Forever (Empire High Book 8)

Chapter 35

Friday

Brooklyn

I stared at Matt sleeping peacefully beside me. The light streaming in through the blinds made his hair look lighter. It made him look more like the boy I knew back in high school. My first love. My first kiss. My first time. The boy I promised all my firsts too. The boy whose heart I broke.

Tanner’s words had been swirling around in my head all night. During his toast, he said the love Matt had for me wasn’t replaceable. It was the second time he’d told me that. The first time was at the homecoming game when I saw Matt again for the first time since coming back to New York. I think Tanner brought it up last night because he wanted to remind me. He knew there were two sides to today. Joy and pain. He was probably worried I’d be a runaway bride or something.

But I wasn’t really focused on his words from last night. My mind had settled on something else he’d said to me at the homecoming game. That I’d had a great love twice. That I was one of the lucky ones. And yes, I lost it. But only once. Matt never stopped loving me.

And I’d never stopped loving him.

My heart still had a hard time admitting that. But it was true. I’d never stopped loving Matthew Caldwell. As soon as I gave him my heart, it was done. He owned a piece of it.

And lying here in bed on the day of my wedding, I still loved Miller. Just like when I’d said ‘I do’ in the snow to Miller, I still loved Matt.

Apparently I was one of the lucky ones. Who knew that luck could feel so painful?

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

But Matt knew my heart. He knew me. And he still wanted me just as much now as he did back in high school. I took another deep breath. I couldn’t wait to marry him tonight.

He slowly opened his eyes and smiled when he saw me. “Were you watching me sleep?”

“Maybe,” I said with a smile.

“I still think it’s bad luck to sleep together the night before the wedding.”

“No.” I was lucky. Tanner said so. And I’d learned that Tanner was right about most things. “I don’t think that sounds right.”

He reached out and put his hand on my cheek as he stared at me. I loved when he looked at me like that. Like he adored me.

“I would have risked it either way,” Matt said. “I don’t ever want to wake up without you by my side ever again.”

“I feel like I’m seconds away from crying or laughing. My emotions are haywire. Today is going to be crazy.”

“Laugh. Cry. As long as you’re happy.”

“I’m very happy.” I leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose. “How could I not be? I’m marrying the most eligible bachelor in the city.”

Matt laughed. “Hardly.”

“I saw a tabloid with that exact headline the other day.”

He shook his head.

“At least it didn’t say most notorious playboy in the city.”

Matt tickled my side.

I squealed as I tried to get away from him. But he caught my arms and pinned me against the bed beneath him.

For a few seconds we just stared at each other as we caught our breaths. And I wondered if he wanted to freeze time as badly as me. Because I always wanted to smile this hard.

“I was a little worried about this morning,” he said slowly as his eyes searched mine.

“Why?”

“I thought you might be…sad.”

I shook my head. “I’m so happy. Right here. Right now. With you.”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I have something for you.”

“Is it another tickle attack?”

He laughed and shook his head. “No, I’ll save that for later.” He climbed off of me and grabbed a wrapped box out of his nightstand.

“What is this?” I asked.

“My wedding present for you.” He placed the small box in my hands.

Wedding present? What was a wedding present?No one had told me about this. I didn’t have a present for him. I couldn’t believe I didn’t know about this tradition. A million thoughts ran through my head at once. What the hell could I give him at the last minute? All I could think about was the fact that I was pregnant with our baby. That seemed like the best possible present, but he already knew about that…

“Open it,” he said.

I slowly unwrapped the box. My mind was completely blank. Seriously, why didn’t I know about wedding presents? I lifted the lid on the box.

It was the most beautiful necklace I’d ever seen. A huge teardrop blue sapphire was surrounded with diamonds. I don’t think I’d ever even held something so expensive before.

“Old. New. Borrowed. Blue.”

I looked up at him.

“The sapphire is new and blue,” Matt said. “The chain is my mom’s, so it’s borrowed. Although I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you kept it. And the diamonds were on a bracelet I found in one of your mom’s boxes. I had the jeweler be extra careful in case you want to put them back on the bracelet…”

“Matt,” my voice cracked. “This is perfect. It’s so beautiful.” I lifted the necklace out of the box. I’d wanted a piece of my mom with me today, and he’d made sure I had it. “Thank you.” God, he’d gotten me this perfect custom piece of jewelry and I’d gotten him…nothing.

“Let me.” He lifted it from my hands.

I pushed my hair out of the way and he clasped it behind my neck. It fell right between my clavicle bones. It was going to look perfect with my dress. And my head was completely scrambled as I tried to figure out what I could give him.

“Beautiful,” Matt whispered. But he wasn’t even looking at the necklace. He was just staring at me.

“Close your eyes,” I said.

“What?”

“Close your eyes,” I said again.

He smiled and closed his eyes.

God, why had I asked him to do that? Now he was expecting something amazing for sure. And my mind was coming up empty. I grabbed my cell phone and ran out of the room. I closed the bedroom door behind me to make sure Matt couldn’t hear me. And then I hit Tanner’s number. One of Matt’s best friends would surely have an idea.

“Hey,” Tanner said. “Is everything okay?”

“No.”

“What’s wrong?” He sounded very concerned.

“Sorry, yes. Everything is fine. But Matt just got me the sweetest wedding present. And I didn’t know wedding presents were a thing. And I…” my voice trailed off. “What should I do? I can’t think of anything as amazing as the necklace he got me. I can’t believe I didn’t know people exchanged presents the morning of their wedding.”

There was a long pause.

“Tanner? Are you still there?”

“I was just thinking,” he said. “But I got it.”

