Chapter 19

Bethany

Bethany woke to the smell of coffee. She turned on her side and squinted against the bright light coming through the open glass doors. He stood with his back to her, his blue slacks on and torso bare. She laid there for a few minutes, studying him.

Beautiful.

He turned and smiled. "I thought I heard your breathing change a little. You sleep good?"

"I did." She moved up to her elbow and let the cover drop from her breasts.

He set his coffee down and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, pulling her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers in a long kiss. "I made you some coffee. Strong and thick like you like it."

"That's how I like my men. My coffee I'll take anyway it comes." She smirked as he lifted his eyebrow at her.

"Your man, not men. You're officially off the market, Miss Thing." He leaned down and kissed her again before getting up and walking back to the kitchen. "Go get in the shower and let's get the day started. There are a few more things to do for the ceremony tonight, and it will be here before we know it. I'll bring you a cup of coffee."

"Is it still at sundown tonight?" Bethany moved to the edge of the bed, running her nails through her hair and yawning.

"Yes. Matt and Erica went for a game of golf this morning. They asked us to join them, but I told them you didn't respond before ten." He chuckled and handed the coffee mug to her. His eyes moved down her, his bottom lip tucking into his mouth. "You need to get dressed, or I'm going to force you to stay in bed all day. So fucking fine."

She took the coffee and tried not to jerk it as he brushed his finger by her nipple. "I'm going. Two nights of sex isn't enough for you? Insatiable."

"It's not even close. Sorry, baby." He moved back toward the window. "We'll grab something to eat and find mom and dad when you're done."

It sounded so odd to hear him refer to Kent and her mother like that, but it was fitting. She was past the part of him soon becoming her stepbrother. He wasn't blood, and if their parents accepted it, then nothing else mattered.

Bethany enjoyed a long shower, her body sore in all of the places it should be. She ran her fingers over her back and down the curve of her ass, testing her entrance to make sure she was okay. Damon had been careful with her, but they hadn't gotten very far in their desire to try anal sex. He was huge, and she wasn't used to the incredible pressure of having something press into her. They would try again and again and again until he fit inside of her. She groaned at the thought, her center tightening as she let out a shaky breath.

He was going to be the death of her, but oh, what a way to go.

***

Bethany left Damon with Erica and Matt as she slipped off to talk to her mom for a few minutes. She was greeted at the door by her Aunt Patty. After a quick hug, she slipped into the room and walked to the bathroom, glancing back to her aunt.

"How is she?"

"I'm a fucking wreck," her mother yelled from the bathroom.

Bethany's eyes widened as she knocked on the door. Her mother never said the 'f-word.' "Mom. Let me in."

"Fine, but my hair’s a mess, and this make-up makes me look like a hooker." A long cry left her mother as the door flung open.

Her mother hadn't been a hot mess in years, not since her younger days when every day started and ended with bad news. Bethany slipped into the bathroom and closed the door, moving in front of her mom and taking her shoulders.

"Hey. Look at me."

Her make-up was smeared, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She glanced up at Bethany as a few more tears rolled down her pretty face.

"This isn't about who you think you should be. Remember our talk earlier? Kent is marrying you for who you are, Mom. He's madly in love with you. He rented out half of this damn hotel to prove it." Bethany reached up and brushed her fingers over her mom's cheeks. "Here's what we're going to do. Aunt Patty is going to grab us a bottle of wine, and we're going to take our time and make you look like the princess you are. Our past, our problems, our worries can all go to hell. They aren't welcomed here. Today is about love and goodness, about being made one with someone as good as Kent."

"Okay, baby. I'll try." Her mother glanced down to her hands and let out a shaky breath.

Bethany moved to the door, opening it and jumping back. Patty was pressed to the other side.

"Sorry. Is she okay?" Patty crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes wide and tears lining the edge of her gaze.

"She will be. Grab us a bottle of cold white wine and let's celebrate and get her ready. Want to?" Bethany nodded, her aunt catching her understanding.

"Of course I do. I'll be right back."

Walking back into the bathroom, Bethany pointed to the sink. “Wash your face and let's go into the living room area where the light is better. We can chat a little while and then get you done up. We have five hours. I'll meet you out there." She pulled her mom into a tight hug, her heart swelling with love for the woman before her. No one deserved a happier ending more than her mom.

Bethany walked out of the bathroom and closed the door, hitting it twice and reminding her mother that she was serious. "You have three minutes, and I'm coming back in."

"So damn bossy," her mother muttered and laughed softly.

"I get it from my mom. Blame her." Bethany walked to the phone and ordered a cheese and meat tray before texting Damon that she would find him later. Her mother needed her help, and she wasn't going anywhere. He was all for it.

Taking a seat by the back door, Bethany let out a long sigh. A smile lifted her face as she let the good memories of her childhood run by her vision. She didn't even hear her mom approach.

"What are you smiling about, pretty girl?"

Bethany turned and let out a chuckle. "I was thinking about the time you decided to be a Mary-Kay representative and bought all of that expensive make-up."

"Oh Lord." Her mother rolled her eyes and walked to the kitchen, pulling down three wine glasses.

"I honestly thought you got all that crap for me. Remember?" Bethany asked.

