SEBASTIAN
One Year Later…
I gaze down into Lana’s beautiful yellow-brown eyes, where tears shimmer. I feel my own tears roll down my cheeks as I say, “I do.”
Lana gazes back at me and grins. “I do,” she says.
“Then, by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
I close my eyes, cup Lana’s face, and bring our lips together. The kiss is quick and chaste, appropriate as we’re being watched by hundreds of people, including many small children.
From the front row, I can hear Noah and Tommy giggling, and then little Evie says, “Oh, how romantic!”
I chuckle as I break away from Lana, and beckon Noah over to us.
Our son wraps his arms around Lana and I as we lift him off the ground, the three of us snuggled together. A family.
On cue, All of Me, by John Legend begins to play, and our friends and family rain flower petals down on us.
Carrying Noah in our arms, Lana and I walk up the beach, to where our carriage awaits.
Epona and Hengroen -- the horses Lana and I rode on our ‘first date’ after she returned to East Hampton -- are bridled and standing proudly, both wearing ribbons in a shimmering material that shifts from blue to green.
Like the ocean.
Like the ring on Lana’s finger. I had it made specially to match the necklace her grandmother left for her.
Noah, Lana and I settle in the carriage, and the stable hand, Alex, who I’ve taken on since the work at the ranch keeps getting more, and more, gives the horses the order to move.
We take a slow ride across the beach, as the sun sets, and make our way to the restaurant on the boardwalk that Alicia has made so successful.
Ryan’s partner has taken the day off of work to be with her family, as she should be, so her sous chef Emmette is taking charge.
He’s an excellent chef though, so I know we’re in capable hands.
When we arrive at the restaurant, and our friends and family have joined us, we all gather around to take more photos.
Lana already insisted on having loads taken on the beach, before the ceremony, and now we’re having more done.
I know in the weeks after our wedding she’ll paint some wonderful pictures of the day.
Once the photos have been taken, we all make our way inside, where a Caribbean infused feast waits for us. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, we’re having pineapple tarts, prepared in the proper Bahamas way.
Lana and I sit at the head table joined by Noah, of course, who was ring bearer for the wedding, and Evie who was flower girl.
Arranging the seating for the wedding, and which children would do what, wasn’t easy, in large part due to the fact there’s just so many of us now.
Along with Alicia’s siblings, who are now honorary Braddock’s due to Alicia’s marriage to Ryan, there’s Antony’s twins, and of course the new additions.
I gaze around at everyone, my brothers, my extended family, the new family I’ve inherited from Lana, and I can’t keep the grin off my face. I feel so blessed.
Of course, there are some that can’t be here, and I say a silent prayer for my parents, as well as Lana’s grandmother. God rest her soul.
The food is delicious, and Emmett is proving himself a worthy rival to both Alicia and Antony. There are many Caribbean infused dishes, drawing influence from the many different islands, as well as food inspired by New Orleans, and of course, plentiful seafood that the Hamptons is famous for.
I watch with delight, my heart almost full to bursting, as my new wife and our son enjoy the pineapple tarts.
“This one is on par with Nana's,” Lana says with a smile.
I grin back. “I’m glad to hear it. I had to promise your great uncle Samuel a case of rum if he made this for the wedding.”
Lana laughs. “You should never haggle with Uncle Sam,” she tells me with a mischievous smile.
After the meal, it’s time for our speeches, and I have something extra special prepared for Lana.
I stand, and signal to the photographer, Neil, who leaves his position beside the head table for a moment and disappears into a back room. Lana raises her brow, but I say nothing, until Neil returns with a large picture.
“Lana, the love of my life. My beautiful wife and mother to my son. You’ve made me the happiest man on earth and brought so much joy to my life.
I love you more than anything,” I say, picking up the picture, and preparing to pull off the covering.
“I know there are two special women who couldn’t be here to celebrate with us today -- your mother, Anita, who sadly died in childbirth.
And of course, your Nana, Delia, who raised you from birth, and sadly passed last year.
I know they’d both be immensely proud of the woman you’ve become today, and I know they’re here in spirit. ”
I pull the covering off the picture, and Lana gasps.
