Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
LILITH
Kady touches up my make-up, making sure that my eyes are a little darker because it makes the green in them pop.
I have curled my hair, and then swept it over my shoulder, adding a pearl clip that my grandmother gave me to keep the hair in place. Tree, Kady, and Perri are here, helping me get ready; the girls wanted to help with a mini makeover for the wedding.
The one that I wish I would have stood my ground and said that I would not attend, but here we are.
When my cousins arrived, with Perri behind them, I was shocked, but she told me that since I am dating her brother, we should get to know one another.
“I think you are done, Lil,” Kady informs me.
“My brother will swallow his tongue when he sees you, Lilith,” Perri says, making me smile.
She is a mini-Risky with her long, straight blonde hair, plump lips with rock-chick attitude for days, but her eyes are all her father.
“Do you think?” I ask her.
She scoffs. “Babe, have you seen you? That dress makes your tits look fabulous. It was made for you.”
I stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror and gasp, taking the first look of myself with my outfit complete.
“Told you.”
My mother will pitch a fit when she sees me because she thinks that I am wearing one of the dresses she sent for me to try on, but the girls intervened and told me to wear something for myself.
Jack made the comment to show them that I am not heartbroken, that I am a strong woman who does not need a man, unless that man is Jack Masters.
The green satin dress looks so good against my pale skin. The spaghetti straps sit on my shoulders, connected to simple cups that hold my breasts securely, with a split between my cleavage.
A band sits just beneath my breasts then the skirt floats down, stopping just below my knees. I found a beautiful pair of silver heels with a sparkly strap across the top of my foot.
A knock comes on the door, and my heart skips a beat knowing it is Jack. My palms become clammy, and I look at the girls before me with wide eyes as unease settles in my stomach, knowing how much I am going to have to confront when we get there.
“Oh God, I don’t think I can go to this wedding. I cannot stand up to my mother or my family. Shit.”
“Hey, none of that shit. You are a strong, fierce woman who has a hot man at her side. Jack will not let anything happen to you, Lilith. Believe me when I say that.” Tree gently cups my cheeks, making me look at her.
“You are lucky that your husband looks like my date; I do not think that your husband would appreciate you ogling another man,” I joke, trying to ease the knots in my tummy.
“Oh, a jokester now.” She winks at me.
“You ready?” Perri asks me, and I nod.
Picking up my silver clutch bag as I approach her, she gives me a bright smile.
“You look stunning, Lilith. My brother is a lucky guy to have you on his arm today. Do me one favor though?” I nod at her, hoping that I can succeed in whatever she is about to ask of me.
“Trust my brother.” Leaning in she kisses my cheek, and steps aside for me to go to Jack.
Stepping into the living room, I come to a stop when my eyes meet Jack’s. Standing in the middle of the room, looking like he stepped out of a James Bond movie, the black tuxedo fits him to perfection. His shoes are shiny, and his hair is styled back.
“Wow.” He moves to me, while my heart beats in time with his fast-paced steps. “You are stunning, babe. I am going to get into a fight tonight, trying to stop all those sleezy assholes from coming on to you.”
“Most will be family, Jack,” I say breathlessly, loving how he is possessive over me.
I have never had that.
I like it.
“Your ex will have some single friends there, baby, who will want to see what is under this dress, but none will. Only me.”
“Jack—” I go to say that it is nonsense, but he cuts me off.
“We need to go before I find out exactly what is under this.”
I smile at his words; they make my lady parts flutter and become wet. This side to him, the dirty talking and possessive side, is making me hot.
“Lilith,” he says my name on a groan.
Before I can ask him what he means, he leads me from the house and helps me into the car: a sleek looking black Mercedes. He informed me that he needs a car to pick up Dom when the weather is bad, or if they need more room than is on the bike.
Thankfully, my cousin and my ex decided that St Petersburg, Florida is the wedding destination. It takes us a few hours before we arrive at the hotel where the wedding is taking place.
“Stay,” he calls to me as he climbs out of the car.
