Chapter XXVII Hotdoggin’ （Lena） #2
She’s gotten better at containing her excitement, but it’s not easy today with so many people, the sea, and a strange new environment.
Later, I mouth, pointing at my eyes, then back at her, looking as stern as I can. You’ll get hair on my dress, girl. Stay.
She barks loudly like she understands and lies down with a grumble.
Everybody laughs.
As I blink in the daylight, my chest splits open until it feels like I’m breathing helium instead of air.
It’s almost scary, being this happy.
Up ahead, the song switches over, and we start slowly moving forward toward the arch at the end.
Everyone else stands in their seats. Friends, family, the people closest to us and no one else.
And, of course, Brady, standing beside the captain, who doubles as our officiant in his crisp white uniform.
There are so many people as I keep moving forward. So many faces giving me their very best.
Granny Lark throws me a mischievous wink.
Kerrigan beams, maybe the most emotion I’ve ever seen on her.
Even Alec looks up in his wheelchair and gives me a brusque nod of approval.
Even the hardest hearts are melting today.
Brady chose a wonderful linen suit. He looks like a white knight, glowing in the sunlight, my own wise guardian angel come to earth.
The outfit accents his dark hair and the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
His mouth parts as I walk down the makeshift aisle. This isn’t a church, no, and although Kerrigan insisted on the traditional “bride walk,” all I really want to do is get to my groom ASAP.
Preferably without tripping over the hem of my dress.
He reaches out to me and squeezes my hand when I close in. Predictably, the breeze tosses those loose curls over my face, and I blow them back into place.
“Ouch, woman. You’re so beautiful it hurts,” he whispers.
“I know,” I whisper back, pumping his hand. “You look pretty decent yourself.”
With a huge grin, he nods.
Together, we turn to the captain as he clears his throat.
Time melts and starts flowing differently.
I don’t remember much about the ceremony or the words we say when the promises are already steel in our hearts.
Oh, but I remember the scenery.
Especially when a small orca pod surfaces in the distance, blowing their spouts, and the ceremony almost pauses so we can all get a good look at them.
A yellow seaplane passes overhead, possibly following the whales for tracking. I actually freak out a little.
One glance at Mom tells me she sees it too.
Maybe it’s just a happy coincidence, yeah. But maybe it’s my aviation-buff father looking down, giving us a giant thumbs-up from the Great Beyond.
Queenie barks at the whales, to everyone’s delight, wagging her tail.
I just hope she isn’t too spooled up to forget ring duty.
And I remember Brady’s vows when they come, the way he promises to dedicate every second of his life to me, to make me feel supported and loved.
Soon, I echo the same. How I love my new husband more than life and that I accept him completely.
How I’ll always want him in sickness or health, anger or joy, life or death.
With Brady, it’s so easy, knowing he’ll always help me be my own unapologetic self.
Queenie brings us the rings and doesn’t miss a beat.
Luis—Brady’s best man—unclips the box from her collar, scratching her behind the ears in gratitude as he passes them off to the captain.
Then to us.
The platinum ring feels incredible against my skin, like it’s always belonged there. It’s a plain band, aside from the slight engraving inside it.
Always, Sass. Forever mine.
I try not to choke up, remembering the words as I adjust my rings.
I’m so glad I practiced not crying for a week, or I’d be a total mess right now.
Even Brady’s eyes have a shimmer as he looks at me and mouths, I love you.
There.
My iron grip on my wedding mask cracks, and my face screws up.
“By the power vested in me,” the captain says while I blot at my eyes, “I proudly declare you husband and wife. Kiss the bride.”
If I’m falling apart, one kiss seals me back together.
One searing, intense, explosive kiss as Brady holds me, dips me in his arms, and claims my mouth in front of the world.
And as he cups my face, caressing me so gently, I feel myself unraveling, and I don’t even care.
Nobody ever said weddings were supposed to be easy.
And no love has ever felt like this before. So complete. So utterly fricking right.
“God, I love you,” I whisper as he pulls away.
We’re both too breathless to say another word, so we just go in for a second kiss.
I think the cheering might scare the whales away.
If not, Queenie bouncing up and down, barking like mad until she’s panting, does it for sure.
