7. Tripp
Chapter 7
Tripp
I couldn’t remember much of the drive from Wichita to the tiny border town in Colorado where Penny had found us a chapel that performed same-day marriages.
It took breaking every speed limit posted in our attempt to get there before they closed for the day, and even so, we burst through the front door with only minutes to spare.
We knew there was a chance they might turn us away. Their website clearly stated that their final ceremony of the day took place thirty minutes prior to closing. But the receptionist took one look at us—slightly disheveled and breathing heavily from our mad dash across the parking lot—and decided to make an exception.
It probably had more to do with the offer to triple their normal rate in cash, but I’d like to think she was a romantic at heart and couldn’t bear the injustice of making us wait even one more day to be legally wed.
The next few minutes passed by in a haze. I vaguely remember being led to the altar before Penny walked down the aisle toward me and stole my breath away. The service being recited by the minister fell on deaf ears as I got lost in her emerald eyes and the feel of her hands held in mine.
But I sure as hell snapped to attention when he uttered the six most beautiful words strung together in the English language.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
I was still waiting to wake up. Because the vision set before me—my best friend in a new wedding dress with her face scrubbed clean of makeup and my ring on her finger—couldn’t be real.
The most beautiful girl in the world beamed up at me, her cheeks flushing pink when all I could do was stare at her in disbelief.
A single palm skimmed up my chest, coming to rest over my racing heart.
“Tripp?”
My name, uttered softly by that angelic voice, had my lungs filling with air, and I finally took action.
One of my hands tangled in her wild curls that looked like she’d spent hours riding on horseback when, in reality, were the result of my crazy girl’s insistence on leaving the windows down as we drove. Its partner found its way to cradling her face, holding it steady as I lowered my head until my mouth was barely a breath away from hers.
“Tell me I’m not dreaming.” My eyes slid shut as I stroked her soft cheek.
I felt her lips lift into a smile. “Want me to pinch you to double-check?”
A chuckle vibrated my chest. “No need. You being a smartass is enough to confirm I’m very much awake.”
“Happy to help, husband.”
My grip on her tightened, and I let out a near growl. “Say it again.”
“Shut up and kiss me already, husband,” Penny taunted.
“It’s been all of two minutes, and I’m itching to put you over my knee,” I rasped, then tacked on for good measure, “wife. ”
A tremor rolled down the length of her body at my rough claim.
An audible swallow preceded her breathy reply. “Hurry up and seal the deal so you can have me any way you want. I’m yours, Tripp. Forever.”
Fuck, at this rate, we’d be lucky to make it out the door before I rucked up her skirt and consummated this marriage, witnesses be damned.
“I can’t believe you’re mine,” I whispered in awe.
My girl was clearly done with talking because she snaked two hands into my hair, gripped the strands, and held me steady as she rose on her toes to close the gap between us, fusing our mouths together.
I should have taken it slow—savoring the fact that this was not only our first kiss as a married couple but our first kiss ever —but that became impossible with the desperate noises coming from Penny as her tongue darted out to lick across the seam of my lips, begging for entry. The minute I opened for her, she was forced to swallow my groan as the dreams of tasting my best friend became reality.
And it was better than I could have ever imagined.
There were hints of lemon and sugar from the sweet tea she’d drunk in the car, but beneath, she was pure Penny, and I became instantly addicted. Guess it was a good thing that I would have unlimited access for the rest of my life because I would never get enough. The idea that there would be days when I did nothing but drink from her sweet lips had my cock harder than steel.
Sliding the hand in her hair to her waist, I hauled her flush against me. Penny gasped when my erection grazed her belly, and I couldn’t keep from grinding it against her softness, my blood heating when she clung to me as she moaned.
Our kiss grew frenzied and sloppy, our tongues tangling while the two of us practically mauled each other in an effort to get closer .
God, we’d been such fools to keep our feelings to ourselves for fear of ruining our relationship. Nothing had ever felt so right as this moment, and there was no doubt in my mind that it was only going to get better from here.
We had our whole lives ahead of us. The future we always dreamed of but never dared to believe might actually come true.
Penny hitched a leg around my thigh, grinding against me, and that’s when a throat cleared loudly beside us.
Reluctantly, we broke apart, our breathing ragged. Though our lips no longer touched, I stayed close, keeping my forehead pressed to hers.
“So much trouble, Mrs. Sullivan,” I panted.
Her hot breaths came out choppy. “Nuh-uh. Don’t you go blamin’ me. You were a full participant, Mr. Sullivan.”
“Maybe so, but you were the one humping my leg like a dog in heat.”
My beautiful bride pulled back, indignant. “Oh, please. Like you and your little friend”—her gaze dipped toward my crotch, where my dick immediately twitched under the attention—“weren’t all too happy to get in on the action.”
“Little?” I arched an eyebrow.
She shrugged. “I reserve the right to pass judgment until I’ve had a chance to examine the appendage properly.”
I barked out a laugh. “Appendage? That’s a mighty fancy name for cock, sweetheart. You pick that up in vet school?”
Before Penny could utter another word, the minister broke into our first—playful—marital spat. “As much as it pleases me to see a couple so obviously in love joined in matrimony, there’s still the matter of signing your marriage certificate to attend to before we send you off to enjoy wedded bliss. ”
The events before that earth-shattering kiss came rushing back, and I remembered that it was past closing time for the chapel. They’d been doing us a favor by agreeing to perform the marriage tonight instead of making us wait, and guilt rose to the surface over holding them up further.
I ducked my head in apology. “Sorry for keepin’ you folk so late.” Linking my fingers with Penny’s, I explained, “This was a long time coming, and we kinda got carried away.”
The minister simply smiled, and there wasn’t a trace of annoyance in his reply. “It’s no trouble at all. Let’s get the two of you all settled so you can continue your celebration in private.”
I might be a grown man, but the insinuation of what would occur during our wedding night had heat rising up my neck and settling onto my cheeks.
Penny squeezed my hand. “Yeah, big guy. Let’s get the hell outta here so I can get a good look at that cock.”
Her words had me choking on my own saliva, and I beat a fist against my chest.
Smug satisfaction sounded in my wife’s voice. “What? You said you didn’t like it when I called it an appendage.”
Lord, I was in for one hell of a ride with this woman.
Couldn’t fucking wait.