Thirty
Oliver
I have said it to her about a thousand times tonight, but my girlfriend looks stunning.
I may have only met Lucy a few times, but she is quickly becoming one of my favorite people.
Her wedding matches her personality perfectly, as well as the personality of this quirky little town I now find myself in.
After I kissed Elle for what was not nearly enough time, she was whisked away from me, and I was shooed into a seat by some pushy lady named May.
She put us—me and Thor—on the aisle in the back, I’m assuming because one of us is a canine.
Thor wasn’t the only furry friend in attendance. Liam’s dog—whose name I now know is Blue—was the ring bearer. He is an impressive-looking German Shepherd. Impressive in that I think he could eat Thor for breakfast, but the two have been getting along since their introduction at the reception.
The setting was beautiful. I can understand what Lucy loves about this place, and why she picked it over the city.
The ceremony started right before sunset, so when Elle walked down the aisle with a bouquet of white and pink flowers, her dress matched the hue of the sky.
She was still crying, but the smile on her face was infectious.
Mine grew even wider at the knowledge that I was the one who put it there.
Liam looked like the happiest guy I’ve ever seen, but secretly I think I was happiest person at the wedding.
Elle watched me throughout the entire ceremony, and I was filled with a sense of pride as I stared right back at her.
Everyone in the audience may have been watching the bride and groom, but it was impossible not to notice the knockout of a maid of honor. And she was mine. Mine.
As the night winds down, I can tell that Thor is getting restless, or just plain fed up with being the plaything of a bunch of five-year-olds.
Elle returns from tending to Lucy with the same exhausted smile on her face that I see on Thor.
Her hair is starting to look disheveled after it took a hit from all the bouncing during Cotton-Eyed-Joe.
She lost her high heels hours ago—I think she took them off right after the “I do” actually.
She falls into my lap with a contented sigh, and I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her hips to make sure she is real.
“Are you real?” she says, laying her arm on my shoulder and propping her head on her hand.
“Can you read my mind?” I ask, taking a curl in between my fingers and wrapping it behind her ear. She lets her head fall into my hand.
“Probably,” she says with a small smile. “Right now you’re thinking about how much you want to take me home.”
“That thought hasn’t left my mind since the second I saw you, babe,” I say, kissing her quickly. I can taste champagne and something fruity on her lips, and I can’t wait to get her alone.
“Liam and Lucy will be leaving for the airport soon,” she says, brushing my hair off of my forehead. “I was going to stay the night at their house anyway, and bring Blue to Liam’s sister’s place in the morning.”
“Are you propositioning me, Elle Thompson?” I joke, squeezing her side until she squirms. When she giggles, I kiss her again, eager to taste every inch of her.
“See, you can read my mind too,” she says, pressing her lips against mine, holding me for long enough that the idea of not taking her to bed this instant becomes intolerable.
Elle and I take our positions as the dog handlers—her with Blue and me with Thor—as the last leg of the farewell line.
Liam’s white Jeep is decked out in “Just Married” decorations, which seems to mostly consist of stickers and streamers with dogs on them, like something you might find at a child’s birthday party.
Elle must see the look on my face as I evaluate the truck, because she leans over and whispers in my ear, “It’s all the party store in the next town had. I may have forgotten this last part of my maid of honor duties.”
“I think it’s pretty spot on,” I say with a small chuckle.
When Liam and Lucy finally reach us, Elle and Lucy embrace for a long time.
Lucy has changed into a white sweat suit with Mrs. Miller bedazzled on the back of the shirt.
Lucy’s eyes start to fill with tears, and Elle holds her friend’s face in her hands, the two exchanging conversation that only they can hear.
Liam gives his dog a goodbye that I thoroughly approve of and shakes my hand.
He places a hand on Lucy’s back and Elle swats it away, hugging Lucy once more.
When they finally drive away, Elle and I walk back to Lucy’s house, in no hurry to be anywhere.
We let the dogs meander on the pebbly path, holding each other’s hands, awkwardly bumping hips as we steady ourselves on tired legs.
We stop at my rental car for my bag, which is parked somewhere near the wedding venue.
Lucy wasn’t exactly specific with her directions to the town.
I pretty much put Hudson Hollow into my GPS, followed the caravan of people, and ended up at the right place.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from Liam and Lucy’s house, but I am astonished when I walk through the door. I can see straight to the lake through floor-to-ceiling windows from the front door. The house has a log cabin meets hotel-chic type of feel that I could definitely get used to.
Elle gets Blue settled for the night, leading him to his bed in the master suite.
Thor makes himself at home on the couch, thoroughly enjoying the view.
When I see Elle again, she appears from the hallway with her hair undone, waves upon waves falling down her shoulders.
She leans up against the wall and runs her fingers through her hair, a sleepy smile on her face.
“Did you ever think we’d end up here?” she asks, her voice hoarse. I think the last verse of “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” really got to her.
“You mean when I was first accosted by a half-dressed blonde in the hallway of my building—” Elle feigns a gasp. “Did I ever think I’d end up in love with her?”
Elle nods, a cute smile on her face.
“I would have bet on it,” I say, smirking.
The smile grows wider, a sense of relief and satisfaction washing over her face.
I stand up and shrug my jacket off, stepping towards her with newfound urgency.
She reaches for my hand and I let her lead me into the guest room.
She sits down on the bed slowly, her eyes making their way up my body.
I release her hand so I can cup her head in both of my palms, and lean down to kiss her.
I take my time, pressing against her full lips with a gentle tenderness.
She matches my pace, each of us seeming to want to savor every second of this moment.
She nudges her tongue into my mouth, her teeth scraping my bottom lip.
We stay like that—hands wandering across each other’s torsos, lips grazing every inch of flesh we can find—until Elle finally stands.
