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He bucked against me but he couldn’t get far.

My legs were just too strong.

I held him in place until I was done with him. Until he was done. Until we were both spent and empty.

He wasn’t complaining.

Neither was I.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Joss

“Do you like this one? It’s kiln dried hardwood.”

Trista leaned over my shoulder to look at the screen. I loved it when she did that because I got a whiff of her. Her natural sweet smell and whatever it was she was whipping up back there. We were looking at furniture for our place while she cooked.

Our place.

Home.

It sounded surreal.

But it was happening. And I was the luckiest guy in the whole damn world.

She’d cancelled the rest of her tour after the attack. We’d come back here and hunkered down, not getting out of bed for a week. Then she’d announced to the studio she was taking time off to write a new album.

With a new, grown up image.

Grown up, but not as sexual. Stronger. Braver. Smarter.

The real her, so to speak.

I could not have been prouder.

“It’s beautiful. You know, I’ve never picked out furniture before.”

I gripped her hand in mine. We were having a lot of firsts between the two of us. I felt a cold spot against my side.

“I’m not ignoring you, Kitten.”

“Remind me again how you named him.”

I gave her a look. I’d told her the story at least three times. But she never got tired of hearing it.

“His trainers had named him Killer. And he was vicious when he was on the attack. But he was too goofy to be called Killer. Besides, I didn’t like it.”

“And Kitten sounded similar enough?”

I nodded.

“Plus, I’d never had a cat. I figured…”

“Two birds, one stone?”

God I loved this woman. We finished each other’s sentences. It was as if we had been together forever.

I was about to kiss her when I felt a warm furry body wedging itself between us.

“Awww somebody wants some wove!”

My dog was a little bit jealous of Trista but he was warming up to her rapidly. The snacks she’d been sneaking him on the sly were probably helping. So was her natural tendency for affection. She rubbed his head, scratching behind his floppy ears and cooing at him.

“Who’s a good boy? Kitten is! Yes, he is!”

“You are going to ruin that animal.”

She kissed my neck.

“Like I ruined you?”

I reached back and pulled her into my lap, kissing her soundly.

“Yes. You’ve completely destroyed my killer instinct.”

“You seem pretty tough to me.”

I puffed up my chest.

“A man has to protect what is his.”

She smiled and scooted off my lap.

“I have to get ready if we are really doing this.”

I was eyeing her backside, completely distracted.

“What?”

“Cooking dinner for your friends, remember?”

I groaned. I’d been hoping to make love to my woman. I looked around. Right here was a good spot come to think of it. On the kitchen counter.

“Yes, I remember.”

I ran my hands up her legs.

“Are you sure we don’t have time for a quickie?”

She laughed and batted my hands away.

“No! I’ve been cooking all day as it is. I need to reheat the veggie lasagna.”

“Gluten free pasta?”

She nodded, twinkling at me.

“I know you think I’m silly…”

I stood and caught her around the waist, kissing her again.

“No, I don’t. I think you are wonderful.”

I kept kissing her as my hands found her bottom and gave it a squeeze. She squealed and ran away. I chased her around the kitchen island until she grabbed a spatula and held it in front of her.

I held up my hands, surrendering. Trista grinned and launched herself at me. I caught her and started tugging her apron strings loose.

If we hurried…

“Are we interrupting?”

I looked up to see Trent and Conrad’s grinning faces. Lexi and her sister Char stood there with Jan. I shook my head.

“No, your timing is perfect.”

Three hours and six bottles of wine later, we were sitting out on the deck under a clear starry sky. They’d all taken to Trista like I knew they would. She was one of us now.

Everyone was having a blast.

Everyone except me.

Trent and Conrad were regaling Trista with stories from training and some PG-13 versions of the stuff that happened in the service.

Mostly stories at my expense.

“So the guy takes one look at Joss and says, ‘you’re next.’”

“And then Joss said, ‘who me?’”

Trista was on the edge of her seat. Her hand squeezed mine. She was adorably worried about something that had happened six or seven years ago.

