Chapter 15
Dress after dress, I felt my excitement waning.
Evelina and her assistant brought out gowns in all styles—ballgowns, A-lines, mermaids—each one more intricate and elaborate than the last. But none of them felt right.
I smiled politely, nodded when asked, and tried to hide my disappointment as I stepped back into the dressing tent yet again.
“Josephine, how about this one?” Evelina’s voice came through the curtain, tinged with a hint of excitement that hadn’t been there before.
I took the dress from her hands, feeling the cool, delicate fabric slip through my fingers. It was different from the others—lighter, almost ethereal. The silk chiffon was soft and flowed like water, and as I stepped into it, I felt an immediate connection, as if the dress was welcoming me home.
I turned to face the mirror inside the tent, my breath catching as I saw the reflection. The dress was simple yet breathtaking. The bodice was fitted, adorned with intricate beading that shimmered subtly in the light.
It had an open back, the fabric dipping low to reveal the gentle curve of my spine. The beading continued down the edges, framing my bare skin like delicate vines. The neckline was a soft V, not too deep, but just enough to expose my collarbone, which felt exposed and beautiful at the same time.
The skirt flared out just below the hips, cascading into a long, flowing train that trailed behind me like a whisper. The fabric was so light that it moved with the slightest breath, making me feel like I was floating.
I stepped out of the tent, my heart pounding in my chest. Evelina and her assistant both gasped, their eyes wide with approval.
“Oh, Josephine,” Evelina whispered, her voice full of awe. “You look... exquisite.”
My mother stood up slowly, her hands covering her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in the sight of me. “You’re a vision,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
For the first time, I saw it too. This was me—this dress, this moment. It wasn’t just beautiful; it felt right. It felt like it belonged to me, like it had been waiting for me all along.
“You’re perfect.”
I heard the telltale click of expensive shoes on hardwood and looked up to see Colson striding into the ballroom, his presence commanding as always. My heart leaped into my throat, and I scurried back into the tent, fumbling to close the flaps.
"You can't see me in my dress!" I called out, my voice pitched higher than usual. "It's bad luck!"
Colson's low chuckle sent shivers down my spine. "It's not bad luck, Josephine," he said, his voice closer now. "We make our own luck."
Before I could protest further, he slipped inside the tent, closing us in. The small space suddenly felt electric with his presence.
"Colson!" I hissed, acutely aware of my mother sitting just a few feet away.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. God knows what she thought of his intrusion.
He ignored my protest, moving behind me with fluid grace. His fingers brushed my hair aside, exposing my neck. I shivered as he pressed a kiss there, his touch feather light as he traced my spine.
"Is this the dress?" he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.
I nodded, unable to find my voice. Our eyes met in the mirror, and I found myself captivated by the intensity of his gaze.
"I think... this is the one," I whispered, the words barely audible.
Colson's hands slid around my waist, fingers lacing just below my belly button. The dominating gesture sent a thrill through me that I couldn't quite explain.
"You'll look beautiful on our wedding day," he said, his voice low and intimate. "But I can't wait for our wedding night."
My breath hitched as he latched onto the junction where my neck met my shoulder, trailing kisses up to my ear. His tongue traced the rim, eliciting a shudder from me.
"I'd like to play tonight," he whispered, his words full of promise and danger.
I felt my body respond, nipples puckering as I remembered our encounter from the previous night. A war raged within me – desire battling with uncertainty and a lingering sense of unease.
As much as I wanted to give in, to lose myself in the pleasure Colson offered, I wasn't sure I could last until our wedding night. It was disconcerting how he was growing on me, despite – or perhaps because of – his quirks and flashes of cruelty.
I met his gaze in the mirror once more, seeing the hunger there. "Colson…" I began, unsure of what I even wanted to say.
His grip tightened slightly, a reminder of who was in control. "Shh," he soothed, though there was an edge to his voice. "We have all the time in the world, my dear. And I intend to savor every moment."
As he pressed another kiss to my neck, I closed my eyes, torn between anticipation and a nagging sense of foreboding. What kind of game were we really playing, and at what cost?
I walked my mother out to her old, battered station wagon, savoring these last few moments together.
Colson had been unexpectedly accommodating, allowing her to join us for dinner.
I sensed a connection between them other than former employer to employee, I always had.
But both my parents spoke little of their past and I never asked.
Neither Vaughn nor Simone had made an appearance, and Colson himself had excused himself halfway through to take a business call. It had given me a rare opportunity to be alone with my mother.
As we reached her car, she paused, her hand on the door handle. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asked, her eyes searching my face.
I forced a smile. "I'm fine, Mom. Easton has been sweet, and I'm learning to deal with Vaughn and Simone."
She sighed, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Her touch was so gentle, so familiar, it made my heart ache. "And Colson?" she pressed. "He can be a bit... much at times. And Simone, she’s had it rough since Poppy died. She’s not all bad."
If she only knew how bad she really was. I hardly ever mentioned what was done to me by the Queen Bee when we were in high school. I didn’t want to add any tension to her job.
I hugged her tightly, inhaling her comforting scent. "He's not always the way you see him," I murmured. "In private, he's different."
She pulled back slightly, her gaze locking with mine. "In private?" The concern in her voice was palpable.
"No, Mom," I rushed to clarify. "I haven't slept with him, and I won't until we're married. He knows this."
I would never tell her the other things we’d done in his bedroom and how much pleasure he gave me.
She nodded slightly and her arms tightened around me once more. "I want you to keep your guard up," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I still don't understand why Colson chose you."
