Page 85 of Wish You Would

I stand behind her, gripping her hips before sliding my hands around her body to rest on her bump. She arches herneck to the side, giving me access. She knows it’s one of my favorite parts of her body.

“I’m going to be walking around the damn reception trying to hide an erection thanks to you in that dress.”

I run my nose along her jaw, inhaling her scent. The smell of Briar is like a fucking addiction to me, and so is her body. I constantly crave her. My eyes meet hers in the mirror. We look good together. Her golden blonde hair in contrast to my light brown. Her sea-green eyes are a few shades lighter than my own. My hand drifts up the olive skin of her arm until it reaches her shoulder. My mouth sucks on her neck.

“Holden, you’re going to leave a mark.”

I watch in the mirror as her lips part, enjoying the feel of my mouth on her skin. She mewls the sweetest sound that goes straight to my cock.

“Good. Then you’ll remember how badly I want you every time you look at yourself in the mirror. Everyone at the wedding will know just how much I want to take you home and get you out of this dress.” I gently nip at her neck with my teeth.

“Is that so?” She turns in my arms, hands tightening around my biceps.

“You’re beautiful. You know that, right?”

“You’re not too bad yourself, Mr. Banks.”

Her ankle-length gown swishes against her legs as we stride out to the car, the high slit up one leg making me weak in the knees. I take her hand in my own and kiss her knuckles, knowing if I kiss her mouth, I’ll ruin the crimson color she’s wearing on her lips. I imagine it will look equally good on my cock.

“You’re gorgeous, Briar.”

She grins. “You’ve told me already.”

“I’m going to tell you every hour,” I say. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to be yours.”

“Mine.”

I kiss her knuckles one more time. I might not want to be going to my ex’s wedding tonight, but at least I’m doing it with the most beautiful girl in the world on my arm.

Later,after we met my parents and Barb at the church, after we watched Amy marry Preston in a nice enough but also boring ceremony where Briar sniffled softly next to me and blamed it on the hormones, after I snuck kisses and my hand up her dress in a quiet hallway while we waited for Amy and Preston to take photos, after we took our seats in the ballroom of a golf course, after toasts and dinner and avoiding talking to anyone who wasn’t sitting at our table, it’s finally time for speeches and dessert and then I can finally whisk Briar out of here and have my way with her.

All eyes are on Preston as he steps up to the microphone in his tux, a glass of champagne in his hand. He begins his speech, sharing how he met Amy on a blind date and knew instantly that she was the one. He tells his guests of their ups and downs, how she nursed him back to health when he broke his ankle and how they’ve compromised on three kids; Amy wanted 4 and he wanted 2. His gaze shifts to Amy, who is crying into a napkin when Preston promises to love her all of her life. Sickness and health, richer or poorer. As the words roll off his tongue, I look at Briar next to me, her hand tangled in mine under the table, her damp eyes locked onme.

She leans in and kisses my cheek then rests her head against my shoulder.

The speeches end with a toast to Preston and Amy. The music starts and soon the dance floor is full. I manage to sneak in one dance with Briar before my mom and Barb sweep her away to introduce her to a table full of their friends.

I slip out of the ballroom, needing some fresh air and a few minutes to clear my mind. I was a bit nervous about today—going to an ex’s wedding seems potentially awkward. But it turns out I didn’t need to be. Everything has been fine, and it’s actually been fun to have an excuse to get dressed up and spend the evening with Briar and my family. I haven’t been able to enjoy it entirely, though, because as much as I’ve tried not to think about it, the call with my landlord hasn’t been far from my mind.

My life is changing soon, for the better. But I need to figure out where I’m going to live, where Briar is going to live, and I need to do it soon before the baby is here. She hasn’t made any mention of wanting to stay with me. In fact, just the other day she was beaming about moving into her apartment. But there’s no way that is happening. I won’t let it. I want her and the baby with me, which means I need to find a way to buy the house.

“Are you hiding out here? Had enough of your ex’s wedding?”

I look up to see Briar walking towards me, a sexy sway to her hips. Hot as fuck with her contagious smile. And I can breathe again.

“I have, but I haven’t gotten enough of you.”

“I will never get enough of you.”

I lean back against the bench, offering her my lap, and she sits down, the fabric of her green dress billowing around us.

“What’s made this line right here?” She softly traces theline between my brows before intertwining her fingers with mine.

“I have something on my mind, I guess.”

“Something you’d like to share?”

I cup both sides of her jaw in my hands. “I love you, Briar Moore.”

---