In many ways Brittany’s wedding should’ve been a feature on some show about stupid ceremonies. After considering refusing Trey’s request, common sense prevailed and she consented to his stipulation. It wouldn’t be difficult to remain Trey’s lover. As his wife, sharing herself with him should be a given. However, the more she gave herself to him, the more attached she would become and the deeper in love with him she’d fall.
Too late for regrets.
Once she’d agreed, Bryson marched her to the end of the hallway and nodded to Cedric and Mitchell who’d hummed the wedding march in tuneless unison. Her brother then walked her down the “aisle” to where Trey and Judge Waynesberry waited.
Mitchell changed guises and became the official photographer. The civil ceremony didn’t take long and she was soon Trey’s wife, going from being single, pregnant, homeless, and motherless to married, pregnant and motherless in just over a day. How strange and amazing the turns life took.
Now she was sitting on the sofa next to Trey.
“This is from Spenser. She thought it might come in handy,” Mitchell explained, walking out of the kitchen and holding a gift in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other.
She glowered, snatching the gift from him. “So good everyone knew about my wedding but me,” she sniffed.
Mitchell mumbled something that sounded like, “It wasn’t my idea,” then turned to uncork the champagne.
She watched as Mitchell served glasses of champagne to himself, Cedric, Trey and Karl then poured apple cider for her and Bryson, who was swearing because her earlier stubbornness had caused a delay and now he was going to be late getting to work.
Mitchell wouldn’t meet her gaze and Brittany felt bad for snapping at him. When he handed her a glass of cider she caught his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a grouch. Tell Spenser thank you for the gift. And I thank you for providing the music, photography and bartending services.” She stood and kissed his cheek.
“It was my pleasure.” The tips of his ears turned red. “Just remember I have your back. If Trey hurts you, I’ll do grave harm to him.”
Brittany laughed as she sat back down. Feeling Karl’s scrutiny, she slid closer to Trey who put his arm around her. His solid body so close to her absorbed whatever unease was slipping past her composure.
Mitchell raised his glass. “To Brittany and Trey. May they have a long, happy and fruitful union.”
“Hear, hear,” everyone chorused.
She and Trey were married and for exactly the reason she’d sworn not to marry. But he’d made valid points about her and the baby’s medical care so she hadn’t been able to argue. She blew out her breath. If she were honest with herself, she’d wanted to be Trey’s wife and she’d resisted mostly because she thought he might stray once he realized he didn’t want to be married—baby or no.
“I can’t believe our hero caved.” Cedric downed half the contents of his glass in one gulp. “The one brother we could always count on to keep us entertained with his experiences with his different women—”
Bryson slapped Cedric on the back of his head. “Shut the fuck up, fool.”
“I-I need to rest.” Setting her glass aside, she rose. The very idea of Trey touching other women the way he touched her crushed her joy.
“Brittany—” Trey began.
“Congratulations, young lady,” Judge Waynesberry interrupted, catching both her hands in his and giving them a reassuring squeeze. He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “If you need any help keeping Sergeant Wilson in line, give me a call.”
Brittany nodded, glancing at his name and number once she’d accepted the card. “Thank you, sir.” She grabbed Spenser’s gift from where she’d set it on the couch and fled to Trey’s bedroom.
She’d insinuated she’d divorce Trey when their baby was born but that idea tore her apart as much as the thought of Trey being with another woman. And yet she knew she’d never be able to continue to live with Trey when he’d married her only because of the baby. She had no doubt he’d be attentive and protective of her during her pregnancy. Then she’d give birth and reality would set in. A squalling, demanding infant would require her attention and she would not ignore her baby—not even for Trey.
Now though, the stakes were higher. She wanted Trey to be her husband for the rest of their lives but in her heart she knew it wasn’t to be. Karl’s earlier statement about Trey keeping condoms all around the apartment wasn’t a new revelation. She’d heard the same thing weeks ago. Hearing Cedric mourn the loss of their “idol”, the perpetual ladies’ man, was something else altogether.
