Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
RHETT
I glanced around the ballroom of the swanky country club in downtown Boston. I spent enough time in these places to know that this little shebang cost a mint. There were candles and flowers everywhere. If you asked me, it was borderline obnoxious, just like the people at my table.
Somehow, I was seated next to a few guys from the hockey team. Their loud voices made it impossible to hear anything else. I was used to loud, crude-talking athletes, but these guys thought they were all that and a bag of chips. Their dates were already tipsy, and I wondered if that was the only way they could tolerate being around them.
“Hey, are you Rhett Daniels?” one of the hockey players asked.
“Yep,” I grumbled because I couldn’t take my eyes off my wife or the nightmare playing out in front of me. Everyone clapped and smiled as the newly married couple finished their first dance. When the rest of the wedding party joined in, my hands squeezed my tumbler so hard I thought it would shatter.
He held out his hand. “Jake Sletcher, I’m a huge fan.”
I shook his hand firmly. “Thanks, man, I appreciate it.”
“Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?” He seemed unfazed by my grumpy attitude as I watched Natalie and the way she swayed in her ex-boyfriend’s arms.
“Neither.” I turned to him, needing to get my eyes off the two of them dancing. I swear, this was the longest, slowest song I’d ever heard. “I’m here with a friend.”
He sipped his beer. “Nice. I wanted to congratulate you on winning the big game. That was epic.”
I sighed heavily through my nose as Levi pulled Natalie closer. I was begging for trouble, but I couldn’t look away, no matter how hard I tried. “Thanks. It was a battle making it through the playoffs, but the team managed to pull it off.”
The DJ tapped the mic to get everyone’s attention. Jake clapped me on the shoulder. “I’m heading back to my seat. Enjoy the offseason. I look forward to watching you kick ass in the fall.”
“You too. Maybe I’ll see you in the finals in June.”
I shook his hand one last time before taking my seat. Jake seemed like a decent guy, unlike his asshole teammate.
Levi walked up to grab the microphone. “Hello, everyone.” He smiled, and I couldn’t help but study him. I could see how some women could find him attractive. He had shoulder-length hair that he kept tucked neatly behind his ears. He was all fake charm with an exaggerated smile.
“First, I’d like to thank my best friend and teammate for scheduling his wedding during one of my days off.” Laughter sprang out through the crowd. I must have been the only one not to find him funny. “And second, Gina, it’s a nice change to see you in a dress, considering you’re the one always wearing the pants in the relationship.” More laughter sounded throughout the room. “With all seriousness, I’m just upset that I was asked not to share any embarrassing stories about the groom, so if my speech is lacking, it’s because those are the only stories I know.” He looked at Hudson, who was shaking his head.
My heart pounded in my chest when his eyes turned toward Natalie. “Witnessing your love for Gina is a bittersweet reminder of what I once had. And while I want to be envious, you both deserve all the happiness in the world. If I could share one piece of advice with my best friend, it would be that life is too short, so don’t let anyone or anything come between you. And finally, never lose sight of what brought you together in the first place.”
“Cheers to the bride and groom.”
As the music floated around the reception hall, I kept glancing at Natalie, who was noticeably unsettled. I wanted to go to her and see if she was okay after that speech, because let’s be honest here, every single person in the room knew he was talking about her. Instead, I sipped my drink and watched her laugh with one of the bridesmaids. When she caught my eye, she excused herself and walked toward me. I took a few breaths to collect myself.
“Hi.” She smiled when I handed her my whiskey and Coke. She looked like she needed it more than I did.
“Are you having fun?” I asked.
I sure as fuck wasn’t, but I couldn’t tell her that, could I?
She sipped my drink. “I’ve been too busy with bridesmaid duties to enjoy myself. How about you?”
“It’s not the worst wedding I’ve ever been to, so I’ll survive.”
My prime rib was overcooked, the potatoes were bland, and the salad had blue cheese crumbles. I fucking hated blue cheese. Thank God my appetite was shit; the portions were so small even a bird would starve. The open bar was the only thing filling up my stomach at the moment.
