Heartless (26 page)
Authors: Cheryl Douglas
He had spent the
past month mapping her body. He knew exactly what she liked and what she needed
to be satisfied. He shifted his attention to her sensitive breasts, using his
hands and mouth to heighten her arousal.
She grazed his
back with her nails as she arched her back. “I need you… now.”
He knew, judging
by her desperate plea, that she couldn’t withstand endless foreplay today.
Neither could he. He looked into her eyes, hoping he was effectively conveying
everything he wished he could say with words. He wasted no time seeking the
heat radiating from her core as her eyelids trembled in an effort to hold his
gaze.
“Yes,” she
whispered as she opened to accept his intense invasion. “God, I love the way
you feel, Derek, the way you make me feel. So complete, so—” She lost her
breath when he couldn’t hold back any longer.
He wanted to take
her slowly, reverently, this morning, but his body had other ideas. “Jesus,
Ash,” he muttered, bowing his head, silently praying for an ounce of the
self-control he was so famous for. On the job, he was the epitome of
discipline, but when she worshipped him with her beautiful body, he couldn’t
remember his own name, much less how to control his reaction to her.
“Let go,” she
whispered, drawing his body down until he was resting his weight on top of her.
“You don’t have to be on guard with me,” she said, peppering kisses all over
his neck and shoulder.
He knew she was
right. Ashley was the one person in the world who knew him inside out. She knew
how to please him in bed, what made him laugh, his favorite memories, his
dreams, and the only thing in the world that terrified him beyond reason… the
thought of losing her again.
His body took
over, shutting his brain down as he gave himself over to the sensations tearing
through him. He filled her, thrusting deeper, harder, faster… “Oh man…” He
clenched his jaw, trying to draw on the remaining ounce of sense his raging
libido hadn’t displaced. “Baby, please, I’m so close.”
“It’s okay. I’m
right there with you.”
And when he opened
his eyes to watch her give in to her body’s demands, it was the sexiest thing
he ever witnessed. Seeing her climax with his name falling from her lush lips
was the one thing guaranteed to send him over the edge faster than anything
else. She was so gorgeous. And from this day on, she would be his wife.
By the time they
both descended that elusive peak, they opened their eyes and smiled at each
other. “Wow,” she said, shaking her head. “How is it you keep getting better
and better?”
He stole a kiss
before rolling over. “You bring out the best in me, baby.”
Ashley felt a
little overwhelmed as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her friends
had convinced her to surprise Derek with glamorous make-up and a formal up-do,
but she hadn’t expected anything like this. It was breathtaking. The make-up
artist and hair stylist were clearly magicians. She’d never looked or felt more
beautiful in her life. Not even the day she married Josh all those years ago.
“Oh my God,” Avery
whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder as she stood behind her in the
mirror. “You look incredible.”
“It’s the hair and
make-up…” She held a trembling hand against the soft upswept tendrils.
“No,” Avery said,
shaking her head. “It takes more than a few sparkly pins and a mascara wand to
create that.” She squeezed Ashley’s shoulders. “You’re radiant.”
Ashley felt a pang
of regret that she wouldn’t be able to recreate this look for her wedding day.
It would look silly, she reasoned, getting all dolled up to exchange their vows
in a stuffy judge’s office. “Thanks, Avery.” She placed her hand on her
friend’s as she smiled at her reflection in the mirror. “You look beautiful,
too.”
All of the ladies
decided to treat themselves to manicures, pedicures, massages, hair, and
make-up. Nikki teased they would have to insist their men take them out on the
town tonight so their glamorous looks wouldn’t go to waste sitting in front of
the TV watching the big game.
Sierra clapped her
hands as she peeked out the window. “Look, girls… the car’s here.”
Ashley frowned.
“What car? We all drove here. I thought we were heading home—”
“Not just yet,”
Sierra said before taking Ashley’s hand to pull her out of the chair. “We have
a little surprise back at my house. Come on, let’s go.”
Derek stood
beneath the floral arch taking in their magnificent surroundings. Trey and
Sierra’s home was beautiful without the additional lights, flowers, organza
fabric, and satin covered chairs lining the lawn. But with the elegant adornments,
the grounds looked like they belonged on the pages of a glossy magazine.
Josh, who stood at
Derek’s side, slapped him on the back. “You nervous, man?”
“Not nervous, just
anxious. I can’t wait to make Ashley my wife.”
“You should’ve
done this a long time ago, if you ask me.”
“It means a lot to
me and Ash that you support us. If not for you, Jay and Mike may never have
come around.”
In the weeks since
he and Ashley had moved in together, her sons has been over for dinner a
handful of times, and the time they spent together was even better than Derek
could have hoped for. Day by day, they were slowly, carefully, rebuilding their
relationship. Jay or Mike would often come over to watch sports with him, shoot
pool in the basement, or talk shop. He thought Ashley’s absence created the
void in his life, but the time he spent with Jay and Mike made him realize that
he’d missed them almost as much as he’d missed her.
Josh shrugged.
“They’re hard-headed like their old man, especially Mike, but I know they
would’ve come around eventually.”
“Hey, thanks for
agreeing to be my best man. I hope it’s not weird for you.”
“Why would it be
weird for me? You and Ash are my best friends. The fact that you guys have
finally found your way back to each other is awesome.”
J.T., Ty, Trey,
Mike, and Jay made their way down the aisle to take their place alongside Josh.
