Her Gentle Giant, Part 2: Remember to Dance (32 page)

* * * *

After the dance, Eli returned with Rachel to their table. He drew her into his lap and gave her a chance to collect herself and drink some water. She told him she was thankful for the dimmer lights that disguised her spreading blush. Eli playfully fed her bites of cake, and it was a sweet, quiet moment between them before the others began coming up to visit. By the time she recovered, a blissful Grace and smiling Ethan had joined the group. Corina and Brice came and congratulated them, and so did Ace and Kathleen. Rosemary twirled by with Evan and Wes, dancing with both of them at the same time. Somehow, that girl managed to keep both their hands full. Rachel pointed out Eli’s dad dancing with Jane Jensen, who was looking pretty in a red satin dress.

Grace returned to the table after dancing with Jack and caught Rachel’s eye. She enthusiastically signaled that the girls wanted to dance. Rachel nodded, and Eli grinned, helping her up from his lap. She and the other girls made their way to the dance floor as “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry ended.

“Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” started playing over the loudspeakers, and the girls started rocking. Eli stood next to Jack, Adam, and Ethan and groaned, watching the way the gown moved sinuously with her body, her little silver sandals flashing in the muted light as she danced.

Eli smiled over at Jack when he heard him groan, watching Grace grind with them. At the center of the group, Rachel gradually moved closer and closer across the dance floor until she was right in front of Eli. Her eyes flashed in the twinkling lights as she trailed a finger down his chest and abdomen then freaking stuck it in her mouth and
sucked on it
!

Damn! That song ended, but not the torture, as the DJ played “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” by Trace Adkins next.

* * * *

Ethan stood with Jack and Adam, conversing quietly as he watched the woman he loved dance. Grace exuded happiness and confidence, but he remembered how shyly she had stepped into their lives, not realizing she was about to win the hearts and devotion of not one, but three men. Now, she moved sensuously and gracefully, with joyful freedom, looking beautiful in her blue dress, supremely confident of their love as she gazed at them watching her from the edge of the dance floor.

Ethan spoke up. “Her other gift came today.”

“Oh, yeah?” Adam asked with a crooked smile. “She find it?”

“No, I was there when UPS brought it. It’s hidden in your closet, Jack. I need to attach an anchor to a beam in her bedroom ceiling to support it.”

“Grace will wonder what it’s for. She’ll talk the surprise right out of us,” Jack warned. They all knew full well her persuasive abilities.

“We’ll put it in the day before Christmas while she’s away from the house. She’ll be so busy with Christmas festivities and stuff that she won’t even notice it in the ceiling. I’d rather do that because you know the moment she opens it, she’s going to want to try it out.”

“I like that plan,” Adam said then groaned as she rolled her hips seductively to the music.

Ethan smiled and blew her a kiss and put his hand on his heart when she smiled at him. “She loves making love on that old porch glider so much. Wait till she gets a load of her love swing,” he murmured, imagining her in it right then. The men smiled and agreed, watching her indulgently as the song came to an end and she moved gracefully across the dance floor to them.

Jack kissed her as she reached for him first. “Darlin’, I’d say the wedding is a huge success. Are you tired?”

“Yes, but also very happy. It all turned out perfect, and Rachel was a gem through the whole process. Eli, too,” she added as she hugged Ethan. “It was a great idea to suggest the photo shoot, honey. She loved the pictures.”

“Well, you did, Gracie, so we figured it was worth a shot. I hear hers were pretty well received also.”

She grinned. “Yeah, you know what that’s like.” To which they all nodded, remembering her unveiling their boudoir portraits to them before their wedding.

Smiling playfully, Grace said, “You have to take opportunities like that when they come your way, right?”

Adam grinned and nuzzled her neck as she hugged him. “Seize the day, baby?”

“That’s my motto!” As her men crowded a little closer to her on the dim edge of the dance floor, she caught Adam looking straight down her cleavage. “Is that what you’re doin’ right now?”