“I’m sorry about Levi’s speech.” She rested a gentle hand on my shoulder.
I kissed the side of her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
Her brow raised. “You don’t have to pretend that you’re not upset. I would be if the shoe was on the other foot.”
There was no sense in denying it. “I’m not upset with you. I’m pissed about the situation. I’m sick of hiding who you are to me.”
Natalie set the drink on the table and flung an arm around my neck. “Dance with me.”
I looked around for any prying eyes. “Natalie. You’re a little close, don’t you think? People are going to start drawing conclusions.”
She shrugged. “Let them.”
That earned a laugh. “What are you doing?”
“I’m asking you to dance. Come on.” She grabbed my hand as I followed her to the dance floor.
As soon as the next song started, I pulled her close. We swayed together, getting lost in our own little world. My eyes traveled down the length of her.
“You look stunning,” I said, brushing her long blond hair off her shoulder. Her blue dress matched her eyes, and the silky fabric draped gracefully along her curves. Natalie was the epitome of class and elegance, and when you paired that with her down-to-earth personality, I felt like the luckiest guy in the room.
“Thank you. Did you notice I’m taller too.” She kicked her foot out to show me her hot as fuck heels .
“And yet I still tower over you.” My eyes dipped down to hers teasingly.
She laughed and swatted my arm playfully. “Watch it, big guy. These heels are sharp enough to be used as weapons.”
I spun her around to the lyrics of Luke Combs “Better Together” before bringing her back to me.
“I was hoping you would be using them for something else later.” I wiggled my eyebrows as we glided across the dance floor. I pulled her closer to avoid the couple dancing next to us who were about to bump into her.
A blush crept up her neck. “Maybe I just might do that.”
My grip tightened on her waist. “You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you right now.”
Hell, I wanted to do a hell of a lot more than kiss her. Just having her in my arms, touching me, awakened things in me that I couldn’t control.
She ran her hands up along my chest, never breaking eye contact. “I was hoping you would. So, what are you waiting for?”
Was she serious or still teasing me?
I looked down at her, feeling my pulse race. “I was letting you take the lead tonight. I wasn’t sure how much PDA you were comfortable with.”
Her hand rested on my chest, right over my beating heart. “I’m sick of hiding my feelings for you and always looking over my shoulder. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
It took a minute for her words to catch up to me.
I tilted her chin up. “What are you saying, Natalie? I’m going to need you to spell it out for me.”
I held my breath, feeling my blood pumping harder and harder through my veins. I was suddenly aware of how much I needed those words to be true because, in a short amount of time, this woman has owned every single part of me.
“You asked me to give you a chance, and you have been patient with me and given me time to figure out my feelings. Never once have you complained or given up. But I don’t need any more time because I know with everything I have that I want to be with you. For real. No more hiding, no more lying, and no more excuses.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her blue eyes were soft and warm and a little unsure. “So, if you still want me, I’m all yours.”
Without replying, I grabbed her by the elbow and led her off the dance floor. “Where are we going?” She chuckled, doing her best to keep up with me.
“Someplace where we can be alone.” People were clapping and cheering, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gina and Hudson cutting into the cake. We weaved through the people and rounded the tables like we were on a mission. I guess I was because I needed her in a place where no one could bother us.
There was an exit door to the left, so we made our way downstairs without breaking our stride. The pro shop was my first stop, but the door was locked. Thankfully, there was an empty storage room with the door slightly open where we could slip into without being noticed. We stepped inside the dimly lit room. It was cluttered with golf clubs, towels, and various equipment.
I closed the door and quickly secured the lock. She gasped when I spun her around and pinned her against the wall.
“It looks like I have you right where I want you, Mrs. Daniels.” My hand gripped the back of her neck, my fingers threading through her hair .
“What do you plan on doing with me, husband?” Her voice was low and seductive, and just thinking about all the things I wanted to do to her lit a match inside me.