Stepping around, he tosses the keys to the young valet, and opens my door, offering me a hand to help me out.
Stepping out, I catch Jack’s gaze move over my body, and he bites his lip.
Holy mother of all things bikers hot in a tux, that is sexy.
“I am one lucky fucker.” His hand squeezes my hip before sliding around my body, pulling me to him.
My body heats from his touch, and my pussy flutters.
“What do you say we show this dick what he is missing, and show your whole screwed up family that you are not heartbroken over a shmuck like him?” He winks at me, and my insides melt into a puddle of mush on the floor.
We enter hand in hand, and as soon as we breach the main room where the ceremony is being held, I can feel the atmosphere change, but I hold down the need to run from the room.
“Breathe, baby.” Jack kisses my jaw, and I sigh.
I lead us down to where our seats are, because my mother even made a seating plan for where the guests sit. You would think that it is my sister getting married, not my cousin, but my aunt is the type of woman who could not organize a book club in a library.
“Your guest is seated six rows back.” I stiffen, hearing my sister Cherie’s voice.
Turning to see her standing before me, in a dress that looks like it is two sizes too small for her, her hip is cocked, matching her perfectly shaped eyebrow.
Kady’s words flit through my mind, telling me that I am as strong as I want to be and that I need to make sure that my family does not walk all over me today. I am strong and I own a business that I built from the ground up, not them.
“No, he is sitting with me.” I straighten my back, showing her that I will not back down.
I feel Jack’s hand tightening on my hip, offering me support.
“He is not known or welcome to sit with the family. You always were a brat who needed to get her own way, but not today, Lilith. Today is about Vanessa and Christopher, you know, the man you could not keep.” Her voice is smug and snooty, but I do not react like she wants me to.
“Me, a spoiled brat? Give me a break, Cherie, it was you who would throw a tantrum when you did not get what you wanted. I am very surprised that you are not maid of honor to this farce of a wedding,” I growl low to her. “Did Vanessa not want you?”
“You little bitch.” She steps forward, her hand raised, but Jack inches closer and she instantly moves back, her eyes wide.
“I suggest that you think about the consequences of laying a hand on my woman. As you said, today is about the bride and groom, so why don’t we take a seat and get this shit show on the move?” His voice is low and commanding, causing my panties to grow damp.
I have always seen Jack as one of the quiet and more reserved members of the club, but I am very much liking this side that I am witnessing.
“You will regret this,” my sister snaps before walking to the end of the aisle and taking her seat.
Jack nods to the other side, and we step down to take our seats. I can hear whispers about me and my hot date. People are trying to work out if I paid him to be here with me, or if he knocked me up and is forced to stay with me.
“So fucking proud of you, baby.” He kisses my neck, pulling a moan from me when his tongue licks at my pulse point.
I hear a gasp behind me.
Looking over my shoulder, I see one of my aunts and cousins glaring at me.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, acting in this manner at your cousin’s wedding.” She scowls at me.
“Are you sure it should be Lilith who should carry the shame in this room?” Jack speaks up. My hand rests on his thigh as he continues, “Maybe you should look at the bride and groom, who were fucking each other while the groom was planning on marrying Lilith. Or the fact that Lilith’s own cousin was fucking her man. Or, maybe, just maybe, you should all look in the fucking mirror and be ashamed of yourselves to defend such shitty actions.”
With that he turns to look at me, giving me a wink.
I smile at him, before leaning in and pressing my lips to his.
“Thank you,” I say against his lips.
I can see myself falling deeply for this man and his son. Hell, I think I already have. My feelings for Jack have always been there, simmering below the surface, but my life was planned out for me, so, like a good daughter, I let things get set as planned, until that dreadful day.
Hairs on the back of my neck stand up and an uneasy feeling swirls in my stomach. Looking up I see Christopher looking at me from his place at the front, with his sleezy friends next to him.
He smirks, making my skin crawl.
“You okay, baby?” Jack asks in a low tone, not gaining attention.
