Her Secrets (8 page)

“Now,” Austin said, lifting her
into his arms, “there’s the matter of making love to my beautiful wife.”

“Austin,” she
said, pretending shock.

He chuckled, walking
into the bedroom. “You realize I’m the only man you’re allowed to make love to for the rest of your life, right?” He set her down next to the bed and pulled her thick sweater over her head.

She
went to work unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re the only man I’ve ever made love to—the only man I want to make love to.”

His eyes went wide in surprise. “Even after I left?”

She nodded. “My mom and sisters tried to convince me to get back out there, but you’re all I ever wanted.”

He unzipped her
boots and took them off, letting them fall to the floor. Then he removed her socks, running a finger along the middle of her foot. It should’ve tickled, but the way he did it sent a shock of need to her core. He helped her to her feet and undid her pants, kneeling in front of her as he pulled them off her hips. When they reached her thighs, he leaned in and kissed the area just above her clit.

She
trembled. He lifted one foot and she held onto to his shoulders. He took off one pant leg and then the other, trailing kisses along her inner thighs as he worked.

When her pants were finally off her
thighs quivered with desire.

“It’s going to
be my pleasure to make sure you’re convinced your choice was the right one.” He kissed the area just below my belly button. “Each and every day for the rest of our lives.” His voice was hoarse, filled with emotion.

Willow
cupped his cleanly shaved face in her hands. “You better,” she said playfully.

Austin
growled good-naturedly and pushed her back on the bed. One knee rested between her legs. He kissed her deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth. She reciprocated, running her hands along his back.

“Husband, I
want you,” she whispered, tugging on his jacket.

Austin quickly got undressed, kicking off his shoes, socks, jacket, shirt, pants and underwear. His body was like a
perfectly chiseled sculpture. Willow wanted to drag her tongue along every hard line, between every crevice.

When he was naked, he climbed back on the bed. “Roll over,” he commanded.

She did, wondering what he had in mind, happy to comply. She trusted him with her body and soul.

Austin took her
hair out of its bun with tender care. Then he unhooked her bra, trailing kisses along her spine. When his lips got near the spots she knew her tumors were, her body tensed. His hands came up to her shoulders and he massaged them. “It’s okay, love. Let go.”

She
tried to obey, releasing the tension in her shoulders.

He kissed along her
spine to the center of her hips.

“Austin.” It made her
nervous to have him so near the part of her that could suddenly end her life. She didn’t want him to realize what he’d done and regret it. That was her biggest fear: that one day he’d wish he never married her, never took on the difficulties that went along with being in her life.

“Wife, I love every part of you.”
He moved down and pulled off her lacy cream undies, kissing each ass cheek and down her thighs, the backs of her knees, her calves, and ankles as he went.

Every nerve ending was attuned to him. Each one longed for his touch.

Austin rolled her over and climbed back on the bed, his knees between her legs. He placed his hands on either side of her arms, holding himself up as he leaned down and kissed her.

God, I love his kisses, love the way his mouth seems
to know exactly what my body wants
.

He moved down to her neck. She
grasped his shoulders, lifting into his mouth. He smelled so good, like man and sunshine with a hint of his aftershave. She nipped at his bicep, and then kissed the same spot.

He contin
ued his kisses down to between her breasts. His fingers found her nipples and teased them into submission. They strained against his touch.

She
longed for his mouth on them and he seemed to understand. Pinching one lightly, his mouth covered the other, flicking it with his tongue.

Willow
arched her back so her breast went deeper into his mouth. He gave it more attention, suckling harder.

She
felt his hardness pressing against her thigh and she reached out and took his cock in her hand. His precome made it wet and she rubbed it all over the length of him. He groaned against her breast and moved over to the other one, giving it his full attention.

Willow
continued to massage him, feeling his cock expand larger, if that were possible.

“God, Will. You’re good at that.” He k
issed and sucked his way down her stomach past her belly button to the wetness between her thighs. He spread her slit, exposing her clit more fully, and suckled on it.

“Fuck,” she
moaned. Her body responded instantly. She grabbed fistfuls of hair.

He slid a finger
inside, moving it in and out as he continued to suckle her clit.

Willow’s
body writhed and shuddered as her orgasm built and, just as he was about to send her over the edge, he stopped. She spread her thighs wide as he positioned himself to enter her. Austin took hold of her thighs and slowly pushed his cock inside her pussy until he was buried deep inside her wet folds.

“You feel so fucking good.”
He slowly pulled out and then slid back inside, repeating the rhythm with control Willow didn’t possess. 

She reached out to touch him and he leaned over. As he slid in and out, he kissed her—tenderly at first, but as their kisses deepened and became more passionate, so did his movements. He thrust his cock into her. She met him as he went deeper and deeper.

“Austin. Austin. Fuck,” she moaned.

He shifted his body, turning hers so that she was slightly sideways and pressed his cock even deeper still. Her body opened to him, like a flower opening for the sun. Her orgasm was building fast. Austin shoved deep inside, touching her core. She exploded all over his shaft.

Austin
pushed deep inside one last time with his orgasm. His body shuddered and he lay on top of her. “We’re doing that every fucking day,” he said in her ear.

She rolled on her back
hugged him tightly, hoping that every day was over many years. “I’m looking forward to it.”  

KISSED HER TENDERLY

FOURTEEN

The next morning they flew back to Dallas. Her mom and sisters were hard at work helping the party planner get the house and the back yard ready.

Willow
glanced at Austin. “I guess I’ll tell them the news.”

Austin chuckled. “They already know.”

“Of course they do. It seems I’m always the last to know everything.” Willow crossed her arms in a playful sulk.

Austin
snickered. “No more. I promise. From tonight on you’ll be the first person to know everything.”