I gave her an arrogant smile. “I should make you pay for all the weeks you’ve tortured me.”
“Tortured?” She laughed. “That’s a stretch, don’t you think?”
I dropped my mouth to her neck and dragged my tongue over her collarbone. “No, but I do have plans to stretch something right now.”
She glanced around the small room, double-checking the lock on the door.
“Aren’t you afraid someone could walk by and hear us?”
“Does it look like I give a fuck?” I moved my hand over her breast, kneading and squeezing it through the fabric of her dress. I could feel the heat coming from her body, making me grip her nipple tighter.
Her head fell back against the wall, and she let out a whimper. “God, Rhett.”
I trailed my lips along the side of her neck, nipping the skin with my teeth, making her yelp. “I love knowing that you’re mine.”
She made me feel things I didn’t know I was missing from my life. From the moment I first kissed her on the dance floor, I wanted to know everything about her. And I’ve loved every damned minute I got to spend with her.
I lifted the hem of her dress and dragged my hand up her thighs. I could feel her wetness through her lace thong.
She pulled my mouth to hers and kissed me forcefully. “Please hurry up.”
I rolled my thumb along her clit, toying with her for a minute. “Patience, wife.”
She let out a frustrated growl and started rocking her hips against me. “I can’t control what happens if you take your time.”
I pulled back and started stroking her. “Is that a challenge?”
“I’m just stating facts.” She pressed the heel of my palm against her clit. “So don’t tease me.”
I cocked my head to the side. “You think you’re the boss of me now?”
“I am your wife; it’s my job to boss you around.”
I withdrew my fingers that were coated with her wetness. “Do you want me to stop?”
“If you ever want to fuck me again, you better put those fingers back in and finish the job.”
I grinned. “That’s my girl. Now, hold on to your dress, or you’re going to have a mess on your hands.”
I kneeled on the floor and looked up at her. I pushed her panties to the side, groaning at the sight. “Fuck, Natalie. You are so ready for me.”
“I’m always ready for you. Now, do your worst because it won’t take much right now.”
I hissed in a breath, trying to keep myself from losing control. I flicked my tongue against her core and licked at her insides. She was warm and perfect and the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. And without sounding arrogant, I’d seen a lot, but nothing, and I mean nothing, compared to her.
Knowing she was mine and that I got to worship and touch her every day made me feel like the luckiest son of a bitch alive.
I could feel her swell against my mouth as I licked and sucked while holding her legs open. My fingers dug into her hip, holding her in place and letting her know who was in control this time. I dipped a finger inside and flicked at her clit with my tongue. She encouraged me to keep going with her hands and tiny whimpers. I was taking my time. My only focus was making her feel good. I added another finger and spread her open wider so I could go deeper. Her legs began to shake, so I arched my fingers around her insides, knowing she was seconds away from falling apart on my tongue.
“Rhett,” she cried out while tugging on my hair. “I’m going to come.”
“Damn fucking right you are.” I clamped my mouth down on her clit when I felt a burst of pleasure come tearing through her. Her eyes closed, her mouth fell open, and all I could think of was— Mine . Mine . Mine .
Natalie came apart on my tongue, and I kept my face rooted there, not wanting to miss out on a drop of her pleasure.
I eased back, pressing a kiss to the inside of her thigh before lifting my head. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were still hooded over, and her body looked thoroughly satisfied.
She gently ran her fingers along my face and then leaned in to kiss me softly. When I noticed a tear slip down her cheek, I looked up at her with concern.
“Why are you crying?”
She sniffed, and her eyes filled with more tears. “I don’t know how to say this.”
“You can tell me anything.”
She wiped another tear away and took a deep breath. “I’m crying because I love you.”
Time stood still as her words hung in the air. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I’d imagined her saying that to me countless times, but coming from her lips was almost too much to take in. I could see it in the way she looked at me. I could feel it in every kiss, touch, and conversation. But to hear her utter those three little words solidified what I already knew.
I placed my hands on her thighs, feeling my heartbeat in my chest. I’d spent my entire life feeling lost and searching for something I couldn’t explain. Now I had my answers. I knew where I belonged.