I look to him and nod, forcing a smile, then look back to my ex, who is now glaring a hateful stare at Jack. I swallow hard, pushing down the bile that is fighting to make an appearance. I hate to think what Christopher will do to Jack or the club, just to be spiteful and show his power.
My mother rushes in, sitting in the end seat, not acknowledging me, but my father gives me a small smile and a head dip. I smile at him, but say nothing as a cheesy song plays, indicating Vanessa’s arrival. Thankfully, it pulls Christopher’s attention from me to his soon-to-be wife.
The wedding passes in a blur, and I cannot wait for it to be over with so we can get out of here and back to our hotel room that Jack booked for the night.
Thoughts fly around my head, about how lucky I am that I got away from this man. How I dodged a bullet, catching them together.
Jack touches my face, pulling me from my thoughts. I blink, focusing on his frowning face.
“You are too handsome to be frowning, Jack Masters,” I blurt out.
“And you are too fucking beautiful to be with the likes of me, Red, baby. But I am a selfish man, and I am not letting you go.” He kisses me gently, as everyone follows behind the newly married couple.
“That is quite enough, Lilith. Stop acting like an attention brat and follow us for family photos.” My mother’s voice is like an ice-cold bucket of water poured all over me.
“That is enough, Patty.” My father steps in, dragging her away.
Jack growls, and looking in his eyes, I can see the anger fighting to break free. I shake my head at him, letting him know it is not worth it.
“You do not have to put up with that bullshit, baby.”
“I know, Jack.” I sigh.
We follow behind my family, my hand tightly encased in Jack’s. We stand and pose for photos, and I force my smile, because, if I don’t, it would be yet another thing my family will bitch to me about. I am tired of defending myself against them and letting them walk all over me.
I look around and take note that none of my family is paying me any attention, all except Jack, who is leaning against a tree, looking like a wet dream. He smirks at me, licking his lips, and I know what he is thinking about, because I am thinking the same thing.
The hotel room is waiting for us, where I plan on giving myself to him tonight. I want to feel him everywhere, and I want him to leave me panting and begging for more.
Even with the distance between us, I can feel the heat building, my body responding with just his eyes on me. Biting my lip, his grin deepens, and my body goes on high alert around him.
“I am done with you all now. Just the bride and groom.”
We are shooed away by the stuck-up photographer, and I gladly rush over to Jack. He takes me in his arms, and kisses my neck, causing my nipples to pebble, and my lady parts to flutter.
“Have I told you how stunning you look today?”
I giggle and kiss his lips. It feels right to kiss him; my nerves about touching him and kissing him when I want faded when he stuck up for me before the ceremony. Not many people defend me, but when he did that, I felt any doubt that I initially had for us fade away.
“You have. Have I told you how handsomely sexy you look today?” I reply.
“You have not, but I know I look good. I would never do anything to embarrass you, Lilith.” His voice takes on a serious tone as he cups my jaw.
“I know, Jack. I feel that you get me, you do not look down on me like most do.” I look around the garden area and see my family all mulling around, gossiping, looking over at us. “Thank you for being here with me.”
“Hey, listen to me.” I look into his eyes. “I will never do anything to hurt you, not intentionally anyway. But I will not stand around and let other people talk shit to you, you hear me? You and me, baby. Let that bitch of a sister of yours ruin her own day sneering at you, but nothing will touch ours. You get me?”
I nod.
“Now, come on, I need a stiff drink, and so do you. Maybe get some food into you, but I know how these fancy fucking weddings go. The main meal will be the size of an apple but cost a small fortune.”
I giggle as he leads me inside and we find our seats. Having Jack next to me is empowering, so I channel his strength, his power, and stay strong through the stupidly small meal everyone is served. My cousins, who I have not seen in months, moan and whine around the food, they pass comments about what Vanessa and Christopher did to me, but I brush it off, let my date growl at them, and they shut up.
Before now, I would have let their words hurt, but it is time for me to let it wash over me and find a new me. A stronger me.