Wounded Pride (9 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Things have been progressin
g
nicely with us. There are days when I think he’s almost to the point where he can walk all by himself and then there are days when it seems we are right back at square one. It’s rather odd really. I just can’t tell what’s going on with him.

I walk into my house after work and notice there are rose petals on the floor. “That’s odd. Pierce?” I yell out and no one answers back. It looks like there’s a trail leading to the kitchen so that’s where I head and find a note lying on the counter.

Kinlee,

Have supper with me tonight. Our favorite spot 6:00. Don’t be late.

Love, Pierce

I love these little notes that he leaves laying around. I never know where or when they will appear, but they always brighten my day no matter when I get them. It looks like I have a date to get ready for.

After showering and getting ready, I take the time to make sure my dress looks perfect. Pierce’s favorite color is black so that’s what I’ve got on. It has a plunging neckline, and I’ve matched it with a pair of heels. My eyes look smoky and a beautiful shade of red accentuates my lips. I know I don’t have to dress up for our dates, but I love to do it for him. Seeing that smile spread across his face when he sees me makes it all worth it.

I pull my car up to an empty spot, turn off the engine then get out, noticing for the first time how many cars are actually here. I always love coming to this secluded park, especially when the trees are in bloom. The scent of Magnolia wafting through the air is enough to transport anyone to a magical place. Making my way down the path to the secluded bench that we call our spot, I realize that there are rose petals on the ground. Brodiaea covers the ground itself on either side, which at times, can look like a beautiful purple carpet from a distance. Can this get any weirder? After I take a few more steps, I begin to hear people chatter. I realize that I know everyone I’ve seen so far or knew them a long time ago.

“Hi, Kinlee. You look beautiful,” Tammy says, urging me forward. She used to live in our neighborhood. We used to play together when we were kids and stayed pretty close growing up until we both decided to move away. We still wrote to each other, not wanting to lose contact. 

“Hi,” I reply back, still confused and baffled by what is going on.

The further I walked, the more people there were, all telling me how beautiful I looked and how happy they were for me. Huh? Did I miss something?

My mom appears out of nowhere. “Mom. What the hell is going on?”

She gives me a stern look. “Watch your mouth, missy. I can’t say. Just go up there and wait.”

Without missing a beat, she practically shoves me up to wherever I’m supposed to be going. I wish someone would tell me what the fuck is going on. And then I hear it. Music. It’s soft, but definitely coming from somewhere. I turn around and try to locate where the music is coming from and watch everyone come closer and closer. I feel like I’m in some fucking zombie movie, for God’s sake. My anxiety is starting to pique. My hands are getting sweaty. My mouth is going dry. And then something else happens. All these people in front of me split like the Red Sea and I see him. Pierce is standing there in a tuxedo. A fucking tuxedo. My legs get weak and I just about collapse when my dad steps up to catch me.

“I’ve got you. We want you to be happy, Kinlee.” I don’t have to look at him to know he’s crying. I’d recognize that sound anywhere.

I hear him talking, but all I can do is keep my eyes on Pierce. He’s going to do it. One. Two. Three. Slowly, but surely he makes his way up to me. He WALKS all the way up to me smiling the entire time. I don’t think I have ever seen him smile so much. He mouths the words, I. Love. You, and Surprise.

Surprise doesn’t even begin to cover what I’m feeling right now. Shocked. Overwhelmed. Totally and completely plowed. I notice that the closer he gets, the smaller the gap gets. Everyone is moving in around him, wanting to get the best seat in the house, but for what… Oh, my God, surely not.

He walks right up to us. I still can’t get over him walking all that way. “I’ll take it from here.”

He takes my hand from my dad and his only reply is while shaking his hand. “Take good care of her, son.”

Pierce nods his head then smiles at me. “I love you.” He gives me a kiss and takes a step back but still grips my hands. “I had you once and I let you walk away without a fight. That will not happen again.” I can hear people laughing in the background. All I can think is that I can’t believe this is happening. “You are my constant. You are the reason I get up in the morning. You’re the air I breathe. I am nothing without you. We belong together. Kinlee, would you do the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”

I can barely believe what I’m hearing. I can hardly see him from the amount of tears that have clouded my eyes. I try to say yes, but I’m not sure if it actually sounds like it’s supposed to so I nod my head.

He turns toward the crowd that has seemed to grow and shouts, “She said yes!”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.” There. I know I said it that time.

Pierce grips my face with his hands and plants a massive kiss on me that I wasn’t expecting but am thankful that I’m receiving, and then he whispers, “I’m not taking any chances. I have a minister here right now. Will you marry me right now in front of all these witnesses? I’ve got everything taken care of.”

