Chapter 7
When the plane landed in Denver, she looked at Scott expectantly, but he only shrugged and said, “One more flight, then a short car ride and we’ll be there.” Then he picked up their bags and led her though the airport and outside to a small plane that looked like a toy.
“We’re going to fly in that?” she asked, not sure if she was that brave.
“It’s only a forty-five-minute flight, but we could drive if you’d rather,” he said, looking at the plane through her eyes. He could actually fly the plane if he wanted to, but that was too much of a hassle.
“No, I’ll be brave,” she said, forcing a shaky smile.
“I’ll hold your hand the whole way,” he promised.
The flight wasn’t as bad as she’d imagined, but she was glad when the flight was over. “We’ll drive back to Denver on the way home,” Scott said, kissing her as he pried her hand out of his to help her out of the plane.
They got in a car that was waiting for them and drove down into the town that she’d seen from the air. “Welcome to Pleasant Valley, this is the town that my family owns. I made a few phone calls and they’ve got everything all ready for us,” he said, clearly happy with what he’d accomplished.
Marissa had to admit that if the town of any indication of what was to come, he should be proud. “What an adorable little town, I could see myself living here,” she said, watching as the quaint little town passed by the window.
The wound their way through town and up into the mountains again. Then as they came to the top of a rise, Scott turned off onto a little dirt road. Marissa gasped when she saw the little church nestled in the forest. “Oh, Scott, it’s adorable. How did you find it?” she asked, stepping out of the car when he stopped, unwilling to wait for him.
“That would be my doing,” a black woman said, stepping out of the church. “I’m Sabrina Terrell. It looks like we’re going to be cousins.”
“Oh, Scott didn’t tell me. I’m Marissa,” she stammered, holding out her hand, surprised when Sabrina ignored her hand and gave her a hug instead.
“Welcome to the family. Has anyone told you what a handful these Terrell men are? Because if they haven’t, it’s time we had a little talk,” she said, pulling Marissa with her around the side of building. “We don’t have much time to get you ready, but you’re gorgeous just as you are, so it won’t take long.”
Scott followed them with her dress and bag, shrugging his shoulders when she gave him a questioning look over her shoulder. When they came to a door in the back of the church, Sabrina took Marissa’s things from Scott and said, “You’re wanted it at the ranch and don’t worry I smoothed the way for you. I don’t think any of them will try to kick your butt, at least not today since it’s your wedding day. Now go,” she said and shoved Marissa through the door.
Less than an hour later, she’d met and become friends with all the Terrell women. Each had given an abridged version of their love affairs with the Terrell men and she’d actually felt comfortable enough to tell them the truth as embarrassing as it was.
“But that doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” Leslie asked. “You two are obviously in love, I saw the way he looked at you.”
“I don’t know about love, but at least there’s some serious lust.” Marissa laughed, but deep down she knew that love had become a part of it as well.
“There’s no way a man who wasn’t in love would have gone to all this trouble, Marissa. Trust me on that one, he’s in love with you,” Sabrina said, nodding her head.
“But...that wasn’t...I mean we’re so different...” Marissa tried to deny what she’d know for a long time but had been afraid to face.
“That’s okay, you’ll find your way together. That man you’re about to marry isn’t the man I knew a few months ago, so there’s proof that things can change for the better, you just have to have faith,” Sabrina said, fastening the last button on her dress.
“Oh, it’s just so hard, I’m scared I’ll get hurt.”
“Sometimes to have the wonderful things in life we have to take a risk, but I think Scott’s worth the risk, don’t you?” Sabrina said, handing her a bouquet of flowers and giving her a hug.
“Thank you all for everything you’ve done, I really appreciate it,” Marissa said, tears coming to her eyes.
“You’re family now. If you ever need anything, you just call us and we’ll do whatever we can to help. The first year of marriage can be rough even in the best of circumstances, so when you feel like you’re ready to kill him, call one of us, we’ll talk you down,” Leslie said, giving her a hug.
“And just remember when a Terrell makes a promise, they always keep it,” Elizabeth said, taking her turn. “Now, let’s go get you married.”
When Marissa walked into the church, her breath caught in her throat, it was beautiful. Flowers lined the walkway, candles covered every surface providing the only light in the sanctuary. Scott was standing nervously next to the minister at the end of the aisle, but when he saw her, his eyes got big, then a huge smile spread across his face and all the nervous tension left his face.
She’d chosen a simple flowing dress in cream instead of white and she looked more beautiful than she ever had before, just as a bride should. Her hair was up, but curly tendrils had escaped softening her face and making her look even younger than she was. As she walked down the aisle on Garrett’s arm, it hit Scott all at once that in only a few minutes this incredible woman would be his forever. Somewhere deep inside him, a dam broke and all the love he’d been refusing to feel came rushing out.
Hardly able to breathe, he took her hand when Garrett handed Marissa off to him, unable to believe that this was actually happening. Garrett had insisted on not only giving the bride away, but having a heart-to-heart talk with him like he was a child. Looking into Marissa’s eyes now, he understood what Garrett had been trying to tell him earlier and all his protective instincts kicked in. He’d never let anything hurt Marissa and that included himself, and no matter what, a year from now, he wasn’t letting her go.
