20. Margo
CHAPTER 20
Margo
D ate twenty. From our coffee date where I introduced him to Ratty until now seems like a lifetime ago, but we made it all the way. We said our vows in the most beautiful, country-themed ceremony my heart could have ever dreamed up. Flowers cover the small barn, and twinkling lights drape from the ceiling like tiny stars dancing in the sky.
“Today was magical, Tommy,” I whisper. “We’re finally married.”
“I knew from the moment I saw you we’d end up here in some way, shape, or form.” He pauses, admiring the stillness of the barn. “Nothing has made me happier than this day and what it means,” he says, pulling me tighter to his side. The guests have left, and the chairs have been taken down. “Maybe I can rent this out, and we could host weddings here.” I sigh. “Just so it can always look like this. Just so I can always remember this.”
He smirks. “You can keep it decorated like this if you want,” Tommy drawls. “Archie won’t mind at all,” Tommy teases. “You don’t have the time for another business. You got the NFL contract, so you won’t have spare time for the foreseeable future.” If you told me my career would look like this two years ago, I never would have believed you. There was nothing better than working at the SEAL base training America’s elite. Now I get to do that, and then some, at my own facility.
I sigh. “I know, I know. A girl can dream, can’t she?” The music plays low through the speakers hung around the perimeter of the large space. “Dance with me one more time?”
He takes both my hands in his and whisks me around the dance floor. The long lace of my dress sweeps the floor, and the moment is ethereal, just Tommy and me. The way my life was always destined to be. I try not to dwell on the things that could have been or the what-ifs. I don’t even think of my past any longer. It’s merely something that happened to me that helped create who I am today. If more people took the bad things that happened to them and used them to better themselves, instead of allowing them to define them, the world would be energetic, happy, and more powerful.
“You barely had a limp today,” I remark, when the song slows to something more seductive. “Don’t hide it on my account.” Laying my head on his chest, I listen to my favorite melody. One that confirms everything will be okay if I can hear it. It’s just for me.
“There’s something about getting the girl of your dreams that cures the mind and body,” he replies, but I’m no dumb-dumb. I know today will cost him tomorrow during physical therapy. “Margo, was there anything you’d change about today?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. All the people we love were here. The memory is only sweet. For maybe the first time, nothing clouded it. It truly was everything I hoped for.” I pause. Why did he ask? “What about you? Would you change anything?”
He tilts his head back and forth, thinking. I used to be offended when he took so long to answer a question because I thought it meant he was concocting something I wanted to hear. I now know it’s because he’s just thoughtful and wants to give me the utmost truth. “I wish this happened a long time ago, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“If this happened before, there’s no telling if we’d be this happy or if our lives would have worked out this seamlessly. You have to admit, this is about as good as it gets.” I know he gets sad when he thinks about his time as a Navy SEAL, and I like to bring it up so he knows it was important and that it counts. He counts. He did his part until he no longer could. He would have stayed in the military if Ron hadn’t pushed him down those stairs. I think when he lost the choice, he leaned fully into the new path so he couldn’t grieve what could have been.
His watch pings, and he reads the message. “Jeannie and Fish left for the hotel,” he announces.
“My mom was going to head over to the hotel shortly too. Let’s go say goodbye,” I say, kissing him when he leans down. I feel him through his dress pants and know how excited he is to have me after everyone clears our home. “Let’s go.” I pull on his hand, and he drives us to the main house in the Ranger.
It has cans that rattle from strings and white lace dangling from the back. My mom and his parents are on the back porch when we cut the engine and join them.
“Mama, we wanted to say goodbye,” I say, running up the stairs to greet her again.
She stands from the low patio chair, holding tightly to the armrests. I help her to stand, and she adjusts her prosthetic leg.
“Is it bothering you?” I ask quietly. “It’s been such a long day.”
Mostly she doesn’t mind when I ask, but sometimes in large gatherings, like today, she just wants to blend in—to seem normal. My mom lost her leg in a car accident when she was twenty-seven. The agony she went through, which I witnessed as a child, is why I grew up to get a degree in physical therapy and then continued to exercise science.
