The Promises We Keep (Made for Love Book 1) (127 page)

“
Shorty, why are you blushing?
”
he asks, bringing my hand up to his lips. He kisses the back of my palm before he continues.
“
It was
your
idea, after all.
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
I shrug, suddenly feeling bashful.
“
Do you think people might figure it out?
”

“
What? That the best man and the matron-of-honor ditched the reception to go hook-up?
”
I nod in response.
“
You know, it happens all the time. Fortunately for me, the matron-of-honor and my wife are one and the same.
”

“
You got that right! Otherwise, you would have missed out on slutty wedding sex.
”

“
Yes, well, what just happened in the bathroom is nothing in comparison to what I plan on doing with my wife later.
”

“
Sonny!
”
I giggle as I gawk up at him.
“
It hasn
’
t even been
five minutes
since the last time we did it.
”

He stops me in the ballroom doorway and stands behind me as he pulls me against him. My eyes scan the crowd of family and friends that are here to celebrate Addie and Hammy
’
s nuptials, keeping watch in case we start to draw attention to ourselves. I can
’
t help but wonder if our absence has been noticed. I sincerely hope not. I soon forget about such concerns when Grayson lowers his mouth to whisper in my ear; my stomach tingles with anticipation.

“
Since when has one time ever been enough for me, sweetheart? You drive me crazy, Avery, and you know it
—
especially in this dress. So, yes, I
’
m already thinking about later, when I can take my time with you and explore every inch of your body.
”
I shiver against him and he chuckles before he reaches for my hand, once more.
“
Come on. Dance with me.
”

I follow him with pleasure. I love this man. My husband. Being married to him is better than I ever imagined that it could be. I can
’
t even really explain how incredible it is, knowing and trusting that he is my partner forever. This past year has brought about many changes and challenges, and having him with me every step of the way has brought us so much closer. I wonder if I
’
ll ever stop falling in love with him; I seriously doubt it. Moving away together and completing our first year in graduate school has been the hardest adventure I
’
ve ever been on. We
’
re changing and growing as life, and God, encourages us forward. What I cherish the most is that we
’
re not just growing as individuals, we
’
re evolving as a unit
—
as a family.

I
’
m so grateful that we have
each other
. I know I come from a great family, which just got a little bigger today, and I
’
m happy to share that with Grayson
—
but I
’
m also thankful that he and I are now our
own
family. We
’
re not ready to have children yet, but that doesn
’
t make the two of us, together, any less of a family, and I love that. I love that I can be the woman in Grayson
’
s life that will never leave and who will love him unconditionally until my last breath. Just the same, I love that he is mine
—
always, vibrantly, entirely, reverently,
mine
—
to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, through sickness and health, in good times and in bad, until God claims us unto Him.

Today, my best friend became my brother-in-law. I
’
ve considered him my brother for years; now it
’
s for real. My family is growing. Some days, I wake up and I look at Avery and I
’
m overwhelmed just
knowing
how much I
’
ve been blessed simply because I fell in love with the magnificent woman in my arms. I spent twelve years in a loveless home; twelve years with a stranger who biology declares is my father. My perception of family was completely skewed. Then I met Beck. Somehow, knowing him set me on a different path. A better path.
The right
path. Our friendship brought me to Christ; our friendship brought me to Avery; our friendship changed everything for me.

I know I have siblings out there somewhere, but I will probably never know them. Rhonda took that opportunity away from me. While I
’
m trying to forgive her for that, too much time has passed. They aren
’
t my family and I don
’
t need them to be. Beckham is my brother now; and Addie and Kenzie are my sisters. In just a couple of weeks, Avery and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary. While she and I may be O
’
Conners, I feel like we
’
re also Grayson and Avery
Grant,
and Grayson and Avery
Willis
—
our union is tied to a much bigger whole.

This entire day has been pretty amazing
—
and not just because I have a wife who invited me to ravage her against the bathroom door a few minutes ago. I know that the past year has been hard for Beck and Addie, with him in Texas and her in Colorado Springs. Ave and I kind of felt their pain. We had each other, but we missed them, too. When we moved to Chicago, where we were both accepted into graduate programs, I know it was particularly difficult for Avery to be apart from Addison. I
’
m her husband, and I love her more than life itself, but I will never be able to fill Addison
’
s shoes.

I know that on top of having to deal with a long distance relationship, Addie really missed her other half, as well. Now, I
’
m glad that
long distance
is a thing of the past for Mr. and Mrs. Willis and they can
finally
be together. It
’
s taken them a lot to get here, but they made it. I pray that they will know the happiness that I know.

Marriage has turned out be unlike anything I ever imagined it could be. It
’
s hard. I won
’
t pretend that it
’
s not. I don
’
t think I could have done
anything
to prepare myself for the reality of marriage, because I
’
ve never really been around a good one. But no matter how hard it gets sometimes, I wouldn
’
t trade what I have with Avery for anything.
She
’
s my world.
For every difficult day we face, we have an exponential amount of blissfully happy moments. She
’
s my person and I am hers. Even though we
’
re miles and miles away from our family, we have each other. Our love and our commitment to one another makes wherever we are
home.

I
’
m still falling in love with her. I probably always will be. The best part is, I know she feels the same way.

“
Pst!
”
I
’
m pulled from out of my head by Claire, when she and Jack shuffle up beside us on the dance floor. It
’
s been so good to hang out with them this weekend. We haven
’
t had a chance to see them since
our
wedding.

“
Hey, guys,
”
greets Avery with a grin.
“
What
’
s up?
”

“
Well, I
’
m pretty sure it
’
s not up now, but I know it was a minute ago. Don
’
t think I don
’
t know what you two were doing when you snuck off earlier.
”
Avery gasps and then buries her face in my chest as she moans in embarrassment. Jack laughs and I join in as I rub my hands up and down her back.
“
I can
’
t believe how you
’
ve corrupted our little angel,
”
says Claire with a wink.
“
Way to go.
”

When Avery looks up at me, her cheeks are my favorite shade of red. Claire thinks the innocence and purity inside of my girl is gone, but it
’
s not
—
and I hope that never changes.

“
Do you regret it?
”
I ask her, reaching up to lovingly run my knuckles down the side of her face. I know the answer; but I also know that having her say it out loud will help squash her momentary embarrassment over having gotten caught.

“
No,
”
she whispers.
“
I could never regret having you inside of me.
”

She slays me
.

Honestly, I don
’
t think I
’
ll ever be able to get enough of her. I
’
m half tempted to scoop her up into my arms and carry her up to our room right now
—
but I don
’
t. Instead, I lean down and press a chaste kiss against her lips.
“
Promise me something?
”

“
Anything, my love.
”

“
Stay this incredible always.
”

“
I
’
ll try if you will.
”

“
Deal.
”

Trevor and Daphne are up next! Here
’
s a sneak peek into Reckless Surrender, book 2 of the Made for Love series
—
Now Available!