With her.
“You’re crying because you love me?”
I could see the vulnerability in her eyes, the fear that I might not feel the same way.
She nodded with a shaky smile on her lips. “I know it’s too soon, and you’re probably not…”
I stood up before she could get another word in and brought her mouth to mine. “I love you too. I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while, but I wasn’t sure how you would react.”
She grinned. “I didn’t want to let another day go by without telling you how I felt.”
“I’m glad you did, because I’m not sure I would have had the balls to say it first.”
She chuckled. “You’re ridiculous.”
I pressed my lips to hers. “Ridiculous and in love. That’s a great combination.”
I held her face in my hands and planted one last kiss. When I pulled back, the biggest smile I’d ever seen split her cheeks.
“We should probably get back upstairs before Bridezilla comes looking for me.”
A chuckle rumbled out of me. I loved these moments with her when we both seemed perfectly content. I didn’t know much about being in love, but I’d never been this happy in my life and never wanted this feeling to end.
Natalie and I had just reached the last step and were about to enter the ballroom when I pulled her back. “One more kiss.” I nuzzled that sweet spot behind her ear that drove her crazy.
She giggled in my arms. “You’re insatiable.”
My hands went to her ass. “What do you expect? One taste of that sweet pussy is not nearly enough.”
“Ahem.” The clearing of a throat had me looking over my shoulder. My eyes met Levi James, who was giving me a full-on-glare, like he was trying to burn a hole right through me.
I stood straighter, smoothing a hand over my rumpled tie. “Can I help you?”
“I need to speak to Natalie for a moment, please?” His eyes were narrowed and the dent between his eyebrows was so deep, I wondered if it was permanent.
“That’s up to Natalie,” I said, smoothing my thumb along her hip. He took in my hand, and I watched his face twist into a scowl. Seeing us together definitely had him riled up.
Natalie folded her arms across her chest. “I’m sorry, Levi. But I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He kept his gaze trained on me like he knew he had an advantage. This was his crowd, his town, his friends.
I wish I could say I was enjoying every second of this, but Natalie was uneasy, and I didn’t want to add to that, so I held out my free hand, the one that was just inside my wife. “Rhett Daniels, I don’t believe we’ve met before.”
“I know who you are.” His grip on my hand was tight. He was strong, but I was stronger.
“Ah, are you a fan?”
Asshole cleared his throat. “I just know who you are. Do you mind letting Natalie and I have a private moment? ”
“Actually, I do.” My voice was tight, not leaving it up for discussion. “Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of me.”
He looked at Natalie. “Since when do you let other people talk for you?”
I stepped forward, steeling myself for a confrontation that I knew was inevitable. “The lady has already told you it’s not a good idea.”
He glowered at me. “I’d appreciate it if you get the fuck out of my face.”
Was he serious?
Natalie came up and touched my back gently. I had my body positioned in front of hers, blocking his view, so she had to peer at him over my shoulder. “Levi, you are causing a scene. Stop it.”
“Five minutes. That’s all I need. Then I will leave you alone.” He kept his steely gaze on hers, and my protective instincts kicked in. I would rather she not give him the time of day, but I would not be that guy. I trusted her. She chose me, but the thought of the two of them alone together left a bitter taste in my mouth.
She glanced between us, torn between telling him to fuck off or giving in to his request so she could finally be done with him.
“Fine.” She huffed. “Five minutes and not a second more.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his stare bearing down on me, but I refused to allow him to think that he had the upper hand. I squared my shoulders and met his gaze. “You do anything to upset her and we’re going to have a problem.”
Natalie wrapped her hand around my biceps. I could tell she hated this as much as I did. “Rhett, please don’t worry. I just want this over with. I’ll be right back. ”
I squeezed her hand and let her go, even if that was the last thing I wanted to do.
She looked over her shoulder and glanced at me before disappearing through a doorway. I was left standing there, hoping I didn’t just make a mistake.