“And then what? How did you guys get out?”

“We fought our way out. But it was mostly this guy. He saved all our asses.”

Conrad’s hand came down on my shoulder. Hard. But it was worth it for the adoring look on Trista’s face. Trent lifted his beer.

“Come on Joss, you got the girl and the Medal of Honor. Make a toast or something.”

I knew they were teasing. No one expecting me to say anything. I wasn’t known for being talkative.

“Okay.”

Everyone turned to watch me in surprise as I stood up.

I reached into my pocket for the ring.

This was it. One final mission.

I was going in.

Trista

“Trista…”

I turned to stare at Joss.

Scratch that.

Everyone
was staring at Joss.

I saw something I’d never thought to see in my life. My big, gorgeous man looked unsure of himself.

Joss was nervous.

That’s when I noticed the box.

My heart was thudding as he started to speak.

“I don’t need to tell anyone here that you are extraordinary. You are beautiful, talented, and kind. That is obvious. What they don’t know is that you are also a miracle worker. You let me love you, without even trying.”

My mouth opened as he lowered himself to his knee.

“Trista Davis, will you marry me?”

I stared into his beautiful blue eyes for less than a heartbeat. Then I nodded, tugging on his hand to bring him closer. He stood, pulling me up and into his arms. He kissed me as I started to weep.

“Is that a yes?”

I was sniffling as I answered.

“Yes!”

He smiled at me as everyone cheered.

Someone opened another bottle of wine and Joss groaned. I winked at him as the party picked up speed again. I knew what he wanted, because I wanted it too.

He wanted us to be alone together.

But we would just have to wait.

I knew from experience that it would be worth it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Joss

Two weeks. Two weeks I’d had to wait. Jenna and Shast had descended on my house, moving in and making it next to impossible to get my fiancé alone. I shook my head.

It was almost like they were
trying
to keep me from getting laid.

“Hey man. Are you ready?”

I nodded as Chandler came up behind me. I was more than ready. It was a good thing too.

Because today was my wedding day.

Today I would marry the woman of my dreams. I would get a partner for life. The future mother of my children. A family.

I would finally get laid.

I stood on the deck, staring down at the beach. There was a tent down there. And tables. And some sort of artsy driftwood arbor to get married under.

The women had taken care of everything.

All I had to do was wait.

And wait.

And wait.

I ran my hands through my hair. I was tired of waiting. I wanted my woman back.

And I wanted her
now.

Chan was laughing at me, a knowing look in his eyes.
 

“How about a beer?”

I nodded curtly as he fished a cold bottle out of bucket siting on the deck. There were beverage stations everywhere. And candles in large glass hurricanes.

And flowers.

I didn’t care about flowers. I just wanted my bride. Naked. In my bed.

“She’s making you wait, eh?”

I sighed. Chan had an uncanny ability to read me. He should. We’d been friends long enough.

“How is Caro and Bea?”

Chan smiled with pride.

“I’m the luckiest husband and daddy in the world. Just wait Joss, you thought you were twisted into knots now…”

“What?”

I was staring at him in alarm.

“Once you see a tiny little finger wrapped around yours. It’s game over man.”

I exhaled sharply.

“That bad eh?”

“That
good.
”

I smiled and clasped his hand.

“Yeah man. I can’t wait. I’m glad you’re so happy. You deserve it.”

“Nobody deserves it more than you man.”

Trent popped his head out the door.

“I’m supposed to tell you it’s time to head down there.”

I stood up tall and set my beer down. It was time.

I was ready.

Trista

Shast brushed my hair back over my shoulders, pulling out the old-fashioned ribbons curls she’d put in this morning before my shower. My makeup was done, though I had insisted on the bare minimum. I was in my lacy white bridal underthings. I was ready.

I even had a blue garter high on my thigh.

Joss was going to
love
that.

I giggled at how cranky he’d been since the girls came to stay. He’d been trying to get me alone for days. But they just weren’t having it.