I’m almost stunned speechless. “Yes.” What can I say? I love him but talk about being put on the spot.

“Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today…” He was not kidding. Where in the hell did he come from? He must’ve pulled that minister out of his ass because that certainly happened quickly.

The ceremony was simple and to the point. I am now Mrs. Pierce Lundin. Breaking the wonderful kiss, I say,“Now, what do you have in mind for our honeymoon, Mr. Lundin?”

He hugs me close and tight then growls in my ear. “Mrs. Lundin. I love saying that. Mrs. Lundin, you will just have to wait a short while for the honeymoon. I promise.”

Everyone hoots and hollers. I think every single person has come up and congratulated us in some way, shape, or form. We all walk a short distance to the barn that I thought was abandoned and see it transformed into something magical. The way they have old bulbs hung from the rafters puts off a nice glow. The tables all have simple, rustic decorations. 

“How did you pull all of this off without me finding out?” He pulls me even closer and whispers in my ear. The emotions that are running through me right now are indescribable. I still can’t believe he pulled this off. 

“It was hard but well worth it. I hope someone got a picture of your face when you saw it was me walking down the aisle instead of you.” He starts laughing then pulls me into the middle of the floor as the D.J. announces our arrival and our first dance.

Everything I could have asked for has come true. I got a second chance at love with my one true love. Not many people can say that. Who knows what the future has in store for us. The one thing that I know for sure is that we are in this together. No matter what happens, he’s stuck with me.

***

This was the hardes
t
thing I have ever pulled off. It took a lot of hard work to get to where I’m at today. All the extra hours of therapy and training paid off the second I saw her face. The way everyone stepped to the side so she could see me standing there went better than planned. With one foot in front of the other, I made it down to her. Every single person disappeared the moment our eyes met. She had on my favorite black dress with those heels that accentuated her legs and ass.

We’ve come a long way to get to this point. It was a struggle in the beginning but worth every second. I would do it all over again if need be. It was hard for me to admit to myself that I was falling in love with her again after everything that happened. I knew I would be asking her to marry me, but I had to make sure it was the right time and place. I had to make sure she wanted it as badly as I did. I left nothing to chance.

I hope she realizes how happy she makes me and I’ll try until my dying day to make her just as happy. By the look on her face, I have a head start.

Her eyes are glistening with tears that are tempting to spill over. Her cheeks are flushed. I can tell she’s nervous about what’s going on the way she’s fidgeting. I take her hands as soon as I can, reassuring her father that I will take good care of her. A few minutes later, we recite our vows. I wasn’t lying when I told her all those things, but the truth is that she’s so much more than that. I love the way she comforts me and tries to help me when I’m having a rough day. I admire how strong she can be yet so vulnerable at the same time. She’s passionate about everything she does and doesn’t give up until she’s 100% completely satisfied with the outcome. She is my life. My lover. And, now, my wife. There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for her.

Chapter Seventeen

One Year Later

I can’t believe it’
s
been one year since Pierce surprised me. This last year has been amazing. Pierce has been able to lessen the amount of physical therapy he needs. The doctor said that he should still continue it for another six months so he doesn’t lapse though.

I’m sitting on the porch swing, thinking of how this is the last night in our house. We’ve come so far. I never thought I would be able to get him back. It just goes to show that you need to live day by day and take chances on the ones you love.

Our honeymoon was magical. He took me to the one place that he knew I’ve always wanted to go. The Galapagos Islands. I know what you’re thinking, but the answer is simple. It’s gorgeous there and I love it. That night was something else I’ll never forget.

“Baby? What are you doing out here by yourself?” Pierce asks as he walks out through the back door. 

I smile at him and pat the empty seat beside me. I have to adjust myself a little and get my foot unstuck from beneath me. “Just thinking about our honeymoon.”

He sits beside me and wraps his arm around me, pulling me in closer to him. He chuckles a little. “That’s not something I’ll soon forget.”

Resting my head against his shoulder, just the sound of his heart beating away takes me back to that amazing night.

“I cannot believe you did all of this.” Telling him as I lay a big sloppy kiss on him. We can’t seem to keep our hands off each other.

“You’re worth it. You’ve always been worth it, Kinlee,” he says, running his hand down my back and squeezing my ass.

I could just eat him alive right now with how good he looks. “I love you, Pierce.”

“I love you, too. Now, let’s get inside. We need to get down to business.”

We run inside our bungalow, tossing our bags aside and fall into bed. Our hands are everywhere. It’s like the first time all over again. I’m scrambling to get his shirt up over his head. His are fumbling to get my bra undone. Finally, after getting that damn shirt off and getting a look at his chiseled chest, I move down and start undoing his pants. Of course, I don’t just try to undo the button and the zipper, I run my hand over his cock and feel how hard he is.