Marissa was fighting tears. When this whole thing had started, she’d expected her wedding to be held in a small cramped office at the courthouse with only she and Scott, but instead he’d given her a wedding any woman would have died for. The little church was perfect. With the candlelight and the soft fragrance of the flowers, she could almost believe this had been planned for months. As Garrett released her hand and she took Scott’s, she had a strange sense of déjà vu, like she’d been in just this position before.
When Scott took her hands in his large ones and turned to face her, their eyes met and locked, the words the minister was reciting echoing through the building. As she listened, she realized that if they were going to make this work, it wouldn’t be easy, they’d only know each other for a short time, not nearly long enough to really get to know one another. As she pledged her life to him, the words, instead of feeling false like she’d expected, rolled off her tongue with a sincerity that she felt deep in her soul.
When the minister pronounced them husband and wife, Scott cupped Marissa’s face in his hands and kissed her until her knees went weak, then together they turned to face their cheering guests. As they walked back down the aisle together, their hands intertwined, Marissa stopped in front of Sabrina and quickly gave her a hug. Scott smiled at her, happy with his new bride, but also thankful that Marissa had forced him to begin mending his relationship with his cousins.
It was a beautiful summer night, the starts shining brightly in the mountain sky as Scott and Marissa waited to greet their guests on the front porch of the church. As each guest passed, Marissa tried to keep the names straight, but all the Terrell men looked so much alike she knew it would take time for her to keep them straight. As for the women, they’d already formed a bond as only women could do, Sabrina filling a space in Marissa’s heart that had been empty for a long time.
Sabrina and Garrett were last in line. “Congratulations, you two,” Garrett said. “Now, the fun part.”
Sabrina punched him in the arm. “You’re terrible, behave yourself. The cabin is just up the road, there’s food in the kitchen, stay as long as you want,” she said, giving Marissa a big hug. “Call if you need anything.”
Scott helped her into the car, and in only a few minutes, they were at the cabin Sabrina had rented for them. Again, Marissa was charmed by the simple one-bedroom building that was clearly very old, but it had been well cared for and looked snug and warm. Even this time of year, it was chilly at night, the altitude so much higher than in California.
When they stepped through the door, Marissa felt the butterflies in her stomach explode. It was almost like this was her first time she thought, glancing around the cabin while Scott put their bags away. The cabin was small, but had everything they would need, including a cute little fireplace in the tiny living room. A comfortable couch and table were the only furnishings in the room, but she could just imagine curling up there with Scott.
He came out of the bedroom, his tie undone but still hanging around his neck. His shirt was unbuttoned about halfway down, giving her a delicious view of his muscular chest. Her blood began to pump hotly through her veins when his eyes met hers as he crossed the room to where she stood. Taking her in his arms, he lowered his mouth to hers in a searing kiss that she felt to her core. Then he pulled back and looked at her for a minute, then gave her one of those heart melting smiles.
Scott was almost as nervous as Marissa, their night together having taking on much more significance than it would have had they not waited, but somehow it seemed right that they had. He could feel Marissa trembling in his arms, but he wasn’t sure if that was from nerves or desire.
“Are you okay?” he asked, wrapping a loose curl around his finger, the smoothing his thumb across her cheek.
Marissa could hardly breathe at the intimacy of what Scott had just done, but finally managed to say, “I’m just a little nervous that’s all.” Then she giggled when she realized how ridiculous that sounded.
“I’m a little nervous too,” Scott said, surprising her with his honesty. “But let’s just take this one step at a time.”
“How did this suddenly become so important?” Marissa asked him, bravely undoing the rest of the buttons on his shirt.
Scott sucked in a deep breath when her fingers brushed his skin. “Hm, maybe it should always be this important,” he said, turning her around to unzip her dress which slid off her shoulders and fell to the carpet.
When he turned her back around, he pulled her into his arms and pressed her tightly against him, making her tremble even more. He tipped her head up and looked into her eyes. “Are you sure about this? Because I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“I want you, Scott. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted another man,” she said, pulling the shirt off his shoulders and placing a tentative kiss on his chest.
That was all the permission that Scott needed. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. When he set her on her feet, his mouth came down on hers in a kiss that left her trembling, but this time it was with desire. His hands roamed over her body, the silk of her slip sliding deliciously against her skin as Scott slowly pulled it over her head.
Standing only in her lace panties and bra, she shivered when Scott stepped back and looked at her, his eyes leaving her skin heated as they traveled from her feet to her face, stopping a long time at the juncture of her thighs and breasts. Her chest was rising and falling with the effort to breathe. His pupils dilated and his green eyes became even more intense shade of green as he licked his lips in a predatory way.