He growled. “Yes, because I’d regret it if I didn’t take the opportunity. You’re luscious, baby.”

“You all say the sweetest things. What were you talking about while I was dancing?”

“Your Christmas surprise,” Ethan replied, and eyed her insatiably.

“Oooh! Is it that good? You look at me like you want to eat me!” She giggled softly as they came close even closer.

 Ethan growled softly. “That’s only for starters. Then we might play a little hide and seek, maybe a little Twister.”

Grace pressed her lips together and blushed prettily.

“But eventually we’ll be done playin’ games,” Jack murmured softly so only they could hear.

 “Then we’ll make love to you,” Ethan murmured, kissing her warm cheek.

Adam lifted her palm and kissed it and said, “Until you lose track of who is touching you where.”

Jack kissed the knuckles of her other hand.

“Oh, mama.”

* * * *

Rachel laughed as she collapsed into Eli’s strong arms when the song ended.

“How long before we can leave?” he asked with a deep, sexy growl. She loved when he growled like that. It was a sexy, primal sound that her body always responded to with an equally primal reaction.

His big, strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her to him tightly. That move squeezed her breasts up so that they nearly overflowed her gown. He smiled crookedly before glancing around to see if anyone watched. Quickly, he pressed a kiss to the top of each breast then released her. Rachel had to hold on to him breathlessly for a few seconds. Her skin tingled where his warm lips had touched her.

She looked up at him flirtatiously. “A few more dances?”

“With you
in
my arms, yes. You girls were torturing us poor guys standing here watching you.” The soft smile on his face told her he hadn’t suffered too badly, but the hard cock pressed against her belly hinted at his impatience.

Looking all business with a happy gleam in her eye, Grace came to Rachel and said, “Time for the bouquet toss!”

 All the single women in the room crowded the front and jockeyed for position as Rachel looked over her shoulder, giggling at them and making them wait. She tossed it high in the air. Rosemary jumped a split second after Erin, who was taller. Rosemary’s well-timed move intercepted the bouquet in the crucial moment. She came down the winner and held up the prize in triumph. Jack and Ace nudged Wes and Evan in the ribs when they saw who had won it. Wes and Evan grinned at her when she returned to their sides with it in her hands.

“Eli wants to know when we’re leaving,” Rachel said as Grace rejoined her after the bouquet toss.

“I was coming to see if you want me to help you change here or if you want to get to the bed and breakfast and let Eli undress you.”

“I’d rather let him since what’s underneath is a surprise.”

“It’s no fun if he doesn’t get to unwrap the gift first,” Grace quipped. “Your luggage, including your makeup case, is in the truck, which is securely locked. Some of the kids
may
have decorated the outside of the truck, but everything inside is safe.”

Rachel scoffed good-naturedly. “Come on, Grace, I saw you hand Charity’s kids the bag with crepe paper streamers in it.”

Grace hid a gleeful snort behind her hand. “Oh, well! A little bit of decorations on the truck won’t hurt. People love that stuff! I warned them they could not use shoe polish, though.”

Rachel hugged Grace happily as Kelly joined them. “This was the happiest night of my life. You both made it beautiful and perfect. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”

Eli joined them as Grace and Kelly hugged her.

Kelly took Rachel’s hands. “Rachel, thank you for making my
brother’s
dreams come true.” She sniffled and started to cry. Eli laughed and hugged Kelly, lifting her off her feet. “You’re the best big brother in the whole world!” she mumbled from inside his big embrace.

“Thanks, sis.”

Grace looked at Rachel and said, “I’m so glad you gave him a chance, Rachel. Men of worth are so hard to find. You’ve married a good one.” She turned to Eli and poked him gently in the chest with her fingertip. “And you, you big
galoot
. Take good care of my dear friend.”

“I promise, beautiful,” Eli said and leaned down to hug her. “Thanks for being such a good friend to us.”

Eli hugged his dad and grandparents, and Rachel hugged her mom and dad, thanking them again. The wedding guests lined up and tossed birdseed over them as they ran from the pavilion together. Halfway down the paved walk, Eli stopped and scooped her up in his arms. As the guests cheered, he ran to the truck with her.