I had a feeling he was going to make me pay for it tonight. And tomorrow. And for the entire honeymoon in Hawaii.

Basically he’d promised to chain me to the bed for a year. I smiled. He thought he was scaring me. He had no idea that I was just as eager as he was.

I stood to slip on my dress and slapped my hand over my mouth. I waved my other hand and Shasta stepped out of the way. Just in time for me to sprint to the bathroom.

It was a good thing I was used to running in heels. Or dancing anyway.

I heaved and heaved until my stomach was empty of all food. Then I sat back, taking the damp washcloth that Jenna was holding. I patted my mouth and brushed my teeth. I felt fine, almost as if nothing had happened.

There. No one had to know the bride had puked her guts out right before the ceremony.

“You okay Queenie?”

I smiled at Shasta.

“It’s just nerves.”

“It’s a good thing you didn’t put the dress on first.”

I turned to see that Lexi was there, holding her baby against her thigh. She looked gorgeous, even wiping dribble off a baby’s cheek. She smiled brightly at me.

“Did you tell him yet?”

“Tell him what?”

She raised an eyebrow at me.

“Did you tell Joss he’s going to be a daddy?”

“What?”

She laughed.

“Don’t tell me this wasn’t all part of his master plan. If he’s anything like the other two, he’s been trying to knock you up since day one.”

My jaw dropped as Caro walked into the room. She sat down heavily, clearly exhausted from the trip. She was just starting to show.

“You too?”

I smiled suddenly, my hand resting on my belly. I felt different suddenly. Like I had an extra little spark inside me. I realized that Lexi was right. My breasts were sore and a little bigger than usual. And I’d been sleeping a lot.

When Joss let me anyway.

“Okay, let’s get this bride dressed.”

I lifted my arms dutifully as the long lace gown was lowered over my head. I stared at myself in the mirror as the girls crowded around behind me. Shast had designed and sewn the dress by hand.

It fit me like a glove, the sheer lace overlay belling out gracefully over a white silk underdress. Cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline kept it modest.

I looked my age for one of the first times. A young bride on her wedding day. I smiled.

“It’s perfect. Thank you Shast.”

She blushed and wiped a tear away.

“Anything for you Tristalicious. Now we better get you down those stairs before your husband breaks the door down!”

I smiled and nodded.

Jenna handed me my bouquet and I followed them down the path to the beach. Joss had cleaned it up so it was easier to traverse. It still wasn’t easy in heels. I reached down and pulled them off.

Screw it.

I decided I was getting married in my bare feet.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Joss

The sun was just starting to set. The weather was a balmy 78 degrees on the water. And everyone Trista and I cared about was here.
 

It was perfect.

No one was here who wasn’t a part of our inner circle. No studio execs. No industry people.

We’d even ‘forgotten’ to invite her mother.

I should have been ecstatic. Instead I was ready to jump out of my skin. I wasn’t nervous. I could hardly focus on the momentous occasion. I was too damn horny to think about anything but sex.

Living with Trista, but being unable to touch her… It was pure hell. It was even worse than before we got together.

Because now I knew what I was missing.

I was strategizing with military precision exactly how to get her into bed as soon as the ceremony was over. The instant it was over. I would nod at everyone and then lift her up and carry her away.

I would take those stairs at a run. We could go upstairs, do it and then come back to the party. Then I could get rid of this perpetual hard on I’d had for almost fifteen days.

Oh yes, I had it all figured out.

All of that disappeared when I saw her.

Everyone got quiet when Trista came down the last few stairs. I turned and stopped dead in my tracks. My bride stood there, smiling tentatively at me.

She was an angel.
 

She was
my
angel.

Her hair was loose and flowing over her shoulders. It was curled and natural just the way I like it. Her beautiful face had only traces of makeup. She didn’t need more than that.

She didn’t need
anything.

In the simple, pure white dress, she was a show stopper. For a moment I thought the studio had really fucked up. They should have sent her out on stage like this.