"How could I forget? You were seven and covered from head to toe in every expensive-ass product they offered." Her mom let out a loud laugh, her hand covering her mouth.

Bethany let herself relive the memory, tears filling her eyes as they belly laughed together.

Patty walked in a few seconds later, both of them still trying to recover. They worked to get a glass of wine for each of them as Patty questioned what was so funny.

"Just memories of Bethany being young and wanting to be a princess."

Patty lifted her drink into the air. "For a new beginning for my big sister. I don't know anyone who deserves it more than you."

"For my mom, who has shown me that one thing has the power to cure all hurts, all hang-ups, and all heartbreaks. Love. May it follow you everywhere for as long as you live."

Her mom nodded, tears dripping down her face as they hit their glasses together carefully.

"No more tears." Bethany reached for a box of Kleenex and passed them out. "Only happy times now."

"Speaking of happy times and princesses," Patty paused, snorting as she shook her head. "You remember getting our asses whooped for getting into momma's expensive make-up and dressing up like hookers?"

"Oh my God. We did." Her mother laughed, Patty joining her.

Bethany lifted her glass again. "I knew I got it from somewhere... blame my mother."

"For what?" Patty lifted her eyebrow.

"For everything." Bethany smirked and took a drink of the wine.

"Typical." Her mom rolled her eyes and set her wine glass down. "All right. I'm ready. Let's do this."

***

Bethany stood at the back of the strip of beach they had chosen for the ceremony, the bright tiki torches lighting the way to the large lattice-work design that Erica had worked on. Kent stood beside the priest, Damon to his side and Matt standing beside him. They all faced the priest as large crowds filled up both sides of the event. Patty stood up front, lined up with Matt, the smile on her face large enough to be seen from Bethany's vantage point.

The music started for her to make her way down and she took a step forward, praying like hell she didn't trip. The moment was so surreal, her desire to spend forever with one of the men waiting at the front almost overwhelming. He glanced back at her, his eyes going a little wide.

He mouthed "hot," and she chuckled, unable to help herself. The dress was beautiful, white and innocent in its design. It was perfect. Her mother knew her too well. Simple, straightforward and pretty.

She moved up beside Patty and glanced over to Kent, her soon-to-be father smiling warmly at her. The priest motioned for everyone to stand and Bethany turned, catching a glimpse of her mother as the moonlight washed over her. The air was suddenly so hard to breathe, the beautiful woman walking toward them everything Bethany remembered from her younger years.

There hadn't been a day that her mom hadn't reminded her how much she was loved. Tears burned her gaze as she turned with her mother's progression. The look on Kent's face was complete adoration. Bethany glanced toward Damon, his eyes only for her.

'I love you,’ he mouthed and winked.

She nodded as heat rushed up her chest and covered her neck and face. She would cling tight to that love and never let anything come between them that wasn't quickly rooted out.

The priest started the ceremony, and Bethany relaxed, enjoying every second of it.

***

Erica caught the bouquet as Bethany's mother threw it and Damon had teased Matt mercilessly throughout the night about it. The music was great, the food insanely good, and the company the crown jewel of the evening. Bethany slipped off as everyone crowded on the dance floor, just needing a few minutes to process her thoughts.

She slipped out of her shoes and walked to the edge of the water, her eyes scanning the horizon.

"Hi, beautiful girl. Is your heart taken? I'm looking to spend forever with someone." Damon moved in behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

"It is. Sorry, buddy." She smiled as he laughed against the side of her neck, his breath warm, his arms strong.

"What do you think about that?"

"About what?" She turned and slid her arms around him, the black and white suit he wore seemingly made just for him.

"About spending forever with me?" He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers before taking a step back, tugging out of her hold. Slipping his hand into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a small black box.

"What're you doing?" Bethany pressed her fingers to her lips as her heart almost stopped. "We haven't been together but a few weeks. We have so much shit to work through. We can't... We..."

"Hush." He smiled and moved down to one of his knees, lifting the box toward her and popping it open. "I don't care how long we've been together. I'm looking at the future. Don't tug me into the past."

She let out a soft cry and took a step toward him, the beautiful ring a large diamond nuzzled into two smaller ones.

"I would spend the rest of my life looking for you, but I don't have to. You fill my needs, my desires, my deepest fantasies, Beth. Marry me and let's build a life that will blow both of our minds. Be mine and let's be together - forever, baby. Give me forever."

Nodding, she extended her left hand and let out a soft cry. "Yes. I want forever with you."

"Good." He stood and slipped the ring on her finger before pulling her to him and kissing her passionately.

She melted into him, clinging tightly to his promises. It wouldn't be easy, but anything worth truly investing in never was.

"I love you," she whispered as she broke the kiss.

"Mmmm... I like the sound of that. Say it again." He laughed as she said it again and again.

He picked her up and spun her around once before kissing her tenderly.

"Do you think we would be missed if we slipped off?" He lifted his eyebrows once.

She shook her head and wrapped herself around him, needing the warmth of his arms. "We would be, but since when did you start caring?"

"I am a greedy little thing." He laughed and leaned down to look her in the eye. "Only for you. Forever."

"Forever," she whispered and lifted to her toes, losing herself in the only thing she wanted to belong to - him.