“Except birthday surprises.”

“Are you sure?” He was still laughing.

Willow
pulled his shirt from his pants and moved her hands up his stomach to his chest. She loved touching him. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“Fine, then I’ll keep birthdays a surprise. Anything
else?” His hands moved along her sides, caressing.

She
pretended to think. “That ought to do it.”

Austin kissed her
tenderly.

“But the dress? I hope you didn’t pay for it?”
Willow said, pulling out of the kiss. She had to admit she was a little disappointed she wouldn’t get to wear it. She felt like a princess with it on. And she’d really wanted Austin to see her in it.

“Yes, I bought the dress. We’re having another ceremony today.”

Willow giggled. “We are?”

“Hell yes. I want to see you in
the dress. Claudine raved about the way you looked in it.”

Her
heart was so full of love for the man in front of her. “You’re amazing,” she whispered.

“I know.” He gave her
a hug.

Willow was going to ask him to take her to bed, but her
mom rushed in. “It’s about time.” She grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward the stairs. “We need to get you ready.”

Willow
gave Austin a little wave.

He blew her
a kiss.

“Man, you two are sappy,” Liv said slapping Austin on the arm as she walked past him a
nd moved up the stairs behind their mom.

“Yes, ma
’am,” Austin said, tilting his imaginary hat. That reminded Willow that she needed to ask him what had happened to the hat he wore every day when they first met.

“Austin,” Willow shouted when she
reached the top of the stairs.

“Willow,” he hollered back.

“I love you.”

***

Heather brought in Emma.  While Willow’s mom and sisters worked on her hair, Emma sat on her lap playing with one of her toys. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon right before her unofficial wedding. She, her mom and her sisters talked about the flight and the wedding on the beach. They teased Willow about her wedding night and she blushed profusely.

Someone brought up a tray of fruit, cheese and crackers alon
g with a bottle of champagne. They snacked and drank and had the best time.

When the time came to get
dressed Heather took Emma and her sisters left.

Willow’s mom helped her
get the dress out of the garment bag. They slid it over her head and she zipped Willow up. Willow walked over to the full-length mirror.

Her
mom started to cry. “You look beautiful.” Her hands were together as though she was praying and she pressed them to her mouth. “Are you happy?” she asked, coming up behind Willow.

“Very.” She
turned and hugged her mom.

“Good. Keep that in mind
, because there’s something I need to tell you.” Her mom was suddenly nervous.

“What is it, mom?”

She walked over to the overstuffed chair in front of the vanity and sat down. “I-I—” She stopped and shook her head. “I interfered,” she finished solemnly.

“You did? How? What did you do?”

“Well, you see,” she crossed her arms. “I knew his name. You’d told us his name and I hired a private investigator to find him,” she said, letting out a whoosh of air. It was obvious she was relieved to reveal the secret. It’d been pressing on her for some time.

“So that’s how
he got my email? You gave it to him?” The question had been bothering Willow for a while, but she hadn’t found the right time to ask Austin about it.

“
When the investigator verified he’d found the correct Austin, he gave me Austin’s cell phone number. I called and left a message, explaining who I was, that I thought it was awful he’d left like he did and that he needed to make it right. I gave him your email.”

“You’re kidding.” Had he
intended to come back before her mom called him? Was everything a lie? It didn’t feel like one. Austin seemed sincere.

“He called me right back and told me
he’d already scheduled a flight to come find you, that he’d just intended to show up on your doorstep. I suggested he email you, saying it might be nice if you had a little time to prepare.”

Willow
stared at her reflection in the mirror. Who was this woman? She’d hired a detective, stalked Austin, and called him? Willow was in shock. “You believe him?”

She nodded vigorously. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that he’s head over heels in love with you. And on top of that he adores Emma.”

Willow swallowed, fighting the fear that had snuck up on her.

There was a knock on the door. “It
’s time,” a female voice said. Willow recognized the voice as that of the party planner. She still jumped, her nerves on end.

“If I didn’t believe he was sincere, I would’ve said something. But I know he loves you. Please tell me you know it too.”

“I do,” Willow said, quickly, realizing that was the truth. She did know, without a doubt. Willow hugged her mom again. “Thanks for telling me.”

“You’re not mad?” she asked in a small voice.

Willow smiled big. “I’m in shock. I can’t believe you did that for me, but no, I’m not mad.”

“I’m so glad.
” She opened the door and they walked down the stairs.

***

The wedding was beautiful. Austin looked so handsome in his black tux with a white tie.

Sa
ra held Emma and stood beside Willow. Liv and Heather stood beside her during the ceremony. They wore silver dresses and held silver roses. Emma was in a white dress that was similar to Willow’s and she couldn’t help but wonder if the designer had made it for Emma on such short notice.

Willow’s
bouquet was filled with silver, white, and red flowers. Two men stood next to Austin. She found out later they were his best friends.

As the night progressed she
got to know them. They seemed nice, gentlemanly even.

Not everyone was a
s cordial, though. Willow caught several gorgeous women glaring at her. Three of them cornered her as she went through the line to get something to eat.

“Unbelievable,” one said, shaking her head.

“What is?” Willow asked.

“That he chose you,” another said.

“Red?” The third one said, and reached out to touch Willow’s hair.

Willow
stepped back, smiling sweetly. “I don’t think it’s unbelievable at all—if you three are indication of what he had to choose from.”

“Bitch,” one said.

All three walked away.

Someone came up behind her. Willow
tensed until he slid his arms around her waist.

He kissed her
ear.

“Austin,” she
breathed, relaxing and leaning into him.

“You’re kick
ass,” he said, trailing kisses down her neck.

She
turned and smiled, kissing him softly.