Having Ashley’s sons standing beside him, showing their support for this union,
meant everything to him, and he knew Ashley would feel the same way.
The only person
missing was Dave. Derek looked over to his nephew and saw so much of his
brother in the young man; it was almost like he was still with them. He tipped
his head back and looked up at the cloudless blue sky
. I love you, brother.
Mike and Jay
stepped up to shake Derek’s hand before taking their place in the line of men
there to support him. The hundred guests who had come together to witness their
vows were already seated, and a hum of excitement filled the open space.
Derek could
scarcely believe this was finally happening. He took a step back to ask Mike,
“Have you spoken to your mom? Is she okay?”
Mike grinned.
“She’s better than okay. I’ve never seen her happier.”
He released the breath
he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Taking it upon himself to plan this
surprise had seemed like an inspired idea at the time, but he couldn’t help but
worry that she might be angry with him for leaving her out of the loop until
the last minute. “You sure she’s not pissed at me?”
Jay chuckled.
“Yeah, she’s pissed that you’re messin’ with her make-up. She’s so blown away
that you’d do this for her that she can’t stop cryin’.”
Mike looked him in
the eye. “It means a lot to us, seein’ her so happy.”
He included both
of his future stepsons in his smile when he said, “It’s nothin’ compared to how
happy your mama makes me.”
A hush fell over
the crowd when Marisa, Avery, Sierra, Lexi, and Nikki made their way down the
aisle accompanied by their gorgeous children. Nikki was walking with her
half-brother, who was a picture of their father at his age.
The guests waited
for the ladies to claim their places before the pianist began playing the
traditional wedding march. Derek watched his bride appear in the most stunning
white dress he’d ever seen. It was long, slim, strapless, and scattered with
pearls. She looked like every fantasy he’d ever had materializing as she looked
up into her father’s eyes when they paused at the end of the long white runner.
“You are one lucky
man,” J.T. said with a smile.
Derek didn’t
respond. He didn’t have to. He knew he was the luckiest man alive the day
Ashley agreed to become his wife.
Ashley’s father
lifted her short veil to kiss his daughter’s cheek before he offered her hand
to Derek. “This day is long overdue, son,” he said to his future son-in-law. “I
know you’ll take good care of my baby.”
Derek grasped his
hand firmly. It had been a long time since Ashley’s parents had been a part of
his life, but when he left work early to have dinner with them last night, it
felt like the years melted away as they brought him up to speed on their family
and friends. “I promise I will, sir.”
Ashley claimed her
place at the altar, facing him, and Derek could tell she was on the verge of
tears. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me,” she whispered. “Thank
you.”
He wanted more
than anything to kiss her, but with the minister looking on, he decided not to
tempt fate. “I love you. You know there’s nothin’ I wouldn’t do for you, sweetheart.”
She closed her
eyes as a tear slipped down her cheek.
The minister
welcomed their guests and proceeded with the ceremony before offering Derek the
opportunity to speak directly to Ashley.
“I knew the first
time I laid eyes on you more than twenty-five years ago that there would never
be another woman to take your place in my heart. The years have slipped by and
we’ve led separate lives, but there wasn’t a day that went by when I didn’t
think of you.”
Her bottom lip
trembled as she tried to contain her emotion.
“You were the only
thing missing in my life. No matter how far I ran, or how hard I tried to
forget you, I couldn’t. I knew I’d never feel complete unless I earned the
right to stand up here in front of God and the people we love and make you my
wife. It’s taken me almost half my life to become the man you deserve, but now
that I am, I promise you, I will never let you down again. I’ll fight for you
and us with my dying breath because, Ashley, you are my world. Without you,
nothing else matters.”
The guests dried
their tears as the minister invited Ashley to speak to her groom.
“Derek, when you
walked back into my life, you reminded me what it felt like to be alive. For so
long, I’d just been going through the motions, pretending to be happy, but
feeling this huge void that nothing and no one could ever fill. Then I realized
why… You were the only person who could make me feel complete.” She sniffled.
“Living without you for so many years, trying to pretend I didn’t love you, was
the hardest thing I’d ever done. Now, being able to stand here, in front of the
people who mean the most to us, and tell you, and them, that you’re the love of
my life, my soul mate, is a blessing, one I’ll never take for granted. Today
has been a gift, one I’ll treasure always. Thank you for making my dreams come
true.”
Derek cleared his
throat softly, trying to mask his emotion as the minister asked him the
question that would link their lives forever. “I do.”
Ashley smiled up
at him. He knew that she was the one person who knew how close he was to losing
it. She repeated the words before watching him slip a narrow diamond band next
to the diamond solitaire he’d placed on her finger weeks earlier.
The minister’s
final words barely registered until Derek heard him grant permission for him to
kiss his bride. He held her face in his hands and claimed her mouth in a
tender, but passionate kiss that reiterated his love for her.
“Ladies and
gentleman, I’d like to present Mr. and Mrs. Derek McCall.”
Derek winked at
her as he led her down the aisle to greet their guests. “Damn, I like the sound
of that.”
She laughed as he
raised her hand to his lips. “You better.”
“I love you, Mrs.
McCall.”
“Not as much as I
love you, Mr. McCall.”
To learn more about this author or the rest of the books in
the Nashville Nights series, visit
To comment on this book, or ask the author a question you
can email her at
You can also visit Cheryl on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/cheryldouglasbooks
Please consider leaving a review for this book, or other
books in the Nashville Nights series
Thank You