But all I can see is Brady’s smile, heart stopping and gorgeous as he stares down at the rest of his life.
“My beautiful wife,” he says reverently.
Smiling, I make a silent promise that I’ll never let him see anything less.
The best day of my life is also the longest.
I wish I had a degree in physics to understand how weddings warp time. The day crawls by, yet it’s also gone in the blink of an eye.
And when I’m done blinking, I’m sharing my first dance with Brady as his wife. Then I dance with Mom and do a quick jig with Elle and Granny Lark.
Queenie finally crashes out from the excitement, sleeping with her paws in the air next to Luis, who brings his Miami energy to the dance floor when everyone else starts tapping out.
Even Dr. Ezzie looks happy as she dances with an older gentleman, an uncle of Brady’s in medicine. My heart purrs to see her with a brand-new work-life balance, free from her crushing juggling act.
The sun shines on until dusk. I still feel like I’m walking on air as it gets dark.
I’m certainly dancing on it.
Best of all, the boat only has to dock in Anacortes at the end of our day to let all the other guests off, and then we’re alone with nothing but a skeleton crew to keep the ship running.
After a quick refueling stop, the ship backs into the night, moving through calm waters under a laughing, bright moon.
The night sky might be our best wedding present.
We have this yacht for the next few weeks. Our plan is to lazily work our way down the Pacific coast through Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja, Mexico, ending our celebration with a few days in Cabo San Lucas.
So many gorgeous sights to take in.
So much of the world to see.
If we can bring ourselves to leave the boat, I mean.
I tell myself that won’t be a problem as Brady unzips the side of my dress, stopping when he sees the corset fit snugly against my skin.
“Damn, Sass. Didn’t know you had so many layers,” he says as I lie down, content on the sun bed outside our room. There’s a heater nearby for warmth, but the cool night feels good on my skin.
I’m so tired I could drift away right now.
“All for suspense. That’s what Gran said.”
“How pissed will you be if I just rip it off?”
I crack an eye and look up at him.
“If you want, we can have sex with it on. Right here. That’ll be a sight for the crew.”
“The crew, shit. All this energy must’ve gone to your head.” He nips my neck as he leans over and whispers, “Fortunately, they’re enjoying a late dinner break, and we’re anchored for the night.”
“Mm, well, in that case . . .” I tilt my head, giving him better access to my neck. “Just be gentle. This is the most expensive dress I’ll ever own.”
“We’ll change that soon.”
“What an arrogantly rich thing for you to say.” I laugh under the feel of his hand caressing my bare skin.
“What an arrogantly rich man you married. Worth it, though.” His voice drops to low thunder, and I shiver. “Can’t believe I’m the lucky bastard who gets to be with you for the rest of my life.”
“Um, make your legion of fans understand. According to them, I stole their winning ticket at the Pruitt lottery.”
“Bullshit,” he says tenderly, carefully drawing the dress off me.
The corset pops off easily, thankfully, and he peels more fabric away until I’m down to what Elle termed my knock-him-out panties, complete with a little pink bow.
He lets out a choked laugh and catches my face, bringing it to his so he can kiss me.
“A word of warning,” I say between kisses, twisting so I can undo his jacket and work off his layers. “Don’t even try to take my hair down. We’ll be stuck here for days.”
“That bad? I like it down.”
I laugh against his lips. God, I love being here like this.
“Pins.” The way his face creases with frustration makes me dissolve into more laughter.
He doesn’t seem to mind as he peppers kisses down my neck and across my breasts, rolling my nipples until I gasp.
“A month. A fucking month without my dick inside you,” he rasps bitterly.
“Too long, I agree.” I push him back, and we walk to the railing, where tiny lights dance on the distant islands. Here, naked as the day I was born, I stand and push my hips toward him.
“Here? You’re sure?”
“If you can manage.” I glance over my shoulder at him mischievously.
“Fuck, woman, I’d take you on top of the Space Needle right now. I’ve been dreaming about having you wrapped around me for weeks.” He reaches between my legs, his quick fingers rubbing and teasing.
He doesn’t need any prep when I’m already soaked.