“I’m fine, honey. Don’t you worry about me on your big day,” she replies, but I see her wince. “I couldn’t be prouder of you. Of both of you.”
I hug her around her neck and inhale the scent of the perfume she’s always worn. It’s the smell of comfort and home. A scent that makes me feel like everything will be okay.
Tommy was slower up the stairs and is chatting with his parents behind us. “Thank you for being here today. I know you’ve wanted to visit forever now, but I wanted you to visit when I’d found my forever.”
She touches my face lightly. “I wouldn’t miss this for all the tea in China, Margo. You are my pride and joy. I know you’re going to take care of that man. You took care of me. You’re always taking care of me even if you don’t realize it.” A single tear drips down her face. She catches it. “Save the world, honey. We all know you can. You’ve been getting ready for this job your entire life.”
She’s right, and it makes me smile so big that my cheeks hurt. “Thank you. I love you, Mama.”
Tommy comes to stand next to me. “This day wouldn’t be complete without you here,” he says to mom.
“Oh, Tommy, you act like a messed-up leg can stop us from life.” My mom smiles her lopsided grin. “You take care of my baby girl, now. Someone has to tell her no every once in a while, or she’ll live in the clouds.”
“I love the clouds,” I clap back.
Tommy laughs. “Okay, wedding coordinator, personal trainer, physical therapist. Now meteorologist?”
I slap his arm lightly. He winces away from me playfully. “Just saying, we own a ranch too, baby. We need to save some bandwidth for when we have a family.”
At the mention of a family—children, my eyes widen. I love to daydream about how sweet life will be if I get to see little Tommys running around the pastures. Their laughter filling the house and my soul.
“Fine,” I say. “I guess you’re right.” My mom heads into the house to grab her things.
“My parents are driving your mom to the hotel. I think the house is clear here in a few. Archie and the ranch hands are closing down the mini barn, and all the caterers have cleared everything out,” Tommy explains, rubbing his wrist. “I’m going to run back and make sure everything is good.”
I tell him I’m going to get out of my dress and have a quick shower while he wraps everything up. When I enter the house there are wedding gifts on every single surface. The kitchen island, the kitchen table, the dining table, and even the little tables next to our sofas hold wrapped gifts and cards in every pastel hue imaginable.
As I pass by, I notice a frilly pink gift with beautiful handwriting. It’s from Dani. I swallow down the lump that forms when I think of her because it’s tied to the bad. The past. Hollis and Ron and Tommy’s injuries. She declined to attend the wedding, but her parents came. They left quickly after the ceremony. I think that was mostly for my benefit, but they must have brought the gift from Dani. I open the card.
To the Townes on your wedding day,
No two people are better suited for each other in this galaxy. I won’t wish you the best because I already know you have it. You’ll have it always. A love like yours only happens once in a lifetime.
Cherish it.
All my love,
Daniella
P.S. It took forever to find this gift, but there wasn’t anything else that would do. They belong together. Sorry about this, Margo.
I drop the card and immediately tear open the confection-hued paper. When I open it, a damn cow face is staring back at me. The signature on the corner confirms it’s from the same artist who painted his prized possession—the cow painting from his grandpa. Covering my mouth, I laugh as I bring the painting into the living room and hold it up next to the first one.
“Yep, they do belong together,” I say, then laugh like a crazy person in the low lights. They are different, but the same. I already know this will be my favorite gift, too.
Tommy bustles through the door and sees me standing there with the cow painting. “Oh, good, I decided I wanted to be the one to take that dress off you.” He raises a brow as he locks the door. “What is that?”
“Dani gifted us the match to your ugly cow painting,” I explain. “It’s so damn perfect I could cry.”
His smile grows wider as he approaches. “God she fucking hated that thing,” he says, through laughs. “This is actually perfect.”
“I know,” I agree. I set the cow down on the back of the couch. “We’ll hang it tomorrow. Back to you taking off this dress?”
