Page 42 of Unlocked

Luke and Marley’s wedding day has finally arrived. Everyone is milling about on the patio and down the boardwalk to where the minister awaits with Luke. I chuckle as I recall how nervous he had seemed when we had been in his room getting ready for the ceremony. He’d denied it, of course, still being the father figure the rest of us look up to, but I could see his hands trembling while he had fitted the braces he rarely wears to his legs.

I know he isn’t nervous about marrying Marley. They are both too far gone for the other. Marley has been good for my brother, and I know he’s good for her, too. He loves her, deeply. I can see it every time he looks at her.Is that how I look when I look at Shelby? Do I get that silly, love-sick grin on my face whenever she’s nearby?

“Why do you have that sappy look on your face?” Rosco questions, next to me. I side-eye him, grinning wider. I guess I do get that look. “You too?”

“Yeah,” I admit. I haven’t told my brothers just how close Shelby and I have gotten since getting her away from the terrorists. I’m certain Marley and Daisy are aware. I’ve caughtbits and pieces of Shelby’s side of phone conversations between the three of them and seen how much she blushes. Fuck!Do women share the dirty details of sex?Surely, she wouldn’t disclose stuff like that to my sister. Speaking of Daisy, I look up to see the women exiting the house. It’s almost go-time.

Shelby steps out of the house. The breath in my lungs stills. So fucking gorgeous. The lavender dress showcases all her best assets. I drink her in, so much milky white skin is on display. Skin that I’ve kissed every inch of repeatedly. Her head comes up as if she can feel my eyes undressing her. A shy grin graces her face. Rosco elbows my side. Reluctantly I drag my eyes off my woman to scowl at my brother who has a knowing grin on his face.

“I’m happy for you, Bo.” Rosco’s voice is sincere, but there’s an undertone of sadness, too. I take him in. He isn’t the only one who can read their brother like a book. He’s lonely but resigned to remain that way. I don’t like that look on him.

“Hey, you’ll find your woman, too,” I profess. “She’s out there; you just have to be willing to recognize her when you see her.” He scoffs, shaking his head.

“I wouldn’t do that to some poor woman,” Rosco declares vehemently. “I wouldn’t wish my fucked self on my worst enemy.” I rear back at the fierceness in his tone. He really believes he’s too far gone to find love.

“Just think about this,” I begin, noting how his jaw clenches in irritation at my unwillingness to let this go. “There is a woman out there, who is going to need you, in some way, just as much as you need her to bring you back to the light.” He turns to frown at my words. “It’s true”—I nod to emphasize my point—“do you think I wanted to subject Shelby to me? The immature king of the one-night stand? I don’t deserve her on any level. I know what you all thought of me, and until I met her, I didn’t care about my bad reputation, but then she barreled into my life.Now, all I can think about is her and what she needs.” He cocks his head to the side like he’s trying to figure me out. I suppose it is a shock to hear me wax poetic about being in love with Shelby. I still don’t think he understands. “As bad as my reputation is, Shelby needs me. I’m the man who calms her nightmares. I’m the man she looks to when she’s afraid. I’m the man who is slowly, but surely, making her see how beautiful she is. Sheneedsme. No one else.” He stands next to me, looking out at the ocean. “Don’t deny your woman the man she needs just because you don’t feel worthy. The love and care you give her is what will make you worthy of her love.”

“Fuck me running,” Enos says, appearing next to us. “Bo Robertson is actually making a good point for once in his life. I never thought I’d see the day.” I flip him a one finger salute, drawing a laugh from both of my brothers. Enos turns to Rosco. “He’s right, you know. You may not feel worthy of her, when you find her, but you’ll find yourself moving heaven and earth to be the man she needs you to be.” His eyes drift to Kristen Jones, who is sitting by herself on the back row of the groom’s side of the boardwalk. Enos had bailed her out after her arrest so she didn’t have to wait in jail until the trial. I didn’t understand why he would do such a thing until this moment. Surprise is marring my face as I stare at the look on Enos’s. It’s the same look Luke has when he looks at Marley, that I have when I see Shelby. My brother has fallen in love with our enemy.What the fuck!