She turns around and pulls her hair into a bunch in front of her, urging me to unzip her dress.
I kiss the back of her neck, feeling excitement flow through me in response to her small whimpers.
I kiss her shoulders and down her spine with every inch that I unzip.
I spend a few moments on the back of her neck, a soft “mmhmm” escaping her as my tongue runs up and down the top of her back.
I run my hands down the front of her as the dress falls off of her, finding nothing covering her chest. I press myself against her and she leans her head against my back, fluttering her eyes closed.
I take my time spreading my hands all over her, squeezing her breasts, tracing her nipples with my fingers, until I finally reach down far enough that I can feel the wetness between her thighs.
She gasps when I crawl my way into her panties, pressing my whole hand against the warmth of her. I let her slickness coat my fingers, pushing them in and out of her until her hips start to move in tandem with my hand.
When she turns around, the dress falls to her feet, pooling around her ankles, revealing a bare, beautiful body, covered only by a thin pair of underwear.
“Beautiful,” I whisper, gently grazing my fingers down her soft skin.
She shudders at my gentle touch. She slowly unbuttons my shirt, spreading her hands across my chest once she finishes, pushing the fabric off of me.
She places gentle kisses across my chest, nibbling at the skin leading to my waist. I help her with my belt, letting her pull my pants off before I gently push her onto the bed.
Her hair falls onto the blanket and sprawls out in every direction.
I climb on top of her and press my face into her hair, breathing in her salty sweetness, her usual berry scent mixed with hairspray and moisture from the lake air.
I lean my body to the side, placing my head on my elbow. I trail my finger down her body and I see her start to tense up at my touch. I look her in the eyes, telling her to relax with my mind. She lets out a small breath and I see her shoulder and legs release with a shrug.
“You know every guy in the place was looking at you tonight,” I say in a low voice. Elle shakes her head.
“It was a wedding. Most people were focused on the bride,” she says with an eye-roll.
I shake my head, placing my knee in between her legs, loving the way she squirms from the contact.
“Not me. I could see eyes wandering to you. But I knew you were mine. I knew only I would be the one doing this tonight.” I pull her panties down her legs and fling them to the floor. I thread my arm behind her and pull her further up the bed, turning so I’m above her.
I take a moment to admire her—from her red lips to her perfect breasts. She admires me right back, her eyes heavy. I run a finger down her chest, sliding my hand down her thighs. I lay on my stomach, leaning my head down to nibble the sensitive flesh on the inside of her legs.
“I’m the only one who gets to do this,” I say, practically growling, as I let my lips meet her most sensitive part.
Elle cries out, clutching the bedsheet next to my head.
I cup her bottom in my palms, massaging the delicious flesh and she writhes beneath me.
I feel myself moving against the bed, anxious to be inside of her.
I lick my way up her center, letting my lips settle on her clit.
I push two fingers into her as my tongue circles her.
Her moans ignite something in me, and I crave the taste of her release.
She starts to tighten around my fingers and I move my tongue faster, her hips grinding against my mouth.
One moan leads to a satisfied scream as she comes around my fingers.
I lick her up and down, pressing kisses to the inside of her thighs and letting her ride out her orgasm with my fingers still inside of her.
“Oliver, please,” she moans. I waste no time grabbing a condom from my bag, slipping it on, and resting myself above her. I push some hair out of her face, and she rests her head in my hand, still panting. I kiss her swollen lips hard as I push into her, groaning as she moans into my mouth.
“Holy shit,” I mutter, the feeling of being inside her even more vibrant and exhilarating than I remembered.
Elle grips my shoulders as I pump into her, her whines getting louder with every motion.
I slow my movements to lean down and kiss her, our tongues connecting in a way that makes me want to thrust into her harder.
But she gently pushes me back so that I’m laying towards the end of the bed.
She climbs over me, settling her hips on top of mine.
I sit up and take one of her breasts in my mouth.
At the same time, she reaches down, lining my cock up with her entrance, and sits on top of me.
She drags out a moan and I bite her nipple harder.
“Oh my God!” she screams, wrapping her arms around my neck.
I curse into her chest. She starts to move, pressing her hips against me as she rides me, the friction of it all-consuming.
My hands splay against her back and I play with her nipple in my mouth, licking and teasing until her movements take my breath away.
She slows and flips her hair over her shoulders, so I can see a beautiful smile spread across her face. I chuckle as I kiss her, feeling her smile against my lips.
“I love you,” I whisper, moving so I can place a kiss below her ear. Her hips move faster again, so she can only manage to mouth the words back to me. I grip her tighter, as if that could make this moment last longer.
Elle cries out as I feel her tighten around me, making me explode at the same time that she screams. I feel her vibrate against me, and I hold her clenching ass as she rides out her release, her hips moving over me as she moans into my ear.
We ride the waves together, shivering and embracing each other, kissing and whispering until we regain our breaths.
We lay there for hours, touching, kissing, talking, one or both of us falling asleep before the other wakes up with a hunger that can only be satisfied by the other.
At some point, a little before dawn, Elle rests her head on my chest and squeezes her arms around me, a firmness in her grip.
I nod my head towards her, curious at the change in her position.
“I want you to know something,” she whispers. I can feel her lips move against the skin of my stomach.
“Mmm?”
“I’m not going to get scared away.” She turns her head to look up at me, her chin resting on my ribs.
I fold a blonde curl behind her ear. “You were so afraid that I wouldn’t be able to handle all your crazy.
But I have crazy of my own. And maybe that’s why this is different from anyone else before. Because your crazy matches my crazy.”
The corner of my mouth lifts up. I pull her up to me, until our foreheads are touching, and she is laying over me completely. She kisses me gently, her lips moving over mine like she can’t get enough of the taste. Lucky for me, neither can I.