“Baby, if you don’t help me take this fucking shirt off you, then I’m gonna rip it.”

“Fine.” I feign pouting and rise up on my knees in front of him and do a mini striptease while removing my shirt then bra, swinging it above my head a couple of times before tossing it off to the side to land in the never-never land of clothes.

His eyes widen and he licks his lips. “Have mercy. I love your boobs,” he says, reaching up and grabbing a handful, causing me to be off balance and tipping over to the side. “Where you going?” It’s nice to know I can make him laugh while I’m toppling over trying to be all sexy.

Pierce quickly catapults up off the bed and flattens me. “There. I have you right where I want you. Now, what shall I do with you?” he says, nibbling on my ear.

I can hardly catch my breath from laughing so hard and then I look him straight in the eye and it’s like time stands still. He starts running his thumb across my bottom lip. The only thing I can think of at this moment is that this is it. Our time has finally come, but at the same time, I’m asking myself why the hell I’m so nervous. It’s not like we haven’t had sex before. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s been so long. We haven’t had sex since we got back together. It’s not that we didn’t try, but it just didn’t work. We decided that it was something we didn’t want to rush. We were afraid that if we pushed it too far then it would backfire on us. So, we decided to let everything happen on its own. That didn’t mean we didn’t play around with some more prostate play because we did. And I learned to loosen up and have a little more fun, too.

“You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this.”  The amount of love that is showing in his eyes right now is like never before.

Tears well up in my eyes. “I’m sorry it’s been so long.”

He lowers his lips to mine, starting the kiss off nice and slow. It’s like he’s got everything pictured how he wants this mission to go only this time he knows for sure what the outcome will be.

He takes his time, learning every inch of my body. Kissing and nibbling his way down until he can’t go any further. “This is one of the things that kept me going.” He reaches down and undoes my button, then the zipper, slowly starting to peel my pants and panties off. “Not knowing for sure if I’ll ever be able to make love to you kills me, but I always tried to stay positive.” He smiles big. “And look where it’s got you.”

“Right where I want to be.”

“Here’s to a great homecoming.” He chuckles a little.

He makes quick work of the rest of it, with his soon following, not having a care in the world where the clothes land. He nestles between my legs. I can feel the head of his cock pressing against my legs. He knows how wet I am. Now, normally I would like a little more floor play, but right now, all I really want is for Pierce to just fuck me.

He starts rocking his hips slightly, making sure his dick is nice and slick. “God, Kinlee. Just bear with me, please.”

I grab his face with my hands to make sure he’s looking at me. “I love you. No matter what.”

I know he’s nervous. I know he’s scared, but he really shouldn’t be. I know that everything will work the way it’s supposed to.

He pulls his hips back and aligns his dick with my entrance, slowing pressing further in each time. “Jesus, fuck.”

I’m totally lost on what to do. I want to keep my eyes open so I can watch his face, but I want to close them so I can really feel him more. My brain makes my mind up for me when my eyes start rolling into the back of my head.

“Oh, God, you feel good.”

“I don’t know how long this is gonna last baby.” He halts when he’s worked his cock all the way in.

He pulls back after a moment and slides in only to retreat, but this time he slams in, bottoming out when he does. “Holy fuck. A couple more like that and I’ll be right there with you.”

He takes that literal because that’s exactly what he does, repeatedly, and it doesn’t take long before I start feeling everything tighten up and my orgasm consumes me.

“Fuck, Kinlee. You tighten up anymore.” He thrusts into me two more times. “Fuck!” he shouts.

I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I open my eyes just in time to see his orgasm take him by storm and I know I’m smiling from ear to ear.

“Come on. We have a big day tomorrow. The movers will be here bright and early in the morning.” I slap his leg, urging him to get off the swing and come inside with me.

He follows me in and we go through the usual routine of getting ready for bed. We always race to see who can get done first. The last one done has to turn out the bedroom light. It’s our little thing and tonight, Pierce is the one who has to turn out the lights. I think he lets me win half the time just so he can pretend he’s the boogieman coming to get me.

He crawls into bed and pulls me close to him, practically molding me to his body. It’s pretty much guaranteed that I won’t be able to get out of bed in the morning, but I love the fact that he does that.

“’Night, baby. Love you,” he whispers then kisses my ear.

“’Night honey. Love you, too.”

My last thoughts before sleep finally claims me for the night is that I always hoped and dreamed that this day would come. I didn’t think life could get any better. I slowly ease my hand down to my stomach and gently caress it. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day, and Pierce is going to get the surprise of a lifetime.