Chapter Twenty-Nine

How long can it possibly take someone to change clothes?” Blake growled. He slammed down a shot of bourbon and glared at his brothers.

Tyler laughed and Byron scoffed as they stood at the bar and gazed out at the lights hanging from the trees.

“You know women, Blake. They have to be perfect,” Tyler said.

Byron downed his own shot. “Or they like to play games and see how antsy they can make you,” Byron added as he sent a glare toward McKenzie, who was dancing with Justin.

“You seem to be staring at Ms. Beaumont quiet a bit,” Tyler said, and he punched Byron in the arm.

“What in the hell are you talking about?” Byron bellowed.

“I’m just calling it as I see it,” Tyler said with a wink and a shrug.

“I’ve been preoccupied today, to say the least, and even I’ve noticed your obsession with the woman,” Blake said with the first smile he’d displayed since Jewell had left the room.

“You can both go to hell. I think I’m going to have a talk with Ms. Beaumont,” Byron said, and he stormed off.

Tyler watched McKenzie tense up when Byron walked up to her. “Should we protect her?” he asked.

“Hell, I think we should protect Byron,” Blake replied. “McKenzie is one tough woman.”

“You may be right,” Tyler said with a chuckle as they watched McKenzie shove Byron away and storm off. “Quite impressive she can stomp off with such elegance, and while wearing those stilt-like heels.”

The temporary distraction had helped, but as soon as the conversation died down, Blake was eager and anxious to see his new bride. She had looked beyond beautiful in her wedding gown, and as she’d glided toward him earlier, it had taken all his finely honed willpower to remain standing on the stage. He’d been sorely tempted to rush to her side and sweep her into his arms, and his heart hadn’t slowed its beat until she’d said her vows and he’d sealed those vows with a kiss.

“You may be right,” Tyler said with a chuckle as they watched McKenzie shove Byron away and storm off. “Quite impressive she can stomp off with such elegance, and while wearing those stilt-like heels.”

“I’m done here,” Blake said.

Tyler blinked in confusion. “Huh, big bro?”

“I want my bride.”

And that was the end of the conversation. Blake walked away from Tyler, knowing his brothers would lock the place up when they left. Justin was going to stay at McKenzie’s house for the night, and everything else was taken care of. It was time for him to join Jewell to him for the rest of their lives. Once they made love, the wedding would be officially complete.

There was something about this woman that made him feel like a recently caged animal who had been set free. He had spent the better part of his years on earth as a shell of a man, not feeling the colors of life, but living in black and white instead. Jewell made him feel things and do things that he’d never wanted to feel or do before. And he actually liked being out of control, even being powerless because of this woman.

He bounded up the stairs three at a time, but he paused at their bedroom door and took a deep breath. He hoped he wouldn’t frighten her with his eagerness. This night was theirs together — he needed to remember that. For once it wasn’t all about him.

When he pushed the door open, his heart nearly stopped when he found Jewell lying on the bed in a silk nightgown. The sound of the door made her jump, and then their eyes met and Blake felt his heart hammering out of control again.

“I was wondering when you’d get here,” she said, looking … hell, looking slightly shy.

“You take my breath away, Jewell.” He strode to the bed and dropped to his knees, the desire to worship her overpowering him.

She sat up with her legs dangling off the bed, and she reached for him and let her fingers sift through his hair. “I was going to say the same about you,” she replied softly.

Blake couldn’t move for a few seconds. The urge to rip her nightie from her body and plunge right inside of her was so potent that he was afraid he might turn into a complete animal.

They had made love frantically many times. Tonight was about a more perfect union, about binding them together, about joining them in a way that would ensure they never parted. He didn’t want to ruin this moment for either of them.

Instead of shredding their clothes, he tugged on her legs to bring her to the edge of the bed and he rested his head on her bare thigh, inhaling her perfume as he gently caressed her with his fingers. He paused to savor this moment, and then he turned his head and swirled his tongue on her smooth, sweet skin.

A shudder passed through her, and Blake had to continue almost chanting to himself: go slow; remain calm. It wasn’t an easy task when such a delectable treat was right in front of him. “Jewell, you make me come unglued,” he whispered before standing up and backing away.

Jewell whimpered when he broke contact, and that sound went straight to his gut. He gently pushed her back up the bed and crawled over her, straddling her as she lay beneath him, her chest heaving, her eyes burning.

Blake leaned down and took her lips tenderly, caressing them, tasting them, glorying in their softness. “So beautiful,” he murmured as he trailed his lips down her throat, grasped the strap on her nightgown with his teeth and pulled it down her arm.

When he removed the gown, leaving her bare before him, he leaned back to behold her body. “No matter how many times I see you like this, I am still awed,” he couldn’t help but say.

She reached for him, a moan escaping her beautiful lips as she pulled him back onto her, cradling his clothed body with her naked one. Time disappeared as he rolled with her on the bed, kissing her, touching her, worshipping her.

When he finally stood up again so he could remove his own clothes, he found that his fingers were shaking. He tried to tell himself that it was because he was so incredibly turned on, but this moment was taking him to a whole new place — a place he never wanted to leave.

After shedding his clothes in record time, he rejoined her on the bed and sighed at the perfection of their bodies pressing together with no barriers. He took his time kissing every inch of her beautiful skin, and then he was poised above her, but Blake found himself stopping before he entered her incredible heat.

“Every time I look at you like this, my beautiful Jewell, I can’t believe I’m the one who gets to lie in your arms.”

Her eyes widened, and they glistened with tears. “Make love to me, Blake,” she said, bringing her hands up around him and pulling him closer to her.

He surrendered to her and sank between her trembling thighs, submerging himself deep within.

She clung tightly to him as he thrust in and out, her hands guiding him, his name a continual cry from her well-kissed lips. And Blake got lost in her arms, hoping never to be found again as he made love to her — and it was love — slowly, tenderly, and with a passion he knew he could never possibly come even close to feeling with any other woman.

Looking into her eyes, he moved in perfect sync with her, and when her thighs tightened around his waist, he felt her pleasure explode around him, and he followed her into the sweet abyss.

“Mine, Jewell — you are mine forever,” he told her as his body rested against hers, and she caressed the heated skin of his back.

“I’m yours right now, Blake.”

That wasn’t good enough. There were no words he could say that could possibly convey what he was feeling at this moment. It was possession, and it was passion, but it was so much more than that. He’d never been good at putting the way he felt into words, so he decided to show her in every other way that she belonged to him, and he belonged to her.

When he knew his weight was too much for her to bear much longer, he shifted their position so she was lying on top of him now, still connected, their hearts beating in rhythm with each other. As he cradled her head against his chest, he couldn’t imagine a more perfect wedding night with the wife he had chosen.

They didn’t sleep at all during the entire night. They made love and spoke of the future, and Blake gave her his heart, something he had never given to anyone else. He might not have been able to say the words, but he showed her in the only way he knew how.