I bite my lip and lean over the railing carefully. The cold metal nips my skin, a pleasant contrast to the fire he kindles.
There are so many beautiful sights ahead, but I don’t think anything will beat this moment, bathed in night, his hot breath on my neck.
He comes closer, leaning over me, pressing me down.
We exchange a quick, feral glance, a question without words.
Oh yes. I’m ready.
In answer, he inhales sharply, pressing his cock against my entrance.
He takes me in one push.
Glorious friction.
For a second, I can’t breathe.
Being filled by this man is on another level, the one inhabited by sex gods.
My legs tremble, and he wraps his arms around my waist with a rough laugh.
“I’ve got you. Don’t worry,” he says.
Doesn’t he, though?
His hand roams my breast, and the other moves down, skating across my belly until he finds my clit. With his thumb adding the perfect pressure, he thrusts deeply, fiercely.
The slowness is delectable—but when I rock my hips back, urging him on faster, it’s devastating.
With these rings glittering on my fingers and the rest of our lives coming closer with every thrust, every kiss, every breathless moan, I know how deeply Brady healed me.
He fixed me in ways I never knew I needed.
Everyone at Pawsome Hearts keeps teasing me about the changes the last few months.
I smile more. I make small talk with strangers, and it doesn’t feel like a chore. I’m even singing along to the radio after close, when we all pitch in to clean the kennels.
They remind me I’ve defrosted.
And the very hot, heroic beast driving into me is the only reason why.
My hand covers Brady’s over my breast, just so I can touch him.
His tempo picks up. He holds me closer, pinning us together with his grip.
Greedily possessive, yes.
But safe. Wanted.
Inseparable.
“So fucking good tonight, Lena,” he growls in my ear. The cool breeze skittering over me is the only reason I’m not melting.
I know how risky this is, but my body doesn’t care. Technically, some restless crewman could walk out for a cigarette or just some fresh air and look up at our balcony, but when you’re on a boat with a billionaire and his new wife on their wedding night, I guess you know the rules.
Don’t see it, don’t say it.
The waves rock gently under us, adding an extra thrill.
There’s nothing gentle as his hips quicken, his cock pounding fire through my nerves.
Another moan falls out of me.
The love, the happiness, the certain forever, and the pleasure that ignites me like a match.
Absolutely no complaints.
A month ago, I would’ve sworn we have the best sex life. But something about tonight feels different.
Maybe it’s the ring on my finger or the giddy afterglow of walking down the aisle and dancing until my feet hurt.
But yes, married sex feels better than I would’ve believed.
“Don’t stop,” I gasp.
“Not on your life.” He kisses my shoulder, then the other. “Hell, I think you’ll condition me to get hard every time I see your hair like this.”
I give back a gasping, breathless laugh. “I don’t think it’ll happen very often.”
“Shame. I’d better savor this, then.” He plunges in faster, losing control with every thrust, breaking me down.
Then time blurs for the hundredth time today.
I think I say his name.
Brady, Brady.
Over and over until I’m hoarse, but none of that matters.
His strong arms hold me up, and his voice echoes so roughly in my ear, urging me to come.
Vowing to love me forever.
And I love him so much I go off with a wild scream, rocking like mad on his cock as he fills me.
The world falls back into place so slowly, and he pulls out, turning me around and bringing me down on the day bed with a tumble.
“We should get inside. It’ll be cold out here soon.”
“Eventually. I want to see your face,” he says as he pulls me closer.
In no time at all, I don’t need to worry about the chill. He’s inside me again, and we both groan with relief.
I roll my hips, watching his eyes glaze.
“I want this forever. Can we do that?” I whisper.
“Forever,” he agrees.
“Promise me?”
“That’s the promise I made today, Sass. Won’t break it for anything while I’ve got a beating pulse.” He pauses his punishing strokes to bring my left hand to his mouth, kissing the rings. “Forever, Lena. You deserve nothing less, and you’re going to get it.”
Chills.
Nobody guarantees the future, I know, but tonight my man sounds like a prophet.
Later, as he drags me inside to the large bed to hold me with my head against his chest, listening to the soft drumming of his heart, I’m stoked to wake up to the rest of our eternity.