"I'm safe," I assured her, though the words felt hollow even to my own ears.
With a final kiss on my cheek, my mother slipped into her car. I stood in the driveway, watching until her taillights disappeared down the long, winding drive. The night seemed to close in around me as I turned back to the house.
As soon as I stepped into the darkened foyer, a sharp slap came out of nowhere, the sound echoing in the quiet space.
"You bitch!" Simone's shrill voice pierced the darkness. "If you think you can take my mother's place, it will never happen!"
My hand flew to my stinging cheek, shock and anger coursing through me. "Your father chose me," I shot back, my voice rising. "I didn't ask for this!"
Simone's arm rose again, but before she could land another blow, a large hand shot out of the shadows, gripping her wrist. Vaughn materialized beside us, his face a mask of barely contained fury.
"Go find something else to do other than assaulting Josephine," he hissed, shoving Simone away.
She stumbled back, her eyes blazing with hatred. "You know it's true," she spat. "She'll use her pussy and tits to charm him and get what she wants. But all she'll ever be is the poor trash who lived in the shack at the end of the property."
"Enough!" Vaughn's voice cracked like a whip in the tense air.
Simone glared at us both before stomping away, her footsteps echoing as she ascended the stairs. I stood there, trembling, as Vaughn turned to face me. His expression was unreadable in the dim light.
"Are you all right?" he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
I nodded, unable to trust my voice. As the adrenaline began to fade, I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.
Vaughn sighed heavily. "You’re getting to her.” He paused, waiting until I met his gaze. "She knows her power will be diminished once my father marries you.”
“It’s my fault. I gave her that power and now I’m taking it back.”
He cupped my chin. “You’re strong, Joey, but my father will break you down and mold you.”
“What about you?”
He brushed his lips against my cheek. “I just want to love you.”
Vaughn’s admission felt like a punch in the gut as he walked away. I wasn’t sure I could survive in the house.
Colson’s tongue slid inside me, skillfully flicking my clit with his fingers. My body quivered as the wave of an orgasm built up, ready to crash, but just as I was about to tumble over the edge, he pulled away. A frustrated whimper escaped my lips, the loss of contact almost painful.
He sat up, towering over me, his gaze dark and intense as it roamed over my naked body. “I want you to play with yourself, Joey. Show me how you make yourself come.”
I stared up at him, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. “I want you to do it,” I whispered, the plea barely audible.
His response was immediate and commanding. He grabbed my hand and guided my fingers down to my swollen nub. “Rub, Joey.”
As he shoved his black lounge pants down, revealing his thick, beautiful erection, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. He started to stroke himself, his gaze locked on my pussy. “Do it and make it last.”
A shiver of both excitement and nervousness ran through me. Slowly, I began to move my fingers, rolling my clit between them, feeling the slickness of my arousal. With my other hand, I slipped two fingers inside myself, my eyes widening at the sensation.
Colson’s breath hitched, and he stroked faster, his eyes darkening with lust. “Fuck yourself,” he commanded, his voice hoarse.
I obeyed, following his instructions, and as I did, he inched closer, his presence overwhelming. “Tell me how it feels,” he croaked, his voice thick with desire.
A low moan escaped my lips as I arched my back, thrusting my breasts toward the ceiling. Colson was so close now, practically on top of me. He knelt between my legs, squeezing his shaft, using his precum to lubricate it as he stroked himself harder.
“It feels so good,” I breathed, my voice trembling with the intensity of the sensations coursing through me. “But it’s better when you do it.” I removed my fingers from inside myself and offered them to him, watching as he bent down and sucked them into his mouth, his eyes never leaving mine.
The head of his cock was now sliding along my mound, tantalizingly close to where I wanted him most. This was the closest I’d ever been to fucking, and the thought alone was nearly enough to push me over the edge.
He let my fingers go with a pop, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “I want to see you in lingerie for our honeymoon. I want to open you like a present.”
A desperate moan escaped me as he pushed my hand away, using the crown of his dick to rub against me, teasing me, driving me wild with need. “Colson…”
“I could make this so easy, Joey,” he murmured, his voice low and seductive. “You’re soaked, and I would slide in easily.”
I knew better. He’d told me how tight I was, and he was not only thick but long. It would hurt, and despite how turned on I was, I wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.
“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling with both desire and resolve. “Please don’t ask that of me. I want to wait for our wedding, it’s only a month away.”
He nodded, understanding flickering in his eyes. Then he stretched out over me, his body warm and solid, working his hips in rhythm with mine as he sealed his mouth over my lips in a deep, consuming kiss. The sensation was overwhelming, pushing me closer and closer to the edge.
I was so close, teetering on the brink, my body tightening with the impending release. Colson’s touch, his kiss, the feel of him so near yet just out of reach—it was all too much, and not enough, all at once. I let go with a loud groan as the head of his shaft battered my swollen clit.
He sucked my nipples, licking my sweat laden flesh before he sat up and vigorously stroked. Seconds later, he splashed my mound and belly with his come, jerking and tugging until he was spent. Colson collapsed on me, and I wrapped my arms around his back.
“Stay with me tonight,” he pleaded. “I have another trip tomorrow and I won’t be back until Sunday.”
He raised his head to stare into my eyes.
“Why do you always tell me last minute?” I asked.
I slipped off me. His stomach was coated with come the same way mine was.
“This is business. Meetings come up all the time last minute. You have to get used to it,” he said, his tone gruff.
“I’ll stay,” I said.
He climbed off the bed, and scooped me into his arms, carrying me to the bathroom.