“Yeah?”

“Head.”

“What?”

“Give him head.”

I laughed. “Hilarious.”

“I’m serious. Just give him head.”

“You’re not helping.”

“That’s all any man really wants anyway.”

He was definitely not being helpful. But whatever. I had more people to ask. Maybe Rob was right and he really was still Matt’s best friend, not Tanner. “Thanks, Tanner. Gotta go, bye.” I hung up the phone and called Rob.

“Hey, Sanders. Get the rest of the chocolate pudding out of your hair?”

I ignored him. “I didn’t get Matt a wedding present.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t know it was a thing!” I hissed. I looked over my shoulder to make sure the door was still closed. “What should I do? I need something last minute and he got me something so sentimental…”

“Easy,” Rob said cutting me off. “Just give him head.”

“What?” Seriously? How did Rob and Tanner not realize how similar they were?

“A blowjob.”

“I know what head is,” I said. “I need something sentimental.”

“Give him really good head so he’ll always remember it then.”

“You’re not helping.”

“It’s all he really wants, Sanders. It’s all any guy wants as a gift. If you need to practice on someone first I could be over in a few minutes…”

“No thank you.”

“Want me to call James to come give you some practice instead?”

“Of course not,” I said.

“Well, I’m sure Mason would be up for it too. But I’d really recommend a Hunter brother for this since our cocks are bigger.”

“You’re the worst.”

“You know you love me. Go give my boy a good memory. See you later.” He hung up.

Gah, Rob.I would have called Mason, but I was worried he’d say the same thing. And I really didn’t want to call James and talk about head on my wedding day. I sighed. Maybe Matt’s friends were right. They did know him. And an idea was finally forming in my head.

I walked back to the bedroom and opened the door. “Eyes still closed?” I asked.

“Mhm,” Matt said.

I opened the door the rest of the way. His eyes were closed and he was resting the back of his head against the headboard. I hurried over to one of his drawers and started rummaging through it. I opened another and another until I found what I was looking for.

I pulled off the old t-shirt I’d slept in and exchanged it for Matt’s jersey. Then I slid into the blue high heels I was going to wear with my wedding dress tonight. I spun toward him and put my hand on my hip, doing my best to make this look sexy and planned.

“Open your eyes, handsome,” I said.

He opened his eyes and groaned. His eyes trailed down my exposed thighs.

Tanner and Rob were right apparently. “Something old.” I pressed the tips of my fingers against the front of jersey. “Something new.” I gestured to my heels and then started walking toward him, making sure to sway my hips. “Something borrowed.” I pointed to the jersey again. “And something blue.” The jersey and the shoes were both blue.

Matt smiled. “You look so hot in my jersey, baby. Come here.” He gestured toward the bed.

I shook my head. “No, you come here.” I hooked my finger, calling him to me.

He pushed the covers off the bed and climbed off.

All he was wearing was a pair of boxer briefs. And I could already see the outline of his growing erection. He leaned down to kiss me, but I put my hand on his chest.

“I need to give you the rest of your present first,” I said and dropped to my knees. I looked up at him as my fingers ran along the waistband of his boxers.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen so much hunger in his eyes before. Hunger for me.

I pushed his boxers down. His erection sprung free, almost hitting me in the face. No, this wasn’t a sentimental gift. But I was going to make it memorable. I licked my lips as I looked up at him.

His Adam’s apple rose and then fell as he watched me on my knees. He had a way of always making me feel desired. And I wanted him to know I desired him just as much.

Normally I’d start slow. A few kisses and licks, teasing him. But this wasn’t about teasing him. It was about giving him everything he wanted. So I lifted my lips to his tip, opened my mouth, and went all the way down.

“Fuck,” he groaned and buried his fingers in my hair.

He usually guided me, setting the pace. But I knew what he liked. I moved up and down his shaft faster and faster. The gift he’d given me had been so sweet. What I was giving him wasn’t. But I was going to make it unforgettable. I massaged his balls with one hand and gripped his ass with my other, trying to give myself more leverage.

Matt’s fingers tangled in my hair and he pulled my head back. “Get on the bed. Now.”

I knew what he was telling me to do. He wanted me to spread my legs so he could fuck me. But this wasn’t about my pleasure. I shook my head.

He raised his eyebrow at me.

“You can have me tonight after we say ‘I do.’ But right now, I’m taking care of you.” I pulled off his jersey and tossed it on the floor beside me. All I had on were my high heels now. “I want you to cum all over me.” I kissed the side of his cock. “I want it dripping down my chin onto my tits. I want you to claim me everywhere.” I wrapped my lips around him again.

“Brooklyn,” he groaned. “Fuck, just like that.”

I knew he was close. His breathing was growing more labored and he was gripping my hair even harder. I let him guide me now, letting him fuck my face just the way he liked.

His fingers tightened in my hair and he pulled me back as he wrapped his hand around his cock. “You want me to drench every inch of you, baby?”

I nodded up at him. I watched him stroking himself. God, I wanted him inside me so badly. I could feel myself dripping. But that would just make tonight even better. Waiting all day to have him. I was already desperate. Tonight was going to be explosive.

He stroked himself faster and his first shot landed right on my chin, dripping down onto my breasts like I’d requested. Shot after shot landing on my chest and stomach.

I didn’t know I was supposed to get him a present. But it had worked out for the best, because he definitely seemed to like this. One last shot landed against my lips. I licked my bottom lip and he groaned.

“There is nothing hotter than you in my jersey, baby. Well, except your naked body covered in my cum.” His eyes raked over me.

“Just wait until you see me in my wedding dress.”