He licks his lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
I turn, and he takes his time with the tiny buttons that line my spine. Then the zipper slides to the top of my ass. The dress pools on the carpet around my feet, and I spin to face him.
He loses his breath, holding it as he takes me in, eyes raking over my stark white panties and bra. “There’s no possible way for you to belong to me more. I want what’s mine,” he rasps, dropping a kiss on my bare shoulder. “Margo Towne.”
He says my new married name and I swear my panties flood with wetness in response to the two words. Leaning up on my tiptoes, I bring my lips to his. He pulls me tight, lifting me so there’s no space between our bodies. Tommy’s tongue rolls against mine, and his cologne—rugged and musky fires the rest of my body to life. My nipples peak and every inch of skin that touches his feels electrified.
The passion in this kiss is unmatched. It’s desperate and pleading for more. It’s fiery and blissful at once. Butterflies ignite my belly, and the sounds of his ragged breathing makes me pull away.
“Let’s go to the bedroom,” I gasp.
“I want to carry you,” he replies, not putting me down. The medical side of me wants to protest, but I will let my man be a man, knowing the risk is low. He’s worked so hard to get here, for this reason.
I jut out my chin. “Okay, rancher. Take it easy. Don’t hurt me,” I say.
He walks us slowly down the main hallway and then the side hallway that leads to our bedroom. Jeannie decorated it before she left. There are yellow flowers everywhere, in every variety imaginable. They’re happy. They’re celebratory.
“This looks so beautiful,” I say, grateful for my friend. Tommy puts me down so I can admire the arrangements, but I hear the door click closed, and lock.
I spin. He’s stepping out of his pants. Grinning, I help him unbutton his shirt and loosen his tie. He’s naked in mere seconds. “You’re overdressed for the occasion, Mrs. Towne,” he says.
I play coy. “Help me take this stubborn thing off?” I turn toward the bed, and he unfastens the bra with a snap, running his hands down my sides, then hooking his fingers into my thong to draw it down my legs. My whole body heats with need. He reaches around with one big arm and pulls my back against his front. “Tommy Towne, are you taking charge tonight?”
His hand slides down my stomach and between my legs. He strokes my clit at a slow pace, dipping his finger inside to slide my wetness around. The sensation is tantalizing. “I think I might,” he says. “I want to fuck my wife exactly how I’ve been dreaming about all day.” My core clenches when he speaks dirty.
I swallow and hang my head to watch his hand work against me. I move my hips forward to give him better access. “I’m ready to play with my husband, too,” I moan out. He walks us slowly, one step at a time, continuing his assault on my clit until we reach the bed. I bend over leaning my chest against the bed, exposing my ass. He slides a finger in and out. I can hear his breathing catch as he tells me to flip over. Rolling over, I spread my knees wide. His dick is hard, and I haven’t even touched it. I reach between my legs and stroke it, pulling gently so the head rubs against my clit.
“Let me do that,” he says, grabbing his cock and pushing it against my nub. My eyes roll back in my head. How close, but so far. “Does that feel good?”
“It would feel better inside me,” I moan, wiggling my hips, but he doesn’t stray from his task. My abs tighten as the pleasure spreads.
“Like this,” he asks, dipping just the head into my dripping cunt. He pulls it out just as quickly.
I writhe on the bed, my back arching against the lust haze he’s put me in. “More,” I order.
Tommy alternates between rubbing my cunt and clit with his hot dick and sliding just enough inside me to make me scream for more. “More than that?” he asks, a sinister grin lighting his face when he takes it out. His body is flawless, but right now he looks like some tanned, muscular sex god looming over me with the promise of carnal delight.
“Way more than that,” I finally reply. “I want to come with you inside me, Tommy.” It sounds like a whine, but he responds immediately to the tone of my voice, feeding my wet pussy his full length. When I’m filled, and he’s inside me, he lets his head back, looking at the ceiling. There’s a feral noise that emanates from his throat as he pumps into me. He rubs my clit with his thumb, and with him inside me, that’s all it takes for the orgasm to slam into me. I ride the waves of pleasure as he fucks me. This will be one of many tonight.