“Oh my god, Sebastian, it’s beautiful,” she says, not hiding her tears.
Slowly, Lana approaches the picture, reaching out to stroke the image. “How?” she asks, wide-eyed.
“Our friend, Neil, is a genius,” I say, gesturing to the photographer.
A few months ago, when preparations for the wedding were in full-swing, I had an ambitious idea.
Knowing how heartbroken Lana was that neither her mother nor grandmother would be with her on our wedding day, I spoke to Neil about a special project.
Over the course of a few months and using photos I sneaked out of the apartment Lana and I share, I supplied Neil with pictures of Delia, Anita and Lana.
Neil blew my expectations out of the water. Using advanced digital photography techniques, I barely understand, he created a portrait of Lana, her mother and grandmother on either side of her.
Lana turns away from the portrait to embrace the photographer. “Thank you so much. You’ve already made mine and Sebastian’s wedding wonderful, and now this … I’m speechless.”
Neil smiles. “It was an honour. I remember Delia well, and I’m flattered that I get to honor her, and you of course, in this way.”
Lana presses a kiss to Neil’s cheek, and then turns back to me.
“I have a surprise for you too, Sebastian,” Lana says. Once again, mischief sparkles in her eyes, and I wonder what she has planned.
She makes her way to a storage room and comes out carrying a picture of her own.
I should have known.
Lana props it up next to the portrait, and says, “Sebastian, you bring so much joy to my life. You gave me a beautiful son, and now, by making me your wife, you’ve made me the happiest woman alive. I love you always.”
She pulls the cover from the picture, revealing a painting. I knew she was working on something. In the last few months, she’s been elusive every time I’ve so much as stepped foot in her studio.
The painting is stunning. It’s of me, her and Noah, standing outside the ranch. I remember the moment well. It wasn’t long after we got back together after she told me that I was Noah’s father. We took our son out on his first horse ride.
But, as I look more closely at the picture, I see a detail that wasn’t there on the day.
“What’s this?” I ask, moving in closer.
In the picture, Lana is holding a tiny pair of baby booties in her left hand.
My eyes widen. “Is this what I think it is?”
Lana laughs lightly. “It is. I’m pregnant. Noah is going to have a little brother or sister.”
“Oh my god!” I turn to face her and pull her into my arms. I pepper her face in kisses and when I pull back, I ask, “When did you find out?”
“A few weeks ago. I’d already started work on the painting, and then I got sick. Remember? We thought it was that fish we had from that cheap stall near the beach?”
I remember it well. At the time, all I could focus on was the fact Noah and I were lucky enough not to be throwing up constantly, like Lana was. It didn’t even occur to me it was anything other than food poisoning.
“I knew something felt different, so I took a test, and it was positive. Then I went to the doctor to have it confirmed. I’m about eight weeks along, and our first scan is scheduled for when we return from our honeymoon.”
I’m smiling so widely I think my cheeks are going to split. Lana is pregnant. I’m going to be a father again.
Noah leaves the table, and joins me and Lana, wrapping his arms around us.
“I hope it’s a boy,” he says.
“I don’t mind what it is. I’m just excited we’re having another baby,” I say, reaching out and stroking Lana’s stomach, even though no hint of a baby bump is visible yet.
After mine and Lana’s speeches, Joshua gives a speech too, followed by Monica. Then, we make our way outside to the boardwalk for fireworks show to end the celebrations, before Lana and I get back into the horse drawn-carriage, so we can ride to the resort.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Lana says, kissing Noah.
“Be good for uncle Ryan and Aunt Alicia,” I add, embracing my son.
Tomorrow, the three of us will leave for a three-week honeymoon vacation in the Bahamas.
But first, my brother and sister-in-law have graciously agreed to look after Noah for the night -- who cannot wait to have a sleepover with all his cousins -- while Lana and I spend the night in the resort’s honeymoon suite.
Alex commands Epona and Hengroen into motion, as everyone still on the boardwalk claps and cheers. Lana and I turn to wave goodbye to our friends and family, as the last of the fireworks fade on the horizon.
At the hotel, Lana and I can’t keep our hands off each other as we ride the elevator up to the honeymoon suite.
“As fantastic as the wedding was, I can’t wait to get you alone,” I whisper in Lana’s ear.
