After Katie’s makeup is done, she stands, then spins so we can see the entire dress.
“Wow,” I say just as Katie’s mom bursts into tears. “You’re stunning.”
“My baby is growing up,” Mrs. Walker says.
Katie snorts. “Aw, Mama. I’ve got three babies. I think I’m already grown.”
“I know, I know. This just makes it more real.”
Luke starts fussing, and Gemma quickly takes him. “I’ve got it,” she says.
“Thank you. The last thing I need is to be puked on.”
I chuckle. “Everyone here would understand if spit-up was on your shoulder.”
“Exactly why I kept the guest list very small.” Katie winks, and I know how serious she was about inviting only close friends and family. She wanted it to be an intimate moment between her and Noah instead of having a big show for the whole damn town.
After the boys are fed, Katie’s mom and aunt make their way out, leaving only Gemma and me with the bride. Katie opens her arms and pulls us into a hug, and that’s when I see tears begin to fall. I pull away and grab a tissue so her mascara doesn’t run.
“I love you both so much. Thank you for being the best friends I could ever ask for and sharing today with me,” she says.
“You and Noah were always meant to be together,” I say. “You were the right one, wrong time kinda country song, and it was destined you’d find your way back to each other.”
“I know a thing or two about that, too.” Gemma grins. “But yes, I agree!”
Katie sucks in a deep breath as she glances at the clock on the wall. “Guess it’s time to go out there, isn’t it?”
I nod. “Yes it is, soon-to-be Mrs. Noah Reid.”
We head out into the hallway, and as soon as I see Archer, I hook my arm through his. Noah asked him to be a groomsman a few months ago, and Katie took the opportunity to pair us together.
As soon as the music starts, I turn and wink at Katie. “Good luck.”
Archer looks at me as I suck in a deep breath. “Ready to go, beautiful?”
“Yep,” I say.
About sixty people are in attendance, but only one person here has my full attention. My breath grows ragged as I imagine what it’d feel like to be marrying Archer one day.
As if he has the same thought, he meets my eyes. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. “I love you,” he whispers. I say it back, and we part ways at the front of the chapel. My gaze stays planted on him until the wedding march begins.
Katie looks like she’s floating down the aisle, and everyone’s mesmerized by how gorgeous she is. Noah’s gaze is focused on her, and it’s one of the most magical moments I’ve ever witnessed.
The pastor steps up, and the ceremony begins. While they each recite vows they wrote for each other, I glance at Archer and admire how good he looks.
Katie and Noah kiss as the pastor announces them as husband and wife. As they turn around, whistles and cheers fill the room, then the pianist begins playing. After we take pictures with the wedding party and bride and groom, we drive to the event hall for the reception. The guests arrive first, then when Katie and Noah arrive, the real party begins.
Warm rustic lights and white sheers are draped around the room. It has a magical Southern summer feel, and I’m in love with how cozy it is. They’re only offering a cocktail hour, finger foods, and dessert bar, then calling it a night after some dancing. I swear, Katie should be an event planner because it’s the perfect plan.
Archer grabs my hand and pulls me close as we wait in line for drinks. “I think Katie’s cousins are eye-fucking you.”
I laugh and turn around, noticing some of her distant relatives staring at my ass. “Does that make you jealous?”
He slides his hand down my ass and grabs it. No one sees, but goddamn, I feel it, and I like it.
“More like possessive,” he growls in my ear, and I smile wide at his tone. Before we get to the front of the bar, I grab his hand, and we slip away down the hallway. I wiggle the doorknob of a closet filled with cleaning supplies and pull him inside. He laughs against my mouth as I lean forward to kiss him.
“What’re you doing?” he asks as I unbutton his tux pants and slide them down to his ankles. I pull out his cock and stroke him. I don’t even need to answer his question because he knows. After I slip off my panties, he lifts me onto his raging hard-on, then pins me against the door. We’re hot and greedy for one another and fucking like we’re teenagers.
Right now, all I need is him, just like this.
“You’re mine,” Archer growls as he bites into my neck.
“Good, because you’re all mine too. I don’t like to share.”
“Fuck that, me neither.” Our mouths crash together, and our kisses grow more desperate. Moments later, Archer drops to his knees and puts my leg over his shoulder. I hold his shoulders for balance as he licks and sucks my clit, devouring me like a starved man. One finger slides inside and then another as I ride his face, tugging on his hair. I lose myself, nearly forgetting where we are. Brooms fall over, and I’m worried someone will catch us, but at this moment, I don’t care.
“Fuck, that feels so good,” I groan out. Archer stands and wipes his mouth filled with my juices. He spins me around and presses my hands against the wall. I’m fighting to hold myself up as he fucks me from behind. Our bodies slap together, and I know if he keeps this up, I’m going to come harder than before.
As if he senses I’m close, he reaches around and circles my clit. Within seconds, I unravel again, squirting down his cock.
“Damn, you’re so tight,” he groans, squeezing my hips with his firm grasp as he loses himself. Once we catch our breaths, I turn around and realize we have made quite the mess.
“You think anyone noticed we were gone?” I ask, ready to collapse on the floor.
“Probably.” He shrugs. “Let’s find something to clean up before we go back out there.”
Archer grabs a paper towel roll and rubs it over my legs, then himself. Next, he helps me move my dress down below my ass, then I adjust his suit jacket and hair. We’re a sloppy mess, and it might be more than obvious what we were doing, but I’m not ashamed.
“So you’re not giving me my panties back?” I ask before I open the door and check to see if the coast is clear.
“Absolutely not. It’s a treasure.”
I smirk. “Figured as much. I’ll go out first. Give me a few minutes, then meet me at the bar so we don’t look suspicious.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he tells me, pulling me in for one more kiss.
After I leave and shut the door behind me, I make my way down the hallway. The music’s blaring so there’s no way anyone heard us—hopefully.
As soon as I get to the bar, Gemma walks up next to me with a shit-eating grin. “You look guilty as hell.”
I shrug and wave her off. “Not sure what you mean.”
“So where were you?”
“Studying the inside of a broom closet,” I say.
Her head falls back with laughter. “Were you cleaning?” she asks, then fixes my hair.
Leaning in, I whisper, “More like gettin’ dirty.”