we do now?” I asked.

“We live our lives like we planned. We spend a week with our daughter.” The fact that she just called Maddie “our daughter” made me instantly grin.

“We go home and we begin fighting. And we fight until we win. And we will win, Logan.”