“All right!” Daisy declares, loudly. “It’s time to get this party started. You all need to grab your escort.”

I grab my girl and take up our spot in line. I can’t resist leaning down to whisper in her ear. “You look fucking gorgeous. I can’t wait to get you out of that dress.” Shelby’s face blushes that deep shade of red that I love. She pats my arm that she’s hanging onto.

“Behave yourself,” she whispers back. “We still have a long time before you can do that. The ceremony, pictures, and the reception. It’ll be hours; we’ll have to wait.”

“No, we don’t,” I declare. She whips her head to look at me questioningly. Leaning closer, I whisper, “As soon as the I do’s are done, I’m whisking you up to our room. My cock is throbbing with the need to be buried in your honeyed heat, my sweet girl.”

“Bo,” she whines. “You’re an evil, evil man.” I just chuckle, knowing her panties are already soaking wet for me. I can’t wait for this thing to be over. I need my sweet girl.

Chapter 27

Shelby

I’m so happy for Marley and Luke. They look so happy together. I’d been shocked to see him stand when she started down the aisle. He’d wanted to stand at her side when they professed their love to one another. The special braces allow him to stand with crutch supports in each hand.

Now that the ceremony is over and the last of the pictures have been taken, Bo is stalking toward me like a panther on the prowl. A shiver runs through me at the intensity of his gaze. He only has eyes for me, which is overwhelming but makes me feel so much. I think my heart is going to burst with how happy I am. “In coming,” Daisy says beside me. I turn my head toward her. “Just warning you, my brother has that look in his eyes. You should be prepared to be defiled, again.” She smirks at me. I giggle.

“I don’t think I’m the only one getting defiled.” I tip my head to the right. Ace is headed toward us, too. He has his eyes trained on Daisy. “I think we are about to lose these bridesmaid dresses.” Daisy turns to me with grin.

“Oh, yeah we are.” She gives me a quick side hug just as the men reach us. “Have fun!” She winks at me then links her arm with Ace’s. They disappear into the house.

“What’s my sister going on about?” Bo asks, wrapping me up in his arms.

“You don’t want to know,” I tell him. He gives me a look that says the exact opposite, so, I hit him with some truth. “If you must know Ace is as eager to help her out of her dress as you are to help me out of mine.” I smirk. He turns slightly green for a second and shivers head to toe.

“Eww!” He growls. “I didn’t need to know that.” I giggle again.

“Next time, trust me when I say you don’t want to know,” I sass. He nips my bottom lip before kissing the hell out of me.

“Yes, my sweet girl.” His voice drops an octave. “Speaking of getting you out of that dress…” I grin and let him lead me into the house where Marley’s and Luke’s moms are getting the food for the reception out on the table.

“Bo, dear, where are you going?” his mother asks. He has told me how strained the relationship between his mom and his siblings has been. I know he loves her, but he feels abandoned by her as well. I almost feel sorry for her. She’d loved his father so deeply that when he’d disappeared, she’d gone off the deep end.

“We are going to change into something more comfortable,” he tells her. His hand on my lower back urging me to keep going. I can sense how tense he is talking to her. He’s likely worried she’s going to say something dreadful to hurt my feelings, but Marley and Daisy have prepared me for just how mean she can be. I’m ready, and I’ve vowed to not take it personally if she does lash out at me.

“Together?” Her voice full of derision. Bo heaves a heavy sigh.

“It’s none of your business, Mother.” Bo pushes against my back, so I walk a little faster. He suddenly stops. I’ve kept my gaze off his mother, but he apparently saw she was about to say something. When I look up, he’s holding up his hand in theuniversal sign for stop. “Don’t! I will not stand for you to say anything disrespectful to Shelby. She’s my woman, Mother, and you’d do well to remember that before you say something that will ensure you will never see me or your future grandchildren.” I gape at him. What brought on the talk of children? Well, we haven’t been using protection, so it is likely a possibility, but other than that first time, we haven’t talked about having children together.Do I want them?I glance at him. I can see small dark-haired boys the spitting image of their father, running across the patio to tackle him. Yes, I do want to have children with him. I’m not getting any younger, so I guess it’s a good thing we aren’t trying to prevent it.

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