Showing me her thoughts mirror mine, my new bride leans in and kisses me slowly, sucking on my bottom lip. My mouth captures her, my tongue claiming dominance, and we only break apart when the elevator arrives on our floor.
“Wait there,” I say to Lana, as I move to the door of our suite.
Lana does as I ask, and I open the door, then prop it open with a nearby Champagne bucket.
I return to Lana, then lift her into my arms, and carry her bridal style across the threshold and into the honeymoon suite.
Gently, I lay her down on the Super King bed, then race back to close the door. I make sure it’s locked, and a ‘do not disturb’ sign hangs on the door, before returning to the bed.
“Come here, Mrs. Braddock,” I say, tugging Lana into my arms.
“You know I’m keeping the name Cooper for professional reasons,” she says.
I kiss the tip of her nose. “Sure. To the art world, you’re Lana Cooper. But in bed, you will always be Mrs. Braddock.”
Lana smirks and licks her lips. “I like that, Husband.”
I grin. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing you say that!”
Before I can move in for another kiss, Lana gets off the bed. “Where are you going?”
“To change into something more comfortable,” Lana says, then disappeared into the ensuite.
Thankfully, we planned our stay in the honeymoon suite in advance, so our overnight case is already in the bathroom. While Lana changes out of her wedding dress, I remove my suit and hang it in the closet.
I lay on the bed, completely naked, and waiting for my wife.
Lana emerges from the bathroom wearing a gold negligee complete with stockings, suspenders and a garter. The colour really pops against her dark skin, and for the first time in years Lana has unfastened her braids, so her hair is curly, natural and free.
“God, you’ve never looked sexier,” I growl. “Get here.”
Lana giggles and joins me on the bed.
“I like that you’re wearing,” she says.
“But I’m not wearing anything.”
“Exactly,” she replies with a smirk, then pushes me down against the mattress.
She straddles my lap, and my cock hardens, pressing against her lace covered mound.
Lana leans in and kisses me deeply, her mouth moving from my lips, down my neck and across my chest. She playfully tugs on my chest hair as she swirls her fingertips around my nipples, and then keeps moving lower.
When Lana reaches my pubic line, she abruptly stops and sits up.
“Tease,” I whisper, and Lana grins.
“You’ve seen nothing yet.” Lana straddles me again, pressing her mound against my erection, and starts grinding her hips.
I reach up to hold her, but Lana pushes my arms away. “Naught, naughty,” she teases.
Even though I could easily overpower Lana, I decide not to, and instead simply enjoy whatever she has in store for me.
Lana continues to grind against my dick, until it’s throbbing, and she’s panting. I can feel through her panties that she’s wet.
My eyes never leave her body as she unlaces the negligee, and her gorgeous breasts tumble free. They’re slightly bigger than usual and I long to claim them with my mouth, but Lana is still holding my arms.
As if reading my mind, Lana leans in closer, pressing her tits into my face, and I lick the nipples. While I suck on her tits, Lana continues grinding in my lap, and I know if she doesn't act soon, I’m going to come prematurely.
“I need to be inside you,” I growl.
“Patience,” Lana says, pushing her panties aside.
I slide into her easily, her opening already slick and ready for me, but Lana doesn’t let me set the pace. Instead, she continues to grind slowly. The motion drives me insane. It’s enough to keep me hard and on the edge, but not quite enough to send me over.
As Lana slowly fucks me, she reaches down and starts stroking her clit. The fight of her pleasuring herself while she rides me is the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
When the combination of her gorgeous body, and the way she’s riding me gets too much, I finally take control. In one swift motion, I flip us over, so I’m on top. I pull out of Lana only long enough to remove her panties, and push away her open negligee, then plunge my dick back inside her.
I let out a groan, and Lana moans deep in her throat, as I fill her completely, and she wraps her legs around my hips.
I pound into her as she claws at me back, and it isn’t long until both of us are crying out our climaxes.
“I love you,” I say, gazing deeply into her eyes.
“I love you too,” she replies, offering me the most radiant smile.
Read the other books in this series:
Book 1 - Burning Love
Book 2 - Tell Me You Love Me