I pull my knees up, and he takes them to put them over his shoulders as he thrusts, a slow beat that rubs my G-spot and lets him in deeper. He doesn’t change his pace, and I hold on to the orgasm by clenching my core, every muscle in my body is tight. It’s how I can have multiple orgasms one after the other. He has to keep the pace steady, and he’s doing just that, rocking into me, controlled and breathless as he holds back.
“Come again for me,” he says. Once he knew this trick of mine, it became a trick of his.
I slam my eyes closed and concentrate. The next orgasm slides into me with the next push of his cock against my g-spot. A war cry of pleasure escapes my mouth, and he kisses me through the rolling clasping of my pussy on his shaft. It’s more intense this time, a sheen of sweat forms between our bodies. Tommy kisses me, then rolls onto his back.
“Ride me,” he says.
I get on top, more sensitive than ever, but still wet for him. Sliding down on him, I watch his face light in pure indulgence. He perches his hands on my hips, but he lets me choose the pace. It’s a tantalizing tease of rocks and circles and then a plunge onto his shaft, until it hits the back. It’s easy to tell when he’s about to come because I can read him like my favorite book. His muscles start tightening and his grip on my body intensifies. “Where do you want to come? Inside my pussy, in my mouth, or on my body?”
He groans. “Fuck, all of the above. How am I supposed to pass a test like that?”
Gently, I rise off him and take his cock into my mouth. “Like this?” I ask when his body twitches in pleasure.
“Fuck, just like that,” he says when I move up and down, using my hand on the shaft. I taste myself and him mixed together, and it’s my favorite flavor. I suck him off until his hips start jerking. He’s getting close. I pop off him and slide my cunt back onto him facing away from him this time.
“Come in me. Now,” I say, rocking up and down.
Reaching between my legs to lightly stroke his balls. He comes nearly immediately his hard shaft pulsing against me as he grunts his appreciation. I stay on top of him until his breathing slows. Leaning my hands on the bed, I lift up, but not enough for his dick to leave my body. Looking over my shoulder, I see Tommy’s gaze glued to where we’re connected.
“Nice view?” I ask.
“My favorite, I think. Sit back down.” I do.
A half sigh, half moan lights the room. I pull back up and look between my legs to see his cum running down his dick. I catch it with my hand and lick it off my fingers as best I can. “You wanted it in my mouth too,” I say, lowering my lids. “Want to watch me put it on my body?” I lift all the way off him and cup my hand over my swollen cunt and capture his seed.
I rub it between my hands and then rub it on my breasts. Tommy watches, entranced. I push it up to my neck and then over my stomach. “You’re all over me,” I rasp. “Want to give me more?”
He pulls me toward him and presses his mouth against mine. “I want to give it all to you. Every. Last. Drop.” His teeth click against mine as he speaks, and it drives me wild.
“You are my dream girl, Margo,” he says quietly, breath mingling with mine. “I don’t know what I did to end up with you, but I thank my lucky stars every day.” He brings his hands up and intertwines them with mine. His solid gold wedding band is cold against my hand, so I notice it.
“Well, I thank the stars and all the galaxies for you, so I win. I love you in a wedding ring, by the way.”
He looks at mine. “Yours is inscribed.”
I pull back. “No way. Yours is too.”
He takes off his ring, and I take off my engagement and wedding rings to examine them. Five dates. Two words inscribed in a small script are on the inside of my band and tears spring to my eyes.
“Five,” he says, grinning. I put a simple number on the inside of his. “We both had the same idea then? I wonder what our jeweler thought.”
“This makes it even more special. Thank you, Tommy,” I say.
“Don’t wipe your eyes, my cum is literally all over your hands,” he replies, biting the corner of his lip. I let the tears stain my face. “Hey, Margo.”
I tilt my head to the side in question.
“Never have I ever,” he says.
“Never have you ever what?” I humor him, shaking my head.
Tommy slides his tongue along his bottom lip. “Never have I ever loved a person or life more.”
“I’ll have to take a shot when we leave the bedroom,” I reply.