Chapter Fifty-three

Firelight flickered around them, the only light in the bedroom as Eli stood behind Rachel and unzipped the wedding dress. Her sweet, womanly fragrance filled his nostrils, and his hardening cock responded with a yearning twitch. The dress fell from her in a silken whisper to the thick rug between the bed and the fireplace. He placed a warm kiss on her shoulder and helped her step from the dress. She turned, and he took a deep breath, sighing appreciatively.

“Well, this looks familiar.”

Stepping back, Eli took a moment to enjoy the sight of her. Rachel’s hair was brushed out in soft waves, and she was laced into the white silk corset from her portrait. He could see the slightest hint of her rose-colored nipples through the patterned lace of the cups. She wore a white silk G-string, the garters, sheer white stockings, her pretty silver heels, and nothing else. She gave him a graceful turn then presented her back to him, and he undid the bow at the back.

“Carrie shot a series of pictures for you back at Grace’s house while I got dressed. She thought you might like that.” He heard the quiver of excitement in her voice.

“I would.” The corset had hook and eye fasteners on the side, but what was the fun in that? He continued working the laces through his fingers until the corset fell away. She turned to him, slid his tuxedo jacket off his shoulders, and unbuttoned his shirt while he removed his tie and vest. They took their time and didn’t rush the moment.

Eli gazed down at her, adoring her, as everything fell to the floor around them. He removed his shoes and socks, stopping her when she would have removed the rest of her clothing. She reached to help him with the button of his pants, and he could hear her soft, uneven breathing.

Finally freed of her clothing, she rested her warm, silken body against his. She sighed as he slid his hand down her back to the waist of her G-string. He led her to the large thick rug in front of the screened fireplace and got down on his knees. He placed her hands on his shoulders so she wouldn’t lose her balance and slipped her high-heeled sandals from her slender, graceful feet. He lifted each foot to his knee and slowly slid the sheer white stockings from her long legs, one at a time.

He drew her down to her knees in front of him and gently grasped her warm hips with his hands, kissing her until she clung to him breathlessly. Her hands trembled, and her lips quivered a little as he lapped at her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue. Desire sang in his blood, and his impatient cock twitched persistently at being ignored. He lowered her to the rug slowly and reclined beside her. With one hand, he hooked the waist band of the G-string from her hips and slid it quickly down her legs until she was free of it.

Eli slowly stroked her collarbone and leaned down to suckle a nipple. His hand continued down her trembling torso to a softly rounded hip then over her mound. Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers strayed into her warm, wet lips, glistening with the silken evidence of how aroused she was by his attention.

“Oh, angel,” he groaned over her nipple, licking it softly. “So wet already.”

Rachel moaned breathlessly as his fingers stroked her clit, gently sliding through her slick honey. She arched and moved with his hands. The muscles in her cunt clenched around his finger when he slipped it inside and stroked her pussy, sliding through all her juices. He gently rubbed her clit with his thumb and added another finger to the first, stroking into her silky, delicate flesh.

Rachel’s hand stroked his shoulder. “Oh, Eli.” She threw her head back, and her back arched. “Baby, you’re so good to me.”

She moved on his finger and began to pant and cry out. He began a gentle pumping motion and growled when her muscles tightened on his fingers. She came with a low, moaning sob. Stroking her until she finished, he kissed her gently and nuzzled her lips.

“I adore you, angel,” he whispered as she reached for him.

Kneeling between her legs, Eli hooked one of her thighs over his forearm, lifting her hips slightly. He growled low when her silky, wet heat kissed his cock as he positioned the head at her opening.

She looked up at him, love radiating from her eyes. “Make love to me, Eli,” she murmured softly when he hesitated for a few seconds.

He wanted to enjoy and remember the moment when he entered his wife for the first time. He smiled at her as his body vibrated with desire, and her breath caught with a deep, impassioned moan as he quite literally slid home.