What had she done? Two months ago, she’d allowed Trey to proclaim he was her boyfriend and had followed his lead, believing he cared enough about her. A small, niggling part of her had always suspected he’d been posturing in front of Karl and Bryson but she hadn’t listened to the warning bells in her head.
Yes she fell into bed or on the table or against the wall with Trey at the crook of his finger but she knew if she’d moved out and found her own place, she would’ve convinced herself Trey was off-limits. If for no other reason than to save her sanity.
Brittany groaned, staring down at her ring. Believing Trey was in love with her was a recipe for disaster.
✽ ✽ ✽
“I better not have made a mistake,” Judge Waynesberry snapped into the silence following Brittany’s sudden departure.
The man’s words broke into Trey’s contemplation of the various ways to murder Cedric. Or better yet Bryson. He was the fool who’d invited Cedric and Karl.
“The pressure the three of you put on that girl was terrible,” the older man continued with an accusatory glare at Bryson and Mitchell before settling on Trey. “I started to walk out. The only reason I stayed is because she’s in love with you and I believe you’ve gone and fallen in love with her.”
“So good of you to notice. Why don’t you tell Brittany since she won’t believe me?”
“I wonder why.” The judge folded his arms and lifted his brow. “Whatever the reason, it’s up to you to convince her otherwise.”
“How?”
“You’re a sensible young man. Figure it out.”
“Brittany can be rather stubborn,” Karl put in and Trey hadn’t heard such sympathy in his cousin’s voice since Brittany first arrived two months ago.
“Look at the big goon who’s her brother,” Mitchell retorted.
Bryson scowled. “I owe you one, Mitch.”
“Fuck, Trey, man.” Cedric shook his head. “You always been a lucky son-of-a-bitch with the ladies. If I’d a had a chance to marry Brittany, I’d a married her too. So don’t be no punk-ass fool. I’ve seen you make a woman go from ignoring you to falling all over you in a matter of minutes. Whatever you did with them, you should try with Brittany.”
Trey’s eyes widened. Of course! Cedric was right. Trey was a master seducer but the stakes were higher now. Brittany was his wife and he’d had to do everything but stand on his hands to convince her to marry him. He didn’t want to lose her. If she continued to think he’d married her because of his baby, all was lost.
“She’s emotional right now,” Mitchell was saying. “But I don’t care what we said to her…if she hadn’t wanted to marry you, she wouldn’t have married you.”
“She’s a little overwhelmed too. Knocked up, er, pregnant,” Karl amended at Trey’s growl, “and now your wife.”
Mitchell gave Karl a look of dislike. “You don’t seem to hold Brittany in very high regard.”
Bryson waved off Mitchell’s hostility. “Karl adores Brittany.”
“That so?”
Trey blew out a sigh. “He doesn’t have a problem with Brittany, Mitch. He’s always enjoyed goading me and he knows how it pushes my buttons to bait Brittany the way he does.” He gave Karl a feral smile. “He can be an asshole but he’s my cousin. I doubt he’d ever hurt Brittany. He knows he’d have to deal with me if he did.”
Karl lifted a brow and Trey challenged him with a look.
“Damn it, Sergeant,” Mitchell barked.
Trey continued his staring contest with Karl until the man looked away.
Mitchell stomped to Trey and grabbed his arm, growling in his ear, “This is your fucking wedding day, asshole. Don’t ruin it with this.”
Trey cut his eyes at Mitchell but jerked away and nodded.
Judge Waynesberry stood. “Well, er, I’d better get going. Besides boys, it seems as if she’s in excellent hands.”
Trey got to his feet as well and held out his hand to shake the judge’s. His shiny gold wedding band gleamed and he smiled in satisfaction. Brittany was his and he was hers. “Thank you.”
“There’s no greater joy than being a husband and a father,” the judge advised, shaking Trey’s hand and clapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t put your job or anything else before her and that baby she’s carrying.”