Marissa’s legs were trembling, but Scott stepped up and pulled her to him, supporting her weight, then reached behind her and unclasped her bra. He lowered his mouth to her breast and took one hard nipple into his mouth, sending a lightning bolt of pleasure rushing through Marissa. She wrapped her arms around his neck afraid that her legs would no longer hold her, prompting Scott to switch to the other breast, his own growl of pleasure filling the room.
As the pleasure swirled through her, Marissa began to explore the taunt skin of Scott’s back, sliding her hands over the tight muscles loving the feel of his skin under his hands. When his pants became an obstacle in her explorations, she quickly unbuckled them and helped him remove them, suddenly shy when faced with the sheer power of his body.
His erection was large and throbbing, but Marissa hesitated for a second before taking him in her hands and tentatively stroking him. When Scott moaned in pleasure, she grew bolder and stoked him until he grabbed her hand and made her stop, then pulled her against him and drove his tongue into her mouth. Stumbling to the bed, they sank down together mouths still joined, bodies vibrating with need.
Scott broke the kiss to slowly slide Marissa’s panties down her legs, trailing his fingers along her skin making her squirm under his gaze. Once he’d slid them off her feet, he slid his hands back up her body until he had both of her breasts cupped in his hands. He stretched out next to her and leaned his head down to take a hard nipple in his mouth, biting gently with his teeth until Marissa cried out in pleasure.
He slid his hand down her rib cage and across her stomach then lower until he had her mound cupped in his hand. She spread her legs for him, panting with need, her hips rising off the bed. Scott’s mouth left her breast to find her mouth, his tongue tasting and teasing, his teeth biting her lips until they were red and swollen. When he finally parted her slick folds, she was dripping with moisture and desperate for his touch.
Sliding his finger across her clit, he buried it deep inside her, while his thumb rubbed her clit in a circle. She was immediately awash in a pleasure so intense it was almost painful, but almost as soon as it began, it ended in a bust of sensation so intense it left her panting and clinging to Scott’s shoulders, her nails digging into his flesh. As the waves of pleasure began to recede, she began to feel a need much deeper than the one before. Sensing this, Scott moved between her legs, grabbed her hips, and pulled her back to him.
His eyes locked on hers, he guided himself inside her, slipping inside her in one slow powerful stroke, burring himself one slow inch after another until he was deeply inside her. The moment Scott was fully inside her, Marissa knew that he was the man she had been dreaming of her entire life, the one who would complete her, the only one who could every truly understand her. Scott felt the world change in that moment as well, knowing that this woman under him was his path to all the love and affection he’d been looking for his entire life.
As Scott began to move inside her, Marissa’s world dissolved into only two of them, her entire focus on the feeling of his body joined to hers. The new and intense feeling of connection she felt to him only making the movement of his body inside her all that more intense. The pressure deep inside her began to build as Scott began to increase his pace, filling her with his hard throbbing length over and over, until with a cry of pleasure her body exploded.
Her throbbing muscles tightening around him drove Scott over the edge, all the pent up passion of the last few weeks draining out of him as Marissa gripped him inside her. Finally spent, he collapsed on top of her, trying not to crush her but unable to separate himself from her yet. Marissa welcomed the heaviness of Scott’s body on hers, his heart beating in her ear assuring her that she was still grounded to the Earth.
After long minutes lost in their mutual contentment, Scott rolled off Marissa and pulled her to him, her head resting on his chest. “You’re quite the woman, Marissa,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. “And for what it’s worth, I’m glad we waited.”
“I am too, it was certainly worth the wait,” she said, her hand stroking his chest.
“The best part is that was just the beginning,” he said, flipping her onto her back, his erection pressing against her leg.
Surprised that he was ready again so soon, she giggled. “Oh, really. What are you going to do for an encore?” she asked, taking him into her hand and stroking him.
“Hm, there are a lot of things that come to mind, but for now we’ll just keep it simple,” he said, kneeling between her legs and sliding inside her again. Marissa was just fine with that, she hadn’t nearly gotten enough of what Scott called simple.
The next morning, Marissa awoke with Scott spooned snugly against her back, his erection pressing against her back. His breath was tickling her ear, making little tingles shoot through her which was surprising since he’d only let her go to sleep less than three hours ago. She’d slept the exhausted sleep of a woman who’d been completely pleased by her lover the night before, but this morning her body was already responding to his.
“Mmm, I see you’re awake,” she said, nudging him with her hips.
He responded by sliding down in the bed and pulling her leg up a little then sliding into her from behind. “I see you’re awake too,” he whispered in her ear.
Marissa would have thought that he’d drained every bit of passion and pleasure from her the night before, but the magic that seemed to flow between them was immediately ignited when his body joined hers. Afterward, as they lay entwined in each other’s arms, falling asleep as the sun began to shine into the window of the bedroom, the light of the new day illuminated them in a shaft of light.
Feeling the rays of that sunlight, Marissa smiled. What had at first seemed like the biggest disaster of her life had turned into one of the best things that had ever happened to her. Thoughts of the conversation she’d have to have with Scott about her charity was looming in her future, but for now she’d enjoy their brief honeymoon. All too soon, they’d be back in the real world trying to create a life together that the odds said was bound to fail.