I gazed into the pools of his adoring eyes until the last moment, and then I couldn’t stop it any longer. Nor did I want to. My eyes squeezed shut and I clutched Tom for dear life.
“Yes—yes…” I lost my breath, but I found it again as I pressed forward against him, ravenous for every sensation he could give me.
“Rusty,” Tom gasped. “I’m going to cum when you do. Do it,” he ordered, and I was helpless putty in his hands.
“Yes! Tom!” I cried, the mess he’d asked for spurting from me uncontrollably—and from him, his cock twitching against mine.
I ground against Tom’s body for dear life as darkness closed in around me, my whole body shimmering under a veil of sharp waves of ecstasy. It turned into a slow, lazy bliss as it settled deep into my bones.
“Yes,” I whimpered when I could breathe again, my lips pressing into the rough scrape of his neck. My thighs shook and I wasn’t even sure I was on the bed anymore. But I trusted him to hold me tight. “Tom…”
“It’s okay, my love,” Tom whispered, letting go of our softening arousals. He crushed me in a hug against him, kissing my shoulder and neck. “I’ve got you. You’re mine,” he whispered, again and again, until I finally slid down from that high.
It didn’t take long to clean up, turn off the boombox, and crash into bed together. Sleep dragged my eyelids closed before Tom even found the switch to turn the light out.
“Good night, love,” Tom murmured, and I think I said it in return. It might have been, I love you. What was the difference, anyway?
We both knew it, deep in our souls. There was no hiding or running from it. Not anymore.
Not ever again.
Chapter Sixteen
Let the world see the truth.
Tom, day 7
“Ready?” I came around the passenger side of the car and held my arm out for Rusty.
Rusty looked handsome as hell today, his clothes freshly crisp. I’d woken up early and, pleased to find an iron in his cupboard, ironed our outfits on the dining room table.
For some reason, Rusty had found this both hilarious and adorable. He’d rewarded me with kisses when he woke up and found me sitting at the table ironing my tie. And now I knew that the ironing board was hiding out in the bathroom.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Rusty murmured. He wrapped his hand around my arm and I pulled him in, covering his hand with mine.
“You’ll be fine,” I promised him, and I meant to ensure that. I’d let him down last night. I was never going to repeat that mistake.
Rusty just smiled softly at me and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
I turned my face so his kiss landed on my lips instead, and he paused, his eyes flying wide open. His cheeks, neck, even the tips of his ears turned the color of his red hair.
I took over the kiss, cupping the back of his neck so I could keep him still and press one more long kiss. How I ached to press close and envelop his lower lip with my mouth. I wanted to run my tongue along it and suck it until he went stiff and gasped in my arms. Then I’d let go and suck his tongue into my mouth. By now, I knew that would make him melt for me.
Later, I told myself, extricating myself from the kiss with deep reluctance.
I only remembered then that we were in the parking lot. My heart thumped with the daring little display, and I pressed a hand to my cheek. “Whew. Is it hot out here?”
“It’s just you.” Rusty winked and made a show of looking me up and down. “Come on, let’s get inside before we miss the ceremony. I have the feeling it’s going to be a day to remember.”
Though he gave me one more pleading look, I winked and didn’t say a word. It was up to Beth how she wanted to announce the change of plans to the world.
When we made it inside, Chrissy found us. “Rusty, Tom. There you are!”
I felt Rusty freeze against me, but Chrissy kindly pretended nothing had gone terribly wrong yesterday. Knowing her, no doubt so she didn’t want to embarrass Rusty. I made a mental note to send her a thank-you pie.
Instead, she beamed at us. “They’ve added a fourth chair. Kenneth and I will take the two at the end. Then you two can sit together, and yours will be waiting for you next to the aisle,” she told me with a smile.
I didn’t catch the tension in her voice that I’d heard yesterday. She was beaming, in fact, and I let out a breath of relief. Beth had told her what to expect. Good girl.
My parents looked equally pleased to see us, especially since my mom (Beth’s Gran) hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to Rusty yesterday. She hugged and kissed his cheek like he was another son, and he relaxed, beaming at me.
But it didn’t take long for Gran to speak her mind. “What a big-budget production. I wonder what the groom’s compensating for. Coming, Peter?” She walked into the ballroom as Dad stared around to see who had overheard, and then trailed behind her.
The rest of us shared a stifled laugh. I knew Chrissy and Kenneth, along with my parents, would make good company for Rusty while they waited for the ceremony to begin.
The size of the crowd intimidated me, and I hung back. People seemed to be giving me space anyway—or they were busy getting sketched by the professional artist sitting at a corner table. The Walkers sure knew how to appeal to people’s egos.
Of course, I’d be waiting outside with Beth until the last moment. My heart drummed as I looked around for Dill to let him know I was here. The whole painful day was made worse when I got caught up in small talk with a few Walker aunts and cousins.
But within a minute Dill was there and ushering everyone along to their seats. Thank God for the Bests, I thought.
“Hey, Tom,” Rusty said softly, appearing by my side. He took my hand and gave me a smile full of faith and love. “Good luck.”
And my heart melted as I leaned in to kiss him. I didn’t even look to see who else was around. “Thank you,” I murmured. “Hopefully it’ll be quick. And then there’s food,” I winked.
“Mmm.” Rusty patted his stomach playfully. “I’ve been saving room.” With one more peck of my lips, he trotted off to join Chrissy, who turned to wink at me before she and Ken headed in.
Jason and his ilk were inside already—they were too good to walk down the aisle, apparently. When I glanced through the cracked door, my heart flip-flopped with nerves at the sight of the best man and maid of honor, the row of bridesmaids and groomsmen, and even the flower girl and ring bearer in their places.
The only people to proceed down the aisle would be Beth and me. It made me fume, thinking of him waiting at the front for the bride he could never hope to be a good enough man to wed.
“Okay, I’ll call Beth,” Dill finally told me as he looked up from his clipboard.
“No need,” I told him. “I’ll go up and get her.”
Dill nodded once, sharply, and waited by the door. I headed out of the building and around the side entrance to the bridal suite.
It was now or never. I just prayed that whatever Beth had planned, this made her happy.
I knocked softly on the door. “Beth? It’s me. They’re ready.”
Beth opened the door, and I stopped dead, my jaw dropping.