“I have to roll as well,” Bryson announced, feeling in his pocket for his keys. When he found them, he held out his hand to Trey then pulled him in for a bear hug. “Welcome to the family, man. You been like a brother to me most of my life anyway.” Bryson stepped back. “But I will beat your ass up and down the city if you hurt her.”
Trey laughed. “I knew you’d ruin what could have been a moment of manly bonding.”
“You almost ruined it when Brittany left. You wanted to beat Cedric to the ground. But you can’t fight every man who makes a stupid or unfeeling comment in front of her or you’ll be fighting for the rest of your days. My sister isn’t as fragile as you think she is.”
No she was even more fragile. Trey wasn’t foolish enough to believe all the emotional and physical trauma she’d suffered four years ago wouldn’t continue to affect her.
“Brittany isn’t as fragile as all that,” Karl agreed. “Didn’t he say he had her for three hours? That doesn’t sound like a fragile girl to me, considering the size of Trey and the size of her.”
“Yo, Karl, man, were you born an ass or did you cultivate it over the years?” Cedric shook his head. “She’s the man’s wife now. We can’t talk about her the way we talked about his other conquests.”
Trey strolled to the door and opened it. “I never discussed one woman I was involved with around you clowns.”
“Didn’t have to,” Cedric assured him. “Just seeing them was enough to feed our conversation for months.”
“Out,” Trey said. “Now.”
“You gonna make us leave without feedin’ us?” Cedric complained. “This is supposed to be a wedding celebration and you eat at celebrations.”
“Get. The. Fuck. Out.”
“Yo, man, that ain’t right. I’m so hungry I’m ‘bout to faint.”
Karl hooted with laughter, pointing at the door. “You sure have a helluva lot of locks on there.”
“I installed them yesterday. I want to make sure Brittany feels safe.”
“Yeah, man.” Cedric sighed. “What went down here two months ago was sick.”
“Let’s not dredge up such bad memories on my cousin’s wedding night.”
“It’s okay,” Trey said. “When you leave, all will be forgiven.”
“I know where I’m not wanted,” Mitchell grumbled.
Judge Waynesberry walked into the hallway. “See you all later.”
Karl considered Trey as the ding of the elevator announced its arrival. The judge stepped inside the car. When none of the others followed he gave a jaunty wave and allowed the doors to slide close.
“Being a police officer was different when you were a single man,” Karl said. “But you need to think about the future and make provisions for Brittany and your baby should anything happen to you. I know this is your wedding night, cuz, but you need to have a serious discussion about what you do.”
“She already knows.”
“You can’t give up what you most enjoy because Brittany is now your wife.”
“She never asked me to give anything up.”
“She wasn’t your wife,” Karl responded.
“Can it,” Bryson ordered. “Don’t interfere in Brittany and Trey’s relationship. What they do and what they decide is between them and God. We have nothing to say about it.”
“Didn’t I just hear you threaten my cousin if he hurt your sister?” Karl ground out. “I’m offering Trey advice out of concern for both him and Brittany.”
“Of course you are,” Mitchell said coldly. “Why don’t you save your advice for some time besides Trey’s wedding night?”
“One day, Lieutenant,” Karl snarled, anger lighting his eyes.
“Any day, Reverend Wilson,” Mitchell snapped back.
“Mitch, come on, man. Lay off Karl,” Bryson said. “I don’t know what beef you have with him but he’s a decent guy under his arrogance.”
Trey rubbed his neck. “Just go. All of you.”
“Don’t wear yourself out too much,” Mitchell said with a small smile. “You have to report to duty tomorrow night and I can’t have you weak and exhausted from BOD.”
“What the hell is that?”
“Brittany Overdose.” Snorting with laughter, Mitchell turned away.
“Asshole,” Trey called then said his goodbyes to Bryson, Karl and Cedric. Finally he was alone and his wife awaited him in his bedroom.
It was time to begin his wedding night.
With uncommon chagrin Trey walked to his bedroom, not sure what he’d find. Would she be angry about Cedric’s comments? Regretful of her decision to bow to the pressure he, Bryson and Mitchell had placed on her to marry him? He hesitated at the door, listening for any sounds but hearing nothing.
She might’ve fallen asleep, he thought with even more trepidation. She needed all the rest she could get but from the moment Brittany said “I do,” Trey had been dreaming of making love to his new wife.
He might as well face the music, whatever it was. Brittany was just a slip of a girl. He had nothing to fear from her. He’d been in dangerous situations and survived.
With a deep sigh he braced himself for anger, tears, or sleep and opened the door. What he saw was enough to make a grown man weep with joy.
She looked at him through the sweep of her lashes, a sultry little smile on her lips.
No, not weep with joy, he thought, giving her an answering smile and kicking the door closed. The sight of her was enough to make a grown man come in his pants.
She stood there in a long, sheer white nightgown. The outline of her hard nipples pushed against the material barely veiling her body or the neatly shaped triangle of fur between her legs.
“Is everyone gone?” she asked.
It took a moment for Trey’s lust-addled brain to process her question. “Yes.”
His gaze traveled the length of her body over and over again. He wasn’t sure which part of her he wanted to taste first but he intended to lick every inch of her. His cock pressed against his zipper, threatening to burst through. The blood flow to his brain seemed to reverse directions and center between his legs. He flung off his tie and sucked in a breath as she turned, giving him a beautiful view of her perfect ass.
“I thought we should eat.” She bent over on the chair as if she were searching for something.
“Little witch,” he growled, propelled forward by the sight of her feminine lips glistening through the material of her gown. He caught the hem of her gown and pushed it over her waist, his fingers trailing her warm, silky skin.
“Not now,” she half-heartedly protested, wiggling her backside. “I want to cook dinner for us.”
Trey’s hands shook as he fumbled with the fastener on his trousers and then his zipper. “Like hell, you wicked little tease.”
He thrust into her satiny heat and closed his eyes, his deep rumble of satisfaction combining with her soft feminine moan.
She wiggled against him again and his dick thickened even more, her pussy tight and hot around him.
“You feel so good inside me,” she murmured, rotating her hips against him again, clenching her body around his.
He grasped her hips, nearly buckling from the intense pleasure and barely remembering not to pound into her. He didn’t want to hurt their baby but she was using her body to torture him. She pulled away and he slipped out of her warmth. Before he voiced any complaints she was standing on the chair, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply.
“Take off all your clothes,” she whispered against his lips.
He swung her around and set her on her feet. She didn’t seem as if she wanted to remove her mouth from his and he had no wish to break the contact either. His mouth planted against hers, he stepped out of his trousers, struggling a little to get them over his shoes. She laughed wickedly and flitted out of reach, crawling onto the bed and taking off the nightgown.
He sat at the edge of the bed to remove his shoes and socks. A book slid from the bed and thunked to the floor. Trey bent to pick up what he realized was a book of sexual positions.
He held it up in question.
Brittany leaned back and teased her nipples, arching her back like a little cat. “This gown and that book were the gifts Spenser sent.”
“Remind me to kiss Mitchell for marrying a woman with such foresight.” He tossed the book over his shoulder.
Brittany opened her legs in invitation and used her fingers to reveal her swollen clit. “Hurry,” she breathed.
Trey settled himself between her legs, guiding his cock to her entrance, gratified when she settled her hand around him to assist. Seated deep inside her, he remained still, only leaning down to kiss her.
She placed her hands on each side of his face and the adoration in her eyes humbled him. He began a tender glide in and out of her.
“I love you, Brittany.”
Fire sparked his nerve endings wherever her fingers touched. He settled his elbows on each side of her head, tasting her lips, breathing in her scent.
As his seed began to rush from his body and into hers, she whispered, “I love you too, Trey.”